Travel by train to volunteer in Europe

If you decide not to fly and instead travel by train or bus, this is not only good for your wallet, but also for the environment. For comparison: A flight from Munich to Bilbao emits around 370 kg of CO2 per person. With a return flight it would be 750 kg. A journey by coach, on the other hand, emits around 40 kg of CO2 and a train journey only around 10 kg.

You also have more freedom with your luggage when traveling by train, because there are no restrictions or surcharges. So you can take as much as you can carry! In addition, you usually arrive directly in the city center by train. So you don't have to worry about a transfer from the airport.

Another benefit of traveling overland is that you get to know the area better. In contrast to a flight, where you simply start at point A and arrive at point B, the journey itself becomes a travel experience on the train or bus. When you look out of the window you can watch the landscapes passing by: depending on where you are traveling, you will see mountains, forests, coasts or cities and in this way experience much more than just your destination.

In order not to spend all the time just sitting in your seat, you can also make stops to get to know more about the country or region. The route is the goal!

As an alternative to the landscape cinema at the window, you also have the option of arriving by night train or bus. Falling asleep in one place and waking up in another is also an exciting experience!

Depending on the travel time, it is advisable to book a place in a special sleeping car. These are usually a bit more expensive, but more comfortable. This way you arrive more relaxed and can explore the place full of energy!

For example, you can take the ÖBB Nightjet from Munich to Rome overnight or take the Berlin Night Express from Germany's capital to Stockholm. If you're heading east, the Istanbul-Sofia-Express is a good option. The numerous night buses that commute between many major European cities are a little less comfortable, but cheap and practical.

You can easily get to most of our European volunteer projects by train or bus. Some are reached quickly, for others you should plan a few days. By the way, islands can also be reached very easily by ferries without flying.

• Western Greece, Crete and Ionian Islands
• Croatia
• Hungary
• Romania
• Spain: Bilbao
• Northwest Italy

You can either organize your trip through Europe yourself or through a travel agency. If you plan everything yourself, this has the advantage that you save some money. You will find a wealth of information on the Internet and you can also conveniently book most tickets online.

However, it can be complicated to book international tickets, especially night train combinations. In general, it is an additional effort to research the best connections and offers yourself. That's why the variant of the travel agency is worthwhile, as there are also those who specialize in train travel and can give you the best advice. For example, we recommend the agencies Gleisnost Freiburg or Terminal station Berlin.

Either way, your trip will certainly be a special experience that will also do something good for the environment!

Make a little BIG change!