LondontoParis
St Pancras to Gare du Nord through the Channel Tunnel. No airport transfers and no long security queues: you arrive in the heart of Paris.
One of the lowest-carbon ways to cross the Channel
Eurostar
Sustainable travel across Europe
Travel slower. See more. Leave less behind.
Conscious Journeys is about making tourism more sustainable, starting with how we get there. Discover Europe's most rewarding train journeys, and how to travel well once you arrive.
Why go by train
Better for the planet, better for the trip
A fraction of the footprint
Per kilometre, national rail emits around 86% less than a domestic flight. On the Eurostar the saving is closer to 97%.
The journey is the holiday
Mountains, coastlines and vineyards out of the window. Time to read, talk, work or simply watch Europe go by.
Centre to centre
Stations sit in the heart of cities. No airport transfers, no liquids rules and far less waiting around.
The carbon maths
How your journey compares
Emissions per passenger-kilometre vary hugely between ways of travelling. Rail, and the electric trains of Europe's high-speed network in particular, sits right at the bottom.
For a 500 km trip, that's roughly 18 kg of CO₂-equivalent per person by train, against about 123 kg on a domestic flight.
Read the full comparison- Domestic flight246 g
- Petrol car, 1 person170 g
- Short-haul flight151 g
- Bus97 g
- National rail35 g
- Coach27 g
- Eurostar4 g
Rail highlighted in green. Source: Our World in Data, based on UK Government (DESNZ) 2022 emission factors. UK averages, rounded.
Featured routes
See all routesJourneys worth taking slowly
From the Scottish Highlands to the Italian lakes, these are some of our favourite rides.
ParistoBarcelona
A direct high-speed train south through Burgundy, the Rhône valley and Languedoc, then along the coast into Catalonia.
Mediterranean views for the final hours
SNCF (TGV)
GlasgowtoMallaig
Loch Lomond, the wild expanse of Rannoch Moor, Fort William and the Glenfinnan Viaduct, ending at a fishing port with ferries to Skye.
Often voted one of the world's great railway journeys
ScotRail — West Highland Line
ZurichtoMilan
Lakes, alpine valleys and the 57 km Gotthard Base Tunnel, the longest railway tunnel in the world, before descending into Ticino and Lombardy.
From Swiss lakes to Italian lakes in an afternoon
SBB / Trenitalia EuroCity
Conscious travel
Five principles for lighter travel
Sustainable tourism isn't about travelling less joyfully. It's about travelling in a way that the places we love can sustain.
Go by land
Choose the train or coach whenever the journey allows, and try a night train for longer distances.
Stay longer
Fewer, longer trips mean less travel per day of holiday and a deeper connection with each place.
Spend locally
Independent guesthouses, cafés and local guides keep tourism income in the community.
Travel off-peak
Shoulder seasons ease pressure on popular places and are often more enjoyable for you too.
Tread lightly
Pack light, refill a bottle, walk or cycle around town and respect the places you visit.
From the journal
All articlesIdeas, guides and how we work
The technology behind Conscious Journeys
A low-carbon trip deserves a low-carbon website. Here is the stack we use — from Astro and static hosting to Viamki for managing tour bookings — and why we chose each piece.
How to plan your first train trip across Europe
Rail passes or single tickets, when to book, how to handle connections and why night trains are worth a try: a practical guide for first-timers.
Train vs plane: what's the real carbon difference?
Per kilometre, a train journey typically emits a fraction of a flight. Here's what the numbers say, why rail is so efficient, and when the train really wins.
Your next trip could start at the station
Pick a route, pack light and let the journey become part of the holiday.
Find your route