With Easter just around the corner, it's not too late to plan a last-minute European getaway – by train! Forget airport queues and take a relaxing rail journey to some of Europe's most exciting cities and picturesque destinations, perfect for a long weekend or family holiday adventure.

Hop on the Eurostar from London and reach Lille, Paris or Brussels in just a few hours. If you fancy venturing further afield it is easy to connect to France's high-speed TGV network, whisking you to a variety of French cities. Alternatively take a Deutsche Bahn ICE service from Brussels into Germany and visit Cologne or Bonn or travel further to the Black Forest region, Switzerland or Italy.  Whether you are craving culture, cuisine, or a lakeside stroll, rail travel makes it easy to explore multiple destinations with ease.

Ffestiniog Travel will handle all the details, from rail reservations and accommodation to seamless transfers where needed and will even arrange excursions. Whether you prefer a city break or a scenic escape, the rail tour specialist can tailor the perfect Easter itinerary to suit your style.

Below are some varied European breaks that are possible this Easter for couples or families.

Discover the French City of Nîmes

The stunning historic French city of Nîmes can be reached within hours by train from London and it really is worth a visit.  Board the Eurostar at St. Pancras to Lille and transfer to a TGV service and reach the Occitanie region of southern France in a matter of hours. The city of Nîmes and its glorious past that dates back to the 6th Century BC is known as the 'Rome of France' with its incredible collection of Roman buildings, including a magnificent amphitheatre and the 2000-year-old Maison Carrée, one of the best preserved Roman temples of the Roman Empire. There are lots of museums and markets to explore in Nîmes' palm-lined streets, and the city plays host to a number of high-profile festivals throughout the year, including its famous music festival with a line-up of high profile musicians and singers. From £1,150pp (two sharing) enjoy rail travel through France and three night's B&B hotel accommodation.

Black Forest Discovery

Titisee in Germany's beautiful Black Forest region is an excellent centre for exploring the Black Forest and can be reached by train. Take a week away by jumping on Eurostar with or without the children and follow the scenic Rhine rail route to Titisee. Break up your rail journey from and return to the UK with a brief stay in Aachen, a city rich in culture and charm. Your train journey to Titisee travels along the scenic Rhine Valley route to Freiburg. Titisee is an excellent centre for exploring the Black Forest, it is a lovely Alpine lake resort and ideal for a walking holiday. With a KONUS travel card you can enjoy free regional transport, making it easy to explore charming villages, scenic hiking trails, and visiting nearby historic steam railways such as the Wutachtal and Kandertal.  Ffestiniog Travel has created an 8-day itinerary which costs from £3,295 for a family of four (2 adults, 2 children under 11) or from £2,090 for two adults sharing. The cost includes all rail travel, B&B hotel accommodation and a KONUS Travel card for unlimited travel in the Black Forest region.

Family Train Tour of Switzerland

This rail tour of Switzerland offers couples or families the chance to combine a Swiss Alps walking experience with touring by train.  Take the classic Rhine rail route to Switzerland with overnight stays in Cologne and experience memorable holiday highs as you weave through Swiss mountains and valleys by train and enjoy magnificent views from the comfort of your seat. Hop on and off with a Swiss Travel Pass to explore marked footpaths on foot. This tour includes unforgettable journeys on the famous Bernina and Glacier Express trains and with an unlimited travel pass you can enjoy various excursions including a train trip to Zermatt to board the Gornergrat rack railway for the best views of the Matterhorn. Priced from £4,950 for a family of four (children under 11 years), this 9-day holiday includes standard class rail travel to Switzerland, Swiss Passes for 2 adults for unlimited travel on trains, lake steamers, postbuses and many city buses (children travel free accompanied by parents) and B&B hotel accommodation in Chur and Brig – perfect bases to explore the Alps.

Florence & Lake Garda

Combine culture with scenic wonders on a rail holiday to Italy's Renaissance capital Florence and stunning Lake Garda. Travel by train from London, via Paris and Chambery, for an overnight stay, before continuing to Florence for three nights, plenty of time to soak up the history and art of this cultural city or visit nearby Siena.  Travel by rail through Italy via Milan to Desenzano on Lake Garda for a further 3-night stay and relax by the waterside, enjoy scenic walks and maybe take a day trip to Venice. Ffestiniog Travel has created a tour that will appeal to families as well as friends and couples who want a holiday mixing city and countryside experiences with great scenic rail journeys. Priced from £2,250pp the tour includes all rail travel to Italy and returning via Basle, Switzerland with an overnight stay, through the Gotthard South-North rail route, B&B hotel accommodation, excursions to Siena and Venice (with transport ticket included).

Ffestiniog Travel's General Manager, Maria Cook comments: “We encourage travellers to embrace the joy of slow travel and see more of Europe by train this Easter. Sit back, relax, and watch the landscapes change as you glide towards your next holiday destination.”

To create your own personalised European Easter rail break visit www.ffestiniogtravel.com