I've been to Europe many times and tried my first train trip there. This trip to Germany, Austria and Switzerland used the Eurail Pass for the entire trip. One ticket in hand, three countries to travel, compared to the plane and car, the use of the European Rail Pass to take the train, travel schedule is more flexible, you can choose to take any train in the country's railway system, easy and convenient connection to every city, every attraction, so that travel more freely, but also more safe and comfortable.
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【European Railway Tour Route】
Munich→→ Kings Lake, Germany→→ Innsbruck, Austria→→ Zermatt, Switzerland→→ Zurich, Switzerland
Starting this European rail tour from Munich, Germany, we first went to the long-awaited German landscape business card - Konigssee, then entered the Alps, went to the mountain town of Innsbruck in southwest Austria, and then crossed to the mountain town of southern Switzerland - Zermatt ( Zermatt ) , to appreciate the majesty of matterhorn , the "king of the mountains". Finally, we arrived in Zurich, the richest city in Europe, and ended this short and rich European Rail journey in a wonderful and unfinished way.
【First stop: Munich, Germany】
The first stop on the tour is Munich, a famous city in southern Germany. Although I have been to Munich many times, but I have not been able to meet the Christmas season, so I have always wanted to feel the Christmas atmosphere of the local city, and this trip to Munich finally came true.
Because most of Europe has a higher dimension, the annual winter time is longer, the long time is gloomy and gray, and the weather that does not see the day makes many European cities lose their former glory, so at Christmas, people decorate the city with various lights and ornaments to bring warmth and joy to life. There is no doubt that in Europe during the Christmas season, every city is the most romantic time of the year. Towering Christmas trees, dreamy lanterns, bustling Christmas markets... The city is full of lights, the streets are full of life, and the streets and alleys are full of warm and peaceful festive atmosphere.
In Germany, every year in the first four weeks of Christmas, the major cities are decorated, and the city's large and small Christmas markets are also open. Munich is no exception, Christmas markets can be found everywhere, almost every square and street in the city, the original wooden houses, green pine branches, red hats, mulled wine, roasted nuts, Christmas songs... Festive and peaceful Christmas elements gather in the streets, and people and friends and family go to the Christmas market, eat, drink and shop to celebrate this long-awaited holiday and enjoy the romantic carnival of winter.
Although the city is surrounded by cold air, it is not so cold under the reflection of warm lights. Shimmering light can not only keep the wind and cold low, but also bring people the direction and hope of life. Every Christmas market in Munich is given a different theme, traditional customs, modern style, medieval crossing, surreal creativity... With different forms and colourful forms, the entire urbanization is a huge Christmas playground, full of people, bustling, and the whole city is immersed in a joyful and peaceful atmosphere. The buildings and Christmas trees are hung with twinkling lights, and the flickering shimmer brings light to the city and sets off a warm and romantic holiday atmosphere.
At Oktoberfest Square, hear that a grand Tollwood Winter Festival is being staged. The Christmas market here is a surreal futuristic style, each stall is a tent, selling trendy goods and food and drinks, playing a passionate and dynamic pop dance music, staggering chips, wind and fire, becoming a sea of young people's carnival. In the middle of the square, there is a creative "Christmas Tree", the whole tree is made of a combination of waste bicycles, up to 10 meters high, known as the "Bicycle Christmas Tree". The lighting on the trees is also constantly changing, colorful and colorful, cleverly blending environmental protection and innovative concepts, attracting rave reviews.
【Stop 2: Konigssee)
The next morning, take the DB from Munich to Königsee, known as the "Bavarian Landscape Business Card", which requires a change to a regional train into the mountains, which takes about 3 hours each way.
The European Rail Pass can be used throughout the process, just fill in the origin and destination in the pass log, and hand it over to the conductor for inspection and stamping, eliminating the time of queuing up to buy tickets and making the trip more relaxed. However, it should be noted that when the Eurail Pass is used for the first time in Germany, it needs to be activated at the ticket window of the local railway station to take effect.
With the EU Rail Pass, passengers can travel freely on state-run trains in various countries during the validity period of the pass and within the railway network of more than 230,000 kilometers of 28 countries covered by the pass, and decide when and where to depart at any time, providing great flexibility and convenience for the journey.
Eurail Pass Eurail Pass has a variety of ways to choose, passengers can choose a single country, multiple countries and even the whole of Europe according to the needs of the itinerary, with the appropriate validity period, in a continuous or discontinuous period of time in Europe unlimited trains. The European Rail Pass is synonymous with travel without borders. During the ride, you can not only enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way, but also meet travelers or local residents from all over the world to add to the fun of travel. In addition, many European city railway stations are located in the center of their cities, train to station, jump off the train, a wonderful journey begins. It can be said that European Railways is a passageway for travelers to experience the rich geography, history and culture of Europe.
