Whether or not you wish to journey in an environmentally-friendly means, hate the concept of queueing on the airport, or are simply plain fearful of planes, there’s loads of methods to get to and round Europe with out flying — right here’s how.
There are many the reason why realizing find out how to get to Europe with out flying could be useful. Choosing alternative routes of travelling might help to cut back our carbon footprint, in addition to avoiding the chaos of airports. However probably the greatest issues for me about travelling overseas with out flying is which you can normally benefit from the journey extra. By embracing gradual journey, you possibly can have scenic highway journeys and prepare journeys, stopping alongside the way in which to see belongings you’d have in any other case missed.
Thankfully, travelling to Europe with out flying is fairly simple from the UK. There are many completely different routes, in addition to a number of completely different entry factors, making it simple to reach by ferry, prepare, automotive or bus. The checklist beneath highlights all of the other ways you may get to Europe with out having to fly.
The best way to journey from the UK to Europe with out flying
Right here’s find out how to go overseas utilizing various transportation, arriving at completely different cities in Europe.
The best way to get to Europe by prepare
One of many best (and one in all my favorite methods) is to succeed in Europe by prepare. That is normally the Eurostar, which connects the UK to completely different cities through the Channel Tunnel. It’s a quick and environment friendly method to get there and in just some hours, you’ll end up within the coronary heart of Paris, Brussels, or Amsterdam.
It’s also possible to begin off with the Eurostar after which get one other connecting prepare to different main cities, akin to Bruges (Brussels), Cologne (Germany) and Good (France).
The best way to get to Europe by boat
One other well-liked means of travelling to Europe is by ferry. A number of ferry companies function between the UK and varied European international locations and cities. You’ll be able to take a ferry from ports like Dover, Portsmouth, or Hull to succeed in locations akin to Calais (France), Zeebrugge (Belgium), Rotterdam (Netherlands), or Dublin (Eire).
Alternatively, you can additionally go for a cruise vacation, which usually allows you to see completely different cities and international locations on one vacation. Plenty of cruises depart from UK ports like Southampton or Liverpool, heading to quite a few European locations akin to Scandinavia, the Baltic States, the Mediterranean, and past.
The best way to get to Europe by bus or coach
Usually probably the most budget-friendly choices, travelling to Europe by bus or coach can prevent fairly a bit of cash. It normally takes longer than different modes of transportation although, so that is one thing to remember.
However, it’s a good way of attending to Europe with out flying and nonetheless with the ability to sit again and loosen up on the journey. A number of coach corporations function companies to numerous European cities, whereas Flixbus and Nationwide Categorical are a few of the hottest and low cost bus choices. If you happen to select Flixbus, you too can map out onward journeys utilizing their companies too as they connect with over 2500+ European locations.
The best way to get to Europe with out flying, by automotive
The vast majority of automotive crossing from the UK to Europe are carried out by crossing through the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle. It runs beneath the English Channel and may switch you from Folkestone (UK) to Calais (France) in simply 35 minutes. It’s not at all times low cost although, so value reserving upfront or trying to find any offers. I’ve additionally obtained some nice recommendations on highway journeys overseas to assist make the journey smoother.
Straightforward-to-reach European locations you may get to with out flying
From visiting well-known landmarks to wandering round historic cities or lazing on seashores, listed here are a few of the finest cities in Europe which can be accessible with out getting on a aircraft.
1. Paris, France
Journey time (a method) from London – 2 hours 16 minutes
Lowest price return ticket – £120
The unique Eurostar route; yow will discover your self within the French capital in little greater than two hours from London. It’s one of many best routes to get into the guts of Europe, the place you’ll discover iconic landmarks, artwork museums, parks and exquisite quaint streets.
Regardless of the proximity to London, Paris couldn’t really feel additional away. Perhaps it’s as a result of it’s so well-known, however while you’re in Paris you’ll actually know you’re someplace completely different.
2. Antwerp, Belgium
Journey time (a method) from London – 3 hours 24 minutes
Lowest price return ticket – £252
As one of many greatest port cities in Europe, Antwerp is traditionally identified for diamond buying and selling. It’s a big metropolis, with a number of issues to do from buying to consuming out, and visiting museums and galleries. Even simply wandering round Antwerp, you’ll see a number of spectacular structure – notably in Grote Market, which is claimed to be the prettiest city sq. in Europe!
