Introducing a new way to connect with Rail Europe. For our friends in Canada and Mexico, you can now purchase tickets on your country’s dedicated website and www.raileurope.mx and www.raileurope.com/fr/, plus read in your choice of English, Spanish or French.

Featuring the same state-of-the-art online functionality as our American-version — www.raileurope.com (which is also available in Spanish and French), these sites let you plan a rail-cation even before packing your bags. You’ll still find the most extensive information available on European destinations and rail products. Plus, you’ll become fully immersed in the European experience via our interactive tools.

Want to talk to someone over the phone? We continue to offer toll-free numbers that allow you to speak to someone directly in French or Spanish.

Join us on the journey, le voyage, el viaje, and see why more travelers choosing rail.

Quoted as being one of the most romantic getaway cities, Paris truly is a wonderful city to spend time with your sweetheart. Each year, thousands of hands are asked in marriage at the Eiffel Tower, topping our list of romantic activities to do on your visit here! With a Paris Visite pass and Museum Pass, a Paris Pass,  or a special Wine tour, you can make the time you spend in Paris with your loved one, unbelievably romantic and memorable!

For this post, we have put together our top 10 romantic activities for you to do on your next trip to Paris. Of course, there are countless other activities but these are some of our favorites, enjoy!

10. Stroll through the Latin Quarter, hand-in-hand with your sweetheart. Treat yourselves to a traditionally French meal at any one of the fine restaurants that surround the area (at a fraction of the cost compared to the really fancy places found in the heart of Paris!).

9. Take a relaxing walk along the Seine while sharing a warm crêpe (filled with strawberries, or chocolate perhaps!). Stop and have your picture drawn or painted by one of the talented artists that fill the sidewalk. A few Euros for the drawing will be worth the masterpiece you bring home, with the love you share captured, forever, in the artist’s work.

8. Treat yourselves to a day in Strasbourg. Using a France Railpass, hop aboard the TGV and embark on your romantic journey. The train offers fantastic scenery to add ambiance to your trip – that is if you can keep your eyes off each other! Meander through the streets of Strasbourg taking in the German-French culture, a total transformation from what you see in Paris. A great city to spend a day in, and you can get there by train in just over 2 hours!

7. Indulge in a wine and cheese tasting lunch together. Learn what makes a bottle of wine a good bottle. Savor the wine along with some delectable cheeses and breads. Don’t forget to take notes as you may have an upcoming special event or occasion that you’ll want a good bottle of fancy French wine served at!

6. Take some time wandering down the long halls of the Louvre, embracing the magnificent work that fills the museum. Make a point of viewing the Mona Lisa and playfully debate the mood of the subject as well as who is being portrayed in the painting. Is it the artist’s lover? Self-portrait? You be the judge!

5. Hop on the RER with your Paris Visite Pass and head to the Palace of Versailles. Here you can have a look around the golden palace. Stroll at your leisure through the amazing gardens. Then be sure to gaze upon yourselves in the renowned Hall of Mirrors. Don’t forget to snap some pictures of the gorgeous fountains; they’ll make a nice addition to your photo album!

4. Stop by the Hotel Concorde La Fayette (with a reservation, of course!) and dine in the panoramic bar. Enjoy fantastically prepared food that is the perfect accent to the stunning views of Paris set before you. This will be a night all of your friends will be envious of when you return home!

3. Embark on a fabulous Tour of Paris with the luxury of hopping on and off at your leisure. Stop by sights such as l’Opéra, Notre-Dame, Champs Elysées, Trocadero and many more. A wonderful ending to this day of discovery would be a walk back to Trocadero to catch a glimpse of the city, twinkling with lights. From this vantage point you can snap some amazing shots of you and your love with the Eiffel Tower standing tall in the distance.

2. Delight in a wonderfully romantic dinner cruise along the Seine River. Watch notable attractions pass by as you and your special someone float on your own piece of paradise. Along with breathtaking scenery, you’ll enjoy a terrific meal, prepared by Chef Yves Gras of the French Culinary Academy, presented with a fine assortment of wine and cheese. Live music fills the vessel and you can enjoy a special moment on the dance floor. The evening ends at the base of the Eiffel Tower…it doesn’t get more romantic then that!

