Routes
Routes
A light-travel route begins at the platform: you step off the train, and from there your feet decide everything. That is why there are no addresses or names here — only types of stops and the order in which they are easiest to visit with a backpack on. Each route can be applied to any city or suburb. We do not give kilometres or minutes: everyone walks at their own pace, and train and bus timetables change. What matters is where to leave your things, when to take a break and how to get back to the station without rushing.
A good walking route is like a loop: it starts at the station and ends there too, with a bench and a hot drink somewhere in the middle.
How this section works: a route can be done with one backpack, most of it is on foot, and the journey there and back can be checked against the carrier's timetable.
One day on foot in an unfamiliar city
A loop from the station through the centre and back in time for the evening train.
Station and left-luggage office
If your backpack is heavier than you want to carry all day, leave it at the station. Check straight away what time the left-luggage office closes.
Walk to the old centre
Avoid the main road and take parallel streets instead: they are quieter and more interesting. Save an offline map in case the signal is weak.
Main square
This is usually where the old streets meet and where you will find an information board. A good place to review your plan and decide what to see next.
Museum or covered market
Midday is the time for one indoor place: a break from the street, shelter from the rain or a bite to eat.
Viewpoint
A hill, an embankment or a high riverbank. From here you can see how the city is laid out and where it is worth coming back next time.
Back to the station
Leave with time to spare, collect your things and buy water for the journey. Do not spend the last hour on new streets far from the platform.
A weekend out of town by train
A local train, a forest trail and a night in a village.
Early local train
The earlier you leave, the more daylight you have on arrival. Check the timetable the day before and note down the return services.
Station and trailhead
Take a photo of the trail map if there is one at the station. Tell someone close to you where you are going and when you plan to be back.
Forest or riverbank
The main walk of the day. Water, snacks and a warm layer go in the top pocket of your backpack so you do not have to unpack everything at each stop.
A night in a village
A guesthouse or a room not far from the station. In the evening, dry your shoes and check tomorrow's forecast.
Short morning loop
On day two, an easy circuit without the backpack or with the bare minimum, so you are not tired before the journey home.
Return train
Choose the second-to-last service rather than the last one: if something goes wrong, you will still have a fallback.
Two nights in a small town
A slow pace: one town, one place to stay and the surroundings on foot.
Check-in and evening walk
Arrive in the afternoon, leave your backpack at your accommodation and wander around the centre without a plan, just to get a feel for the town.
Local history museum
On the morning of day two, drop into the local museum: it will tell you what to see next. Opening days in small towns can be limited — check them in advance.
Surroundings on foot
A riverside path, an old cemetery, an abandoned manor or fields outside town. Take only a small bag with water and snacks.
Market
A good place to buy food for the journey and see the everyday life of the town.
Unhurried departure
On the last day, plan nothing far from the railway or bus station. An hour in a café by the platform beats running with a backpack after a departing bus.
How to adapt a route to suit you
- If your backpack turns out to be heavy, shorten the loop and leave your things in left luggage
- When it rains, reorder the stops so the museum or market falls during the bad weather
- On a short autumn day, start earlier and finish near the station before dark
- Two nights in one place are almost always more relaxing than two nights in different places
- Mark the station, your accommodation and a couple of cafés on an offline map — it makes finding your way easier without a signal
Related sections
- Destinations
Types of nearby one-to-three-day trips and four criteria that make it easy to pick yours.
- Places
Museums, viewpoints, markets, parks and churches: how to see them with a backpack on.
- On the spot
How to get your bearings in an unfamiliar place, and where to eat and sleep when travelling light.
Sources
- Carriers' baggage rules
- Official websites of museums and protected natural areas
Information is current as of the date of preparation. Baggage rules, timetables, prices and conditions of carriage change, so check them with your carrier before every trip.