Renaissance old town with traboules (hidden passageways) and atmospheric streets
Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière
Ornate hilltop basilica with panoramic views over the city
gastronomyfoodarchitecture
More about Lyon
Lyon, France's gastronomic capital, sits at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers. Lyon Part-Dieu and Lyon Perrache stations connect to Paris (2 hours by TGV), Marseille (1.75 hours), Geneva, and other major cities. The city's position on the Paris-Marseille-Mediterranean TGV axis makes it supremely accessible.
World's oldest public art collection with exceptional Holbein, Impressionist, and modern works
Basel Münster
Romanesque-Gothic cathedral in red sandstone with panoramic Rhine views from its terrace
artculturearchitecture
More about Basel
Basel sits at the tri-border point where Switzerland, France, and Germany converge along the Rhine, making it one of Europe's most strategically connected rail cities. Basel SBB is Switzerland's main international gateway, with direct TGV services to Paris, ICE trains to Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Berlin, and fast connections to Zurich, Bern, and Interlaken. The adjacent Basel Badischer Bahnhof handles additional German rail services.
Our own photograph
— Simon Harper, co-founder of Conductor Sam
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Lucerne
Switzerland
Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke)
Europe's oldest covered wooden bridge with 17th-century painted panels
Lion Monument
Mark Twain called it 'the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world'
lakesidemountainshistoric
More about Lucerne
Lucerne is one of Switzerland's most picturesque cities, spectacularly set on the shores of Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee) with the Alps rising dramatically behind it. Lucerne station — rebuilt in a striking modern design by Santiago Calatrava after a 1971 fire — is a key central Swiss hub with direct trains to Zurich (45 min), Bern (1h), Interlaken (1h50), and connections via the Gotthard route to Ticino and Italy. The Golden Pass and Glacier Express scenic routes are accessible from here.
Imposing hilltop castle with panoramic views, reached by funicular
Mozart's Birthplace
Museum in the house where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on Getreidegasse
mozartbaroquemusic
More about Salzburg
Salzburg, Mozart's birthplace, is a baroque jewel set against a dramatic Alpine backdrop. Salzburg Hauptbahnhof connects to Munich (1.5 hours), Vienna (2.5 hours by Railjet), Innsbruck, and Zürich, making it a natural stop on trans-Alpine rail routes.
Stunning neo-Gothic building on the Danube, one of Europe's most photogenic landmarks
Széchenyi Thermal Bath
Europe's largest medicinal bath complex in a magnificent neo-Baroque palace
thermal bathsarchitecturenightlife
More about Budapest
Budapest, Hungary's stunning capital, straddles the Danube with hilly Buda on the west bank and flat, bustling Pest on the east. Budapest Keleti pályaudvar is the main international station, with direct Railjet services to Vienna (2.5 hours), connections to Prague, Berlin, Munich, Zagreb, and night trains to several European cities. Budapest Déli and Nyugati stations serve additional domestic and international routes.
Vast hilltop complex with St. Vitus Cathedral and panoramic views over the city
Charles Bridge
Iconic 14th-century stone bridge adorned with baroque statues, connecting Old Town and Lesser Town
architecturehistoryculture
More about Prague
Prague, the 'City of a Hundred Spires,' is one of Europe's most enchanting capitals, renowned for stunning Gothic, Baroque, and Art Nouveau architecture. Praha hlavní nádraží, the city's magnificent Art Nouveau main station, serves as a Central European rail hub with direct connections to Vienna (4 hours), Berlin (4.5 hours), Munich (6 hours), Budapest, Warsaw, and Dresden, making it an ideal base for exploring the region by train.
Magnificently rebuilt baroque church symbolizing reconciliation and Dresden's rebirth
Zwinger & Old Masters Gallery
Baroque palace complex housing Raphael's Sistine Madonna and world-class art
baroqueartmusic
More about Dresden
Dresden, Saxony's capital, has earned its reputation as 'Florence on the Elbe' through its extraordinary baroque architecture, world-class art collections, and dramatic riverside setting. Dresden Hauptbahnhof and Dresden-Neustadt connect via ICE to Berlin (2h), Leipzig (1h10), Prague (2h10), Frankfurt (4h30), and Munich (4h30). The scenic Elbe Valley line to Prague is one of Germany's most beautiful rail journeys.
UNESCO-listed underground fortification tunnels carved into the cliff with panoramic views
Old Town (Ville Haute)
Grand Ducal Palace, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and elegant squares on the promontory
UNESCOhistoryarchitecture
More about Luxembourg City
Luxembourg City is a fascinating small capital dramatically set on a promontory above deep river gorges. Luxembourg Gare Centrale connects to Brussels (3h), Paris (2h10 by TGV), Metz (50 min), Trier (50 min), and Koblenz. Remarkably, all public transport in Luxembourg — including trains within the country — is completely free.
Links use each city’s main station where matched. Check the stations and any connections before booking. Unmatched sections are omitted; these are route searches, not confirmed direct trains. Partner links may earn us a commission.
Before you book: stations, trains and food
How a rail pass fits this trip
This outline has 10 days with travel or an excursion: day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4, day 5, day 6, day 7, day 8, day 9, day 10. That is a planning count, not a confirmed number of pass days. Optional excursions, uncovered transport and night-train departure times can change it.
A pass travel day can cover several participating trains. Compare the pass plus reservation fees with individual tickets for the dates you actually travel.
When to compare a Global Pass
A multi-country route is a useful starting point for comparing an Interrail or Eurail Global Pass. Check participating operators and your country of residence; Interrail’s home-country use is limited to an outbound and an inbound journey.
When individual tickets can help
Price the shorter hops separately. A cheap ticket can let you save a flexible pass day for a longer journey. Compare Sam’s tickets with Trainline and Omio, including their fees and refund conditions.
Check services and reservations for your dates before booking. We may earn commission from Trainline, Omio and Stay22 links. Passes and tickets bought through Sam have their own checkout terms.
Your route. Sam handles the details.
Conductor Sam is an agent for European rail. You name the places
you want to see; it works out the legs, the changes and the
awkward gaps, then prices the tickets against a pass.
We have been there
1 of the 9 destination postcards use photographs taken by our own co-founder, not bought from a stock library.
Written from a corpus we curate
The notes on each stop come from a rail knowledge base we research and maintain ourselves, so Sam answers from it rather than searching the web for you.
Save this route, choose your dates and let Sam help with trains, reservations and the right pass.
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