Traveling by train in Europe allows you to combine the convenience of efficient transportation with the possibility of visiting different destinations in the same itinerary. Renfe’s Interrail tickets provide this opportunity, facilitating access to big cities and lesser-known towns, and allowing you to plan routes that integrate historical heritage, culture and landscape without having to rely on flights or long-distance transfers.
The advantage of this type of trip is that each city can be explored in a focused way, with the main points of interest located in areas accessible on foot. From cathedrals and castles to squares, museums and urban parks, the railway network conveniently connects places that combine history, architecture and natural environments, offering alternatives to short stays and longer tours across Central and Southern Europe.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik’s Old Town retains its historic architecture, with its white stone houses, red-tiled roofs and marble streets, earning it UNESCO World Heritage status. The city is organized in a compact way, so you can explore the main points of interest on foot, combining many monuments into one route without the need for long journeys.
Upon entering the historic centre, the first thing most visitors encounter is the Pile Gate, which was the main entrance to the ancient Republic of Ragusa. It is located on a stone bridge crossing the original moat of the wall and its exterior is in the form of a Renaissance tower, crowned with a statue of Saint Blaise, the city’s patron saint. From there you can start wandering around the center’s walls, squares and historical buildings.
Another relevant point is Onofrio’s Fountain, built by Onofrio della Cava in 1438. It was part of an underground aqueduct bringing water from a nearby river, and has sixteen masks through which drinking water flows. To this day it is an urban landmark within the Old Town and, together with the Pile Gate and the Walls, allows you to organize a complete city tour.
Budapest, Hungary
Budapest’s Parliament, located on the banks of the Danube River, is one of the city’s most representative buildings and among the largest in the world. Its neo-Gothic facade is complemented by an interior design that highlights the main staircase, the ancient upper room and the dome room, where the Crown of Saint Stephen, considered the national symbol of Hungary, is preserved.
A short distance away, the Chain Bridge connects the districts of Buda and Pest, and is the first bridge to permanently connect both sides of the city. Built in the 19th century, this bridge has established itself as an urban icon, facilitating pedestrian and vehicular movement while providing direct views of the Danube.
Buda Castle, located on Buda Hill, provides a historical perspective of the city. Its origin dates back to the 13th century, and has housed royal residences, fortifications and museums over the centuries. The castle’s proximity to other points of interest makes it possible to organize combined tours.
Like Italy
Como, in northern Italy, concentrates much of its historical heritage in a compact urban area next to the lake of the same name. Its center allows you to explore the main points of interest on foot, and the combination of architecture and lake landscape makes it easy to plan routes without the need for long journeys.
The most relevant religious building is Como Cathedral, a Gothic-style Catholic temple whose construction began in 1396 and was completed in 1770 with the completion of the dome. Nearby is the Church of San Fidel, another historic place of worship, while the Temple of Volteano, built in 1927 in neoclassical style, faces the lake. Lake Como organizes a large part of urban and tourist activity. Its banks allow for walks that combine heritage, landscape, viewpoints or routes that delve deeper into the surroundings.
Cologne, Germany
Cologne Cathedral, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is the main landmark of the historic center and one of the most visited monuments in the country. Its construction lasted from 1248 to 1880, and although it was damaged during World War II bombings, the main structure remained standing, allowing it to be restored and preserved as a cultural and religious space.
Near the cathedral there are other points of interest that are also worth a visit, such as the Ludwig Museum, which houses one of the most important collections of contemporary art in Europe, and the Hohenzollern Bridge, built between 1907 and 1911, which connects the two banks of the Rhine and is used for both trains and pedestrians. The proximity of these spaces makes it easy to explore them without the need for long trips.
The historic center includes the Fischmarkt Square, formerly dedicated to selling fish, and the Kölner Rathaus, considered the oldest town hall in the country. The streets of Altstadt preserve medieval churches, traditional facaded houses and museums, providing a combined route that allows you to organize your visit to Cologne as part of a wider itinerary through Germany and Central Europe.
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Ljubljana Castle is located on a 367-meter-high hill in the heart of the city. The place has been inhabited since the late Bronze and Iron Ages, and in the early Middle Ages the first wooden fort was built. From the top you can see the city and the Ljubljanica River, which helps you understand how the historic center is organized.
Among the bridges that cross the river, the Puente de los Dragones Bridge, opened in 1901, and the Puente de los Carniceros Bridge, which gets its name because it was used to transport meat from slaughterhouses to the market, stand out. These intersections connect neighborhoods and pedestrian streets, making it easy to move around the center and reach squares and historical buildings comfortably.
Preseren Square is the main meeting point and the focus of many interesting elements: the Preseren France Monument, the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation, and the Central Pharmacy, also known as Meyer’s Palace for its neo-Renaissance facade. In addition, Tivoli Park, with an area of five square kilometres, is the largest in the city and has contributed to Ljubljana’s recognition as a European green capital.