Topping off our Top 10 most romantic activities to do while in Paris list involves a climb up the Eiffel Tower. For years, Paris has been synonymous with love, and the Eiffel Tower always seems to emit that certain je ne sais quoi, “romantic vibe”…

1. There is no better way to conclude your tour of Paris than to reach the top of the Eiffel Tower with the one you love. Stare out across the city and embrace the vision before you. Take your partner in your arms and practice the fine art of kissing (which the French have perfected as well as they have wine making!). Not married or engaged? There’s no time like the present to pop the question! If you’ve already crossed that bridge,  simply enjoy the moment. Do whatever you need to do to ensure you will never forget the way you feel at that very moment!

Whether you’ve experienced some of the things on our list or not, one thing is for certain, you don’t need to look very hard for romance in Paris. Do whatever you think will be special, feel free to use some of our ideas or create your very own magical memories!

And remember, it doesn’t have to be Valentine’s Day to share tender moments with the one you love!

November 9, 1989. I still remember that day like it was yesterday. I was studying for my High School finals and had the TV on as background noise. All of  sudden, the movie was interrupted for the breaking news that changed the history of Germany and entire Europe.

Only a few weeks earlier I went to Berlin using an overnight train from Stuttgard to Berlin, now no longer an overnight journey due to the ICE High Speed Train. Nothing fancy, a 2nd class couchette cabin which had to be shared with 5 more travelers.

The train ride was not different to other overnight train rides to Italy or France until we reached Hof, the former border crossing between West and East Germany. There, East German border police boarded the train and after the locomotive had been exchanged to a Deutsche Reichsbahn (the former East German Railroad) locomotive the train continued its long non-stop journey through the rail corridor to West Berlin. In the meantime, the police officers inspected our passports and stamped them with the GDR immigration stamp. After that, one police officer was placed at each of the car ends for the remaining trip until we finally reached the check point between East Germany and West Berlin. After a short stop to drop off the agents the train continued to Berlin Zoo, the former main train station of West Berlin.

I experienced similar border crossings between Hungary and Austria or West Germany and Czechoslovakia before but this time it was a lot more emotional considering that this border crossing took place within the same nation.

The trip became even more emotional while in Berlin. As FRG citizens we had free range, could get on all S-Bahn trains, whether they went into East Berlin or other parts of West Berlin. We were able to cross check-points whenever we wanted but were also confronted more often and had literally “hands-on” experiences with the wall. At that point, nobody imagined what will happen just a few weeks later.

On that November evening I told my parents that I will go to Berlin right after my finals were over and one day later I went to the travel agency to make a reservation for a couchette berth.

The second trip to Berlin, was a historical trip as well, without knowing it. Though there were still two Germanys, there was only one or two border patrol agents on the train who quickly looked at our IDs (no more passports were required) and got off the train a few kilometers later in Plauen. The remaining trip was uneventful until the conductor woke us shortly before we reached Berlin Zoo Train Station.

Like before, I was able to cross check-points without being asked what I want or will do in East Berlin and even was able to chip off a small part of the wall as my own little souvenir.

One morning while I was there, I woke up to the news that as of that day, no IDs or border crossing papers were needed any more to travel between both parts of Berlin or Germany. I changed my plans and the first trip that day was by S-Bahn to Alexanderplatz, a wide open place with the tall TV Tower as landmark and a major border crossing point between East and West Berlin. When I arrived there, there were no passport control lines to queue up at, all gates were open and all booths were unstaffed and for the first time we had the feeling to travel within one and the same country.

For somebody who grew up in a divided country and family in both parts of it, a remarkable day which will be never forgotten.

To celebrate stories like Chris’ Rail Europe is offering 20% off a German Rail Pass with Free Berlin City Sighetseeing Tour purchased between October 20 and November 20, 2009.

Landed at CDG in Paris and used my France Rail Pass to board the RER train 30 minutes into the city center. Surprised as to how easy it was to get into Paris! I must say I was a little worried, good to keep in mind for future stop overs in Paris.

