4 bucket list train journeys across Europe for food lovers to discover
- Joanna Yee
Published: July 28, 2026 at 5:01 PM
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Discover a whole new perspective on popular destinations when travelling by train
The journey is just as memorable as the destination on these spectacular European rail adventures. From vineyard-lined valleys and trundling along coast lines or past salt flats, these four bucket-list train journeys combine breathtaking scenery with unforgettable places to eat and drink.
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For more like this, check out 9 of the most breathtaking train journeys across the world and the best day trips from London by train.
4 bucket list train journeys across Europe for food lovers
Andalucian adventures: Seville, Cadiz, Jerez and Cordoba
Travel through Andalucía's southernmost regions where flamenco, Moorish architecture, sherry and sandy beaches are all just a train ride apart.
Start in Seville, the heart of Andalucía, where orange-scented plazas lead the way to mesmerising Moorish architecture. Take your time exploring the beautiful grounds of the Royal Alcázar of Seville before refuelling at the lively Bar Casa Morales, a former winery that now serves some of the best tapas in Seville. Be sure to try the octopus with paprika or the montadito de pringà, an Andalucian small sandwich stuffed with slow cooked meats. Stretch your wallet at Populart, a family run antique shop full of unique finds. Rummage through their rescued ceramics and vintage tiles before rounding off the evening with fiery flamenco performances at the intimate Casa de la Memoria.
Next, head south west on the train to Cádiz. During the hour and a half journey keep an eye out for the shimmering salt flats as you journey through the Parc Natural Bahía de Cádiz, before arriving in Cádiz – Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited city founded by the Phoenicians. Lose yourself in the city's tangle of narrow lanes before arriving at the characterful La Viña neighbourhood. Join locals at Taberna Casa Manteca, where the walls are adorned with bullfighting posters, for delicate tortilla de camarones (shrimp fritters) and paper-thin slices of chicharrones served on wax paper. Go for a stroll at Playa de la Victoria beach and cap off the day with a sundowner at one of the many beach bars.
A short rail connection takes you inland to Jerez, the birthplace of sherry and home of equestrian ballet. See the world-famous dancing horses perform at the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, then sample the city's famed fortified wines at Tabanco El Pasaje, the oldest tabanco in the city where wine is served straight from the barrel. Take in one of their daily flamenco performances before ending on a sweet note with tocino de cielo, a rich caramel custard first created by local convent nuns.
Take the fast train to Córdoba and within two hours, you'll arrive in the medieval streets and flower-filled courtyards to reveal another side of Andalucía. Perk up with a caffeine fix at The Coffee Club before visiting the nearby Mezquita cathedral with its eye-catching rust red arches. A 10 minute walk away is Taberna Salinas – a great spot for trying local specialties like salmorejo, a thicker and creamier tomato soup than gazpacho and rabo del toro (bull’s tail stew). Finish your Andalusian journey on a sweet note with a serving of sugar-dusted churros at Mojaelchurro.
Portuguese coast to coast: Porto, Coimbra, Lisbon and Faro
Travel the length of Portugal by rail, connecting historic cities, sandy beaches and some of the best finds from the sea.
Begin your journey in Porto. Take a moment to admire the hand-painted azulejo covered walls of São Bento station before having a wander through the Baixa district. Make a pit stop to marvel at yet another azulejo-laden masterpiece at Igreja do Carmo. Have a drink at nearby Capela Incomum, a wine bar housed in a 19th century deconsecrated chapel. Wet your whistle with wines from the Douro and a selection of petiscos (Portugal's answer to tapas) before stretching your legs to the Ribeira district. Claus Porto is a great spot to pick up beautifully packaged soaps as souvenirs. Next, head east to Bonfim, a bohemian district of the city, to browse vintage shops and independent bookshops. Caffeinate at Combi Coffee Roasters, a coffee shop and roastery offering single origin beans in a converted garage.
Catch the For do Gás taxi boat across the Douro River to Afurada, a traditional fishing village where colourful tiled buildings serve as the backdrop to charcoal grills sizzling in the street with the day's catch. Pair an array of grilled seafood choices with crisp vinho verde at the charming Taberna São Pedro before returning to Porto for a sundowner at Bar da Ponte Pensil. Indulge on a Francesinha, filled with steak, ham, sausages and melted cheese smothered in rich beer-tomato sauce and topped with a fried egg in preparation for the next day’s journey.
Barely an hour by train south is Coimbra, Portugal's historic university city. Students in traditional black capes wandering the steep cobbled lanes between lectures is still a common sighting. Tuck into tender leitão da Bairrada, a sandwich of roasted suckling pig with a crispy skin at João dos Leitões, or settle into the legendary Zé Manel dos Ossos, where walls plastered with handwritten messages from previous diners create an intimate atmosphere for hearty plates of traditional boiled pork bones (ossos). For a sweet treat, visit Pastelaria Briosa to sample pastel de Santa Clara, a cousin to the pastel de nata but filled with ground almonds as well as custard.
Continue south on the train to Lisbon, the city of seven hills overlooking the Tagus River. Hop onboard the iconic Tram 28 as it winds through the bohemian district of Alfama and a bustling Baixa. Pause for a shot of sweet ginjinha cherry liqueur, graze on petiscos in traditional taverns and browse Portuguese textiles, ceramics and homewares. Pick up beautifully packaged tins of wild-caught seafood from Miss Can, a third-generation family business specialising in tinned seafood caught off Portuguese shores. For dinner, visit the light filled Prado for a modern take on seasonal specialties.
