30 flight-free European holidays to consider this year

Flight-free fun

Whether you're looking to make more sustainable choices or simply yearning for the sense of adventure that comes with overland travel, gone are the days when a ferry to northern France was your only option. There's a huge variety of climes, cultures and cities waiting to be explored – all within a day’s journey from your UK front door.

Read on to uncover Europe's best flight-free destinations...

Paris, France

Paris is just over two hours away from London by Eurostar's high-speed train, making this your easiest no-fly city break. If you’re an early bird, the trip can even be managed in a single day: take the first service out of London St Pancras at 06:01 (06:31 on Saturdays), and you’ll be nibbling on flaky croissants on the Seine at breakfast, shopping on the Champs-Elysees at noon and grabbing a romantic dinner in arty Montmartre before heading back to the UK that night.

Disneyland Paris, France

The magic of Disneyland Paris is much easier to enjoy when travelling by train. Hop on the Eurostar from London and change trains at Lille for a TGV direct service to Marne-la-Vallee/Chessy, the closest station to the theme park. You could be riding Space Mountain, meeting Mickey Mouse and feeling enchanted by stories inside Cinderella's Castle around three hours after leaving the British capital.

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Dublin, Ireland

Ireland’s capital of craic is just a short sea journey from the Welsh port of Holyhead, with the speedy, seasonal Dublin Swift catamaran taking only two and a quarter hours. Disembark at the mouth of the River Liffey and head further inland to see Halfpenny Bridge, a romantic iron-railed arch over the water. Immerse yourself in literary pedigree by taking a tour of the greats’ houses: Swift, Joyce and Wilde were inspired by their Dublin surroundings. Plus, the city has fun museums in spades – there’s the Guinness Storehouse, but for a truly wild time, step into the Leprechaun Museum.

Bilbao, Spain

In the mood for a sailor’s sojourn to rugged Basque Country? If you’re a hardy seafarer, take the ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao, a cruise on the cheap – the journey can take just over 33 hours. Bilbao's cultural pursuits will keep you stimulated: admire the art in the Guggenheim, photograph the colourful streets of the old town and fill up on ladles of bacalao – saucy Basque cod – in one of the city’s cosy pintxos bars.

Cologne, Germany

A trip to this city of cathedrals, castles and chocolate is easy enough without going near an airport. You can travel to Cologne in just over four hours by rail with a quick change in Brussels, or it takes eight hours by road. Cross the street from the station to gawp at the World Heritage Site Gothic cathedral, the construction of which began in the 13th century. Behind its black bricks is the Museum Ludwig, an abstract art gallery filled with Picasso works. Hungry? A bit further down the Rhine, you’ll find the sweet-as-pie chocolate museum.

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Bruges, Belgium

You can live out your own In Bruges weekend in under four hours from London St Pancras, if you take the Eurostar and change at Brussels. This city of canals is filled with medieval charm – clamber up to the top of the 13th-century Belfry rising 272 feet (83m) above ground, take a relaxing row through the city’s calm waterways or visit the museum of French fries – which are actually a Belgian invention. There are plenty of chocolate tastings and brewery tours too.

St Malo, France

Make like a Breton pirate and sail to fortified St Malo from the quiet port of Poole in just over six hours with Condor Ferries. A smuggler’s haunt since time immemorial, St Malo is perfect for wandering along the top of the town’s granite walls. Take the children on an adventure to the 17th-century Fort Nationale – separated from land by a spit of sand – or sip a bottle of bubbly brut Breton cider on the gorgeous beach. Plus, monastic Mont Saint-Michel is just an hour’s drive away.

Bordeaux, France

A six-hour train journey from London – with an easy change in Paris – whisks you to one of France’s most famous wine regions. Stroll through the grape-growing grounds of heritage wineries, taste ambient glasses of rich reds matured in historic barrels and explore the region’s cultured capital. The Cite du Vin will teach you everything you need to know about wine, while a moment by the world’s largest reflecting pool in the Place de la Bourse is sure to have you reflecting on your excellent travel decisions.

Milan, Italy

Early bird and up for an Interrailing adventure? The journey from London to the Italian fashion capital can be done in about 12 hours, so you can tuck into a plate of creamy Milanese saffron risotto just outside the gorgeous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II as the sun goes down over the gloriously Gothic Duomo. You might even have time to catch a performance at the esteemed La Scala opera house before the end of your first day.

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Amsterdam, Netherlands

The zippy Eurostar goes directly to Amsterdam in four hours from London. Swap tracks for canals as you explore the city’s five concentric rings, cycle over medieval bridges and see as many frenetic Van Gogh works as possible. The Anne Frank House museum is a must, but be sure to book tickets in advance. Off-the-beaten-track nightlife – and a revolving restaurant – await in the A’DAM Tower, a five-minute ferry from the Centraal train station.