Then a guided tour of The Louvre by City Rama – our guide showed us the highlights, which were a tourist’s delight.

Afternoon: Touring Paris by bike or Paris a Velo is an experience! Biked to the 19th arrondissement and rode past Edith Piaf’s house! The tour takes you off the beaten path to explore the real Paris with lots of local flavor.

Day 2 Love, Love, Love Parisian Trains

Morning: Used Paris Visite Card to take the metro from my hotel the Lutetia to Gare de L’est where I boarded the TGV Est to Champagne. Arrived at Reims (great Cathedral!), to the heart of Champagne in 45 mins – love the TGV!

Noon:  Sampled some champagne at a little bar called Comme Champagne in Epernay – a guided taste tour of Champagnes for only 17 Euro. Best 17 Euros or $20 I’ve spent in a while.

Afternoon: Visited a family owned Champagne house called Jacquesson – the owner Jean-Herve Chiquet gave us a tour of his vineyards and his cellars – what great champagne they make!

Evening: Met with Philippe Wibrotte of the Comite Interprofessionnel du vin de Champagne – he can answer all your questions about champagne. Took the slow train home from Epernay to Paris – needed the hour on board to sit back, gaze out the window & reflect on my once in a lifetime day.

Day 3 At the destination stations

Morning: Used my Paris Visite Card & took the metro to Gare du Nord. Had the fast and comfortable experience of crossing the English Channel via Eurostar. Arrived in London 2 hrs and 15 mns later. The timing just felt like I was taking a commuter train and not going to a whole other country. Make sure you travel at a meal time – meals included in price of Leisure Select and Business class tickets, the food is actually worth it.

Afternoon: spent some time enjoying St Pancras – the “destination station” Now I see why everyone keeps calling it that.  More champagne..the station has Europe’s largest champagne bar.

Day 4 At London’s Langham Hotel (very posh)

London’s Langham Hotel reopened just months ago – beautifully refurbished and the food and service were excellent.

Day 5 Markets and Virgins (trains that is)

Just when I thought I’d seen everything London had to offer, I discovered the Borough market – take a guided tour by Celia Brooks Brown an American now living in London, her tour is such a treat. Save some time to shop, taste and explore the gourmet treasures of this charming old London market.

I always enjoyed the Virgin flights to London and now I can say I also enjoy the Virgin train experience from London to England’s North country. Had a freshly cooked breakfast on board the London/Manchester train – its a comfortable, quick and easy train ride with a BritRail Pass.

Day 6 Perfect ending with Tea at Betty’s of York

In some ways the best part of the trip! Took a train from Manchester to York. Took a walking tour of the city, along the old city walls, the Shambles, Mulberry Hall is a great place to shop. I learned that according to Medieval law it is still legal for a man from York to defend his city from a Scotsman by shooting at him with a bow & arrow!

Afternoon tea at Betty’s of York – a MUST for all visitors. The line is always out the door, so be prepared to wait, but it is so worth it! Try their scones with jam and clotted cream and don’t leave without one of their fruit cakes!

We strove to provide you with the highest level of detail and accuracy and we certainly hope you’ll find this tool helpful in planning your next trip to Europe.  We really think this map is one of kind and we spent countless hours aggregating geographical data from multiple sources in order to paint a comprehensive picture of the extent of the European rail network.

This should help you figure out the many destinations that you can reach across 50 countries and inspire you to see more of Europe than you thought was possible.

Here are some sample travel time for some of our flagship routes:

• Paris to London is only 2 hrs 15 minutes
• Paris to Brussels is only 1hr 17 minute
• London to Brussels is only 1 hr 51 minutes

This map is a first iteration and we are looking forward to bringing more enhancements and functionalities in the future. In the meantime, give our map a test run and tell us what you think or what you would like to see from the interactive map of Europe.  Please let us know how you use maps for planning your trip to Europe and give us some feedback!

So, zoom in and zoom out to your heart’s desire and learn about new cities that you had never heard of before and see how many destinations are accessible by train. Follow this link to visit our new interactive rail map.