When using the Eurail Pass, there is a dedicated app called Eurail Planner, which can be downloaded to easily check the train schedules of the 28 countries covered by the pass. When planning the trip, just enter the start and end location and date, the software will provide you with the most scientific train transportation routes, including departure time and frequency, departure platform, transfer station, transfer time, arrival time, arrival platform and other information are readily available, according to the above guidelines to take the train, convenient and fast, very worry-free.
If you do not catch the original train due to train delays or other reasons during the journey, you do not have to worry at all, as the Eutel Pass can take any local train for unlimited times within the date of use. Missing the last train, instantly searching for ride plans on the app, choosing the next train, the flexibility and convenience of the Eurail Pass, which is unmatched by other modes of transport.
All Passes can be purchased 11 months in advance, with a 7-day pass a month and a Tri-Country Pass. This time, we are using the Germany, Austria, Switzerland three countries optional pass, within a month according to their own itinerary can choose any 5 days.
As one of Germany's tourism business cards, Konigssee is the lake that attracts the largest number of tourists in Germany every year. However, to reach the King's Lake, it is not easy to kiss Fangze. 2 hours by train from Munich to Freilassing station, then change to the mountain regional train for 40 minutes to be in berchtesgaden, a small town in southeastern Bavaria, and then take a local bus into the mountains 5 kilometers south to reach the legendary "King of the Lake", transfer several trains, but with a European Rail Pass in hand, no need to queue up to buy tickets, follow the train information prompts at the station to transfer to the next train soon, Time-saving and hassle-free and very convenient.
Arrive at Berchtesgaden train station and take a bus opposite to Königsee.
Königssee is the deepest lake in Germany, located in the Kehlstein mountains at an altitude of 1,885 meters. The level of the lake is like a mirror, the quiet water of the lake glows with charming emeralds, and the green and steep mountains stand majestically around the lake like soldiers guarding the king. Here, noise and noise are isolated, landscapes meet the sky, quiet and beautiful to the extreme, and even a little magical and romantic color, making people feel like no one.'s land.
In order to ensure the water quality of Königssee, for more than a hundred years, only electric boats, hand rowing boats and pedal boats have been allowed to sail in the lake. We sailed gently on the lake in an electric boat towards the vicinity of the "Red-Roofed Church" deep in the lake. The captain stopped the boat in the center of the lake, turned off the engine, and was so quiet that he could hear only his own breathing. The captain said that the cliffs here are called "echo walls", and he took out the sub-midrange trumpet blowing, and he could hear the obvious 2 echoes, and he seemed to be playing with the echoes, which was magical.
Arriving deep in The Kings Lake, with the towering snow-capped mountains as a backdrop, a house built on the meadow in front of a forest at the foot of the mountain is a realistic version of paradise.
See the introduction of local hiking enthusiasts on the Internet, and there is an even more amazing scenery here, hidden at the foot of the snow peak. From the Red Roof Church in the center of the lake, hike into the mountains for about 1.5 hours to reach the world's largest ice cave.
Although it was early December, the weather was fine and there was no snow by The King's Lake that day. And when the hike is halfway through, the mountains are covered with snow everywhere, and every stone under your feet is covered with crystal clear ice flowers, jade and ice, lovely, a little unbearable to step on, destroying the most perfect crystal of nature.
This ice cave is located in a small glacier at the foot of The Watzmann, Germany's second highest peak, which was formed in the 1820s due to its special terrain and river directions, and it is magical all year round. The ice cave is 6 meters high and 30 meters deep, and unlike Iceland's time-limited Xiaoice caves, this huge ice cave does not melt and deform even when it is the hottest in the summer. Therefore, without the need for a professional guide, visitors can enter the depths of the ice cave at will.
However, due to the short days and long nights in winter, the number of people watching the ice cave was significantly reduced after two o'clock in the afternoon, and even in the half an hour before arriving at the ice cave, we could not see any other hikers, facing this ice and snow, barren mountains and wild mountains, and our hearts could not help but throbb and worry. However, when the ice cave unfolded before our eyes, the hardships of climbing and the fear of no one dissipated in an instant.
This is a glorious ice and snow temple created by ice rock, frost and ice in the valley glacier, and the cracks in the ice rock and the texture on the ice wall make people's blood boil and move. It is a wonderful feeling that has never been seen before in thousands of mountains and rivers, the cold cold is refreshing, drink a few sips of cold ice water, and the body and soul seem to become incomparably transcendent at this moment. The beauty of the trip was so great that I listed it as one of the most memorable trips of 2016.