Scilly Isles, England, UK

Head for the 'UK’s answer to the Maldives' by hopping on a short three-hour ferry from Penzance to St. Mary’s, the capital of the Scillies. There are plenty of near-deserted hiking and biking trails to traverse, if lying back on soft sands and coves with crystal-clear seas doesn’t float your boat. As you’d expect of a Cornish holiday (the isles are part of the Duchy of Cornwall), the Scillies have a rich and rugged historic appeal. Foodies will find pure delight in Scillonian seafood and if you’re travelling with family, glamping is the way to stay.

Luxembourg

Keen to tick a new country off your European bucket list? Pay a visit to the world’s only remaining Grand Duchy, a nine-hour trip from the UK's southeast by trains and buses or a seven-hour drive. The hilly, verdant nation is full of fairy-tale castles, such as Berg, whose white turrets can be seen for miles around. Hungry? There are eight Michelin-starred restaurants in the micronation. Oh, and when you get to Luxembourg, public transport is free, so you can travel about as much as you wish.

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Nice, France

Start your own Grand Tour of Europe on a sojourn to the French Riviera, a glittering haven of sun, sea, sand and glam reachable in a little over nine hours by Eurostar and TGV. On arrival, take an evening stroll down the Promenade des Anglais, where palm trees seem to dip their fronds in the azure Mediterranean. Fond of artistic pursuits? There’s a huge variety of galleries to peruse, including the Matisse Museum, Museum of Asian Arts and Marc Chagall National Museum.

Cork, Ireland

Sail from South Wales to Rosslare in three and a half hours and you’ll be able to take a car-cation to Ireland’s most mystical province, Munster. The country’s second-largest city boasts a phenomenal food scene: visit the English Market for fresh produce or stop for lunch at one of many gastropubs for modern takes on classic Irish fare. A short way out of Cork is Blarney Castle, famed for its legendary stone, said to give you the gift of the gab – if you’re brave enough to hang over the edge to kiss it.

Geneva, Switzerland

Put yourself at the heart of the Alps, just seven hours by train from London via Paris. This cosmopolitan Swiss city – perched at the southernmost tip of Lac Leman (Lake Geneva) – is home to the UN headquarters, but it’s not all work and no play. The best way to see Geneva is with a Mont Blanc-view boat trip on the lake, followed by catching a water display at the Jet d’Eau, which launches lake water 460 feet (140m) into the air.

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Barcelona, Spain

Just 11 hours on a train is enough to get you to the mesmerising Catalonian capital. Long periods of sitting down will be supplemented by plenty of leg-stretching opportunities when you get there: get lost in Gaudi’s playful Park Guell, where the panoramas over Barcelona are almost as eye-catching as the tantalisingly tiled pavilions, benches and even walls that represent the Modernist architect's style. Stroll down Las Ramblas for mouth-wateringly cheesy croquetas before hitting the beach with an ice cream and a cerveza in hand.

Biarritz, France

Known as 'the queen of resorts and the resort of kings', Biarritz is the Basque gem that’s attracted distinguished travellers since Napoleon III and his fashionable wife made it their holiday of choice in 1854. Brits started flocking to the town in winter, and now it’s home to grand hotels aplenty. For a dose of Biscay goodness, visit the thalassotherapy centres, where sea algae and salts are used to remedy a variety of ills. Get to Biarritz in around eight hours by train via Paris.

Turin, Italy

Turin is a 10-hour train trek across Europe (from London, then direct from Paris) that makes for a fantastic no-fly break. Visit the Mole Antonelliana, which doubles as Italy’s quirky National Museum of Cinema. Fun fact: it’s thought to be the world’s tallest museum thanks to its iconic, Alps-shadowing spire. In the mood for more museums? The National Automobile Museum is a petrolhead’s paradise and you’ll uncover why Turin was the real star of The Italian Job.

Loire Valley, France

The basin of Europe’s longest river is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for good reason: there are plenty of fairytale chateaus to visit, scenic biking routes through green-leaved forests and endless varieties of dry, sparkling wine to sample. Sound like your kind of break? Tres bon: it’s a 10-hour drive from the south of England.

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Channel Islands, UK

Experience the British archipelago with a distinctly French personality by sailing to the Channel Islands. The sailing from Poole to Guernsey is just three short hours, and a little longer from Portsmouth at seven hours. Medieval castles and Nazi-built war tunnels will enthral history buffs, while foodies can settle into a giant plate of lobster on the soft sands of the beach. If you've more time, sail to Jersey to visit Jersey Zoo, founded by Gerald Durrell, to meet the orangutans and rare creatures that call these floral-covered islands home.

