Or coach. We've lost experiences like this with cheap flying - in my younger days getting stuck at the France/Spain border because of farmer blockades and other nonsense for a few days and precarious roads was an experience to be enjoyed, now they shoved a massive motorway through and there's no border to speak of it's all filed under "inconvenience" and forgotten. The sheer volume of tourist cash lost by small relatively poor towns in the middle of the Pyrenees and I'm sure many other places all over Europe must be huge too. Modern Europe is convenient, but it's a sterile, too easy and less fun place to be.
@@streaky81 going by coach...definitely not. You get toilets on every carriage on a train, you get great scenery. On coaches you get pit stops and dull motorways.
when I was a child i used to go Sicily every year with my parents. As flying was regarded as to expensive in them days we took the train every year. I remember in those days you could catch a train from Calais to Milan, and then Milan to Palermo. Three days and two nights but I loved every minute of those trips. Thanks for the posting as many happy memories came flooding back to me whilst I was watching the video.
I love longer rail journeys as they give a sense of the size and landscape of the territory you are crossing you just cannot get on a plane trip. Great video showing this!
You promised us a scenic journey last week, but this exceeded all expectations. Sicily to London via multiple trains and two ferries was epic. I like these occasional "A Guide To" installments and remember your Amtrak journeys across America. I loved the sunset over the Mediterranean on the Sicilian leg, the Alps and the clever Eurostar insert with its peek at St. Pancras as an alternative not taken. There's an unspoken message in this adventure: Pack light!
And on a closer distance, the convenience of a single through train from Amsterdam Centraal right to the pier at Hoek van Holland, without having to change trains on the way.
Yes, it’s so long ago that I last did the Harwich - Hoek v. Holland route (1990, I think) that it was NS operating the route - I was only going to Scheveningen via Den Haag that I had to change trains at Rotterdam CS anyway. Those were the days when I worked for BR so I could get an annual allowance of free travel on NS (actually, as retired staff I still can!).
I was on holiday in gulianova,in italy.I took the same similar trip back to england, from gulianova to milan, then bus to turin where i took the same make train towards france. what catch my attention was from bardonechia , last border in italy to mudane. I was so excited to see those beautiful mountain, I even stop for a night in mudane before boarding a train to centra paris.then i catch a ferry to dover then train to london to my home as final destination. Now I am going to try the same journey from palermo sicily to london. the same way you have travelled. very exciting trips and it worth the money spent.
when i was a young boy in London 1965, my school took us to Florence in Italy. what a trip ..London to Folkestone. boat across to Calais...board SNCF train sleeper to Florence via Basle (Switzerland) and stop for hour in Milan. then south to Firenze. great memory of a great trip. went to sleep in France and woke up in the Swiss Alps, beautiful. i love flying but what you get on a train journey is unforgettable.
Sometimes, especially for people who love trains, planes and boats, getting there is the adventure. I have been to Glasgow many times and while I can fly direct from Toronto I like to fly into London (though mainly for comfortable business class reasons) and take the train up a few days later.
We did an Inter-rail trip around Europe for my 60th birthday, something I long to repeat! And the Sicilian crossing is definitely on our bucket list - but I would have gone home via the Eurostar; my daughter and her husband love the North Sea ferry crossing, but ferries and me don't mix!
I love this journey, Dylan! Sure, planes would be faster but look at all the scenery and adventure you miss. I wish we had train service like Europe's here in the States -- we are limited in locations, the timing can be ridiculous and the cost can be pretty prohibitive. I appreciate your idea of making this a land cruise and spending time in each city where you must disembark/change trains. What a great idea. Thanks so much for the lovely video. See you next Friday!
I mean, if the plane is flying in clear skies with no clouds in the way, then you can watch the scenery from above too. But I can't deny this was one hell of an adventure.
I like the overnight ferries .... wake up early in the morning to new scenery in a new location. The ferry into Stockholm is amazing as you wake up slowly cruising through the Swedish Archipelago.
I'm more than happy to take an overnight ferry. I avoid overnight trains, or routes that involve a lot of time in tunnels, because I want to see the scenery.
Wonderful. I traveled to a place North of Rimany about 7 years ago by train. Set me up for 3 months traveling all over Europe in 2016. Then in 2018 took cycles to Switzerland by train. Highs, lows, but most of all so much if a real journey and great experience. Flying is a completely generic experience. I love train travel because you are in charge (and have all your belongings accessible)
Wonderful video Dylan, anyone who wants to get from A to B quickly has no sense of adventure for me, this is how travel should be done, love the variety and the various types of trains and boats, brilliant way to spend half an hour or so
Having traveled extensively in Europe I can say that the trains there can't be compared to just about anywhere in the world. That ride from Gare Du Nord to Rotterdam is amazing. The RER trains are the French answer to express trains. In cities like New York the express trains are part of the subway. Instead of adding tracks, which would be very expensive, they just used regular rails to crate the RER, they are in, or close to all the major stations, and most attractions as well.
