Transportation to and within Europe presented some new experiences for me. This article introduces the transportation section, where the follow-up articles will delve into the particulars.
Getting To and From Europe
As a solo older woman traveler going to Europe for the first time at age 69 and counting, I was a somewhat experienced plane traveler. I don’t like it, but I know how to do it. It’s not really different traveling to and from Europe, with a couple of exceptions.
First, I learned that when you go to Europe from the U.S., the overwhelming majority of flights board in the afternoon or early evening and arrive in Europe from early to late morning the next day. Overnight on a plane was something I hadn’t experienced before my Trip 1.
I am not one who sleeps on a plane. I might rest, but never sleep. I am a fairly nervous flyer, but also one who needs to sleep lying down flat under fairly ideal conditions. Yet I never feel like I can afford to spend enough to fly first class, where I might be able to get some sleep–except for the nerves part. I figure second class gets me to the same place at roughly the same time.
Second, as I planned for this trip, people and even books cautioned me about jet lag. I don’t think I’ve ever had jet lag as such, but I can sure wander around in a daze from sleep deprivation. That doesn’t keep me from having fun. On the first trip I was so excited to be in Europe that I wandered around Madrid thrilled to be there and having a great time after an hour or two. For my second trip I just didn’t plan anything for the day I landed in Vienna, so I enjoyed sunning myself, watching the Viennese enjoy ice cream cones and bench sitting on what I gather was one of the first spring days, and wandering around the heart of the city.
If you think you will be like me and land in the morning having had very little sleep, I suggest not planning anything important for that first day.
On the return trip, I have been able to get home in the course of one long day both time. Yes, I was tired because the clock at home might have said 6 pm, 7 pm, or 9 pm, but my body had been on European time is six or seven hours ahead of our time. So when I added maybe 7 hours to the arrival time at home, I realized I was going to want to stay up until about 4 am in the time zone I just left.
Even though I am a finicky flyer, I quickly vetoed the other option for getting to Europe without plane travel, which is going on an ocean liner. Taking that long do get there just didn’t do it for me.
How We Older Women Travel Between European Cities
Next let’s talk about inter-city transportation within Europe. Especially in Western Europe, the gold standard is train travel. Some people want to argue that you should take the budget European airlines between cities, but unless the train trip is extra long, I buy the argument that you can get to your destination just as fast on the train. This is true because most train stations are in the heart of the city, while we all know that airports can be miles out of town. So center city to center city, the train wins in my book. In addition, I could arrive at the train station 15 to 20 minutes before the train leaves, and arriving earlier will do no good because train track numbers are not announced that long before the train leaves the platform.
In the parts of the continent that I am visiting in 2026, trains are not readily available in some locations. The Balkan countries come to mind, but there are other pockets where this is true also.
This year I will be riding European inter-city buses, most of which are quite nice. Flixbus is a company rapidly gaining market share, and now they even sell other bus companies’ tickets. I hear these buses are much nicer than what you find in the States, so much so that they seem like a different transportation mode altogether. I have taken the bus to and from Bratislava from Vienna, so after this year’s more extensive use, I will have more commentary. I will just say that when I had to cancel several rides in 2023 due to the knee issues causing me to shorten the trip, the company could not have provided better service about promptly issuing the promised credit.
Some of you are just scratching your heads thinking you will just drive from city to city. I hear cars are the most practical way to get around among rural areas and small cities that are popular with tourists, such as the Cotswolds in England, some parts of Tuscany, the white town in Spain, the Loire Valley in France, and many others. However, I am not about to drive while traveling internationally, due to different traffic regulations, signs, and expectations, as well as the complications if damage (or a traffic ticket) occurred.
Moving Around Within a City
Now let’s talk about getting around in the city or town where you are staying. Each has its own options, but any place of any size will have some public transit choices. If a town is too small for that, it will be walkable unless you are getting pretty mobility impaired. (In that case, be sure to check with local tourism agencies to see if taxis or other hire car arrangements are possible.)
I take public transportation in my own city sometimes, and took it regularly when I worked downtown. Here’s a problem though. Many of you Americans just aren’t used to taking public transportation at home.
I suggest that if you live in a city that has some public transportation options that you never use, just make an occasion to be a tourist in your own town for a day or two. That will at least make you feel more comfortable that you can learn a system and use it satisfactorily. In Europe, people of all classes and stations in life use the same system and expect and demand cleanliness, punctuality, and reliability.
Taking a taxi is an option I have used occasionallyIn part that’s because I’m budget conscious and enjoy walking. The other consideration is that sometimes I haven’t been able to find or hail a taxi when needed. Part of that may be inexperience, but for example, I recall being in Rome where there supposedly are taxi stands and finding no taxis at the two or three stands I tried.
My taxi experiences are limited to one ride to a Michelin starred restaurant for lunch in Paris, a ride to the airport in early morning in Madrid, a ride from the train station to my hostels in Berlin and Antwerp on days when I was exhausted, and maybe another one or two I’ve forgotten. On this year’s trip I’m actually excited to take one of the famous black cab taxis in London for the last stage of my transport to the college dorm where I’m staying.
Much More to Say
That’s the quick survey of traveler transportation in Europe. I will be adding detailed articles about aspects of this important facet of your trip. Each new article title will be added below and link to the article. Good travels!