Whether or not you wish to journey in an environmentally-friendly approach, hate the concept of queueing on the airport, or are simply plain terrified 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 figuring out easy methods to get to Europe with out flying could be useful. Choosing alternative routes of travelling may also help to cut back our carbon footprint, in addition to avoiding the chaos of airports. However top-of-the-line issues for me about travelling overseas with out flying is that you would be able to often benefit from the journey extra. By embracing gradual journey, you may have scenic street journeys and practice journeys, stopping alongside the way in which to see stuff you’d have in any other case missed.
Luckily, travelling to Europe with out flying is fairly simple from the UK. There are many totally different routes, in addition to a number of totally different entry factors, making it simple to reach by ferry, practice, automobile or bus. The listing beneath highlights all of the alternative ways you may get to Europe with out having to fly.
Tips on how to journey from the UK to Europe with out flying
Right here’s easy methods to go overseas utilizing various transportation, arriving at totally different cities in Europe.
Tips on how to get to Europe by practice
One of many best (and considered one of my favorite methods) is to succeed in Europe by practice. That is often the Eurostar, which connects the UK to totally different cities by way of the Channel Tunnel. It’s a quick and environment friendly technique to get there and in just some hours, you’ll end up within the coronary heart of Paris, Brussels, or Amsterdam.
You may as well begin off with the Eurostar after which get one other connecting practice to different main cities, comparable to Bruges (Brussels), Cologne (Germany) and Good (France).
Tips on how to get to Europe by boat
One other standard approach of travelling to Europe is by ferry. A number of ferry companies function between the UK and numerous European international locations and cities. You may take a ferry from ports like Dover, Portsmouth, or Hull to succeed in locations comparable to Calais (France), Zeebrugge (Belgium), Rotterdam (Netherlands), or Dublin (Eire).
Alternatively, you might additionally go for a cruise vacation, which generally permits you to see totally different cities and international locations on one vacation. A lot of cruises depart from UK ports like Southampton or Liverpool, heading to quite a few European locations comparable to Scandinavia, the Baltic States, the Mediterranean, and past.
Tips on how to get to Europe by bus or coach
Typically essentially the most budget-friendly choices, travelling to Europe by bus or coach can prevent fairly a bit of cash. It often takes longer than different modes of transportation although, so that is one thing to remember.
However, it’s an effective way of attending to Europe with out flying and nonetheless having the ability to sit again and chill out on the journey. A number of coach firms function companies to numerous European cities, whereas Flixbus and Nationwide Categorical are among the hottest and low-cost bus choices. In the event you select Flixbus, you can even map out onward journeys utilizing their companies too as they hook up with over 2500+ European locations.
Tips on how to get to Europe with out flying, by automobile
The vast majority of automobile crossing from the UK to Europe are finished by crossing by way of 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 all the time low-cost although, so price reserving upfront or trying to find any offers. I’ve additionally acquired some nice recommendations on street journeys overseas to assist make the journey smoother.
Simple-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 among the greatest cities in Europe which are accessible with out getting on a airplane.
1. Paris, France
Journey time (a method) from London – 2 hours 16 minutes
Lowest price return ticket – £120
The unique Eurostar route; you 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 center of Europe, the place you’ll discover iconic landmarks, artwork museums, parks and delightful quaint streets.
Regardless of the proximity to London, Paris couldn’t really feel additional away. Possibly it’s as a result of it’s so well-known, however once you’re in Paris you’ll actually know you’re someplace totally 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 – significantly in Grote Market, which is claimed to be the prettiest city sq. in Europe!
Town is definitely accessible from London by Eurostar, with only one change in Brussels. When you get there, I’d suggest renting a motorcycle to get across the metropolis. Antwerp is sort 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 very lovely medieval metropolis, with cobbled streets, canals and extra castles than every 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 need issues to see and do, you might head to Groeninge Museum, Belfry of Bruges or Minnewaterpark.
You might journey to Bruges by way of a lot of alternative ways when travelling from the UK. One of the simple is thru getting the Eurostar from London to Brussels, after which an area practice to Bruges. Alternatively, you might drive to Folkestone and use the Eurotunnel to cross to Calais. Bruges is a few 90-minute drive from Calais, so not too far when you’ve crossed. Another choice is to get the ferry after which a practice or drive when you’ve travelled together with your automobile.
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 in order that they needed to challenge a warning to ‘messy’ Brits holidaying there. Nevertheless, it’s nonetheless an amazing metropolis with so many historic and cultural sights. It’s one other nice metropolis for biking round, the place it’s one of the crucial iconic cities to seize a motorcycle and journey across the vibrant streets with flowers in your bike’s basket. In actual fact, it’s generally generally known as the biking capital of Europe, with over 800,000 bikes in Amsterdam alone!
