Planning a Linear One-Way Route Through Europe
Avoid the time-sink of backtracking by booking a multi-city flight ticket that enters in one city and departs from another. Use high-speed rail for distances under 500 miles and budget airlines for anything longer to keep your transit efficient.
- Book an Open-Jaw Flight. Use the 'Multi-city' search function on flight aggregators. Fly into your first city (e.g., Lisbon) and out of your last city (e.g., Berlin). This saves you a full day of travel and the cost of returning to your start point.
- Map Your Geography by Latitude or Coast. Don't jump across the continent. Pick a logical vector: move West to East (Portugal to Poland) or North to South (Scandinavia to Italy). Keep your next stop within 3-5 hours of your current one to maximize daylight.
- Mix Transport Methods. Use the Eurail pass or individual train tickets for countries with dense rail networks (France, Germany, Italy). For long gaps (e.g., Spain to Central Europe), book a low-cost carrier like Ryanair or EasyJet, but factor in the cost of airport transfers.
- Limit Transitions. Plan to stay in each city for at least 3 nights. Every time you change locations, you lose about 5-6 hours to checking out, transit, and finding your new accommodation.
- Is a train pass worth it for a linear route?
- It depends on your pace. If you are moving every 2 days, a pass is convenient. If you are staying 4+ days in each spot, buying point-to-point tickets in advance (usually 60-90 days out) is almost always cheaper.
- What is the best way to move between countries?
- Use Omio or Rome2Rio to compare trains, buses, and flights side-by-side for your specific route.