For years, interrailing with a child felt like one of those “maybe one day” ideas. Last summer, we finally made it happen.
This was our first family Interrail trip. We’d previously travelled around Italy by train and spent time road-tripping through France in our converted VW T4, so we already knew we loved slower travel. But interrailing with kids felt like a completely different adventure.
Over three weeks, we travelled from the Wirral through Belgium, the Netherlands and France using an Interrail Global Pass. Alongside my partner and eight-year-old son, we travelled mostly by train, staying in everything from campsites to apartments. We carried backpacks instead of suitcases and tried to experience each destination for what it was, rather than rushing through a checklist.
And guess what? We absolutely loved it.
Here’s our full interrailing route, what we learned along the way, and my honest tips if you’re thinking about travelling Europe by train with kids.
Our Interrail trip at a glance
Before diving into the route, here’s a quick overview of our three-week interrailing adventure.
- Trip length: 3 weeks
- Countries visited: Belgium, the Netherlands and France
- Travellers: 2 adults and 1 child (aged 8)
- Interrail pass: 7 days in 1 Month Global Pass
- Pass cost: £381 per adult (children aged 0-11 travel free)
- Seat reservations: Required for some trains, including Eurostar, high-speed services and sleeper trains. We booked reservations through the Rail Planner app.
- Luggage: 3 backpacks, no suitcases. I packed around 7-10 days’ worth of clothes each and planned to use launderettes along the way.
- Travel style: A mix of hotels, apartments and campsites.
- Approximate total budget: £5,000 including accommodation, food, train travel and activities.
- Planning style: We only booked our first week before leaving. Slightly risky? Yes. But it gave us the flexibility to change plans depending on the weather, how we were feeling and where we wanted to go next.
Our Interrail pass and route
We used the Interrail Global Pass with 7 travel days in 1 month, which gave us enough flexibility to travel at our own pace.
One of the best things about interrailing with children is that kids aged 0 to 11 can travel free with an adult Interrail pass, making it a more budget-friendly way to explore Europe as a family.
Our route looked like this:
- Hoylake → Liverpool → London → Lille
- Lille → Ghent
- Day trip to Bruges
- Ghent → Amsterdam (via Antwerp)
- Amsterdam → Lyon (via Brussels)
- Lyon → Annecy
- Annecy → Lyon
- Lyon → Lille (via Paris)
- Day trip to Ghent
- Lille → London → Liverpool → Home
- Interrailing with kids FAQs
Let me take you through each stop in a little more detail.
Is interrailing with kids actually doable?
Yes!
There were stressful moments. Delayed trains, long travel days, tiredness, and carrying backpacks through busy stations in the heat. But there was also something incredibly freeing about waking up each morning knowing a new destination was only a few train stops away. My son absolutely loved this way of travelling.
One of the best decisions we made was slowing the whole trip down. Before we left, I’d read plenty of other family Interrail experiences, and one thing came up again and again: visiting more places doesn’t always mean a better trip.
Instead of trying to cram in as many destinations as possible, we kept most train journeys to around two or three hours and aimed to stay in each place for at least a few nights.
We also tried to book accommodation close to train stations wherever possible, which made arriving with backpacks much easier. Factoring in slower mornings, proper rest days and time to settle into each place also made a huge difference when travelling with a child.
Our first Interrail travel day: Hoylake to Lille
There was something exciting about leaving our front door in Hoylake with backpacks on and walking down the road to the station, knowing we were about to spend three weeks travelling across Europe.
The journey itself was surprisingly straightforward. We travelled from Hoylake to Liverpool, then from Liverpool Lime Street to London Euston, before taking a short walk to St Pancras for the Eurostar to Lille.
Getting the Eurostar with kids
I think a lot of people assume travelling through London and getting the Eurostar with children will be stressful, but honestly, it was one of the smoothest parts of the whole trip.
Everything was on time. St Pancras was easy to navigate and well signposted.