Town is very easy to get to, and there are a selection of various methods to succeed in Amsterdam with out flying. You might go from London by way of the Eurostar, which takes simply over 4 hours. Or, you might take a ferry from Newcastle, which is cheaper (beneath £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
Positioned in Western Germany, you may attain Cologne by practice from London in simply over 4 hours. Simply reached from London by practice with a journey time of slightly over 4 hours, Cologne, in western Germany is known 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 outlets to browse.
There’s a direct practice from London to Cologne, which is most definitely the best alternative of easy methods to get to Europe with out flying. Nevertheless, you might additionally go by way of France when you’re 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 courting again over 2,000 years. Town’s Roman heritage continues to be seen at present within the historic ruins on the hill of Fourvière and the preserved Roman theatre, which hosts the Nuits de Fourvière, a summer season performing arts pageant.
It’s additionally an amazing metropolis for meals. Lyon is dwelling to many high-quality eating places and bistros, generally known as “bouchons,” serving native specialities comparable to quenelles, salade lyonnaise, and quite a lot of sausages. Town can also be identified for its native wines, together with the well-known Beaujolais.
A practice from London with one change in Paris means you could be within the French metropolis in slightly 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 (Prepare to Holyhead, Wales after which ferry to Dublin)
Lowest price return ticket – £143
Flights to Dublin from the UK are fairly low-cost, particularly due to 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 practice from London to Holyhead, Wales after which a brief ferry from there.
Dublin is a good possibility for stay music followers, with Temple Bar (see above) internet hosting stay people music and DJs all year long. Town can also be well-known for its pubs and breweries and Guinness specifically. The Guinness Storehouse is considered one of Dublin’s hottest vacationer sights, the place you be taught in regards to the drink and naturally attempt some. However past music and consuming, there’s tons to see within the Irish capital together with Dublin Fort, the E-book of Kells housed at Trinity Faculty 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 firms that supply direct journey to Spain from the UK. Brittany Ferries provide their service from each Plymouth and Portsmouth, which takes slightly below a day complete journey time for a method. The worth numerous quite a bit because it relies upon whether or not you’re taking a automobile or your pets and what time of yr you’re planning to sail.
When you attain Santander, you’ll be met with seashores, tapas and spectacular structure. Among the greatest issues to do there embrace visiting the Magdalena Palace, stress-free 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 attempt.
9. Lille, France
Journey time (a method) from London – 1 hours 22 minutes, OR by way of Eurotunnel from Dover – Calais route
Lowest price one-way practice ticket – £53
Lots of people mechanically head to Paris in the event that they’re fascinated by easy methods to get to Europe with out flying. Nevertheless, Lille is definitely nearer and presents a variety of nice issues to see. It has an enthralling previous city, which has pedestrianised streets and nice eating places, bars, museums and galleries. It’s additionally a very good metropolis to stroll round, so when you’ve chosen the practice over automobile possibility, you may nonetheless get round fairly simply.
By far the quickest and best technique to get to Lille when you’re travelling from London is by the Eurostar. Nevertheless, it’s additionally fairly simple to get there when 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 in all probability one of many longer journeys, but it surely’s additionally properly price it. Departing from Portsmouth, ferry firms can take you to Bilbao within the Basque Nation. Famend for the enduring Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, the 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 vigorous environment, scrumptious pintxos (Basque tapas), and the scenic Nervión River slicing by way of the center of the town make it one of many standard 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 in all probability do it extra usually. It doesn’t all the time work out cheaper, however you get to see attention-grabbing factors alongside the way in which. It additionally means you don’t have to fret about conserving your liquids beneath 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’m going to with out flying?
The international locations you may go to with out flying largely rely in your beginning location. From the UK, you may attain France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Eire with out flying. When you’re in Europe, as an example, you may journey to a lot of international locations by practice, bus, or automobile.
The place are you able to journey from the UK with out flying?
You may journey to a number of international locations from the UK with out flying. You may take a practice by way of the Channel Tunnel to succeed in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. You may as well take a ferry to France, the Netherlands, Eire, Spain and several other different international locations. Moreover, you may 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 practice service connects London with a number of cities in France, together with Paris, Lille, and Lyon, by way of the Channel Tunnel. Alternatively, you may take a ferry from a number of UK ports to France. You may as well drive by way of the Channel Tunnel utilizing the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle service
What’s the least expensive technique to journey with out flying?
The most affordable technique to journey with out flying usually is determined by your vacation spot and the gap you’re travelling. Typically, bus journey tends to be essentially the most economical possibility for shorter distances. For longer distances, practice journey could be cost-effective, particularly when you e book upfront or journey in a single day. Automobile journey may also be economical, particularly when you’re travelling in a bunch, however you’ll want to contemplate gas prices and tolls.
What’s the quickest technique to journey with out flying?
The quickest technique to journey with out flying is often by practice, particularly for longer distances. Excessive-speed trains can journey at speeds similar to and even sooner than driving, with out the necessity to navigate site visitors or cease for gas. For shorter distances, driving may be sooner, relying on site visitors circumstances.
