14-Day budget rail itinerary: Paris to Rome (2025)
Paris → Amsterdam
Route: Paris Gare du Nord → Amsterdam Centraal
Duration: ~3h25
Ticket: From €40 (Thalys/Eurostar – book early!)
Depart: ~07:25 | Arrive: ~10:50
Start your adventure in Paris with a croissant (or three), then hop a high-speed train straight into Amsterdam’s storybook canals. Make sure to reserve a seat – these trains fill up fast.
Getting to the station: Take Paris Metro lines 4 or 5, or RER B to Gare du Nord. In Amsterdam, trams and metro from Centraal Station drop you anywhere you need to go.
Stay: 2 nights in Paris.
Amsterdam → Munich
Route: Amsterdam Centraal → München Hauptbahnhof
Duration: ~7h
Ticket: From €45 (ICE/ÖBB direct)
Depart: ~08:30 | Arrive: ~15:25
Roll through the heart of Germany while watching windmills and hills zip by. Book early for the best deals and choose a window seat—this one’s scenic.
Station tips: Amsterdam Centraal is well-connected via metro (line 52) and trams (4, 13, 17). München Hbf connects to S-Bahn and U-Bahn lines from Marienplatz.
Stay: 1–2 nights in Amsterdam.
Munich → Vienna
Route: München Hauptbahnhof → Wien Hauptbahnhof
Duration: ~4h05
Ticket: From €25 (ICE or Railjet)
Depart: ~10:27 | Arrive: ~14:32
In just a few hours, trade beer gardens for Baroque palaces. This high-speed ride is quick and smooth – ideal for a midday departure.
Station access: Vienna’s Hbf is easy to reach via metro U1 or local trains.
Stay: 1–2 nights in Munich.
Vienna → Venice
Route: Wien Hauptbahnhof → Venezia Santa Lucia
Duration: ~7h45 (direct)
Ticket: From €35–€40 (Railjet)
Depart: ~11:18 | Arrive: ~19:04
This is one of the most spectacular train journeys in Europe. Cruise through the Alps and enter Venice at golden hour – straight onto the Grand Canal.
Getting around: Venezia S. Lucia is right on the water. Take a vaporetto (water bus) or walk to your hotel.
Stay: 1–2 nights in Vienna.
Venice → Rome
Route: Venezia Santa Lucia → Roma Termini
Duration: ~3h45
Ticket: From €30 (Frecciarossa/Italo)
Depart: ~12:26 | Arrive: ~16:10
A sleek Italian train whisks you to the capital in under 4 hours. Rome’s Termini station drops you right in the heart of the Eternal City – pasta and piazzas await.
From the station: Hop on Metro lines A or B, or just walk – many major sites are nearby.
Stay: 1–2 nights in Venice before your final leg.
| Route | Time | Cost (MUST be updated right before the trip) | Direct |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris → Amsterdam | ~3h25 | ~€45 | ✔️ |
| Amsterdam → Munich | ~7h | ~€45 | ✔️ |
| Munich → Vienna | ~4h | ~€25 | ✔️ |
| Vienna → Venice | ~7h45 | ~€35–40 | ✔️ |
| Venice → Rome | ~3h45 | ~€30 | ✔️ |
Final Tips:
- Book early for the cheapest tickets 3+ months ahead is ideal.
- Use websites like Trainline, ÖBB, and Trenitalia for reservations.
- Stick to second-class seats for comfort on a budget.
- Travel light no one likes dragging luggage through cobbled streets and train cars.
There’s something uniquely rewarding about seeing Europe unfold through a train window – watching languages, landscapes, and architecture shift without ever leaving your seat. This route gives you big cities, quiet moments, and just the right amount of movement. It’s budget-friendly, flight-free, and full of memories waiting to happen. So pack your bag, charge your phone, and step onto that platform. Europe is waiting – one station at a time.