Discovering Europe: An Unforgettable Train Journey with My Niece

last year, I came across an amazing travel opportunity: children under 12 can ride trains throughout Europe for free when accompanied by an adult. As someone who appreciates a good bargain, I was excited to take advantage of this offer, even though I don’t have any kids myself.

finding a child to join me on this journey was easier than expected. When I approached my brother about taking my 10-year-old niece, Annabelle, on an Interrail adventure during the Easter holidays, he quickly agreed—though he did set some rules: bedtime at 10 PM and no late-night TV featuring Gordon Ramsay’s colorful language.

Crafting our Travel Plans

The next step involved deciding our destinations. After several FaceTime calls filled with amusing filters (one made her resemble Donald Trump), we finalized six locations: Paris, Zurich, Venice, Innsbruck, Berlin, and Amsterdam. Annabelle expressed her excitement about visiting places inspired by Emily in Paris and The Diary of Anne Frank while also sharing her fondness for Toblerone chocolate. If it were solely up to me, our itinerary would have included lesser-known cities like Essen or Minsk; however, Annabelle’s unimpressed expression indicated that wasn’t going to happen.

A Culinary adventure in Paris

Our journey began in Paris. After checking into The Hoxton hotel on Rue du Sentier, we eagerly tried escargot—a culinary experience that led Annabelle to compare them unfavorably to something you might find stuck in your nose! We enjoyed a picnic near the Eiffel Tower while she questioned why we wouldn’t join the long line for the lift (“Are British people not allowed up there?”). Later that day involved climbing 500 steps up Sacré-Cœur Basilica; her enthusiasm stemmed from my little fib about a doughnut shop waiting at the top.

the Adventure Continues: From France to Switzerland

The train ride from Paris to Zurich required us to change trains in Strasbourg and cost €10 each for seat reservations—something necessary for certain routes when using an Interrail pass. During our four-hour journey through eastern France towards Switzerland, we spent ten minutes admiring the scenery outside followed by over an hour glued to screens playing hangman—where I cleverly introduced new vocabulary words like “exasperation” and “glee” into Annabelle’s growing lexicon.

An Eco-Friendly Experience in Zurich

In Zurich, we explored its sustainable initiatives—including a hydroelectric power station that earned another one of Annabelle’s signature eyebrow raises—and relaxed by lake Zurich as swans squabbled over pretzel crumbs. For dinner at Dar, a plant-based restaurant run by acclaimed chef Zineb Hattab with roots in Spanish-Moroccan cuisine—we savored dishes such as Kentucky-fried mushrooms and vegan ceviche which were absolutely delightful!

Losing Ourselves Amongst Venice’s Canals

Next came Venice where our approach shifted; rather of lecturing about history every few steps regarding bridges or Italian unification figures like Garibaldi—I let Annabelle take charge! She guided us through countless gift shops where her enthusiasm for trinkets knew no bounds.

We stayed at Avani Rio Novo near the train station—a perfect choice given Annabelle’s tendency toward selective fatigue when it comes time-consuming walks toward museums! Dinner consisted of sardines followed by gelato (don’t ask), after which she attempted ballet moves while I pondered how soon she should start drinking alcohol!

A Scenic Cable Car Ride Up Innsbruck Mountain

The following morning before heading out again—I asked her what alternative verb could replace “move on,” leading her amusingly suggest “wobble.” Thus began our journey northward towards innsbruck—a picturesque city nestled among mountains with around 130k residents.

Dropping off our bags at Adlers Hotel, we indulged ourselves with schnitzel before taking a cable car ride up Hafelekarspitze mountain standing tall at over 7k feet high! We marveled at breathtaking views encompassing pistachio rivers surrounded by rooftops against majestic Austrian Alps before engaging in an epic snowball fight—which later became one of Annabelle’s trip highlights!

Cultural Discoveries Made In Berlin

The next day brought us via train into Berlin just as sunset painted Alexanderplatz golden hues atop its iconic TV Tower standing tall above all else! While explaining ancient landmarks such as Brandenburg Gate or Checkpoint Charlie—Annabelle seemed engaged until asking if they could be imitated using only tongues!

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