One thing worth knowing is that the Eurostar waiting area at St Pancras can feel quite busy, especially when you’re travelling with luggage and children. We travelled during the school summer holidays, so we expected it to be busy.
We made sure to bring snacks, drinks, books, card games and the Nintendo Switch, which definitely helped while we waited to board.
The Eurostar itself felt comfortable and relaxed. There’s food and drink available on board, but we mostly used the journey to settle into holiday mode and watch the scenery roll by while wondering what the next few weeks would bring.
Why did we choose Lille Europe as our first stop?
Most people travelling via Eurostar head straight to Paris or Brussels, but we chose Lille as our first stop instead.
Lille Europe and Lille Flandres stations are much quieter and less overwhelming when travelling with children, while still offering excellent rail connections across Northern Europe.
Our first night in Lille
By the time we arrived at Lille Europe station, the streets were full of people sitting outside in the evening sunshine, and it instantly felt like the perfect first stop on our trip.
We stayed at Hotel Chagnot, which I’d genuinely recommend if you’re interrailing through Lille. It’s only a short walk from Lille Europe and Lille Flandres stations, which made life much easier after a long day on the move.
The rooftop terrace was a real highlight. The next morning, we sat eating pastries and drinking coffee overlooking the rooftops of Lille in the sunshine.
Although we were only there for one night, we still had time to wander around the city, admire the architecture and end the evening with chocolate crêpes.
First impressions of interrailing with a child
What surprised me most was how good we all felt after such a long travel day. We weren’t exhausted or overwhelmed. If anything, the trip already felt easy and manageable, which wasn’t something I’d expected before travelling. Maybe we were running on excitement!
Lille turned out to be the perfect starting point for interrailing with a child. The relaxed pace and easy onward connections made us feel confident about the rest of the trip.
Next up: Ghent.
Travelling from Lille to Ghent
The train journey from Lille to Ghent was incredibly easy and took just over an hour. One of the things that surprised me most about interrailing with a child was how quickly you can travel between cities and countries once you’re actually on the rail network. Distances that feel huge on a map suddenly seem much more manageable.
We travelled directly from Lille Europe to Gent-Sint-Pieters station. By this point, we were already settling into the rhythm of travelling. Snacks packed, water bottles filled and straight onto the next train.
One thing I will say is that Gent-Sint-Pieters station is quite a walk from the historic centre if you’re travelling on foot with little ones. We decided to walk the roughly 30 minutes to our hotel and didn’t mind it at all, but after a long travel day or with younger children, an Uber would definitely make things easier. Uber is available in Ghent and a journey into the centre from Gent-Sint-Pieters station costs around €10.
Where we stayed in Ghent
We stayed at B&B HOTEL Gent Centrum, which worked perfectly for our trip. The location was brilliant and made it easy to explore the city on foot.
After arriving from Lille, it was nice to settle in for a few days rather than move on again straight away. Ghent is the kind of city where you end up walking a lot, so having a hotel in the centre made exploring incredibly easy.
Why we loved Ghent as a family
Ghent completely swept me off my feet.
One thing that stood out straight away was that it didn’t feel like a city constantly trying to entertain children, and somehow that made it even better for family travel. We all just melted into the pace of life there. This is hard to explain, but despite it being busy during the summer holidays, the atmosphere was peaceful and relaxed.
My son was just as taken with Ghent as we were. He loved trying new foods, watching the trams and cyclists weave through the streets, spotting boats along the canals and chatting to people wherever we went. One of his favourite moments was lighting candles for loved ones in Saint Bavo’s Cathedral, which we love to do wherever we travel.
One of our favourite places to eat was Frites Atelier. The frites were unreal and, after long days of walking around the city, exactly what we needed. We also tried bitterballen, which quickly became one of my favourite travel snacks of the entire trip.
Graffiti Alley, Werregarenstraat
Ghent’s famous graffiti alley, Werregarenstraat, was amazing to see. The artwork changes constantly, so no two visits are ever the same. It felt just as much a part of the city’s identity as the historic buildings did.