The town is well accessible from London by Eurostar, with only one change in Brussels. When you get there, I’d suggest renting a motorbike to get across the metropolis. Antwerp is kind of a inexperienced metropolis and biking routes are a part of that.
3. Bruges, Belgium
Journey time (a method) from London – 3 hours 29minutes
Lowest price return ticket – £211
Bruges is a really lovely medieval metropolis, with cobbled streets, canals and extra castles than some other metropolis on the planet. It’s like stepping right into a fairytale, so simply grabbing a beer in one of many squares or wandering round will really feel sufficient of a vacation. However if you would like issues to see and do, you can head to Groeninge Museum, Belfry of Bruges or Minnewaterpark.
You could possibly journey to Bruges through various other ways when travelling from the UK. One of the vital easy is thru getting the Eurostar from London to Brussels, after which an area prepare to Bruges. Alternatively, you can drive to Folkestone and use the Eurotunnel to cross to Calais. Bruges is a couple of 90-minute drive from Calais, so not too far when you’ve crossed. Another choice is to get the ferry after which a prepare or drive in the event you’ve travelled along with your automotive.
4. Amsterdam, Netherlands
Journey time (a method) from London – 4 hours 10 minutes
Lowest price return ticket – £115
Amsterdam is without doubt one of the hottest locations for Brits – a lot so that they needed to difficulty a warning to ‘messy’ Brits holidaying there. Nevertheless, it’s nonetheless an excellent metropolis with so many historic and cultural points of interest. It’s one other nice metropolis for biking round, the place it’s one of the iconic cities to seize a motorbike and trip across the vibrant streets with flowers in your bike’s basket. The truth is, it’s generally often called the biking capital of Europe, with over 800,000 bikes in Amsterdam alone!
The town is very easy to get to, and there are a selection of various methods to succeed in Amsterdam with out flying. You could possibly go from London through the Eurostar, which takes simply over 4 hours. Or, you can take a ferry from Newcastle, which is cheaper (below £50) however barely longer at 16 hours 45 minutes.
5. Cologne, Germany
Journey time (a method) from London – 4 hours quarter-hour
Lowest return ticket -£233
Situated in Western Germany, you possibly can attain Cologne by prepare from London in simply over 4 hours. Simply reached from London by prepare with a journey time of a bit of over 4 hours, Cologne, in western Germany is legendary for its lovely artworks, structure, cathedrals and – in fact – beer halls serving Cologne’s well-known Kölsch beer. It has over 30 museums to go to and 12 Romanesque church buildings, in addition to Altstadt, The Previous City, which has a number of previous streets and retailers to browse.
There’s a direct prepare from London to Cologne, which is probably the best selection of find out how to get to Europe with out flying. Nevertheless, you can additionally go through France in the event you’re taking a look at various modes.
6. Lyon, France
Journey time (a method) from London – 4 hours 56 minutes
Lowest price return ticket – £145
Lyon was based by the Romans within the 1st century B.C. and has a historical past relationship again over 2,000 years. The town’s Roman heritage continues to be seen at the moment within the historical ruins on the hill of Fourvière and the preserved Roman theatre, which hosts the Nuits de Fourvière, a summer season performing arts competition.
It’s additionally an excellent metropolis for meals. Lyon is house to many high-quality eating places and bistros, often called “bouchons,” serving native specialities akin to quenelles, salade lyonnaise, and quite a lot of sausages. The town can be identified for its native wines, together with the well-known Beaujolais.
A prepare from London with one change in Paris means you could be within the French metropolis in just below 5 hours, making the south of France extra accessible than ever.
7. Dublin, Eire
Journey time (a method) from London – 6 hours half-hour (Practice to Holyhead, Wales after which ferry to Dublin)
Lowest price return ticket – £143
Flights to Dublin from the UK are fairly low cost, particularly because of a selected low-cost airline that has its headquarters there. Nevertheless, it’s additionally easy sufficient to get to Dublin with out flying. You may get a prepare from London to Holyhead, Wales after which a brief ferry from there.
Dublin is a superb possibility for reside music followers, with Temple Bar (see above) internet hosting reside people music and DJs all year long. The town can be well-known for its pubs and breweries and Guinness specifically. The Guinness Storehouse is one in all Dublin’s hottest vacationer points of interest, the place you be taught in regards to the drink and naturally strive some. However past music and consuming, there’s heaps to see within the Irish capital together with Dublin Citadel, the E book of Kells housed at Trinity School Dublin and Dublin Writers Museum.
