2 weeks in Europe in winter
Winter is an amazing time to travel Europe by train. If you have 2 weeks in Europe in winter, here’s how you'll all the winter scenery and festive cheer.
Itinerary highlights
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London, England
Christmas lights in Mayfair
England is full of iconic architecture. Start by paying a visit to the Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and Westminster Abbey.
Get a bird’s eye view of the city from the London Eye ferris wheel.
Looking to splurge on Christmas items? Head to Harrods and take in the incredible themed windows.
Arriving by plane? You can travel from Heathrow Airport to St. Pancras station in approximately 1 hour using the Tube (subway).
Paris, France
Arc De Triomphe
Think you've seen impressive decorations in London? Visit the Parisian “Grands Magasins”, or department stores, in the lead up to Christmas — they will put you in the perfect holiday spirit.
Snap a picture of the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe in their snow-covered glory, or head to the Sacré Coeur Basilica for panoramic views of the city.
Wander the Champs-Élysées Christmas Market, open from late November to early January.
Your Eurail Global Pass gives you access to the Eurostar train directly from London to Paris. Reservations are mandatory and should be made well in advance. There are trains throughout the day that take approximately 2 hours.
Geneva, Switzerland
Lake Geneva on a winter evening
Feeling adventurous? Sign up for epic winter activities like cross-country skiing, snowboarding or sledding.
If you prefer to take it easy there are several beautiful ice skating rinks located throughout the city. You could also try your hand at gentle snowshoeing.
Time your visit to coincide with Winterfest from late January to early February. It’s the perfect combination of art, entertainment, and winter.
There’s a direct TGV train from Paris to Geneva that only takes 3 hours. An advance reservation is required.
Interlaken, Switzerland
Ski resort in Jungfrau
Take a boat cruise on Lake Thun or Lake Brienz — passage is included in your Eurail pass.
Catch the epic train up to the Top of Europe at Jungfraujoch. Eurail Pass holders receive a discount upon showing their Pass.
Catch a private train into the Lauterbrunnen Valley to soak up the views of one of Switzerland’s most picturesque destinations.
Catch the Golden Pass scenic train from Geneva to Interlaken. Make sure your train connects in Zweisimmen to ensure you’re on the most scenic line. No reservations are necessary and passage is included in your pass.
Munich, Germany
Marienplatz with the Christmas market
Warm up in a traditional Bavarian beer hall, and be sure to sample a few German delicacies in the process.
Visit Kripperlmarkt — one of Germany’s most beautiful Christmas markets packed full of local delicacies.
Feeling brave? Suit up and track down the still surfing wave in Englischer Garten. You can rent equipment from several stores in the city.
Continue on the Golden Pass line to Lucerne, and then connect to Munich. The journey takes up to 8 hours, but includes some remarkable scenery.
Cologne, Germany
Christmas market in front of the cathedral of Cologne
Cologne is home to some of Germany’s most celebrated Christmas markets. The ‘Am Dom’ market has the benefit of being located next to the famous Cologne Cathedral.
Visit the Cologne Cathedral — this remarkable building took 600 years to complete.
Wrap up warm and go for a scenic walk along the Rhine and across the various pedestrian bridges.
There are regular trains between Munich and Cologne. Reservations are optional and the journey time is 4 hr 30 min.
Brussels, Belgium
Light show in grand place in Brussels
Warm up with a tasting of Belgium’s best chocolates at one of the dozens of famous stores in the capital.
Soak up the festive spirit in the city centre - you’ll find Christmas lights, a variety of activities, a popular Christmas market, and an infectious atmosphere from November to the end of December.
Traveling through Brussels in January? Belgium’s capital comes alive with Jazzuary, a packed schedule of jazz-based gigs throughout the city.
High-speed trains will take you from Cologne to Brussels in under 3 hours. An advance reservation is required. Returning to London? You can get there in only 3 hours with the EuroCity from Brussels. This train also needs to be reserved in advance.
Which Pass Should I Get?
If you have two weeks in Europe in winter and you want to see all of the above, the best pass to get is a Eurail Global Pass. This will allow you access on most trains in Europe, many without advance reservations.
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