My son loved spotting all the different characters, colours and hidden details painted across the walls, while I could have happily spent hours photographing every corner.
It’s not often you find somewhere that appeals to adults and children in completely different ways, but Werregarenstraat managed exactly that.
Day trip to Bruges from Ghent
One thing I loved about staying in Ghent was how easy it was to explore other parts of Belgium by train. We took a day trip to Bruges, which was only around 25 to 30 minutes from Gent-Sint-Pieters station.
We didn’t use our Interrail pass for this journey because we didn’t want to use one of our travel days on a day trip. Instead, we booked tickets through the Trainline app. They cost around €7 each, and children travel free. Ticket machines are also available at both stations if you prefer to buy tickets on the day.
It’s worth knowing there’s around a 20-minute walk from Bruges station to the historic centre. We didn’t mind it at all, but after several days of travelling, it’s definitely something to consider if you’re visiting with younger children.
First impressions of Bruges
Bruges is one of those places that almost doesn’t look real.
Every corner felt like part of a fairytale. Canals winding between medieval buildings, cobbled streets, flower-filled bridges and rows of historic buildings reflected in the water.
But compared to Ghent, Bruges instantly felt busier and far more touristy.
The streets were much more crowded, especially around the main squares and canals, and horse-drawn carriages moved through some surprisingly narrow streets. It felt more polished and more geared towards tourism than Ghent did.
Chocolate shops lined almost every street, with huge displays of pralines, truffles and other treats that honestly felt impossible to walk past with a child. We spent ages wandering in and out of different shops trying to decide what to choose.
We stopped for Belgian waffles loaded with cream and chocolate sauce, bought chocolate to snack on while exploring the city and somehow still found room for more frites.
Did we prefer Bruges or Ghent?
As beautiful as Bruges was, Ghent suited us better as a family.
Bruges felt more geared towards tourism, whereas Ghent felt like somewhere we could properly settle into and experience at our own pace.
I’m really glad we visited Bruges because it genuinely is beautiful, but if I had to choose one place to return to, it would be Ghent without hesitation.
Travelling from Ghent to Amsterdam
After a few days in Belgium, it was time for one of the destinations I was most curious about: Amsterdam.
The journey from Ghent to Amsterdam was straightforward and took around two and a half hours, with a changeover in Antwerp.
Arriving at Amsterdam Centraal was a completely different experience to arriving in Ghent. The station was busier, louder and far more chaotic. Bikes seemed to be coming from every direction, trams rattled through the streets and everywhere we looked there were canals, narrow pavements and people rushing past.
I’ll be honest, I felt slightly overwhelmed at first.
Coming straight from the slower pace of Ghent, Amsterdam felt intense. But within a few hours, it completely won us over.
Three nights in Amsterdam weren’t enough
Amsterdam ended up being one of the biggest surprises of our entire Interrail trip.
Before visiting, I wasn’t convinced it would be somewhere we’d enjoy as a family. I imagined it being better suited to adults than children. Instead, we found a city packed with things for families to do, beautiful streets to wander and plenty of green spaces, cafés and canalside spots to enjoy between the busier moments.
We also chose to stay slightly outside the centre, which worked really well for us. It gave us a quieter place to return to after busy days of exploring while still being within walking distance of Amsterdam Centraal and the main attractions.
What our son loved most about Amsterdam
One thing that really stood out was how much there was for children to genuinely get involved with.
The NEMO Science Museum was probably the biggest highlight for my son. Instead of simply looking at exhibits, children can touch, build, experiment and learn through play. He left completely buzzing with excitement.
We also visited A’DAM Lookout, where we took in the incredible views across the city. Watching my son push himself out of his comfort zone on Europe’s highest swing was one of those travel memories I’ll never forget.
When we needed a break from the city, we took a trip to Zaanse Schans to see the famous windmills. It felt like stepping into a completely different world and offered a welcome change of pace from the energy of Amsterdam.
