Should I rent a car for my Europe trip? Is it better to take the train or hire a car?
The quick answer is - it depends. It depends on who you are, where you are going and what you want to see.
Lets take a look at the pros and cons of train vs car rental. Chosing your mode of transport can have an impact on where you go and what you see during your European itinerary.
- Is it better to rent a car or take a train in Europe?
- Is it cheaper to rent a car or take a train in Europe?
- Is it quicker to rent a car or take a train in Europe?
- What are the benefits to renting a car for a European trip?
- What are the downsides to renting a car in Europe?
- Should I rent a car or take a train for my Europe Trip?
Is it better to rent a car or take a train in Europe?
If you look at Instagram or read any recent travel advice for Europe you could be led to believe that the train is the absolute best option for your European trip. To the extent that renting a car seems somehow useless, an unnecessary expense. I talked about “Is train travel in Europe better than flying” and how in many cases trains are a viable and often better option for travel in Europe than flying. But where does that leave the humble automobile?
The truth of the matter is, the car is still the favoured mode of transport in Europe. Car travel makes up 86% of all land based transport within the European Union (source:touteleurope.eu ). And that isn’t just for day to day use and commuting to work. According to a study by IFOP 76% of French residents planning to go on vacation this year will be taking their car. This story is repeated throughout Europe, with the percentage being slightly less in countries like the Netherlands but still over 50%.
Whilst Europe, in general, has a great train service it isn’t as developed in some countries as in others. Furthermore, even in countries like France with an excellent train service it still doesn’t cover everywhere you might want to go. If you are planning on visiting major cities then it is likely that a train service exists between them. If, however, you are more interested in visiting smaller towns and villages, or getting closer to nature then that may not be possible by train.
Is it cheaper to rent a car or take a train in Europe?
In some respects this is not an easy question to answer as it will depend on where you are planning to go as train prices (and car rental tarifs) can vary dramatically with the seasons. One thing that is clear is that is depends on how many people you are travelling with. Assuming the journey is to be taken within one country: a single person travelling alone will almost always find it cheaper to travel by train. However, once you add another person into the car the cost per person halves and the car becomes competitive. If there are three or four of you travelling together it will almost always be cheaper to rent a car.
For example: A journey in Spain from Bilboa, visiting Santiago de Compostela, Toledo, Granada and finishing in Malaga over a seven day period.
Price by car: renting a medium sized car from Avis will cost 348€ with a pick-up in Bilboa and a drop off in Malaga. The total cost of fuel and tolls for this journey is 192€ (source) giving a total cost of 540€
Price by train: Bilboa to Satiago de Compostela 113€, on to Toledo 52€, on to Granada 73€ and ending in Malaga 23€ for a total cost of 261€
So for one person the train is clearly cheaper. For two people travelling together the price is similar for the two options (540€ vs 522€) once a third person is added the car is the winner.
There are other costs to be taken into account, such as short bus or taxi rides if you are travelling by train and parking costs if you travelling by car but for the purposes of comparison I am assuming they cancel out.
Is it quicker to rent a car or take a train in Europe?
Again, the answer is going to be “it depends”. If the places you are visiting are linked by a high speed rail service, such as Paris to Bordeaux, or Milan to Rome then it will be much quicker to take the train. The latter route takes just 3 hours by train but 5 hours 30 minutes to drive.
However, once you get off the high speed lines and onto the regional trains driving is often the quicker option. Travelling from Cambridge to Stratford-upon-Avon in the UK is a two hour drive, but will take 3½ hours by train.
On a longer, more complex, route these differences can add up.
Back to our Spanish example, the total driving time for the route would be 18 hours and 50 minutes. Whereas by train it would take a total of 24 hours.
What are the benefits to renting a car for a European trip?
Renting a car as part of a Europe Itinerary can have a number of benefits.
A car gives you ultimate flexibility
To my mind the number one benefit a car gives you is flexibility. The flexibility to go where you want, when you want. You are not tied down to schedules and timetables. You can stop when you want. You can change your plans at the last minute. Other than the car you don’t need to book anything in advance. I see this flexibility as a true luxury when travelling. Sometimes my mood changes so I want to do something different for the day. Sometimes I want to get moving early so I can make the most of the day, or have a sleep in but still get to where I want to go.
It also gives the flexibility of traveling to remote locations, small villages with no train stations, vineyards, lakes, mountain-tops… Even some major amusement parks (such as the Puy du Fou or Europa-park) are difficult to get to by train. You can even take the car on a ferry and visit islands.
One of my secret pleasures on vacation is visiting local, often out of town centre, supermarkets. I love to look down the aisles an see all the different products available. And then buy a few things to make up a picnic and stop at a scenic picnic stop. I don’t have to worry about carrying things, and any leftovers can be kept in a cookbag in the car for another day.
