The Best of the West Coast

Your journey begins in Hamburg, a major port city in northern Germany on the Elbe River. Just a few hours from the border with Denmark and the Netherlands, Hamburg is a deeply international city but still manages to feel approachable and relaxed for locals and travelers alike.

• Kayak or canoe through the Outer Alster Lake, a large body of water near the center of Hamburg. Even on a cloudy day, you'll see plenty of locals taking a stroll around the water's edge. 
• Catch a music performance at the Elbphilharmonie, a wave-shaped concert building on Hamburg's waterfront. 
• Visit the UNESCO-recognized Speicherstadt, a sprawling and eye-catching warehouse district with cafes, restaurants and museums. 

In the 1300s, Bremen became part of the Hanseatic League, a network of cities known for their trade prominence. Today, the age-old streets of Bremen feel laidback, yet steeped in the city's maritime culture and history. 

• Begin with a stroll around Bremen's Schnoor quarter, the oldest part of the city, filled with colourful shops and homes. 
• The Netherlands may be famous for its tulips, but rhododendrons are Bremen's claim to fame. Each May, over 10,000 rhododendron and azalea bushes bloom in the aptly named Rhododendronpark. 
• On a warm day, enjoy a picnic in the sand at Weser Beach,  Werdersee Beach or one of Bremen's other city beaches.  

To spend a day in Amsterdam is to spend a day on the water. Home to 165 canals, there is much to see and experience on the city's famous waterfronts. 

• There are many museums to choose from in Amsterdam — but those wishing to understand the history of the city might consider a visit to the Grachtenmuseum, which explains how Amsterdam went from a small fishing village to the metropolis travelers see today.
• If your schedule allows, attend an event at Pakhuis de Zwijger, a warehouse-turned-cultural meeting space in Amsterdam's Eastern Docklands. 
• Leave behind the canals and take a ferry across the IJ river to artistic, industrial Amsterdam Noord, filled with restaurants, cinemas, museums and beyond. 

Welcome to the Hague, the Netherlands' city on the seaside. With 11 kilometers of coastline and a city center packed with art, shopping, restaurants and beyond, the Hague offers travelers the chance to experience Dutch city life outside of ultra-famous Amsterdam. 

• On a sunny day, spend a few hours relaxing at one of the city's beaches. Scheveningen, with a large pier, lighthouse and Ferris wheel, is a popular spot, while the Zuiderstrand (also known as the Quiet Beach) offers a mellower experience. 
• Continue your outdoor tour of the Hague with a visit to Greens in Westbroekpark. The restaurant, which grows its own ingredients in a biodynamic vegetable garden, has a menu that embraces seasonality, changing based on time of year and weather. 
• The Mauritshuis is home to Johannes Vermeer's famous painting "Girl with a Pearl Earring." After seeing this masterpiece, take time to visit a few contemporary galleries, such as KM21and the Fotomuseum. 

It's hard not to fall in love with Ghent, a relaxed port city that seamlessly combines its medieval history and modern innovations. Split your time between the city's waterfront and meandering lanes and keep your eyes peeled — in Ghent, it seems like there's something to delight travelers around every corner. 

•  Swap your train seat for a solar-powered floating deck as you explore the waters of Ghent with VlotGent. VlotGent rents out sun-powered floating decks, perfect for picnicing and relaxing on a sunny day. 
• Ghent is well-known for its vegetarian and vegan restaurants — try a few of them as you wander your way through the city streets. 
  
• Find all the travel inspiration you could ever hope for at Atlas & Zanzibar, a bookshop dedicated to adventure tales, maps, and travelogues. 

Beautiful and laidback Bruges is often described as a "storybook town," for good reason. On a visit, enjoy soaking up the capital of West Flanders' fairytale-like aesthetic — and take time to tread deeper, exploring its green spaces and quiet side streets. 

• Don't miss the chance to savour Sjokla, sustainably produced chocolate produced in a partnership between the city of Bruges and the Guild of Bruges Chocolatiers. 
• After sightseeing around the center of Bruges, take time to be still and silent in the Beguinage, a monestary and garden founded in 1245. Note: it's important to be quiet during visits to this special site, in keeping with its traditions. 
• Soak up some sea air with a 16-minute train jouney to Zeebrugge, a charming beach town with a train station that sits just across from the sand. 

Paris is always full of surprises. The capital of France is not only home to world-famous landmarks but also scores of quieter streets and picturesque parks. Veer away from the crowds and discover the version of Paris that resonates most with you. 

• In addition to admiring the the Eiffel Tower and strolling the Seine, slow down and relax along the banks of Canal St. Martin.
• Pick up a book to read on the train at Les Traversées and browse some of the other shops in the picture-perfect 5th arrondissement. 
• If time allows, escape the city to a nearby nature-focused destination, such as the Forest of Fontainebleau. 

Your journey culminates in Bordeaux, in southwest France. Famous for its surrounding wine country, Bordeaux's city streets are not to be missed — filled with laid-back restaurants and shops, this is a place where travelers can truly relax and reflect on their Eurail adventure before returning home. 

• Get an up-close look at Bordeaux's wine industry by renting a bicycle and cycling through the vineyards and past the region's stately chateaus. 
• Bordeaux is famous for its wine — but don't miss a chance to try its other gastronomic specialties. Canneles, small carmelized cakes, can be purchased and savored at bakeries around the city.
• Experience France's wild Atlantic coastline by taking a day trip to Soulac-sur-Mer and Le Verdon. The train ride, which takes about an hour and forty minutes, will whisk you through forests and pastoral lands to the Médoc shoreline.