@@54northca Indeed he is! While not a geriatric I do like good food and quality sheets when I travel. I’m heading to Italy this summer for a month now that American’s are allowed to travel in Europe. I hope to follow Dylan’s tip as I negotiate the boot. 🍸🇮🇹
WOW - what an experience!! I enjoy train travel, but am not sure I would have been up for your itinerary. I did learn some things. Was not aware that you could take a train from Sicily to Rome! Thank you!
Brilliant video Dylan thanks for putting it together. In the 18th century this would have been called a grand tour!!! I'd love to do it travelling south as far as Rome and, as you say staying a couple of days in Paris, Milan, Florence. I can dream!!! Cheers.
Thanks for sharing this marathon journey Dylan. The best feature for me was the approach to the Alps on the Italian side followed by the French side after exiting the tunnel. Quite a variety of seating in the trains travelled. The painted rails in Italy reminded me that Melbourne (and other parts of Australia) isn't the only place to experience heatwave conditions that require such a strategy, although our painted rails are limited to certain locations where a broken rail would cause a major problem. I didn't get around to posting a comment on last week's Class 397 adventure due to other distractions last weekend but thoroughly enjoyed it as well. The one downside to it was that it reminded me of my rail "journey to hell" from York to Stourbridge Town when my suitcase lost its wheels, I had two extra changes of trains than anticipated due to rail operating issues (loss of path behind an all stations Pacer from Stalybridge causing the Manchester Airport service to get terminated at Manchester Victoria) and my planned rail photography at Crewe was truncated due to the suitcase issue. You're lucky to be young and travel relatively light. I had to be self sufficient for a 7 week trip from Australia, hence the suitcase. Never mind! I can chuckle about such things now and the stories make great conversation with friends. Keep up the good work and I look forward to next week's instalment. Cheers from Michael downunder.
I have done Brussels to Palermo by train 6 years ago. 3 days too, and no overnight travel, to make sure I see all the scenery. First day Brussels to Zurich (via Luxembourg), second day Zurich to Roma (via Gotthard pass, summit line, no tunnel yet), and third day Roma to Palermo with change in Napoli. Enjoyed every bit of it. I have plans to go to by train to Tbilissi and Yerevan when the pandemic is over.
Great summary video. Another alternative (still without airplane) is after arriving in Paris, take a Eurostar directly to London or take a Coach directly to London (usually via Channel Tunnel) or if you want more scenic, take a train to Calais and take a ferry to Dover and from Dover take a train to London.
It's a very enjoyable video. It reminds me of the 1970s boat train I took from London Victoria to Rome Terminal via Folkstone/Boulogne ferry, then boarding the train there where it calls first at Amiens, then Paris Gare de Nord. The same train is then shunted to Paris de Lyon, then fast to Dijon, Chambery, Modane, Bardonecchia, Torino Porta Nuova, Geneva, Pisa, Viareggio, Livorno and Roma Termini. From Roma Termini, I was able to travel as south as Siracusa in Sicily. In 1982, I did just that, except that this train from Boulogne bypassed Paris altogether, to stop at Lille (terminus). Then through Eastern France to Basel, Lucerne and Milano. From Milano, the train stopped at Roma Tibertino (a through station) for Napoli Centrale. After visiting Pompeii, I proceeded onwards to Siracusa. Memories! Wonderful memories!
That was an Epic Journey Dylan! Back in 1978, I flew to Sicily for a two week holiday and while staying at the resort of Naxos on the East Coast, I took a train ride up to Messina. As this train pulled into Naxos Gardena, I realised that there was something special about this train, which had started it's journey from Syracuse, from further South. The coaches were in the original brown colour, the coach door that pulled up right by where I was standing, would of really got you so excited Dylan, as this was a proper International Train Service, Napoli, Roma, Milano and stations to Boulogne-sur-Mer, which in those days, still had Ferries to the UK. Step into my "Time Machine" Dylan :)
From Palermo to London and not once did I feel lost. Your trip details give us a lot of confidence to do it ourselves, though I would enjoy just traipsing along behind you. You've given me ideas for doing a similar trip, adding days here and there. I will be going back to Sicily to explore more by train. I spent a week driving there and while I love the region I won't ever drive there again. Did the Strait of Messina by rail once, a major bucket-list move that I would be happy to repeat. A great report here that opens my eyes to some new possibilities. Tnx!