In a nutshell, you purchase First-Class rail trips and confirm your reservations through an online account. Once you’ve made all of your reservations you simply take the confirmation number for each trip, located in your online account, type it into the self-service kiosk at the train station and out pops your ticket!

The great part is, there are no hidden fees, the price you pay for Anywhere Anytime France includes your ticket AND seat reservation. Plus, there are no shipping fees as you print the ticket locally. Sounds pretty cool right? Want to learn more? Click here!

For this issue of Explorer, to coincide with the launch of this innovative product, we bring you our top ten places to visit in France.

Below you will find our favorite top ten French cities to visit on your trip to France. We hope this list will inspire you to travel to some of these wonderful cities to truly embrace French culture and cuisine!

10. Marseille – This is the 2nd largest city in France and the country’s premier port. Though there are several museums at the disposal of travelers to Marseille, most prefer to simply wander the eccentric streets and embrace the city first-hand. We suggest taking a stroll down La Canebière, it leads to the Vieux-Port. In the port you are in for a treat with crafts and vendors all about. And the best part is, Marseille is highly accessible by train!

9. Bordeaux – Credited with being one of the world’s most important wine-producing areas, Bordeaux is a great city to spend some time in. You can take a 2-hour walking tour, provided by the local tourist office, or be adventurous and simply traipse down the streets on your own. There is a lot to see in this city, and of course, fantastic wine to be had!

8. Caen – Now a bustling cosmopolitan city, Caen endured great damage during the invasion of Normandy in 1944. Many travelers have a desire to visit Caen to see where relatives may have been stationed during WWII. Also, many want to visit the memorials around the city. A trip to Caen is a trip that will not soon be forgotten. Caen is also a great stepping stone to the landing beaches, located about 20 minutes away.

7. Lourdes – Each year the city of Lourdes receives millions of visitors from all around the world. Lourdes is nestled in a valley in the southwestern part of the Hautes-Pyrénées. Many Catholics pay homage to this revered city as it is believed that Bernadette Soubirous was witness to the appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary, eighteen times.
You certainly do not have to be Catholic to appreciate all that this mystifying city has to offer though, all are welcome!

6. Lyon – The best base for exploring the Rhône region, Lyon is also France’s 3rd largest city. Lyon is especially known for its mouth-watering cuisine and delicacies. Dishes such as Lyon sausage, quenelles and tripe Lyonnais are known worldwide. Come to Lyon and don’t forget to bring a hearty appetite with you! After a great meal, be sure to do some shopping, especially for silk as Lyon is one of the world’s silk capitals.

5. Aix-en-Provence – A visit to Aix must include a walk down cours Mirabeau, the main street in the city. This street is one of Europe’s most beautiful, a very relaxing way to spend an afternoon. Aside from carefree walks, there are also several museums and churches that you can pay a visit to. Aix is a great destination for the laid-back traveler.

4. Nice – Come to the city that averages 300 days of sunshine, you’re bound to have nice weather! Nice is the capital of the Riviera. Due to its spectacular sunshine and relaxed living, Nice has attracted many artists and writers. If you plan on visiting the French Riviera, Nice is one of the most affordable places to call home for a few days. And using the train, you can take day trips to other nearby Riviera cities.

3. Strasbourg – This city is home to the European Parliament. Unfortunately this cosmopolitan city is sometimes overlooked. It is host to France’s oldest Christmas Market and has often changed hands between France and Germany through the years.
After the 2 hour and 20 minute train ride from Paris, you will find yourself in Strasbourg. This city is famed for being the capital of Alsace and the birthplace of pâté de foie gras. Full of history, you’ll not want to leave Strasbourg off your itinerary.

2. Avignon – Back in the 14th century, Avignon was cited as the capital of Christendom. During what was known as the Babylonian Captivity, the Pope lived in Avignon. The legacy left behind makes Avignon one of Europe’s most beautiful medieval cities. Avignon today is a cultural center. You will see painters and writers all about as you make your way through the streets. For the museum buffs, no worries, there are plenty of great museums to check out in Avignon!