My full guide to visiting Amsterdam with kids
I’ve actually written a full guide to our experience visiting Amsterdam as a family, including where we stayed and tips for visiting with children.
Read it here: Visiting Amsterdam with kids, here’s why you should go for it!
Travelling from Amsterdam to Lyon
Next, we headed south to Brussels and stopped for lunch before boarding a TGV service bound for Lyon. The journey took around seven hours in total, making it one of the longest travel days of the trip.
Despite covering such a huge distance, the whole journey felt straightforward. The trains were comfortable and fast, and even had Wi-Fi, so I could get a little work done along the way.
Arriving in Lyon during a heatwave
When we arrived in Lyon, we were hit by something we definitely hadn’t prepared for properly: a 40°C heatwave. Stepping outside the station felt like opening an oven door.
Originally, we’d planned to spend our evening exploring the city, wandering around the old town and getting our first taste of Lyon. Instead, we quickly realised we needed to slow things right down.
Travelling in extreme heat with a child meant we had to adjust our plans almost immediately. Rather than trying to pack in lots of sightseeing, we focused on finding shade, taking regular breaks and staying hydrated.
Two nights in Lyon
For our two-night stop, we stayed at ibis Lyon Gare La Part-Dieu, which turned out to be exactly what we needed after such a long travel day. It was only a few minutes’ walk from Lyon Part-Dieu station, which felt like a gift in 40°C heat.
The hotel was simple, affordable and, most importantly, had air conditioning. There was also a courtyard and games area where Elijah could relax without being stuck in the room all evening.
Sometimes slow travel means slowing down
One thing interrailing taught me is that not every stop has to be packed with sightseeing.
Before this trip, I probably would’ve felt frustrated about spending time in a city as beautiful as Lyon without properly exploring it. But travelling as a family changed that mindset completely. Sometimes the best travel decision is simply listening to what everyone needs.
Instead of rushing around trying to tick things off a list, we used our time in Lyon to rest, cool down, catch up on washing and book the next part of our trip. Looking back, it was exactly what we needed.
After our stay, feeling much cooler and far more rested, we boarded another train and headed towards one of my favourite places from the entire trip: Annecy.
Travelling from Lyon to Annecy
Getting to Annecy turned out to be trickier than we expected. The original plan was simple enough: travel from Lyon to Annecy by train and be at the lake by lunchtime.
Unfortunately, ongoing rail works around Annecy meant our trains were cancelled, and we suddenly found ourselves trying to work out a completely different route.
After checking a lot of apps, refreshing train times, and weighing up alternatives, we ended up travelling to Chambéry before catching a FlixBus for the final part of the journey.
To make things even more interesting, temperatures were in the 30s. We found ourselves sitting in a park in Chambéry, backpacks beside us and cheese toasties in hand, trying to stay cool while we waited for the bus to arrive.
When it eventually turned up, it was absolutely packed. I’ll be honest, I really dislike buses and coaches, and this was probably one of the few moments during the trip when I felt genuinely stressed. Between the heat, the crowds and not knowing exactly how the rest of the journey would unfold, my anxiety definitely started creeping in.
At that point, I think we were all just desperate to get to Annecy!
Why Annecy was our favourite stop on our Interrail route
Before visiting, I’d seen plenty of photos online, but nothing really prepares you for it in person.
Often called the “Venice of the Alps”, Annecy sits on the edge of Lake Annecy, surrounded by mountains and some of the most beautiful scenery we saw during our entire Interrail trip. Like Ghent, it somehow managed to feel both busy and relaxed at the same time.
We stayed in an apartment on Rue Carnot for three nights. After moving between different cities, having our own place felt brilliant. We shopped locally, cooked most evenings and settled into a rhythm that felt less like travelling and more like living there.
Most mornings started with a walk to pick up pastries and coffee before heading down to the lake. The water was incredibly clear and, with temperatures still in the 30s, we found ourselves swimming almost every day.
Looking back, those days became some of my favourite memories from the entire trip.
Is Annecy worth visiting with kids?