There is something about boat and train travel that's so much more comforting than being 50,000 feet in the air. Maybe it's the connection to on ground life or the gentle rocking of the train cars or if by boat the smell of sea air and spray. Being late or early doesnt seem to matter , no deadlines .
I made some trips like this when used to live in Czech Rep. (1999-2002). The longest was Prague> Schwandorf> Munich> Salzburg> Wien> Sopron> Budapest> Bucarest> Ruse> Sofia> Ruse> Kyiv> Przemysl> Wroclaw> Mezimesti> Turnov> Prague, it included two bogie changes (1435/1520 mm and back), spending up to 7 days in Munich, Sofia and Kyiv
Yes many times when I used to live in London .From London to Sicily Catch the ferry to Calais then the train All the way to Palermo. That was a vacation in itself.happy traveling I live in Australia now.
"...have a beer, or 6..." that would be me but with cocktails! LOL I do love that you take a different approach to your trips. Far too many either go the fast route or something fancy that your average person will never do. Sure some times the fast and/or cheap way is what you need, but I much prefer to do something a bit different, to try something new and explore. Why spend all your money on some fancy first class ticket for something (airlines get outrageous at times), when you could use that money and have a unique trip like you just had! The idea you mentioned for spending time in each city you end one leg of the journey is a great one, and something I would love to do once we are able to travel safely again. I am in the U.S. so not as easy for us here as you all over there, but it is something to work toward. One of these days, I will get my butt that way, and most likely not want to come back! LOL A big thanks for the little tips you give. Be it certain metro routes you can take compared to the walk, which signs to follow, or even how to book the best fares. This is the kind of information that can make or break a trip at times, so much appreciated. :)
Excellent Dylan. I enjoyed this mammoth journey. You right. I would spend one or two days in each city to break the pace and enjoy myself. Thanks. Good traveling. Dana - Australia
Would love to do this trip once the on board catering facilities are up and running. Love the ferry journeys too. Amazing views. Thanks for this inspiration.
Cool trip. Closest I came to that was back in May 2010. En-route from Warsaw to Trinidad, I landed at Heathrow - the last arrival before European airspace closed because of the Icelandic volcanic eruption. Four days in a hotel in Heathrow and a dash to Gatwick proved fruitless, so I booked trains to get home. Gatwick to Victoria, tube to Elephant & Castle to spend the night with my son, then next day tube to St Pancras, Eurostar to Brussels, Thalys to Aachen and finally an overnight sleeper to Warsaw via Berlin, Copenhagen, back to Berloin and Poznan. Great fun, despite dangerous overcrowding on some of the trains (notably the Thalys, where I stood pinned against a door as we hit 250-odd kph.... )!
Great video showing your 3 day trip all the way from southern Italy up to London all by rail and sail no flights this would be a good idea for the future spending a few days or weeks going through several countries in one trip
Magnificent! I’d certainly consider doing this and as you suggested stopping longer in each of the change train cities! But I think it would take me a year to get over the whole experience and fully appreciate it all.
Great video and I might try this one. Fly down, get the trains back. If you're looking for another multi-leg adventure, I recommend Leeds - Hull - Rotterdam - Duisberg - Hamberg - Copenhagen - Stockholm - Narvik
I did Palermo to London years ago. After being held up at gunpoint in Palermo., the train to Messina travelled at an average 20kph. The train from Milam had no seats, so I had to stand in a corridor. I got to Ostend 30 mins after the last ferry lefr, after travelling around random areas of France for hours and hours. I had to wait until the next day, without means. But, the journey was a total hoot. In recent years, I prefer to do such trips on my motorbike.
Ultimate rail cruise for me was taking the VIA Rail "Canadian" across Canada from Toronto to Vancouver. Neither cheap nor fast, but with the quality of the meals (included in all sleeper fares) and the outstanding service from all the on-board crew (pre-pandemic journey) it was easy to treat the experience as a 4-night cruise on rails.
3 роки тому+1
I've done Helsinki to Thurso and back, staying overnight on a Ferry (Turku - Stockholm and opposite direction on the way back), in Hamburg, Brussels, Grantham, Newcastle, Glasgow, Thurso, Paisley and Cardiff. Nice trip was that.
I would enjoy this trip as part of a holiday. In fact, i would use the North Sea Ferry from Rotterdam to Hull for another night out. Nice trip report, Dylan.
Brilliant video, thanks for sharing. I've done a few trips like this. Malaga to Edinburgh a couple of times and Budapest to Edinburgh too. Perfect way to travel.