Seeing that it was almost dark, I had to return to the lake. King's Lake at dusk is not very real. Surrounded by mountains, Königssee Lake is a lake formed by the erosion of glaciers, the water is deep and clear, quiet and transparent, and the cool lake scenery is similar to the scenery of the Norwegian fjords.
【Third stop: Innsbruck, Austria】
Travel through Königsee back to Munich, and the next day depart from Munich by GERMAN RAIL (DB) to Innsbruck, a mountain town in southwestern Austria, a journey of about 1.5 hours. The European Rail Pass is a spacious and comfortable first-class cabin with all amenities and catering services to make the journey more comfortable and easy.
Swarovski crystals and the variety show "The Man of Flowers" introduced me to the mountain town of Innsbruck in southwestern Austria, and the European Rail Pass took me on a relaxing visit to experience the charm of this alpine landscape city.
Nestled in the middle of the Alpine valley, this small town is as rich and widely circulated as Mozart's symphony. As Austria's largest annual foreign tourist city, Innsbruck is not as noisy and cluttered as the usual popular tourist spots, with narrow but well-organized streets and Gothic-style buildings lined up, still maintaining the medieval cityscape.
Innsbruck means "bridge over the river In" in German. A river that runs through the city is the source of life for the locals. In contrast to the majestic snow-capped peaks that stand proudly around it and the city's colourful old buildings, the rapid flow of the river is like a pulse of the times, making this medieval city always full of modern fashion.
Due to its special geographical location, the "bridge" of Innsbruck has been the hinterland of Central Europe since ancient times. Within easy reach of the german, Swiss and Italian borders, Innsbruck's well-developed and well-connected transport links have allowed Innsbruck to develop into a thriving imperial capital as early as the 19th century. But the low-key Austrians never put yesterday's glory on their lips, if you don't check the information, I really don't know that Innsbruck has bred classical musicians such as Strauss and Schubert, and has successfully hosted two Winter Olympic Games, and the Swarovski crystal that makes the city famous in the world is also taking a low-key luxury route here, and the façade of its flagship store is unremarkable. But these unpretentious appearances make people more interested in sinking their hearts, reading well, and exploring the beauty of the city.
Innsbruck is known as the "Golden Roof".
Coinciding with the Christmas season, the whole city is decorated with romantic colored lights and ornaments, and people's faces are filled with peaceful and joyful expressions, making visitors from afar feel at home.
【Stop 4: Zermatt, Switzerland】
From Innsbruck, take the Austrian Railways (OEBB) to the eastern Swiss town of Chur in about 3 hours, and the European Rail Pass still applies.
Railway stations in Austria are similar to those in Germany, and there is no need to check in the tickets when entering the station, but only need to fill in the Eurorail Pass log and hand it over to the conductor to stamp.
The transfer from Chur to the famous Swiss observation train "Glacier Express" to the ski resort of Zermatt takes about 7 hours, and the line can also be used with the European Rail Pass from 1 January 2017, which is undoubtedly a great news for many people who want to go to the Matterhorn.
Glacier Express is a viewing train connecting the two major Swiss resorts of St. Moritz and Zermatt, the train is specially designed as a panoramic skylight, the whole journey on the glacier ruins, through the ancient city, canyons, snowy mountains, bridges, passengers sitting on the car can enjoy the Alpine scenery through multiple angles through the window glass, looking at the beautiful scenery outside the window, the 7-hour drive does not feel tired.
The dining services on glacier express are also of high quality.
From Zurich, take a 2-hour train and then a 1.5-hour mountain train to reach this car-free, pollution-free mountain resort. Only battery cars are allowed to run in the city, and the environment is elegant, the air is fresh, and what is more attractive is the magnificent mountain and glacier views.
The name Zermatt is still relatively unfamiliar to the chinese, but it is one of the favorite winter resorts and ski resorts in Europe. The "king of the mountains" in the Alps, the iconic Mountain Of matterhorn, which the Swiss are proud of, is located in this mountain town on the Swiss-Italian border.
The Matterhorn is worthy of being the king of the mountains, very masculine and majestic temperament, so that the surrounding endless majestic peaks can only be subservient, compared to the tourists flock to the popular attractions of the Swiss Jungfrau, this mountain that stands on the largest glacier in Europe is more like an arrogant, cold king, quite male.
In Zermatt, you can choose the Gornergrat Mountain Train (Gornergrat Bahn) to come to the mountain observation deck in the early morning, wait for the sunrise of the Matterhorn, and stand on the shoulders of God to enjoy the beautiful scene of "heavenly and underground".
Visitors can easily reach the observation decks on the top of the mountain by train, tasting traditional Swiss cuisine while taking in the rolling snow peaks, making the Matterhorn a backdrop for all kinds of selfies, which is sure to be one of the most memorable travel experiences of this life.
