Discover Coastal Escapes by Train This Year
As the days grow longer and warmer, thoughts often turn to Easter getaways and summer holidays filled with sun-soaked adventures. This year, why not consider a unique twist on your travel plans? Instead of the usual airport hustle and car rental chaos, embark on a scenic journey to a coastal resort by train. With an array of destinations accessible by rail, you can enjoy the journey as much as the destination itself.
Travel Trends: The Rise of Rail Holidays
With an increasing number of tour operators such as Intrepid, First Choice, and Inntravel offering flight-free itineraries, rail travel is becoming a favored choice among travelers. According to market research from Mintel, over 51% of Eurostar passengers who traveled to the Continent in the last five years added on another rail trip. A significant 75% of respondents felt that traveling by train enhanced their holiday experience. While planning a rail holiday may require some effort, it adds to the overall enjoyment of the trip.
Starting your adventure with a Eurostar journey to Belgium, France, or the Netherlands, you can explore scenic routes and high-speed services that whisk you away to charming coastal towns. Here are ten of the best coastal destinations accessible by train:
1. Sitges, Spain
Direct trains connect Paris to Barcelona in just under seven hours, followed by a quick 40-minute ride to the enchanting town of Sitges. This seaside gem boasts 17 picturesque beaches along its coast, linked by the palm-lined Passeig Maritim promenade. The sandy shores lead into a vibrant old town filled with art galleries, traditional restaurants (try Nansa for a delicious three-course Catalonian menu for just €20/£16.50 on weekdays), and trendy cocktail bars like The Duchess, known for its quirky, seasonally inspired drinks.
Throughout the year, Sitges hosts a variety of events, from carnival celebrations to Pride festivities and film festivals. For those seeking day trips, the stunning Santa Maria de Montserrat monastery is just an hour away, and the Penedès wine region offers delightful tours and tastings at local cava wineries. The Melia Sitges hotel, featuring airy decor and sea views, offers rooms starting from £120.
2. Saint-Raphaël, France
Nestled between Cannes and Saint-Tropez on the breathtaking Côte d’Azur, Saint-Raphaël combines beautiful beaches with a bustling marina, an old town, lush gardens, and even a Ferris wheel overlooking the bay. Don’t miss the chance to join a boat tour to explore the stunning Les Calanques de l’Esterel, where the striking red-rock inlets and bays are surrounded by the verdant Esterel massif.
A visit to the neighboring town of Fréjus is also a must, where you can marvel at the impressive second-century Roman amphitheater. The train journey from Paris Gare de Lyon (accessible via a 20-minute public transport ride from Gare du Nord) to Saint-Raphaël Valescure station takes about four hours and 40 minutes, with several departures daily. Rooms at the four-star Unique Hotel & Spa, just a five-minute stroll from the marina, start at €90 (£75).
3. Arcachon, France
Thanks to France’s efficient high-speed rail network, you can reach Arcachon on the southwest coast from Paris in as little as three hours. Direct trains operate from Paris Montparnasse from Monday to Thursday, or you can take a slightly longer route via Bordeaux. Highlights in Arcachon include scaling the Dune of Pilat, Europe’s tallest sand dune at 104 meters, savoring fresh oysters from the local huts, and exploring the charming Winter Town, home to around 300 stunning 19th-century villas. You can also take a boat shuttle to Cap de Ferret. The four-star Le B D’Arcachon hotel, conveniently located near the beach, has rooms available from €127 (£105).
4. Deauville, France
Overlooking the English Channel on Normandy’s Côte Fleurie, Deauville is often referred to as Northern France’s answer to the glamorous towns of the southern Riviera, yet it comes at a more affordable price. The town features a 2 km stretch of golden sand, complemented by a classic wooden boardwalk and a row of Art Deco beach huts named after Hollywood stars who have graced the Deauville American Film Festival.
Beyond the beach, visitors can shop for artisanal charcuterie and calvados at the Place du Marché, explore exhibitions at the Les Franciscaines cultural center, or indulge in calvados tastings at Père Magloire l’Experience, a short taxi ride away (tickets priced at €14.50/£12). The direct train ride from Paris Saint Lazare (located just 10 minutes by Metro from Gare du Nord) to Trouville-Deauville station takes just over two hours. Enjoy a stay at the half-timbered Mercure Deauville Centre starting at £85.