Dylan, I enjoyed the video. It was nice seeing the different cities. Hoping once I have my surgery done and rehab. Hoping to travel a bit and see London and some of the other cities in your travels.
My most adventurist was French TGV from Strasbourg to Paris Gare de l'Est; walk 15 minutes to Gare du Nord; Eurostar to London St. Pancras; walked next door for the Tube to Heathrow; and flew to Dublin. Eleven hours.
In 2019,me and my brother, went by rail the Journey was. Stockholm - Malmö(night train) , Malmö - Berlin (boat from Ystad on the night train, then we stayed a couple of nights ) Berlin - Basel(night train) , Basel - überlingen (visited friends for a couple of days) überlingen - Zürich, Zürich - interlaken (stayed a couple of days) , interlaken - Sargans three different trains including a steam train) , Sargans - vienna(night train, then stayed a couple of days) , vienna - Berlin(night train) , Berlin - Malmö (with the boat and night train) once again) then Malmö - Stockholm All and all just over 2 weeks.
The first leg to Roma seemed to be a bargain, considering the time and complexity. Like other posters, I'd do this trek in installments, staying over in each city for a day or two before boarding the next train.
Yay!! You got on the Harwich to Manningtree to Liverpool Street route and you came past me, in Colchester..... I told you these trains were utter crap!
A great but expensive way to do it. That said I’m a big fan of the Stena Rail and Sail from London to any Dutch station. The pre covid inclusive fares are great value and can include dinner and breakfast and actually included a one day unlimited travel ticket for Dutch railways for your day of arrival.
This is a very good documentation of your journey, Dylan. One suggestion is do a program of each jouney and then put together one terrrifc trip back to London. This is well worth the travel. But I agree that you should spend a little time in each city where you change trains. Over all, great journey! Be safe as always.
I am still convinced that traveling by train across Europe, if you are on vacation, is an experience.
Or coach. We've lost experiences like this with cheap flying - in my younger days getting stuck at the France/Spain border because of farmer blockades and other nonsense for a few days and precarious roads was an experience to be enjoyed, now they shoved a massive motorway through and there's no border to speak of it's all filed under "inconvenience" and forgotten. The sheer volume of tourist cash lost by small relatively poor towns in the middle of the Pyrenees and I'm sure many other places all over Europe must be huge too. Modern Europe is convenient, but it's a sterile, too easy and less fun place to be.
@@streaky81 going by coach...definitely not. You get toilets on every carriage on a train, you get great scenery. On coaches you get pit stops and dull motorways.
when I was a child i used to go Sicily every year with my parents. As flying was regarded as to expensive in them days we took the train every year. I remember in those days you could catch a train from Calais to Milan, and then Milan to Palermo. Three days and two nights but I loved every minute of those trips. Thanks for the posting as many happy memories came flooding back to me whilst I was watching the video.
Thanks for watching! It's amazing how it's changed and now it's taking the train that's the expensive option.
@@DylansTravelReports yes you hit the nail on the head there times change, and not for the better sometimes.
I love longer rail journeys as they give a sense of the size and landscape of the territory you are crossing you just cannot get on a plane trip. Great video showing this!
You promised us a scenic journey last week, but this exceeded all expectations. Sicily to London via multiple trains and two ferries was epic. I like these occasional "A Guide To" installments and remember your Amtrak journeys across America. I loved the sunset over the Mediterranean on the Sicilian leg, the Alps and the clever Eurostar insert with its peek at St. Pancras as an alternative not taken. There's an unspoken message in this adventure: Pack light!
His best video to. Date
Glad you're enjoying these videos 😁
@@DylansTravelReports You should really watch one of Geoff Marshall’s videos, Dylan!
The metro line between Hoek van Holland and Rotterdam used to be a railway. It once had international trains with coaches reaching as far as Moscow.
Once I saw one of those Russian cars there yes!
And on a closer distance, the convenience of a single through train from Amsterdam Centraal right to the pier at Hoek van Holland, without having to change trains on the way.
Yes, it’s so long ago that I last did the Harwich - Hoek v. Holland route (1990, I think) that it was NS operating the route - I was only going to Scheveningen via Den Haag that I had to change trains at Rotterdam CS anyway. Those were the days when I worked for BR so I could get an annual allowance of free travel on NS (actually, as retired staff I still can!).
@@arwelp That was in the days of Koningin Beatrix then on the route.
@@JISJ1964 Yes, we called her the “Queen Bee” :)
I was on holiday in gulianova,in italy.I took the same similar trip back to england, from gulianova to milan, then bus to turin where i took the same make train towards france. what catch my attention was from bardonechia , last border in italy to mudane. I was so excited to see those beautiful mountain, I even stop for a night in mudane before boarding a train to centra paris.then i catch a ferry to dover then train to london to my home as final destination.
