A car is a liability for most European city breaks. Parking costs money and attention, city centres often restrict traffic, and trains between major cities are faster than driving once you account for loading in and out. Carless multi-city travel in Europe is not a compromise. In most cases it's the better choice.

Train: The Default for Most Routes

High-speed rail connects Europe's major cities quickly and reliably. London to Paris is 2h15m on Eurostar. Paris to Barcelona is 6h30m. Paris to Brussels is 1h22m. Amsterdam to Brussels is 1h50m. Berlin to Munich is 4 hours.

For routes up to about 5-6 hours, train beats flying when you factor in check-in, transit to and from out-of-city airports, and security. You also arrive in the city centre rather than 45 minutes out of it.

Book advance tickets through national operators (SNCF, DB, Renfe, NS International, Eurostar) for the best prices. Interrail is worth considering if you're covering four or more cities across multiple countries in 10-14 days.

Bus: Cheap for Longer or Less-Served Routes

FlixBus covers an extraordinary range of European destinations, including many smaller cities that trains don't serve directly or cheaply. A FlixBus between Munich and Prague costs under €20 if booked ahead. Paris to Berlin by bus is 12-15 hours — uncomfortable, but €15-30 compared to €80-120 by train.

Use buses for routes where the train is expensive or slow, overnight journeys where you save a night's accommodation, and for reaching destinations that aren't on a high-speed rail network.

Flights: Right for the Right Routes

Low-cost carriers (Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air) make some routes genuinely worth flying, particularly when trains would involve multiple changes or take a full day. London to Porto or Seville, for instance, is simpler by air. Edinburgh to Prague or Krakow has no competitive overland alternative.

Factor in airport location carefully. Ryanair in particular uses secondary airports that add significant transfer time. A "1h40m flight" to Paris Beauvais involves an hour each way on a bus before and after.

Practical Tips for Multi-City Planning

Keep your itinerary in a logical geographic sequence rather than bouncing across the continent. A Barcelona-Madrid-Seville arc is practical. Barcelona-Berlin-Barcelona with Madrid in the middle is not.

Pack light enough to carry your own bags on public transport. A roller suitcase up the stairs of a Prague metro station at rush hour is a rite of passage best avoided.

Use Rome2rio in the planning stage to see all transport options between any two cities at a glance. It's the most useful single tool for this kind of trip.