My wife and I are now planning a trip for next year throughout Germany and then to London on our way home. We will be leaving via Munich and then to London. We were thinking of taking the train from Munich to London instead of airline. Just to see more country plus we have the extra time too. Train is about 13 hours compared to probably 4 hours on airline, and there are several trains throughout the time that permits us to be on the train through daylight hours. Anyone else ever done this? Would it be worth it?
Posted by
Paris
6883 posts
As much as I like to favor train travel, I think this is too much. It's an 11-12 hour journey with the need to consider the Eurostar check-in window, most of it on high-speed trains that don't offer much in terms of scenery.
It becomes worth doing if you are able to break the journey someplace, like the Middle Rhine valley, Brussels, Lille, Strasbourg, Paris even...
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
4827 posts
Yeah, no. The scenery, for the most part, isn't all that. Just fly. We've done the train on that route; although not all at once.
Posted by
Connecticut
609 posts
I’ve traveled the Stuttgart (DE) to Paris (FR) route and then on another occasion the Eurostar’s London to Paris route. Both were a first and satisfied my desires to experience high speed trains, to experience the once much hailed Eurostar, and to see/whizz by the countryside. I’ve also flown these routes as well as to/from other intercontinental European destinations.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
16190 posts
We like to stay on the ground once we hit Europe, so we take trains but break long journeys into 4-5 hour segments. We consider it an opportunity to see new places, and it has worked out well.
If you go by train, you will take the Eurostar across the Channel from Paris, Amsterdam or Brussels. Pick one and then explore the options for an overnight stopover between there and Munich. There are many good ones.
Posted by
OP
40 posts
Thanks for all the replies, we are not leaving until fall of 2024 so this gives us time to prepare and plan.
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
8938 posts
My husband has taken the train from Frankfurt to London twice, but Frankfurt has the high speed links going to Paris and Brussels where I think you change trains. It took about 7 hours and he really enjoyed it. Is it possible to start in Frankfurt instead of in Munich?
Add in the time it takes to get from the airports to the city centers (especially in London) and flying does end up taking a lot more time than it looks like, as well as the costs of getting to and from those airports.
Posted by
Florida, USA
12172 posts
I try to limit myself to four travel hours in a day whenever possible. In this case, it means the train trip is too long when I can make the same trip by air in less time and likely significantly lower cost.
Posted by
OP
40 posts
Thanks for all the suggestions, I really appreciate it. Our trip will be centered around Berchtesgaden in southern Bavaria, with a side trip for a couple of days to the Black Forest region. So I'd probably keep Munich in the picture as a connecting hub I guess. After these three stops its on to London to visit friends before coming home.
Posted by
Chicago
1942 posts
My Munich to London flight is 2 hours and while I love train travel, there are many opportunities to ride trains in Germany/Austria. Trains can be done but riding a train for 13 hours sounds horrible and I'd spend the extra time in Munich or London as seeing the country from a train can be quite boring after a while. Not to mention the changing of trains.
Posted by
Freedonia
14944 posts
Please clarify......do you plan to do this in one day?
For fun, I looked at the current schedule. You're looking at an 11 hour trip, give or take a few minutes, and three different trains. (The schedule will probably change by next year.)
That's a LONG day on a train. Personally, I'd split it into two or more days.