Now I am going to try the same journey from palermo sicily to london. the same way you have travelled. very exciting trips and it worth the money spent.
when i was a young boy in London 1965, my school took us to Florence in Italy. what a trip ..London to Folkestone. boat across to Calais...board SNCF train sleeper to Florence via Basle (Switzerland) and stop for hour in Milan. then south to Firenze. great memory of a great trip. went to sleep in France and woke up in the Swiss Alps, beautiful. i love flying but what you get on a train journey is unforgettable.
Sometimes, especially for people who love trains, planes and boats, getting there is the adventure. I have been to Glasgow many times and while I can fly direct from Toronto I like to fly into London (though mainly for comfortable business class reasons) and take the train up a few days later.
I totally agree!
We did an Inter-rail trip around Europe for my 60th birthday, something I long to repeat! And the Sicilian crossing is definitely on our bucket list - but I would have gone home via the Eurostar; my daughter and her husband love the North Sea ferry crossing, but ferries and me don't mix!
I love this journey, Dylan! Sure, planes would be faster but look at all the scenery and adventure you miss. I wish we had train service like Europe's here in the States -- we are limited in locations, the timing can be ridiculous and the cost can be pretty prohibitive.
I appreciate your idea of making this a land cruise and spending time in each city where you must disembark/change trains. What a great idea.
Thanks so much for the lovely video. See you next Friday!
Glad you enjoyed! You can do a similar "land cruise" thing with Amtrak providing you're willing to stomach the 2-3 day segments of being on a train.
I mean, if the plane is flying in clear skies with no clouds in the way, then you can watch the scenery from above too. But I can't deny this was one hell of an adventure.
I like the overnight ferries .... wake up early in the morning to new scenery in a new location. The ferry into Stockholm is amazing as you wake up slowly cruising through the Swedish Archipelago.
I'm more than happy to take an overnight ferry. I avoid overnight trains, or routes that involve a lot of time in tunnels, because I want to see the scenery.
Wonderful. I traveled to a place North of Rimany about 7 years ago by train. Set me up for 3 months traveling all over Europe in 2016. Then in 2018 took cycles to Switzerland by train. Highs, lows, but most of all so much if a real journey and great experience. Flying is a completely generic experience. I love train travel because you are in charge (and have all your belongings accessible)
Wonderful video Dylan, anyone who wants to get from A to B quickly has no sense of adventure for me, this is how travel should be done, love the variety and the various types of trains and boats, brilliant way to spend half an hour or so
It's one of the unique journey had happened 👍 beautiful
Love from 🇮🇳
Having traveled extensively in Europe I can say that the trains there can't be compared to just about anywhere in the world. That ride from Gare Du Nord to Rotterdam is amazing. The RER trains are the French answer to express trains. In cities like New York the express trains are part of the subway. Instead of adding tracks, which would be very expensive, they just used regular rails to crate the RER, they are in, or close to all the major stations, and most attractions as well.
That was one hell of a journey Dylan. Breaking it up with a few days in each city would be the only way for me! 🍸🍸
I'd break it up as well, but he's a young guy that can still sleep on benches and live off vending machine food :)
@@54northca Indeed he is! While not a geriatric I do like good food and quality sheets when I travel. I’m heading to Italy this summer for a month now that American’s are allowed to travel in Europe. I hope to follow Dylan’s tip as I negotiate the boot. 🍸🇮🇹
WOW - what an experience!! I enjoy train travel, but am not sure I would have been up for your itinerary. I did learn some things. Was not aware that you could take a train from Sicily to Rome! Thank you!
Nice one Dylan would love to get you down under to experience some of our vast land
Thank you for that enlightening vlog
I've done a very similar trip from London to Palermo via Paris last year! Trip of a lifetime and thoroughly recommended 👌
Brilliant video Dylan thanks for putting it together. In the 18th century this would have been called a grand tour!!! I'd love to do it travelling south as far as Rome and, as you say staying a couple of days in Paris, Milan, Florence. I can dream!!! Cheers.
Thanks for sharing this marathon journey Dylan. The best feature for me was the approach to the Alps on the Italian side followed by the French side after exiting the tunnel. Quite a variety of seating in the trains travelled. The painted rails in Italy reminded me that Melbourne (and other parts of Australia) isn't the only place to experience heatwave conditions that require such a strategy, although our painted rails are limited to certain locations where a broken rail would cause a major problem.
I didn't get around to posting a comment on last week's Class 397 adventure due to other distractions last weekend but thoroughly enjoyed it as well.
