A Spiritual Escape: Venice
Venice is a brilliant place to arrive in – the moment you walk down the steps and out of Santa Lucia station you’ll see bobbing gondolas on the city’s famous canals. Last year, I stayed at the Hotel Abbazia, a lovely traditional building in a restored ancient monastery. It’s located just two minutes from the station and offers comfortable rooms for two or three starting at just €125. You can have breakfast in the shady courtyard garden, almost imagining the monks strolling around as they said their prayers. In fact, the whole place was so relaxing, I almost missed my train as the friendly hosts served me more croissants and cappuccinos.
Rooms of Charm: Glasgow
The Grand Central Hotel is the perfect place to stay when passing through Glasgow Central as the hotel adjoins the station. The building itself is beautiful and the rooms match that charm. Some of the suites even come with a decadent roll-top bath. Be sure to visit the champagne lounge for a real treat.
A Slice of History Repeating: Ghent
Meandering through Europe on a rail pass, we stopped at the delightful 1898 The Post in Ghent. It’s located in the old city, just a 25-minute walk from Ghent’s Dampoort station and 30 minutes from St Pieters station. Filled with old-world charm, the hotel used to be the main post office and only opened as a hotel in 2017. Breakfast was a magnificent buffet, which set us up for a day of exploring the historic city centre.
Cool and Central: Copenhagen
The Copenhagen Plaza, located next to the Central station and opposite the Tivoli Gardens, gets my vote. It’s cool, calm, relaxed, and in a central location. It’s absolutely wonderful, although not the cheapest option available.
An Elegant Choice: Hamburg
The Hotel Europäischer Hof in Hamburg is situated opposite the Hauptbahnhof (main train station). This four-star hotel perfectly balances old-world charm with modern elegance, which is a difficult balance to achieve. The bar is also a lot of fun, and Miniatur Wonderland is just a short metro ride from the hotel.
First-Class Views: Antwerp
The Radisson Blu Astrid Hotel may not be the most historic or iconic of hotels, but when you step out of the doors and your eyes fill with the architectural glory of Antwerp’s Central station, you know you’ve made a good choice. It’s a short walk from the old town, and closer still are the trains and buses traversing Europe. The underground station next door opens up a world of possibilities.
Winning Tip: Jungle Vibes in Lille
On my way to the south of France a couple of years ago, I discovered a hidden gem. Instead of hauling my suitcases through crammed RER trains between Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon in Paris and facing queues of up to two hours at the Eurostar terminal on the way back, I decided to swap trains in Lille. Lille’s 17th-century old town is well worth a stay, as is L’Arbre Voyageur, a cozy hotel with jungle vibes located in the former Polish consulate and just a 10-minute stroll from the main station. Don’t forget to grab a sandwich from the patisserie next door before hitting the rails again the next day.
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