Finish your gourmet Portugal roadtrip in Faro, the relaxed gateway to the Algarve, where ancient Roman walls encircle a compact old town lined with citrus and loquat trees. Hop aboard a boat to explore the lagoons and surrounding islands of the Ria Formosa Natural Park, home to flamingos and booted eagles.
Feast on cataplana, the Algarve's signature seafood stew cooked in a traditional copper pot alongside sweet Algarvian carrots marinated in garlic, coriander and olive oil (cenoura em alhinho) at Chefe Branco. Or enjoy the day’s catch at Tásquinha à do Inácio in Olhã, a working fishing town just 15 minutes east of Faro.
Catalan coastline: Collioure, Girona and Barcelona
Three enchanting coastal gems are connected by scenic rail journeys through Catalonian countryside, medieval quarters and sun-drenched shores.
Embark on your Catalan adventure in the colourful Collioure, a fishing village that inspired artists such as Matisse and Picasso. Load up on breakfast pastries at Boulangerie Fleca Farrés before setting off on the easy 1.8k art trail where you’ll discover reproductions of famous paintings alongside the landscape that inspired them. Sample the local anchovies at the Collioure morning market, open on Wednesdays and weekends. Pack a picnic of sheep and goat's cheese from the Pyrenees mountains along with Catalan sausages and Roussillon red apricots and head to Boramar beach for a light lunch with a view of Château Royal de Collioure.
From Collioure, take the train across the border into Spain and continue to Girona. Refuel at Pastisseria Tornés with a xuixo, the city's signature cream-filled pastry coated in sugar. Walk it off along the Passeig de la Muralla, where the ancient city walls offer sweeping views over Girona. Continue on past the colourful houses along the Onyar River to reach Espresso Mafia for a well earned caffeine break before settling in for a long lunch at Can Roca of the Roca brothers fame for a relaxed take on Catalan classics.
Barcelona is just 45 minutes away from Girona by high speed train. Wander through the Gothic Quarter's narrow lanes, stroll along the elegant Passeig de Gràcia, or head to the waterfront and Barceloneta Beach for sea views and a late afternoon by the Mediterranean.
Snack your way through Mercat de la Boqueria on jamon ibérico de Bellota, dried salt cod and freshly made tortilla. As the evening falls, descend to the trendy El Born neighborhood for evening aperitifs at traditional vermouth bars like Bodega del Born or house-made sparkling wine at El Xampanyet with an extensive selection of tapas to cap off an easy adventure down the Catalan coastline.
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German & Austrian wine trail: Mainz, Würzburg, Munich, Krems an der Donau and Vienna
Follow this scenic rail route through historic wine regions, riverside villages and sophisticated cities across Germany and Austria.
Begin in Mainz, Germany where the Rhine and Main rivers have nurtured winemaking traditions for over two thousand years. Stroll through the picturesque old town to Weinhaus Michel, a family-run tavern serving house-made crisp Rieslings alongside regional specialties like himmel un ääd (mashed potatoes with apples and black pudding). Join a tour that will take you just beyond the city to vineyard-covered hills where independent, family-run wineries like Weingut Schneider offer tastings of the aromatic white wines that have solidified Mainz as the wine capital of Germany.
Take the scenic two hour train ride from Mainz passing through the romantic Rhine Valley to reach Würzburg, the heart of Franconian wine country. Explore the Residenz, the Baroque palace and UNESCO World Heritage Site for a culture fix. Then head over to Staatlicher Hofkeller, one of the oldest wine estates in Germany dating back to 1128, for a tasting and tour of the historic vaulted cellars sprawled under the Residenz. Grab a bratwurst at Bratwurststand Knüpfing then walk over to one of the wine shops by the Old Main Bridge for a private wine tasting with views of the Main River.
Head south to Munich for a stopover where you can swap wine for malty Bavarian beers at one of the many famous beer halls. Or graze on Alpine cheeses and charcuterie while sipping Silvaner at Viktualienmarkt. Grab a sweet treat down the street at Cafe Frischhut – they're known for their schmalznudel, a Bavarian-style donut – washed down with freshly brewed coffee.
Ride the train eastward into Austria where the landscape shifts from Bavarian villages to the steep vine terraces of the Danube. You'll arrive in Krems an der Donau, a gateway to the UNESCO-protected Wachau Valley where vineyards produce some of the best Rieslings and Grüner Veltliners of the region. Hop on a bike and cycle down the well marked riverside cycle paths and through apricot orchards to Domäne Wachau, a co-op of about 250 families, for a sip and shop at their tasting room.
Or head to the small third generation, family estate Weingut Alzinger for their award winning Riesling Ried Loibenberg Smaragd. Continue on to the idyllic town of Dürnstein to sample local specialties such as marillenknödel, apricot dumplings sprinkled with cinnamon and a good glug of apricot brandy. Load up on hearty Austrian classics like Blunzengröstl (blood sausage with potatoes and onions) at Altes Presshaus, a rustic heuriger (wine tavern).
The final stretch to Vienna takes just over an hour on the train with the landscape transitioning from wine villages to dense forests. The city's unique urban vineyards produce exceptional wines due to the limestone sediment in its soils and cooler evenings from the surrounding forests which enable ideal wine growing conditions.
Hop on the Heurigen Express, a small hop-on hop-off tram that takes visitors through the wine towns for a vineyard crawl. Stop at atmospheric wine taverns like Fuhrgassl-Huber, where you can dine al fresco among the vines. Or head high up the hills to Weingut Wailand for a fruity Welschriesling and a smattering of cold meats and cheese to pair with.
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Joanna Yee
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