Hamburg, Germany

Head over to Hamburg, at the mouth of the Elbe, for a mini-break in Miniatur Wunderland – the world’s largest model railway (it even has a pocket-sized airport with planes that take off and land). The quirky attraction is situated in Spiecherstadt, the former warehouse district, and one of Hamburg’s trendiest places. Take a boat trip through the labyrinth of canals or even wander under the Elbe in a Victorian-era tunnel that’s now an exhibition space. Germany’s largest port has plenty of cultural value, and best of all, it’s only nine hours away from London by train.

Galway, Ireland

Discover the rugged west coast of Ireland by hopping aboard the Holyhead to Dublin ferry, then hitting the road – the journey from North Wales to Ireland’s wild west takes about five hours. The region occupies a special, spirited place in Irish culture: it’s the last port of call for the New World and its wind-blown cliffs make for perfect coastal hiking. Grab a serve of brown bread ice cream to re-energise, then get your dancing shoes on for a lively ceilidh.

Santander, Spain

Sail to Santander from Plymouth and you could be boarding an exciting new cruise ferry, filled with amenities ranging from Spanish-themed restaurants to a selfie-suited sculpture of one of Spain’s most famous artworks, Las Meninas by Diego Velazquez. Upon disembarkation some 20 hours later, you’ll find the capital of Cantabria is filled with wonder, from the mile-long (1.6km) stretch of golden sandy beach to the twiddly and eclectic Palacio de Magdalena – once the Spanish royal family’s summer home.

Frankfurt, Germany

The financial capital of Germany is reachable from the UK’s own financial hub, London, in just over nine hours by car (or five and a half hours by train). Beyond the glimmering glass skyline, there’s plenty to see, from the gabled childhood home of German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe to the Palmengarten, Germany’s largest botanical garden. Did we mention the charming weekly markets?

Lyon, France

One of France’s top cities for foodies is Lyon, just a five-hour train journey (first Eurostar, then TGV) away. Beyond delicious meals, the city has not one, but two Roman amphitheatres. Each hosted thousands of people for comedies, plays and gladiatorial matches. Modern historians (and fans of the weird and wonderful) will love the pink-painted Musee Cinema et Miniature, stacked floor-to-ceiling with dioramas and an array of movie props.

Brussels, Belgium

Speed over to the Belgian capital from London in just two short hours by Eurostar – a day trip to the Continent if you can’t spare the annual leave. When you’re done munching fries by the iconic Mannekin Pis statue, partaking in melt-in-the-mouth chocolate tastings and pottering about the picturesque, medieval Grand Place, head up to the top of the steel bubble Atomium for a lovely panorama over the Heysel Plateau greenery.

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Lourdes, France

Visit one of Europe’s most sacred places of pilgrimage, Lourdes, on a train trip from London lasting just over eight hours. Discover the grotto where Saint Bernadette first had visions of the Virgin Mary. Next to the grotto, you’ll find a spring, where the pure waters are said to heal the sick. The town is filled with glorious Catholic churches reaching high into the sky, but even if you’re not religious, you’ll still be wowed by the power of nature when hiking close to this Pyrenean town.

Rotterdam, Netherlands

A direct Eurostar takes you away to Rotterdam, the Netherlands’ industrial-chic port city, in three hours and 16 minutes. Heavily shelled during the Second World War, the entire city was rebuilt in an avant-garde way. Visit the bright yellow Cube Houses: living spaces that lean over the pavement and are housed mostly inside the roof. There’s also the aesthetically pleasing Erasmusburg bridge over the Nieuwe Maas river, and you can round off your trip with a jaunt up the 606-foot (185m) Euromast TV Tower, complete with a funky restaurant and bar.

Bern, Switzerland

The 12th-century Swiss capital is situated at a scenic meander on the Aare River, and the city’s red roofs and blue-green mountain river feel a world away from the Thames – however, it’s under nine hours by train. Wandering around the UNESCO-listed old town is the best way to spend a day, especially if you can spot all the 16th-century fountains that grace the streets: each features a notable character from that period of history. Alternatively, get out of the city and ride the 1899 funicular to the top of 2,800-foot (858m) Gurten hill for a hike among the pines.

Shetland Islands, Scotland, UK

For a taste of Scandinavia without needing your passport, take the 13-hour overnight ferry from Aberdeen to Lerwick, the Viking-influenced capital of the subarctic Shetlands. Search for runes in the Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement or listen to the locals speak a unique blend of Scottish and Scandi accents. As the northernmost part of the UK, the weather won’t be warm, but the welcome certainly will: make sure to buy plenty of lovingly knitted Fair Isle jumpers to keep out the cold.

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