Absolutely.
There are plenty of things to do in Annecy, but unlike Amsterdam, for example, it doesn’t feel like you’re constantly racing between attractions. Our son was perfectly happy swimming in the lake, wandering through the old town, spotting fish in the water and eating far too much ice cream.
What made Annecy work so well for us as a family was the amount of space. The town is walkable, the lake is huge and there are plenty of parks to wander through and simply enjoy being outdoors. Even during the school holidays, it never felt overwhelmingly busy.
Three nights weren’t enough
The biggest compliment I can give Annecy is that none of us wanted to leave.
Out of every destination on our Interrail route, Annecy is the one I think about most. Three nights gave us enough time to fall in love with it, but nowhere near enough time to explore everything the area has to offer.
If we went back, I’d stay for at least a week. I’d hire a car, use Annecy as a base and spend more time exploring the surrounding mountains, lakeside villages and alpine scenery. Every time I looked around, it felt like there was another beautiful place just beyond the next bend in the road.
The cancelled trains, the packed bus from Chambéry and the heat were forgotten almost as soon as we arrived. Annecy wasn’t just another stop on our Interrail adventure. It was the place that left us wanting more.
Returning to Lyon!
The journey from Annecy to Lyon was beautiful. We passed lakes, mountains and some incredible scenery, including Aix-les-Bains, which made it hard not to spend the entire journey staring out of the window.
This time, we decided to give Lyon another chance now that the temperatures had cooled slightly. We spent one night back in the city, staying at B&B HOTEL Lyon Centre Part-dieu Gambetta, which gave us the opportunity to explore some of the places we’d missed during the heatwave a few days earlier.
Exploring Lyon properly
This time, instead of hiding in air-conditioned hotel rooms, we were finally able to explore the city properly.
One of the highlights was visiting Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse, a huge indoor food market. If you love food, this place is incredible.
We spent ages browsing the different stalls, looking at cheeses, pastries, charcuterie, chocolates and all the things that make France such a great place to visit if you’re hungry. Even Elijah loved looking around and helping decide which snacks we should try.
We also spent time exploring Lyon’s beautiful old town, which felt completely different from the modern areas around the station.
Four nights at Camping de Lyon
After weeks of moving between trains, hotels, apartments and different cities, as well as navigating heatwaves and changing plans, we made a decision: we stopped moving.
For the next four nights, we stayed at Camping de Lyon in one of the chalets, and it was exactly what we all needed. Having our own kitchen, space to spread out and somewhere to properly settle for a few days felt like a luxury after constantly checking in and out of accommodation.
There was a real family atmosphere around the campsite. Kids riding bikes, families eating together outside, people relaxing by the pool and live music in the evenings.
We also made good use of the campsite restaurant. Some evenings we’d cook in the chalet, while on others we’d grab pizzas instead. There was also a large supermarket within walking distance, which made stocking up on food and supplies really easy.
The swimming pool quickly became Elijah’s favourite place, and having access to open space and a nearby park meant he could swap sightseeing for just playing.
The perfect balance
One thing I loved about Camping de Lyon was that it gave us the best of both worlds.
During the day, it was easy to hop on public transport and head into Lyon to explore the city. But at the end of the day, we could return somewhere quieter, surrounded by families, green space and a much slower pace of life.
Interrailing with a child doesn’t have to mean constantly moving. After Annecy stole our hearts, Camping de Lyon gave us something equally valuable: the chance to pause, recharge and simply enjoy where we were.
Lyon to Lille
Eventually, it was time to start making our way back towards home.
After four relaxing nights at Camping de Lyon, we packed up the chalet, said goodbye to the pool and campsite life, and grabbed an Uber to Lyon Part-Dieu station.
By this point, we’d been travelling for almost three weeks. This journey took us all the way back north to Lille via Paris, where we’d booked two final nights in a hotel before heading home.