1. Paris – Quoted as being one of the most romantic getaway cities, Paris truly is a wonderful city to spend time in. You can take some time wandering down the long halls of the Louvre, embracing the magnificent work that fills the museum or, hop on the RER with your Paris Visite Pass and head to the Palace of Versailles. Here you can have a look around the golden palace. Of course you have to make your way eventually to the Eiffel Tower! There is so much to see and do in Paris, you will have no trouble at all filling your time in this capital city!

France truly is a magnificent country and with Anywhere Anytime France, travel around the country is easier and more affordable then before! You can use Anywhere Anytime France to schedule train trips between some or all of the cities mentioned above. As you decide what to do first, simply login to your Anywhere Anytime France online account and confirm your reservations. On the flip side, if your plans should change, you have up until 1-hour before your confirmed train departure to make changes to it–it just doesn’t get more flexible than that!

You can explore everything from big cities to small villages, indulge in rich cuisine and fine wines and embrace some of the world’s finest art collections. France is your gateway to all of this and more and the train is what can help make your dream trip, a reality.

Discover more about France and all it offers its visitors.

Watch videos and even read sample itineraries for France travel. Once you’ve jotted down a few spots you’d like to see, let us help you with your rail needs. Whether it be a pass or ticket, Rail Europe is at your service. Need reservations? No problem! And for those of you wanting ultimate flexibility, check out Anywhere, Anytime France.

Rail Europe brings France right to your fingertips, making the perfect train journey, only a click away.

In recent years, Austria has become a gourmet hotspot for many.

The best way to experience all aspects of Austrian cuisine is to travel around the country and there is no better way to accomplish that than by train! Our Austria Railpass will give you the flexibility you need to see it all, at a price that will still allow you to splurge on some nice meals along the way.

For this issue of Explorer, our Top Ten list focuses on our picks of some of the best dishes to try while in Austria. Don’t be shy, embrace the culture that surrounds you and experience the great flavors of Austria!

Due to the regional differences in ingredients and influences, we’ve broken our list down into regional dishes. Guten appetit!

10. Carinthia – The most sought after delicacy of this region is undoubtedly Carinthian Kasnudeln. There are over 200 variations of this dough pocket full of goodness! The main ingredients are mashed potatoes, onions, curd cheese, leek and parsley, however, the best-kept secret of this dish is the filling, so you cannot be too sure of exactly what’s inside! Be adventurous though and you’re sure to enjoy! Popular cities in this region are Klagenfurt and Villach.

9. Styria – In this region, you should definitely try to taste something prepared with pumpkin seed oil. The Styrian pumpkin seed oil is a true delicacy in Austria. Having a mild nutty taste, it is terrific on salads, or you may find it mixed in with local menus. Trust us, after tasting this “green gold”, as it’s known in Austria, you’ll want to bring a bottle home with you! A true delight to awaken your taste buds. A great city to visit in this region is Graz.

8. Tyrol – If you find yourself in Innsbruck, Kitzbuhel or St Anton, then you’re in the Tyrol region. In these parts, you should definitely try the Tiroler Leber mit Polenta, a delightful dish! This meal is made of veal or beef liver with onions, “speck” (a special cured/cubed ham), capers, lemon juice and white wine. It is then served on top of a dish of polenta. The flavors infuse together creating a unique flavor that will leave you satisfied at the end of your meal (but of course you’ll still have room for some dessert!).

7. Voralberg – Taking the train to Feldkirch, Bregenz or Bludenz? Treat yourself to a tasty dish of Schlutzkrapfen. While it may be tricky to say, it is very easy to eat the whole dish! This delicacy is well-known in the Voralberg region. It is a spinach stuffed pasta pocket, similar to a ravioli. It is served with melted butter on top with some parmesan cheese. It is a great meal for kids as most kids enjoy a good ravioli! A simple meal with extraordinary flavor.

6. Burgenland – A visit to the Burgenland region, including cities of Eisenstadt and Rust, is an opportunity for you to experience Burgenlandische Gaenseleber. This is goose liver that has been simmered with onions and local spices. It is delicious and definitely something to try while you’re exploring this “land of castles”.