The one downside to it was that it reminded me of my rail "journey to hell" from York to Stourbridge Town when my suitcase lost its wheels, I had two extra changes of trains than anticipated due to rail operating issues (loss of path behind an all stations Pacer from Stalybridge causing the Manchester Airport service to get terminated at Manchester Victoria) and my planned rail photography at Crewe was truncated due to the suitcase issue.
You're lucky to be young and travel relatively light. I had to be self sufficient for a 7 week trip from Australia, hence the suitcase. Never mind! I can chuckle about such things now and the stories make great conversation with friends. Keep up the good work and I look forward to next week's instalment. Cheers from Michael downunder.
I have done Brussels to Palermo by train 6 years ago. 3 days too, and no overnight travel, to make sure I see all the scenery. First day Brussels to Zurich (via Luxembourg), second day Zurich to Roma (via Gotthard pass, summit line, no tunnel yet), and third day Roma to Palermo with change in Napoli. Enjoyed every bit of it. I have plans to go to by train to Tbilissi and Yerevan when the pandemic is over.
This was one of a kind video. It really felt like I was traveling along-so informative. It looked so normal but actually during Covid.
Great summary video. Another alternative (still without airplane) is after arriving in Paris, take a Eurostar directly to London or take a Coach directly to London (usually via Channel Tunnel) or if you want more scenic, take a train to Calais and take a ferry to Dover and from Dover take a train to London.
Thanks!
Or as in my case Paris to Brighton UK. Train to Rouen, then Dieppe to Newhaven ferry, and train home.
Wow what a lovely journey. A little adventure. Maybe one day to try it. Thanks for sharing ☺️
It's a very enjoyable video. It reminds me of the 1970s boat train I took from London Victoria to Rome Terminal via Folkstone/Boulogne ferry, then boarding the train there where it calls first at Amiens, then Paris Gare de Nord. The same train is then shunted to Paris de Lyon, then fast to Dijon, Chambery, Modane, Bardonecchia, Torino Porta Nuova, Geneva, Pisa, Viareggio, Livorno and Roma Termini.
From Roma Termini, I was able to travel as south as Siracusa in Sicily. In 1982, I did just that, except that this train from Boulogne bypassed Paris altogether, to stop at Lille (terminus). Then through Eastern France to Basel, Lucerne and Milano. From Milano, the train stopped at Roma Tibertino (a through station) for Napoli Centrale. After visiting Pompeii, I proceeded onwards to Siracusa.
Memories! Wonderful memories!
That was an Epic Journey Dylan! Back in 1978, I flew to Sicily for a two week holiday and while staying at the resort of Naxos on the East Coast, I took a train ride up to Messina. As this train pulled into Naxos Gardena, I realised that there was something special about this train, which had started it's journey from Syracuse, from further South. The coaches were in the original brown colour, the coach door that pulled up right by where I was standing, would of really got you so excited Dylan, as this was a proper International Train Service, Napoli, Roma, Milano and stations to Boulogne-sur-Mer, which in those days, still had Ferries to the UK. Step into my "Time Machine" Dylan :)
From Palermo to London and not once did I feel lost. Your trip details give us a lot of confidence to do it ourselves, though I would enjoy just traipsing along behind you. You've given me ideas for doing a similar trip, adding days here and there. I will be going back to Sicily to explore more by train. I spent a week driving there and while I love the region I won't ever drive there again. Did the Strait of Messina by rail once, a major bucket-list move that I would be happy to repeat. A great report here that opens my eyes to some new possibilities. Tnx!
Glad you enjoyed the experience 😁
This reminded me of my 10 days of traveling the trains and one ferry from Venice > Florence > Room > Amalfi coast. Thanks for reminding me.
Good progress the trip from Rome to Milano used to take about 15 hours in the past..Thank you very much and have a most wonderful evening 🤗🤗
There is something about boat and train travel that's so much more comforting than being 50,000 feet in the air. Maybe it's the connection to on ground life or the gentle rocking of the train cars or if by boat the smell of sea air and spray. Being late or early doesnt seem to matter , no deadlines .
I made some trips like this when used to live in Czech Rep. (1999-2002). The longest was Prague> Schwandorf> Munich> Salzburg> Wien> Sopron> Budapest> Bucarest> Ruse> Sofia> Ruse> Kyiv> Przemysl> Wroclaw> Mezimesti> Turnov> Prague, it included two bogie changes (1435/1520 mm and back), spending up to 7 days in Munich, Sofia and Kyiv
Hi Dylan excellent train and fairy ride!!! I really enjoyed the video!! Take care see you next week!!!