A considerable number of people who come to Zermatt come to the Matterhorn. The elderly male protagonist in the European film "The Pious Widower" a few years ago made his lifelong wish to see the stunning snow scene of the Matterhorn with his lover.
Zermatt is also one of the world's top ski resorts and a hiking destination with proven routes, with outdoor enthusiasts taking the extensive mountain cogwheel trains and cable cars to the various ski slopes and hiking spots.
Tasting the Swiss classic "cheese fondue" in the ice and snow warms the heart and stomach, which can not only quickly replenish the body's calories, but also the best way to open the hot pot at once.
Known as the "City of Glaciers", Zermatt is surrounded by 38 peaks above 4,000 meters above sea level, and the Matterhorn makes this charming mountain village worthwhile.
【Stop 5: Zurich, Switzerland】
The next day, take the Swiss Railway (SBB) from Zermatt via the small town of Visp to Zurich, Switzerland's largest city, in about 3 hours.
The European Rail Pass is not available for regional trains from Zermatt to Fisp, and the full high-speed railway from Fisp to Zurich is available for the Eurail Pass. The carriages are comfortable and clean, there are not many passengers, the location is loose, and there is no need to book a high-speed train with a European Rail Pass, but also fill in the relevant information and hand it over to the conductor to check the ticket.
The Swiss train design is very beautiful, the whole shape is like a big snake, it feels cute.
In many European cities, there is no very crowded scene on the train, whether it is waiting at the train station or in the carriage, it is quiet and relaxing.
Known as "the richest city in Europe", "The European Millionaire City" and "the financial center of Western Europe", Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland, but it is often mistaken for the capital of Switzerland (the swiss capital is Bern), which shows the influence and charm of Zurich.
Although the trip was only from Zermatt on the way back to Germany through Zurich, a short stay of a few hours, but it was deeply attracted by the temperament of the city, the environment, the architecture here, the culture here, and the atmosphere of life here all exude a unique charm, which is fascinating at first sight.
In recent years, Zurich has repeatedly ranked first in UN-Habitat's "World's Best Livable Cities", indicating that the urban environment, economic level, affluence and quality of life here represent the highest standards in the world. This brief encounter with Zurich, I fully felt this, from people's high and cold clothing, noble temperament, to the high prices of restaurants and supermarkets, to the high-end facilities of the city, all of which are better than other famous European cities such as Paris and London, and even more than Nordic cities.
On the day of arrival in Zurich, the sky was not beautiful, it was a typical cold gray and foggy day in European winter. But even so, we walked by the quiet Lake Zurich and still felt the cold and noble beauty. The gray-blue lake, a few swans, a number of seagulls, a cruise ship, and few pedestrians outline a minimalist work of art that "less is more".
However, Zurich is far more than that, walking to the old city, you will find that there is a maze of sheep's intestines, churches, castles, old houses and the river complement each other, during which it is full of large and small boutique fashion stores, bars, coffee houses, plus Christmas cabins with stitches and needles, the city's artistic and cultural atmosphere is inadvertently displayed vividly, making people have to love.
The Christmas season is also the shopping season, whether it is tourists or citizens will come to the Christmas market to buy their favorite goods and gifts, or give them to themselves, or to their relatives and friends.
Young people who whisper conversations.
Outdoor cold, this uncle took a sip of cigarette, a sip of hot wine, refreshing and warming up. Even though the nose is already frozen red, this picture makes people feel very warm.
The short trip to Europe made the trip easier because of the convenience of the European Rail Pass, which made me completely fall in love with this way of traveling. Compared to airplanes and cars, I like this kind of travel without too much traffic pressure, and I can enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way, like a fast-forward movie to browse the different scenery and folklore of various big cities and towns. Traveling by train is definitely a common way for me to travel to Europe in the future.
The whole trip is the use of universal roaming communication portable Wi-Fi, especially the European exclusive Wi-Fi signal and speed are very good, in the global roaming communication public number or TB can be booked, the next trip will be my first choice.
【Eurail Pass Tips】
Pass options include:
Eurail Eurorail Global Pass (28 European countries)
Eurail European Rail 4/3/2 Country Select Pass Eurail 4/3/2 - Country Select Pass
Eurail One Country Pass Eurail One Country Pass
Eurail Pass ticketing channels:
Chinese travellers can purchase eurail passes at the following official Chinese sales agents:
Beijing European Railway International Business Consulting Co., Ltd. www.europerail.cn
Shanghai European Railway International Business Consulting Co., Ltd. http://toeu.cn
Buy Online:
Ctrip Ctrip http://rails.ctrip.com/
Flying Together: yiqifei.com
Official website purchase:
www.eurail.com
Online: www.eurail.alitrip.hk