Europe Transportation Options, Part 1

Written By Wendy Stieg

This article provides a clear understanding of transportation in Europe.

You have your airfare, and you have set up your lodging for your trip to Europe. The next question on your mind is, how do you get around? Transportation matters more in Europe than in almost any other destination because it shapes how your trip actually feels. Cities are older and more compact, roads are narrow, and large vehicles were never meant to move easily through historic centers. The choices you make, be they trains, city transit, walking, rideshare, taxis, or renting a car, will affect your pace, your budget, and your stress level. This article focuses on what the available transportation options in Europe are, why you might choose one over another (or combine them), and when it makes sense to start thinking about booking. We’ll also point you to official sources for transportation information in several major Western European cities. We will address how to find pricing, how to book, where to purchase, and more, in Part 2.

For those still searching for airfare, try this article. For those seeking lodging, here are some articles on understanding options and booking lodging.

High-speed Trains in Spain

Trains: Regional vs. Intercity

Trains are one of the most practical ways to travel in Europe, especially between cities. They are designed to work with the way European cities are laid out, with stations typically located in the city center, so you arrive where you actually want to be.

Travelers generally encounter two types of trains. Regional trains cover shorter routes with frequent stops, connecting cities to nearby towns and smaller destinations and serving daily local travel. Intercity trains connect major cities over longer distances with fewer stops and offer faster, more comfortable travel for city-to-city trips.

Although gas is more expensive in Europe, cost alone does not explain why trains are so widely used. Trains are the primary way many Europeans travel longer distances because they are efficient, reliable, and integrated into everyday life. Countries such as Spain have intentionally encouraged train travel over flying due to lower fuel use, environmental benefits, and overall value for travelers.

Trains also eliminate many of the challenges of driving. There is no traffic to manage, no parking to find, and no need to navigate unfamiliar roads. You bring your luggage with you, settle in, and arrive directly in the heart of a city. In much of Western Europe, it is entirely possible to travel extensively without renting a car.

Lisbon Fenicular Tram

City Transportation: Metro, Tram, and Bus as One System

Once you arrive in a European city, most of your day to day movement will happen on city transportation. This usually means a combination of the metro, trams, and buses. While these systems look different, they are designed to work together as a single network rather than as separate choices.

The metro is typically the fastest way to move across a city, covering longer distances and running frequently both underground and above ground. Trams operate at street level, connecting neighborhoods, historic districts, and areas the metro may not reach. Buses fill in the remaining gaps and often run late into the evening. Each plays a distinct role, but together they form a complete system.

Our experience buying a city pass and loading it with enough credit to get around eliminated the need to rent a car in Madrid and mostly eliminated the need to use rideshare services. In the U.S., we rely on rideshare for many trips. In Madrid, however, we only used it once, after getting on the wrong train, getting off at the wrong stop, and realizing we needed to reach our destination in time to check in. That was the moment we opted for a rideshare. More on that later in this article.

These systems work well because they are coordinated. Routes overlap intentionally, schedules connect, and tickets or passes typically apply across all three. You are not meant to choose one and ignore the others. Instead, you use the combination that fits where you are going that day.

City transportation is ideal for daily movement within a city and for reaching nearby areas just outside the historic center. For many travelers, a reloadable transit card becomes one of the most economical and convenient tools for getting around. Once you understand how the system works, moving through a city becomes routine and surprisingly easy.

Fiat rental in Lisbon. Photo by Wendy Stieg

Renting a Car: When It Helps and When It Hurts

Ahhh, renting a car. This is an important decision to think through. Renting a car in Europe can be useful, but it is rarely the default choice, especially in cities. The role a car plays depends almost entirely on where you are traveling and how you plan to move from place to place. Understanding this early can prevent a lot of unnecessary stress.

In a European context, a rental car offers flexibility primarily in rural areas, small towns, and regions where public transportation is limited. It allows you to move on your own schedule, explore places that are not well connected by train or bus, and reach destinations that would otherwise require complicated transfers. In these settings, a car can feel freeing and efficient. For example, we chose to rent a car because we had a short stay, wanted to travel between Lisbon and the Algarve, and needed to limit the amount of time spent in transit. I would love to repeat that trip with more time, more trains, and fewer cars.

That same flexibility often turns into friction in cities. Historic city centers were not designed for modern traffic. Streets are narrow, parking is limited and expensive, and driving rules can be unfamiliar. Add congestion zones, restricted access areas, and the stress of navigating an unfamiliar city, and a car can quickly become more of a burden than a benefit.