Agreed, M ... but I prefer ferry rides! I am straight. Stay free. R 🍻😎
Glad you enjoyed 😁
Wow SPECTACULAR VIDEO !
Yes many times when I used to live in London .From London to Sicily Catch the ferry to Calais then the train All the way to Palermo. That was a vacation in itself.happy traveling I live in Australia now.
I have to admit the thought of turning this into a land cruise as you suggest is well worth thinking about.
"...have a beer, or 6..." that would be me but with cocktails! LOL I do love that you take a different approach to your trips. Far too many either go the fast route or something fancy that your average person will never do. Sure some times the fast and/or cheap way is what you need, but I much prefer to do something a bit different, to try something new and explore. Why spend all your money on some fancy first class ticket for something (airlines get outrageous at times), when you could use that money and have a unique trip like you just had!
The idea you mentioned for spending time in each city you end one leg of the journey is a great one, and something I would love to do once we are able to travel safely again. I am in the U.S. so not as easy for us here as you all over there, but it is something to work toward. One of these days, I will get my butt that way, and most likely not want to come back! LOL
A big thanks for the little tips you give. Be it certain metro routes you can take compared to the walk, which signs to follow, or even how to book the best fares. This is the kind of information that can make or break a trip at times, so much appreciated. :)
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing your views 😁
At least the weather has been promising, sunny and calm. Amazing video.
Thanks!
That is so awesome to see a train get on a ferry
Excellent, very informative. I've done a couple of overnighters, great fun
Excellent Dylan. I enjoyed this mammoth journey. You right. I would spend one or two days in each city to break the pace and enjoy myself. Thanks. Good traveling. Dana - Australia
Glad you enjoyed 😁
Would love to do this trip once the on board catering facilities are up and running. Love the ferry journeys too. Amazing views. Thanks for this inspiration.
Loved the train ride. I got to do one of those soon! Thank you for sharing.
Cool trip. Closest I came to that was back in May 2010. En-route from Warsaw to Trinidad, I landed at Heathrow - the last arrival before European airspace closed because of the Icelandic volcanic eruption. Four days in a hotel in Heathrow and a dash to Gatwick proved fruitless, so I booked trains to get home. Gatwick to Victoria, tube to Elephant & Castle to spend the night with my son, then next day tube to St Pancras, Eurostar to Brussels, Thalys to Aachen and finally an overnight sleeper to Warsaw via Berlin, Copenhagen, back to Berloin and Poznan. Great fun, despite dangerous overcrowding on some of the trains (notably the Thalys, where I stood pinned against a door as we hit 250-odd kph.... )!
I suggest a train/ferry trip from London to Italy Sicily and then the island of Malta (ferry from Catania)
The views were amazing,I cant wait for you to upload another video
Wow!! What an epic train journey!! Thanks so much for sharing.
Great video showing your 3 day trip all the way from southern Italy up to London all by rail and sail no flights this would be a good idea for the future spending a few days or weeks going through several countries in one trip
Wow, a truly awesome trip! Many thanks!
Magnificent! I’d certainly consider doing this and as you suggested stopping longer in each of the change train cities! But I think it would take me a year to get over the whole experience and fully appreciate it all.
Thanks Dylan. Planning trip to Patras in Greece & will take on board your helpful suggestions
That was GREAT FUN - if you've got the time and travel light it's an adventure.
Love London so much thanks for sharing friend greeting from Sihanoukville Cambodia 💕
nice, love to watch the stops and comments...
I thoroughly enjoyed watching your trip, thank you so much. I cannot wait for travel to open up fully again soon
"..a beer or 6" 🤣
So lucky to have a wonderful journey in these times of covid...cheers
Absolutely stunning journey and a great report as always.
Thumbs up!
Thanks!
Great video and I might try this one. Fly down, get the trains back. If you're looking for another multi-leg adventure, I recommend Leeds - Hull - Rotterdam - Duisberg - Hamberg - Copenhagen - Stockholm - Narvik
A fantastic journey. Greetings from first city of this video, Palermo! 💪
Beautiful city!
What an amazing trip. Thank you for sharing it with us.
24:45 Well-played Sir. There’s a pork chop’s worth of vitamins in each of those 6! Capital Man!
I did Palermo to London years ago. After being held up at gunpoint in Palermo., the train to Messina travelled at an average 20kph. The train from Milam had no seats, so I had to stand in a corridor. I got to Ostend 30 mins after the last ferry lefr, after travelling around random areas of France for hours and hours. I had to wait until the next day, without means. But, the journey was a total hoot. In recent years, I prefer to do such trips on my motorbike.
