Europe’s best mini-break destination you can reach by train from the UK

Italy, with its vibrant coastline and beautiful hill, is the place to go if you’re looking for a European mini-break by train.

In recent years slow travel as an idea has taken off considerably, as people look to fly less and, those that can, make the most of being able to work remotely by extending their trips by interspersing annual leave with being in the virtual office.

Such a mindset means that travelling a little further from home on slower means of transport – such as by ferry or train – is more workable and appealing for a growing group of people.

According to one study, which looked at journey length from the UK, climbable mountains, walking routes and current popularity as a slow travel destination, Italy is the place to go for such a holiday.

To get there by rail the fastest route on the Eurostar from London St Pancras International Railway Station then change at Paris to one of the many high-speed trains to Turin and Milan. This complete journey would take just under 12 hours and, by one estimate, produce ten times less global-heating quickening CO2 than flying.

If you don’t fancy making it all the way down in one go, then having the opportunity to stop off over-night in the City of Love before trundling across La Campagna in a TGV or Eurostar buffet car sounds pleasant enough.

Italy landed the top spot that can be reached by train from the UK in Club Meds ‘Slow Travel’ index thanks to the average 1,460 online searches each month for “Italy Slow Travel” it inspired, as well as being home to more than 1,000 hiking trails and 42,536 mountains, 24 of them being over 1,500 metres.

There are also 145 cycling tours in Italy, along with 575 different outdoor activities and 335 nature and wildlife tours to partake in. To top it off Italy is known across the world for its many famous lakes, such as Como, Garda and 1,500 others that require a little more time to properly investigate.

According to Responsible Travel, which organises slow holidays in various destinations across the world, the concept arose in Italy out of the slow food movement, which itself emerged from a campaign to block a McDonald’s from opening near Rome’s Spanish Steps. .

The firm promotes a number of different slow routes around the country, which help visitors roam historic towns and villages, often on foot, giving them time to sample cheese, wine and olive oil, and mingle with local shoppers along the way.

“In keeping with the spirit of slow travel, there’s no need to set foot inside an airport. You can get to Turin in Piedmont from almost anywhere in Europe by train in a single day. If travelling from London, you can stop for lunch in Paris and be in Tuscany or Umbria late the following morning after a leisurely breakfast,” Responsible Travel explains on its website.

One of the packages it offers is a walking and cooking holiday around the Chisone valley between Turin and France. Marla Gulley and husband Fabrizio Roncaglia, both former chefs, lead the trip.

“We’ve seen an uptick in people staying for longer since Covid, and more interest in the many activities in this area – climbing and cycling, as well as the cookery courses we offers. I think there is an appetite to take things easy and not move around too much,” Maria explained.

Another big part of Italy’s slow travel trend is agricultural tourism, whereby visitors stay in a form of accommodation known as agriturismo. There are around 22,000 of these across the country, with guests staying on a farm, vineyard, mountain chalet or any other type of estate involved in primary agricultural production activities.

On top of room and board, tastings and other activities typically linked to the property may also be included among the services provided by an agriturismo.

According to the Club Med report, Spain, Germany and France are the next best slow-travel destinations that can be reached from the UK by train.