One part of the journey we’d been slightly nervous about was changing stations in Paris. We arrived at Gare de Lyon and needed to get to Gare du Nord for our onward train. In reality, it turned out to be much simpler than we’d expected. A member of staff helped us with our Navigo passes, and the RER was easy to navigate, even with luggage and a child in tow.
Returning to Lille felt strangely familiar. What had felt like the start of a huge adventure a few weeks earlier now felt like the beginning of the end!
One last day trip to Ghent
One of the reasons we’d chosen to stay in Lille again was to squeeze in one final day trip to Ghent. We’d loved our first visit, so when planning the journey home, it felt like the perfect excuse to go back. We booked our tickets through the Trainline app so that we didn’t waste a travel day on our pass. Tickets cost €11 for adults, and children under 12 are free.
Stepping off the train felt a little like returning to an old favourite. We wandered through the city, stopped for food, revisited some of our favourite spots and soaked up the atmosphere one last time.
I always think the biggest compliment you can give a place is wanting to return before you’ve even left, and that’s exactly how we felt about Ghent.
As our final full day of the trip, it couldn’t have been a better choice.
Lille to London, Liverpool and home
After one final night in Lille, we boarded the Eurostar back to London before making our way north to Liverpool and eventually home to Hoylake.
Travelling by rail allowed us to see so much more than we ever would have if we’d simply flown to a place. Of course, there were challenges. We dealt with cancelled trains, delays, heatwaves and the occasional moment when everyone was tired and ready for a break.
But there were also swims in Lake Annecy, evenings eating frites in Ghent, watching Elijah conquer Europe’s highest swing in Amsterdam and countless moments I’ll treasure.
Interrailing with kids FAQs
What backpacks did you use?
We all bought our backpacks from Decathlon. They were reasonably priced and worked well for three weeks of travelling light. If you’re planning a longer trip, it may be worth investing in something with more support and comfort for carrying over longer distances.
How easy is the Interrail Pass and Rail Planner app to use?
We found both really straightforward to use. The Rail Planner app made it easy to keep track of our travel days, view train times and access our tickets while travelling. It’s worth spending a little time getting familiar with the app before you leave, but overall, we found it very user-friendly.
Would you interrail with a child again?
Yes! Before this trip, I worried that travelling by train for three weeks might feel exhausting with an eight-year-old. In reality, it never felt as daunting as I’d imagined. Having space to move around, watch the scenery change and settle in for the journey made a huge difference. Rather than simply getting from A to B, the train journeys became part of the adventure itself.
What was the hardest part of interrailing with kids?
Cancelled trains, heatwaves and figuring out alternative routes were probably the most stressful moments. For us, the toughest travel day was getting from Lyon to Annecy after our trains were cancelled. That said, every problem felt solvable. We had very few delays, and none of the challenges was serious enough to overshadow the trip.
What was the best destination for families?
Annecy was our overall favourite. The combination of the lake, mountains, swimming spots, outdoor activities and relaxed atmosphere made it perfect for family travel.
Did you overpack?
No, but only because we packed far less than we normally would. We travelled with three backpacks and no suitcases.
How often did you do laundry?
Around once a week. Rather than packing three weeks’ worth of clothes, I packed around 7 to 10 days’ worth and planned to use launderettes along the way. It worked perfectly and saved us from carrying unnecessary weight.
Is three weeks too long to interrail with a child?
For us, three weeks was the perfect length. It gave us enough time to settle into the rhythm of travelling by train, spend more than a night or two in most destinations and still have room for slower days when we needed them. By the end of the trip, we felt like we’d seen a lot without feeling rushed or completely worn out.
What was your biggest lesson from interrailing as a family?
You don’t need to see everything. Some of our favourite memories weren’t famous attractions. They were swimming in Lake Annecy, eating frites in Ghent, wandering around food markets in Lyon and spending evenings at the campsite while Elijah played in the pool.
Interrailing wasn’t just a way of getting from one destination to another. It became part of the adventure itself. If you’re wondering whether interrailing with kids is actually doable, hopefully our experience proves that it absolutely is.
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