That was and exciting trip Dylan. That what I used to do when I was younger !!! :):):)
Ultimate rail cruise for me was taking the VIA Rail "Canadian" across Canada from Toronto to Vancouver. Neither cheap nor fast, but with the quality of the meals (included in all sleeper fares) and the outstanding service from all the on-board crew (pre-pandemic journey) it was easy to treat the experience as a 4-night cruise on rails.
I've done Helsinki to Thurso and back, staying overnight on a Ferry (Turku - Stockholm and opposite direction on the way back), in Hamburg, Brussels, Grantham, Newcastle, Glasgow, Thurso, Paisley and Cardiff. Nice trip was that.
What a fabulous journey!
Fantastic Dylan, well done 👍
Thanks!
Great video!
This is so good
hello Dylan incredible journey, I'm from Palermo I hope you enjoyed my city. hi Christian.
Very impressive trip. Thank you for all of your wonderful videos.
What a great vid and a wonderful journey Dylan, thank you for making and sharing. 👍
Because I watch your channel so much Dylan I knew the routes and services you were going to use
😱WOW!
GREAT Trip Report with a very interesting route, thumbs UP👍
Thanks!
Fabulous video Dylan. I would love to follow in your footsteps. Thanks for sharing.
I would enjoy this trip as part of a holiday. In fact, i would use the North Sea Ferry from Rotterdam to Hull for another night out. Nice trip report, Dylan.
Thanks!
Wow im watching the video of you to Paris to Belgium Bruxelles Zuid station wow good job Dylan's Trave Reports :D
Really enjoyed joining you on such a fabulous adventure.
Glad you enjoyed 😁
that is amazing dylan
Excellent video! God bless you Dylan and safe travels my friend!
Thanks 👍
Brilliant video, thanks for sharing. I've done a few trips like this. Malaga to Edinburgh a couple of times and Budapest to Edinburgh too. Perfect way to travel.
Thanks Dylan, that was quite a trip , wow. Weather was great. That was also in hight of the pandemic so thanks for sharing and stay safe.😷
Glad you enjoyed 😁
Dylan, I enjoyed the video. It was nice seeing the different cities. Hoping once I have my surgery done and rehab. Hoping to travel a bit and see London and some of the other cities in your travels.
Glad you enjoyed 😁
My most adventurist was French TGV from Strasbourg to Paris Gare de l'Est; walk 15 minutes to Gare du Nord; Eurostar to London St. Pancras; walked next door for the Tube to Heathrow; and flew to Dublin. Eleven hours.
Very interesting 👍
This is my kind of adventure, Dylan, I envy you so much. Flying does not compare at all. A beer, or six!😁🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺
Brilliant Dylan, really enjoyed this, and would consider doing this myself, great channel 🙏🚂😊
Thanks 😁
In 2019,me and my brother, went by rail the Journey was.
Stockholm - Malmö(night train) , Malmö - Berlin (boat from Ystad on the night train, then we stayed a couple of nights ) Berlin - Basel(night train) , Basel - überlingen (visited friends for a couple of days) überlingen - Zürich, Zürich - interlaken (stayed a couple of days) , interlaken - Sargans three different trains including a steam train) , Sargans - vienna(night train, then stayed a couple of days) , vienna - Berlin(night train) , Berlin - Malmö (with the boat and night train) once again) then Malmö - Stockholm
All and all just over 2 weeks.
Sounds like fun 😁
Wow long but detail,very helpful,I had only done Milan to Zurich and Bern,wants try Italy and Croatia
Love from italy 🇮🇹 😍
An awesome trip thoroughly enjoyed watching this
The first leg to Roma seemed to be a bargain, considering the time and complexity. Like other posters, I'd do this trek in installments, staying over in each city for a day or two before boarding the next train.
Yay!! You got on the Harwich to Manningtree to Liverpool Street route and you came past me, in Colchester..... I told you these trains were utter crap!
A great but expensive way to do it. That said I’m a big fan of the Stena Rail and Sail from London to any Dutch station. The pre covid inclusive fares are great value and can include dinner and breakfast and actually included a one day unlimited travel ticket for Dutch railways for your day of arrival.
Thank you for sharing an incredible journey
Glad you enjoyed it!
A perfect video,the scenery was wonderful!
This is a very good documentation of your journey, Dylan. One suggestion is do a program of each jouney and then put together one terrrifc trip back to London. This is well worth the travel.
But I agree that you should spend a little time in each city where you change trains. Over all, great journey! Be safe as always.
Thanks!
This was absolutely brilliant review. You've earned my sub for that cheers 🍻
Thanks 😁
Fine journey! 😃 Dylan good job. Greet from Warsaw!