8. Santander, Spain
Journey time (a method) from Plymouth – 21 hours quarter-hour
Lowest price return ticket – £130
There are numerous ferry corporations that supply direct journey to Spain from the UK. Brittany Ferries supply their service from each Plymouth and Portsmouth, which takes just below a day complete journey time for a method. The value varied so much because it relies upon whether or not you’re taking a automotive or your pets and what time of 12 months you’re planning to sail.
When you attain Santander, you’ll be met with seashores, tapas and spectacular structure. A few of the finest issues to do there embrace visiting the Magdalena Palace, enjoyable on the Playa del Sardinero, and feasting within the metropolis’s seafood delicacies. Like most of Spain, Santander has a variety of fish dishes, in addition to nice desserts to strive.
9. Lille, France
Journey time (a method) from London – 1 hours 22 minutes, OR through Eurotunnel from Dover – Calais route
Lowest price one-way prepare ticket – £53
Lots of people robotically head to Paris in the event that they’re eager about find out how to get to Europe with out flying. Nevertheless, Lille is definitely nearer and presents a variety of nice issues to see. It has a captivating previous city, which has pedestrianised streets and nice eating places, bars, museums and galleries. It’s additionally a superb metropolis to stroll round, so in the event you’ve chosen the prepare over automotive possibility, you possibly can nonetheless get round fairly simply.
By far the quickest and best method to get to Lille in the event you’re travelling from London is by the Eurostar. Nevertheless, it’s additionally fairly simple to get there in the event you’re driving too. Lille is situated simply over an hour’s drive from Calais which is the arrival metropolis.
10. Bilbao, Spain
Journey time (a method) from Portsmouth – 33 hours half-hour
Lowest price return ticket – £199
That is most likely one of many longer journeys, however it’s additionally effectively value it. Departing from Portsmouth, ferry corporations can take you to Bilbao within the Basque Nation. Famend for the long-lasting Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, town has a number of locations to go to. It’s extra industrial than it’s laid-back seaside vibes, however it’s surrounded by a number of pure magnificence. Bilbao’s energetic environment, scrumptious pintxos (Basque tapas), and the scenic Nervión River reducing via the guts of town make it one of many well-liked locations in Spain.
Travelling to Europe with out flying
As soon as you know the way to get to Europe with out flying, you’ll most likely do it extra typically. It doesn’t at all times work out cheaper, however you get to see fascinating factors alongside the way in which. It additionally means you don’t have to fret about holding your liquids below 100ml, ensuring your electrical gadgets are strategically positioned to point out at safety, and getting up at loopy hours to attend round on the airport. Plus, you’ll be doing the earth a favour by minimising air journey.
What international locations can I am going to with out flying?
The international locations you possibly can go to with out flying largely rely in your beginning location. From the UK, you possibly can attain France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Eire with out flying. When you’re in Europe, for example, you possibly can journey to various international locations by prepare, bus, or automotive.
The place are you able to journey from the UK with out flying?
You’ll be able to journey to a number of international locations from the UK with out flying. You’ll be able to take a prepare via the Channel Tunnel to succeed in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. It’s also possible to take a ferry to France, the Netherlands, Eire, Spain and several other different international locations. Moreover, you possibly can drive or take a bus to those places.
Are you able to get from the UK to France with out flying?
It’s fairly simple to get from the UK to France with out flying. The Eurostar prepare service connects London with a number of cities in France, together with Paris, Lille, and Lyon, through the Channel Tunnel. Alternatively, you possibly can take a ferry from a number of UK ports to France. It’s also possible to drive via the Channel Tunnel utilizing the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle service
What’s the most cost-effective method to journey with out flying?
The most cost effective method to journey with out flying typically is dependent upon your vacation spot and the space you’re travelling. Usually, bus journey tends to be probably the most economical possibility for shorter distances. For longer distances, prepare journey could be cost-effective, particularly in the event you e book upfront or journey in a single day. Automobile journey will also be economical, particularly in the event you’re travelling in a bunch, however you’ll want to contemplate gas prices and tolls.
What’s the quickest method to journey with out flying?
The quickest method to journey with out flying is often by prepare, particularly for longer distances. Excessive-speed trains can journey at speeds akin to and even quicker than driving, with out the necessity to navigate site visitors or cease for gas. For shorter distances, driving may be quicker, relying on site visitors circumstances.
