Beyond the platform
Cities worth arriving early for.
Architecture, local cooking and time to explore. Make the cities around your train journey part of the holiday, with practical guidance for a thoughtfully paced stay.
60 city guides for a richer journey
These guides offer ideas for independent or separately arranged time before and after your train. Sightseeing, meals and transfers are included only when stated in your confirmed itinerary.
Adelaide
Explore Adelaide's Central Market, botanic garden and South Australian produce, with a relaxed city stay and clear transfer plans around your rail journey.
Explore the city guideIndiaAgra
Explore Agra beyond a single photograph, pairing the Taj Mahal with Agra Fort, local sweets and realistic sightseeing plans around your Indian rail journey.
Explore the city guideAustraliaAlice Springs
Explore Alice Springs' Desert Park, Telegraph Station and local food scene, with time for cultural context and practical planning around an Australian rail journey.
Explore the city guideNetherlandsAmsterdam
Enjoy an Amsterdam rail stay with canal walks, the Rijksmuseum, Dutch food and practical planning that leaves time for neighbourhood discoveries and easy departures.
Explore the city guideUnited StatesAnchorage
Explore Anchorage's museum, coastal trail and Alaskan seafood, with time to settle in and arrange practical connections before or after an Alaska rail journey.
Explore the city guidePeruArequipa
Explore Arequipa's Santa Catalina monastery, historic streets and distinctive picantería cooking, with a comfortable city stay around your Peruvian rail journey.
Explore the city guideNew ZealandAuckland
Discover Auckland's maritime museum, waterfront neighbourhoods and varied food, with practical time for city transfers before or after a New Zealand rail journey.
Explore the city guideCanadaBanff
Explore Banff's mountain setting, Bow Valley walks and Cave and Basin heritage, with practical transport and dining plans around your Canadian rail holiday.
Explore the city guideIndiaBengaluru
Discover Bengaluru's Lalbagh, Cubbon Park and breakfast traditions, with time to settle into southern India before boarding or after completing a rail journey.
Explore the city guideJapanBeppu
Explore Beppu's hot-spring districts, viewing pools and steam-cooked food, with thoughtful planning for bathing, local transport and your Kyushu rail journey.
Explore the city guideSpainBilbao
Discover Bilbao around a northern Spain rail journey, pairing riverfront architecture with the old quarter, Basque pintxos and practical planning for your departure.
Explore the city guideBelgiumBrussels
Explore Brussels around your train journey, with Grand-Place, historic galleries, chocolate and neighbourhood walks, plus a practical approach to station transfers.
Explore the city guideHungaryBudapest
Plan a rewarding Budapest rail stop with the Buda Castle District, Danube views, Hungarian cooking and enough time to explore both sides of the river.
Explore the city guideSouth AfricaCape Town
Explore Cape Town's Table Mountain setting and Bo-Kaap heritage with local food and a flexible city stay before or after a South African rail journey.
Explore the city guideTaiwanChiayi
Discover Chiayi's forest railway heritage, municipal museum and turkey rice, with clear planning for the city's separate rail stations and an Alishan journey.
Explore the city guideUnited StatesChicago
Make Chicago part of your rail holiday with the Riverwalk, architectural context and iconic local food, leaving practical time for Union Station and city transfers.
Explore the city guideNew ZealandChristchurch
Explore Christchurch's botanic gardens, Avon riverfront and Riverside Market, with a relaxed city stay and clear connections to your South Island rail journey.
Explore the city guidePeruCusco
Explore Cusco's Qorikancha, Sacsayhuamán and Andean food, with a measured city stay and clear planning for the different rail gateways serving the region.
Explore the city guideVietnamDa Nang
Discover Da Nang's Cham heritage, coastal setting and mì Quảng, with practical plans for station transfers and time before or after a Vietnamese rail journey.
Explore the city guideIndiaDarjeeling
Explore Darjeeling's tea culture, hillside streets and Himalayan railway heritage, with realistic time for mountain transfers and weather-dependent views.
Explore the city guideAustraliaDarwin
Discover Darwin's museum, market atmosphere and tropical food culture, with a flexible city stay and carefully planned transfers around your Australian rail journey.
Explore the city guideIndiaDelhi
Begin an Indian rail journey with time in Delhi, exploring Mughal architecture, the old city's food traditions and practical connections across the capital.
Explore the city guideUnited KingdomEdinburgh
Enjoy Edinburgh before a Scottish rail journey, exploring the Royal Mile, castle views and local cooking while allowing time for the city's hills and lanes.
Explore the city guideJapanFukuoka
Make Fukuoka part of your Kyushu rail journey with Ohori Park, yatai food stalls, Hakata ramen and a clear plan for station meetings and city connections.
Explore the city guideVietnamHanoi
Explore Hanoi's Hoan Kiem Lake, Temple of Literature and food culture, with time to enjoy the old streets and plan a comfortable connection to your train.
Explore the city guideVietnamHo Chi Minh City
Discover Ho Chi Minh City's historic centre, major museums and southern food traditions, with practical time for traffic and connections around a rail journey.
Explore the city guideTürkiyeIstanbul
Discover Istanbul with palace courtyards, Sultanahmet architecture, layered food traditions and careful transfer planning around the start or end of a rail journey.
Explore the city guideIndiaJaipur
Discover Jaipur's Amber Palace, city landmarks and Rajasthani cooking, with a thoughtful plan for excursions, transfers and time around your luxury rail journey.
Explore the city guideCanadaJasper
Plan a Jasper rail stay with mountain scenery, local dining and flexible outings, checking current park access and supporting the town's ongoing recovery.