Renting a car usually makes the most sense after you leave a city, not while you are staying in one. Many travelers find it easier to use trains to move between cities, then pick up a car only when heading into the countryside. Cars are also useful in specific regions such as rural areas, wine regions, coastal areas, and some islands where public transportation is limited or infrequent. In these settings, a car supports exploration rather than complicating it.

The key is not whether renting a car is good or bad, but whether it fits the part of the trip you are on. When used intentionally and at the right moment, a car can enhance a trip. When used by default, especially in cities, it often creates unnecessary obstacles.

Views from our hike up to the top of Serra de Sintra. Photo by Wendy Stieg

Walking and Short Rides: The Hidden Foundation

One of my favorite memories is of staying in Sintra and walking to the base of the Serra de Sintra, where visitors begin the climb up the steep hill toward Castelo dos Mouros and Pena Palace. As we started up, we passed a group of tuk tuk drivers who called out to ask if we wanted a ride. We love walking. We walk everywhere and genuinely enjoy the exercise. We also come from Colorado, and an almost sea-level hill, even a steep one, felt just about perfect for a morning walk.

“You will want us pretty shortly,” they shouted after us as we declined and kept going.

Tuk Tuk Driver in Lisbon, Portugal

Walking is the hidden foundation of how most European cities actually work. It connects everything. It gives you exercise, slows your pace, and allows you to notice things you would miss if you were moving quickly from one place to another. Walking also reduces the need for constant planning. Once you are on foot, the city starts to make sense.

This is also where short rides come into play. Ride shares, taxis, and tuk tuks are best thought of as supplements to walking, not replacements for it. They are especially helpful for steep climbs, longer distances at the end of the day, or moments when time matters. A tuk tuk, in particular, is a small, open-air motorized vehicle commonly used in historic areas where streets are narrow and parking is limited. It is typically used for short rides and can be a convenient alternative to walking on steep or winding routes.

The beauty of exploring cities this way is that walking, combined with short rides when needed, reduces complexity and supports a slower, more grounded experience. You are not locked into a single mode of transportation. Instead, you move fluidly, choosing what makes sense for that moment, that distance, and that part of the day.

Water Taxis, less commonly used, but more fun!

How to Decide What Fits Your Trip

The best transportation choices are the ones that match the kind of trip you are actually taking. Length matters. A short trip with multiple locations often benefits from trains and city transportation, while a longer stay allows more flexibility and room to slow down. The number of places you plan to visit also plays a role. Moving every day creates different transportation needs than staying in one place and exploring outward.

Where you are spending most of your time matters just as much. City-focused trips tend to work best with trains, walking, and local transit. Countryside travel, coastal regions, and smaller towns may require a car for part of the journey. Many trips benefit from a combination of both, using trains to move between cities and adding a car only when public transportation no longer makes sense.

It is also worth being honest about your comfort level with navigation and movement. Some travelers enjoy figuring things out as they go, while others prefer predictable routes and fewer decisions. Neither approach is better. The goal is to choose transportation that supports how you want to experience your days rather than creating unnecessary friction.

Most European trips work best when you combine options instead of committing to a single mode of transportation. Walking, city transit, trains, and occasional short rides all work together. When you choose transportation intentionally, it fades into the background and allows the experience itself to take center stage.

Double-Decker Bus in London

Where to Find Official Transportation Information

Once you understand the transportation options, the next step is knowing where reliable information lives. In Europe, most transportation is managed by official city or national systems. These sources are the most accurate places to understand routes, schedules, and how different systems work. Another resource is the Best of Both Worlds Transportation Planner, linked here. 

City Transportation (Official Sources)

These official city websites provide system maps, route information, service updates, and guidance on how transportation works within each city. You may need to adjust your web browser so the language is correct.

Trains: Intercity and Regional

For travel between cities and regions, train systems are managed at the national level. These official rail operators are the best places to understand routes, travel times, and how train networks are structured.

Portugal

France

The Netherlands

Belgium

Italy

Spain

Germany

Independent Orientation Resource

This site is especially helpful for understanding how different train types work and how international routes connect before you begin booking.

Brief Bridge to Part 2

This clear mental map of transportation in Europe and shows you where accurate information lives. In Part 2, we will build on this foundation and walk through how to find routes, compare prices, decide when to book, and choose tickets or passes without overcomplicating the process.

Wendy Stieg
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European Transportation Options, Part 2
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Walking Lisbon