5. Salzburg – Most trips to Austria include a stop in Salzburg, found in the Salzburg region, and yours should be no exception! Of course, the surrounding area has plenty to see and do that will keep you busy, but you’ll need to stop for some food eventually. We recommend treating yourself to some Kasnocken. These are amazing cheese dumplings. They have such an incredible taste, you’ll find it hard to stop eating them! Also, due to the location, freshwater fish are also a favorite, especially trout.

4. Upper Austria - In the Upper Austrian region you’ll visit cities such as Gmunden, Hallstatt and Mondsee. Around this region you’ll find various types of dumplings. We’ve not tried a dumpling in this region that wasn’t amazing! Check out the local menus and find the local dumpling specific to the town or village you’re in. Order it and we can almost guarantee you won’t be disappointed!

3. Lower Austria - Serviettenknoedel mit Semmelkren is a very popular dish in the Lower Austria region. It is a baked bread loaf served with a saffron gravy. Again, it sounds like a simple meal, but the flavor is tremendous. You can find this dish when you travel to Krems, Durnstein, Melk and several others found within this region. And after your great meal, stop by one of the numerous spas found in the region for some needed relaxation!

2. Vienna - The two cities that make up the Vienna region are, Vienna and Grinzing. Some must try’s while you’re in this region are Fiaker Goulash and of course, Wiener Schnitzel! Fiaker Goulash is a delicious Viennese paprika beef stew. It is quite similar to Hungarian Goulash. The Fiaker Goulash is traditionally served with boiled potatoes, a pickled cucumber and fried egg. Weiner Schnitzel is simply a breaded veal cutlet. This is usually served with a lemon slice, potatoes with butter and parsley and some lingonberry jam. Both these dishes are amazing and worth trying.

1. Don’t forget dessert – If you weren’t aware, Austrians make and consume many desserts. They pride themselves on their sweets and with good reason! It’s almost a challenge to find a dessert that you don’t like while traveling around Austria. Some noteworthy favorites to make a point of tasting are; Sachertorte, Doboschtorte, Marzipan and Apfelstrudel.

Sachertorte is a torte (cake) made with chocolate and in some regions, apricot jam. It got its name from its creator, Eduard Sacher.

Doboschtorte is a layered torte made with chocolate frosting and caramel glaze (maybe not the most diabetic-friendly dessert!).

Marzipan is another favorite in Austria. This is a sweet almond paste. In some regions in Austria they dip the marzipan in some terrific chocolate, it is out of this world!

And lastly, a true crowd-pleaser is the Apfelstrudel. This dessert is probably one of the most popular in all of Austria. It is basically an apple strudel, but the way it’s prepared in Austria makes it that much better! The pastry is paper thin, meaning through a single layer of the pastry you could read a newspaper. Inside it is filled with chopped apples, sugar, cinnamon, raisins and bread crumbs. In some areas they include a few drops of rum as well It is then topped with some powdered sugar and ready for you to taste!

Austria has a variety of delicacies, we suggest trying them all! (especially the desserts!) Be adventurous, sometimes it’s best not to investigate every ingredient in a dish, rather just make sure you’re not allergic to anything within it (you can ask you server, many speak English). It’s also best sometimes to visit the smaller, off-the-main-street type restaurants, they tend to have a more traditional menu.

Use the trains in Austria to visit all of these great regions. Taking a train is not just a way to get from one city to the next, but rather, it turns into part of your experience. You may meet a nice local who can give you advice on what to see and do next, maybe even invite you over for a home cooked meal! (well, anything can happen, that’s what makes traveling so much fun!) Using an Austria railpass you have the freedom to go where you want, when you want, a great freedom to have as you journey through the country!

As you travel, just remember, you don’t know how long it will be until you get back there, so you might as well go for it and try as much as you can. You don’t want to regret not trying something when you return back home. And keep in mind, you can have McDonald’s when you’re back home, don’t visit a familiar fast food joint while traveling abroad, especially when you’re surrounded by such spectacular cuisine!