A car make it easy to transport and store your luggage
Luggage is often one of the things people struggle with on European trips. If you are travelling by train you have to carry your luggage down the platform, lift it onto the train and then find somewhere to store it for the journey. Once you arrive you often need somewhere to store your luggage for the day before you can get into your hotel or appartment.
A car removes this problem. You always have somewhere to store your luggage, and the furthest you have to carry it is from the car park to the hotel reception (and often someone will do that for you).
A car means less (or more) walking
Travelling by train is great if you are fit and healthy, but if you find walking difficult or have any other infirmities a car will make your travel experience much more comfortable. Being able to get from A to B without having to walk between platforms, from the train station or bus stop. This can be particularly important if you are travelling with children and their little legs. Not to mention that the car provides the perfect place for nap time.
If on the other hand you want to walk or hike a car can also be a benefit. It can give you access to hikes that are not accessible by train (or other public transport) opening up a world of fabulous mountain and coastal walks.
A car means less crowds
Arriving at your destination early, (or late) rather than when the train gets in, allows you to visit many European destinations without the crowds. Places like Hallstatt in Austria or Český Krumlov in the Czech Republic can be completely overwhelmed with tourists during the day, but if you get there at sunrise, or late in the afternoon you can enjoy their beauty without the hords.
Outside of cities the crowds tend to be where they can get to easily, to the castles and the gardens and the small beaches. You can reach the places even the tour busses can’t go.
What are the downsides to renting a car in Europe?
There’s no doubt that despit the benefits to renting a car for a European trip there are also some downsides.
A car means you need somewhere to park
Outside of major cities parking is not normally a problem. Most domestic tourism is by car and so parking is available almost everywhere. That doesn’t however mean that it is easy to find a space during the day at busy sites, nor does it mean it is free.
This can also limit your choices of accommodation. If you choose to rent a car for your trip your would be advised to stay only in hotels and appartments that have parking provided. Again, outside of the major cities this shouldn’t be difficult to find.
A car means you need to drive
Unlike sitting on a train, driving is not a passive activity. You need to be aware and alert at all times. It can be tiring if you are doing long routes. It also means that you cannot partake of any wine and beer you come across on your travels. Drink driving laws in Europe are strict, the punishments can be severe, and some countries such as the Czech Republic and Hungary have a zero-level alcohol policy. So if you like a lunchtime glass then either drive in the mornings, take the train, or find a non-drinking friend.
A car means you can’t get into major city centres
Some major cities are simply not accessible by car (especially if it is a petrol or deisel car) such as Venice, Oslo and Madrid.
Others, such as Paris, London, Milan and Stockholm have low emission zones in the city centres, and whilst most modern rental cars would meet the requirements, the complications often means it simply isn’t worth taking the car.
However, some cities have good solutions to the problem. I was impressed, on a recent visit to Milan, by the large multistory car park out of the city that is conveniently situated right next to a metro station. This meant that a day trip, by car, to Milan on our way to Verona was easy.
A car can be stressful
What with different driving rules, having to navigate and working out the toll roads some find driving in Europe a stressful experience. I can understand that. But one could also argue the case that train travel, especially if you are not used to it, can also be stressful. Trying to work out which platform your train is going from, worrying if you have the right ticket and panicking about getting to the station on time.
For most people, certainly anyone considering hiring a car, a car is a familiar place. Whilst you may not know all the rules of the road you know the basics and can easily look up the rest.
A car is not great for the environment
This is often on of the reasons given for train travel, and it is true that trains contribute significantly less carbon emmisons per person than petrol or diesel cars. Car rental companies are aware of the environmental impact which is why most large companies such as Avis and Europcar offer electric vehicles as part of their fleet. Charging stations are readiliy available across Europe, although I would advise against an electric vehicle (for the moment) in countries such as Albania, Montenegro and Romania as well as in very remote areas.
Should I rent a car or take a train for my Europe Trip?
I think it is clear that there is not a right or wrong answer when it come to chosing better trains and cars when planning a European itinerary.
If you are planning to travel only to major or capital cities then a train is the wise option.
If you are traveling on your own then train travel is the wise option, and gives you more opportunities to meet fellow travellers. However if you a single woman travelling on her own you may want to consider a car for safety reasons if travelling outside of major cities. Whilst train travel is generally safe, and I have no problems taking high speed trains on my own even at night-time, I am not comfortable taking quieter routes alone in the dark and train stations are not always in the best parts of town to be walking alone.
If you are travelling as a couple and want to see smaller towns or the countryside then a car is the best choice.
If you are travelling with young children or anyone not fully fit and healthy then a car is the best option.
My recommendation for the perfect European trip would be a combination of both train travel and car rental. Use the trains for their advantage of easy travel between major cities on the high speed links. Then rent a car and get out of the city to see the many wonders Europe has to offer off the beaten track.
If you are planning your first trip to Europe then make sure your read How to plan a trip to Europe: the 3 essential first steps
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