Explore the city guideIndiaJodhpur
Explore Jodhpur's Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada and distinctive Rajasthani flavours, with practical planning for sightseeing around a luxury rail itinerary.
Explore the city guideJapanKyoto
Discover Kyoto's Kiyomizu-dera, Nishiki Market and distinctive food traditions, with a thoughtful rail-stay plan that respects local streets and daily life.
Explore the city guideZambiaLivingstone
Explore Livingstone's museums, railway heritage and Zambezi setting, with a thoughtful plan for local meals, waterfall visits and onward rail connections.
Explore the city guideUnited KingdomLondon
Make London part of your rail holiday with riverside walks, museums, markets and theatre, plus practical planning for the city's different railway terminals.
Explore the city guideSwitzerlandLucerne
Explore Lucerne's Chapel Bridge, old-town streets and Swiss cooking, with a relaxed city stay and well-planned connections to lakeside and mountain rail journeys.
Explore the city guideSpainMadrid
Explore Madrid's art district, Retiro Park and traditional cooking before or after a rail journey, with enough time for neighbourhood life and a smooth departure.
Explore the city guideIndiaMumbai
Explore Mumbai's waterfront, Gateway of India and island heritage with local food and sensible transfer planning before or after an Indian rail journey.
Explore the city guideUnited StatesNapa
Discover Napa's downtown riverfront, Oxbow Public Market and food culture, with thoughtful planning for a wine-country train experience and onward transport.
Explore the city guideJapanOsaka
Enjoy Osaka's castle setting, Dotonbori lights and local specialities, with a clear plan for stations, luggage and connections around a Japanese rail holiday.
Explore the city guideFranceParis
Plan time in Paris around your rail journey, with Seine-side walks, remarkable museums, neighbourhood bakeries and practical ideas for a relaxed city stay.
Explore the city guideMalaysiaPenang
Explore Penang's George Town heritage, hill views and multicultural food traditions, with realistic island transfers and time around your Malaysian rail journey.
Explore the city guideAustraliaPerth
Discover Perth's Kings Park, river perspectives and local produce, with practical planning for a comfortable city stay before or after an Australian rail crossing.
Explore the city guideCzechiaPrague
Discover Prague before or after your rail journey, with the castle district, river crossings, Czech and contemporary food, and a well-paced city itinerary.
Explore the city guideSouth AfricaPretoria
Discover Pretoria's Union Buildings, Freedom Park and varied dining, with hotel and transfer planning around the start or end of a South African rail journey.
Explore the city guidePeruPuno
Discover Puno's Lake Titicaca setting, nearby Sillustani and Andean food, with realistic time for lake excursions, altitude and connections to your train.
Explore the city guideItalyRome
Plan a Rome rail stay with the Colosseum, Pantheon, neighbourhood meals and practical time for transfers, turning a train gateway into a rewarding city visit.
Explore the city guideSpainSantiago de Compostela
Explore Santiago de Compostela around your rail journey, with its cathedral, market halls and Galician cooking, allowing time to enjoy the historic streets.
Explore the city guideSpainSeville
Make time for Seville's cathedral, palace courtyards and tapas culture around a rail journey, with a relaxed plan for neighbourhood walks and station connections.
Explore the city guideSingaporeSingapore
Begin or finish a Southeast Asian rail holiday in Singapore, pairing gardens and Chinatown with hawker food and careful planning for onward connections.
Explore the city guideAustraliaSydney
Enjoy Sydney's harbour, Opera House setting and The Rocks, with local food and practical time for a city stay around the start or end of an Australian rail journey.
Explore the city guideJapanTokyo
Explore Tokyo through Ueno, Asakusa and neighbourhood food, with practical planning for the city's many stations before or after an exceptional rail journey.
Explore the city guideIndiaUdaipur
Enjoy Udaipur's City Palace, Lake Pichola and Rajasthani flavours with a measured plan for sightseeing and connections around your Indian rail journey.
Explore the city guideCanadaVancouver
Explore Vancouver's Stanley Park waterfront and Granville Island food culture, with a well-paced city stay and clear connections around your Canadian rail journey.
Explore the city guideItalyVenice
Explore Venice before or after your train journey, from the Doge's Palace to quieter neighbourhoods, with Venetian food and thoughtful arrival planning.
Explore the city guideItalyVerona
Discover Verona around your rail journey, with the Roman Arena, attractive historic streets, local food and wine, and time to enjoy the city at leisure.
Explore the city guideZimbabweVictoria Falls
Plan a Victoria Falls town stay with waterfall viewpoints, Zambezi landscapes and flexible sightseeing, carefully matched to your rail and cross-border arrangements.
Explore the city guideAustriaVienna
Explore Vienna around your train journey with the Hofburg, Schönbrunn, coffee-house traditions and practical advice for a city stay at a comfortable pace.
Explore the city guideNew ZealandWellington
Explore Wellington's Te Papa, cable car views and café culture, with practical planning for a city stay and onward connections around your New Zealand rail journey.
Explore the city guideNamibiaWindhoek
Discover Windhoek's museums, architecture and local food traditions, with a practical city stay and transfer plan around a wider Namibian rail journey.
Explore the city guideJapanYufuin
Discover Yufuin's Lake Kinrin, hot-spring atmosphere and local dairy treats, with a thoughtful plan for station walks, ryokan stays and onward rail connections.
Explore the city guideSwitzerlandZermatt
Discover Zermatt's Matterhorn Museum, Gornergrat railway and Valais flavours, with flexible mountain plans and clear connections around a Swiss rail holiday.
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