5. Noordwijk, Netherlands
Noordwijk beach stretches for 13 kilometers and is nestled next to the stunning Hollandse Duinen National Park, which offers picturesque dunes and cycling trails. A wide array of beach clubs with charming wicker and wood decor line the shore, serving delightful cocktails and meals. For budget-conscious travelers, Tulum offers a fantastic weekday lunch special, including juice, soup, and a daily dish for just €12.50 (£10.30).
Visit in spring to witness the breathtaking flower fields nearby. Renting a bike from companies like Lemonbike allows you to cycle to Keukenhof, a sprawling 79-acre garden filled with tulips, hyacinths, and irises, located just 40 minutes away. The train journey from Amsterdam to Leiden Station takes only 30 minutes, followed by a 25-minute bus ride to Noordwijk. The beachside Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin, featuring a stunning marble lobby, offers rooms starting from £133.
6. De Koog, Netherlands
A short train ride from Amsterdam to Den Helder (about an hour), followed by a 20-minute ferry ride, will take you to Texel in the Wadden Islands, where De Koog serves as the main resort and an excellent base for exploration. Here, hiking and biking through the island’s 43 square kilometers of national park is a must, along with boat trips to the uninhabited Noorderhaaks island, home to a colony of seals. Don’t miss the chance to climb the 35-meter lighthouse in De Corksdorp, sample traditional Texel Hoornderring biscuits at Timmer bakery in Oudeschild, and taste local sheep’s milk cheese at the Wezenspyk factory just outside Den Burg. The four-star Hotel Greenside Texel in De Koog offers rooms starting from £159.
7. Domburg, Netherlands
Located in the southwestern Zeeland region, Domburg boasts an uninterrupted beach stretching over 7 kilometers, making it one of the best spots for surfing in the Netherlands. You can take lessons at De Surf Club Domburg, starting at €37.50 (£31) for a two-hour session. Along the shore, you’ll find a variety of beach clubs and sea-view restaurants, including the bohemian Oaxaca and seafood haven Oase.
The direct train from Rotterdam to Middleburg takes about an hour and 20 minutes. From there, you can catch a 25-minute bus or a 15-minute taxi to Domburg’s center, where the Strandhotel Domburg offers rooms starting at £92.
8. Cadaqués, Spain
This picturesque town in Girona province has inspired countless artists, including Dalí, Hockney, Picasso, and Matisse. Dalí’s presence is felt throughout the town, where his images adorn local bars and his legacy is celebrated at the Salvador Dalí House-Museum, where he lived and created for more than five decades. Cadaqués enchants with its cobbled streets adorned with vibrant bougainvillea and its whitewashed homes framing a stunning bay surrounded by hills.
Strolling through galleries and enjoying the views of the fishing boats in the harbor are delightful ways to experience this artistic haven. During the summer (from July 20 to August 31), the Santa María church hosts a music festival featuring daily concerts and workshops. Start your journey with a Eurostar to Paris, followed by a high-speed train to Barcelona, and then catch a train from Barcelona-Sants to Llançà (around two hours). Cadaqués is just a 30-minute taxi ride from there. The family-run Tramuntana hotel offers rooms starting from £109.
9. De Panne, Belgium
De Panne, the most south-westerly seaside town in Belgium, features over 7 kilometers of sandy beaches. Visitors can enjoy swimming, sunbathing, or trying out sand yachting, a thrilling combination of go-karting and sailing that originated here in the 1890s. A hike up the Hoge Blekker, Belgium’s highest sand dune, and a stroll through the fragrant Westhoek Nature Reserve, known as “Little Sahara,” are also highlights. Families will appreciate the Plopsaqua waterpark, which features unique attractions like a 25-meter “disco bath.”
To reach De Panne, take the Eurostar followed by a train from Brussels to Ostend, then hop on the Coastal Tram. Note that while Belgium has been experiencing regular strikes, Eurostar services to the country remain unaffected. A night at the sea-view Hotel Escale starts at €113 (£94).
10. De Haan, Belgium
De Haan boasts the longest beach on the Flemish coast, stretching over 10 kilometers and reaching widths of 50 to 80 meters. This charming town features a collection of Belle Époque buildings known as “de Concessie” and is home to unique sights, including the Villa Savoyarde, where Albert Einstein resided for six months. East of the town lies a vast dune forest equipped with walking and cycling trails, perfect for families.
Similar to De Panne, De Haan is conveniently located along the Coastal Tram route, accessible from Ostend, which can be reached via an hour-long train journey from Brussels. Accommodations like the Vakantiecentrum Zeelinde, just a short walk from the beach, are available for €120 (£99) during the high season.
