Welcome to The Slow Track | A Slow Travel Blog About Europe
The Slow Track is where I share my slow travel journeys across Europe by train and beyond. I write about Interrail trips, station stories and thoughtful city-to-city routes where the experience of getting there matters as much as the destination itself.
Welcome to The SlowTrack – my slow travel guide. I’m Chris, and I’m glad you’re here.
I was born in Liverpool and now live in Rutland, England’s smallest county. It’s easy to miss if you’re heading somewhere quickly, but it’s definitely worth a visit, if you have the time.
I travel across Europe, solo or with friends and family, using trains, ferries, bikes, and my own feet. The Slow Track grew out of those journeys and the choices behind them.
This site isn’t about travelling less or being exclusively flight-free. It’s about travelling better and in a more enjoyable way, by slowing things down.
People often ask what slow travel actually means. You can find out more in my What is Slow Travel guide.
But for me, the answer is simple. It’s not just the destination. It’s the journey itself.
A Slow Travel Guide
Modern travel is built around speed. Faster and cheaper routes are treated as better routes, and efficiency and making the most of your destination is the goal.
Slow travel pushes back against that idea. It values time, presence, and paying attention to what’s around you.
It’s not about ticking sights off a list or racing between cities. It’s about noticing small places, quiet moments, and enjoying the spaces in between.
Slow travel works in many ways. Europe by train, boat, bike, or walking all change how you experience a place.
You see landscapes shift gradually. Languages, architecture, and everyday life blend together rather than flashing past.
Train travel suits this approach especially well. You move through the world, not above it, and the journey becomes part of the experience.
Slow travel isn’t just about how you get somewhere. It’s a mindset.
What The Slow Track Is About
The Slow Track is your slow travel guide for Europe. Trains feature heavily, as does Interrailing, but they’re not the whole story.
This site looks at how journeys feel, not just where they start and end. Routes matter as much as destinations.
It isn’t about rushing through checklists. It’s about travelling with purpose and giving places the time they deserve.
Some journeys stay with you longer than others. Some places only make sense when you slow down.
On The Slow Track, you’ll find:
- Interrail tips – planning routes, navigating passes, and making the most of your time
- City-to-city guides – how to connect places thoughtfully, by rail and beyond
- Night trains – how to travel while you sleep, from couchettes to private cabins
- Station stories – because some train stations – and you’ll want to get the Train in Europe – really are destinations
- Itineraries – from the most beautiful trips to practical advice and underrated detours
- Slow travel inspiration – for when the journey matters as much as the stop
- Topical posts – on the future of rail, sustainable travel, and slow travel culture
If you care how you move through the world, you’ll feel at home here.
Stories From the Journey
I’ll share all kinds of journeys on The Slow Track. Some are long and ambitious, others are small detours that turn out to matter more.
Here’s a snapshot of some of my favourite things.
Favourite Journey: Zurich to Innsbruck to Salzburg
This route through the Alps always works. The scenery builds steadily without demanding too much effort.
Lakes give way to valleys, then mountains. Each section something different.
Innsbruck feels bold and very alpine. Salzburg feels calmer and more controlled, without losing character.
The journey changes with the seasons. Summer feels open and alive, while winter strips everything back.
This trip does more than connect cities. It sets the tone before you even arrive.
Favourite Station: Milano Centrale
Milano Centrale isn’t subtle. It doesn’t try to be.
The scale is enormous, and the architecture demands your attention. It feels more like a monument than a station.
Arriving there feels theatrical and the start of something magical and typically Italian. Leaving feels like the beginning of something.
It’s one of the places I’m most looking forward to telling your more about on The Slow Track.
Favourite City: Salzburg
Salzburg is easy to like. It’s compact, musical, and well balanced.
You don’t need a plan here. Walking usually works, and something interesting can be found at every turn.
The seasons change the mood completely. Summer feels busy and open, while winter brings snow-covered peaks and the famous Christmas market.
The station sits close to the old town. You step off the train and immediately get started.
Favourite Slow Travel Destination: Wengen
Wengen forces you to slow down. Cars aren’t allowed, and the only way in is by train.
That choice changes everything. You don’t pass through Wengen by accident.
The climb from Lauterbrunnen is part of the experience. The valley drops away as the mountains close in. Sit on the right for the best views.
When you arrive, it’s a hive of activity yet peaceful at the same time. Movement happens on foot, and the pace feels natural.
Wengen isn’t built for rushing. That’s exactly why it works.
Slowing Down
Travel culture rewards speed. Short breaks, fast routes, and constant movement dominate.
Slowing down feels deliberate now. It feels like a decision rather than a default.
When you travel slowly, you notice more. Station names, rooftops, daily routines, and small shifts in scenery.
You move through places properly instead of passing over them. That difference matters.
Slow travel also gives control back. You can stay longer, leave earlier, or change plans entirely.
The journey becomes yours.
What’s Next
This is the beginning of The Slow Track. More journeys, guides, and ideas are coming.
Some posts will be practical. Others will be reflective.
All of them focus on travelling better, not faster, across Europe and beyond trains.
If you’re new here, start at the beginning. The Start Here page explains slow travel and how to use the site.
If watching the world pass a train window feels right to you, stay. You’re in the right place.
