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.
Our own photograph
— Simon Harper, co-founder of Conductor Sam
2dayExplore
Barcelona
Spain
Sagrada Família
Gaudí's unfinished masterpiece basilica
Park Güell
Whimsical mosaic-covered park with city views
architectureartbeach
More about Barcelona
Barcelona, the cosmopolitan capital of Catalonia, is a vibrant Mediterranean city perfectly suited for rail travelers. Arriving at the magnificent Barcelona Sants or França stations, you'll find yourself in a city that masterfully blends Gothic quarters with modernist architecture, pristine beaches with urban culture, and traditional tapas bars with cutting-edge cuisine. The compact, walkable city center and excellent metro system make it easy to explore without a car.
Our own photograph
— Simon Harper, co-founder of Conductor Sam
4dayExplore
Strasbourg
France
Strasbourg Cathedral
Magnificent Gothic cathedral with astronomical clock and panoramic platform
Petite France
Picturesque quarter with half-timbered houses, canals, and covered bridges
alsacearchitecturefood
More about Strasbourg
Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace, uniquely blends French and German cultures on the Rhine border. Gare de Strasbourg, behind a stunning glass canopy, is a TGV hub reaching Paris in 1 hour 46 minutes, with connections to Basel, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, and Luxembourg. The city's position makes it a natural crossroads for French and German rail networks.
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 5 days with travel or an excursion: day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4, day 5. 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
2 of the 4 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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