Who doesn’t like a holiday upgrade!

Travelling first class by train means you get that extra sense of space, comfort and legroom. It usually means quieter carriages for a more peaceful experience. Most have plug sockets at your seat and wifi. And sometimes, you’ll even get a meal at your seat or lounge access – depending where you’re going, which operator and type of train you’re travelling on. And, first class isn’t that much more expensive either.

As our holidays use public trains in the main, and different countries have different operators, rolling stock and classes of service, a journey spanning several countries can mean varied experiences. And this is the same with first class – not all trains are create equal. First class will always deliver the next level of comfort and style, with some trains offering personal service to match.

We’ve curated a selection of holidays featuring the best of first class rail travel in Europe, which you can combine with hotel upgrades as well to holiday in style.

First – a mention about Eurostar Plus, the leisure traveller’s first class option. Most of our holidays from the UK start with a Eurostar journey, and it really is worth the upgrade. Along with the wider, reclining seats and increased leg room, you’ll get a light meal served at your seat.

The benefits you get in first class are dependent on which operator and type of train you travel on. With this in mind, we’ve handpicked our top holidays for getting the most out of your class upgrade, so you can make the most of your trip. Read on for our recommendations.

1) Glacier & Bernina Expresses

From £1,099 for 4 days. £150 per person extra in First Class.

We’re starting with two of the world’s iconic scenic rail journeys – on the bucket list for any fan of spectacular train trips – the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express. Riding these trains is an experience in itself, and the panoramic windows mean you won’t miss any of the spectacular mountain scenery unfolding before you. In first class, you’ll get wider seats, with the option of tables for two – which our customers love.

This holiday starts with a journey in Eurostar Plus and it’s worth mentioning that the itinerary also includes a journey on a TGV Lyria Première class, where you can order food to your seat rather than joining the queue at the buffet car.

Two first class rail journeys, even better in First Class!

Glacier & Bernina Expressess – full itinerary

2) Austrian Explorer

From £1,749 for 12 days. £250 per person extra in first class.

Scenic rail journeys, spectacular cities and cultural experiences are the hallmarks of this holiday, and Austria is top of the list for first class train travel.

First class in Austria comes with even more. On Austria’s Railjet services, you’ll be served a complimentary meal at your seat, and even gain access to the ÖBB (Austria’s national rail company) lounges in some of the major cities, including Innsbruck, Salzburg, Graz and Vienna on this holiday. ÖBB Lounges generally provide drinks and snacks, free wifi and newspapers.

Top tip – we recommend upgrading your stay to the Grand Hotel in Zell Am See for Bell Epoque grandeur right on the lake front.

Austrian Explorer – full itinerary

3) Budapest, Vienna & Prague

From £1,449 for 12 days. £150 extra per person in first class

On a holiday to these majestic, Imperial cities, surely the only way to travel is first class! The itinerary features a few longer-distance journeys, making the added comfort and space of first class even more worthwhile.

Channel the opulence of the Bohemian, Ottoman and Baroque eras and stay in luxurious, 5* hotels – much more affordable in these cities than in other European cities. Add to the forest class experience, luxuriate in the historic spas of Budapest, hobnob with the cultural elite at the opera in Vienna and indulge in a dinner cruise along Prague’s Vltara River.

Budapest, Vienna & Prague – full itinerary

4) Barcelona & Madrid by high-speed train

From £1,199 for 7 days.  £200 extra per person in first class.

A holiday combining two of Spain’s biggest-hitting cities for culture, art, history and architecture, with unique must-see landmarks, grand avenues and beautiful parks. 

Travelling by first class combines two priorities when travelling long distances by train – speed and comfort. Begin aboard Eurostar Plus from the UK, switch to comfortable, reclining seats on a TGV through the pretty French countryside and speed through Spain aboard the AVE – one of the fastest trains in Europe. 

First class on this holiday offers even more – reserve seats with a table for two and access the Sala Lounges in Barcelona Sants and Madrid Puerta de Atocha, offering comfortable seating, snacks and wifi.

Barcelona & Madrid By High-Speed Train – full itinerary

5) Provence in Detail 

From £1,059 for 8 days. £150 extra per person in first class.

Provence is a wonderful region of France, full of fields of lavender, rocky outcrops and medieval towns and villages. And it’s a great destination to explore in first class on high speed TGV trains. 

With stops in Aix-en-Provence and Avignon, the itinerary also allows you free days to explore further along the coast on local trains – some of these will have first class, but not all.

A quirk of travelling through France on a TGV is that many lines run past the motorway – you can see the train overtaking the cars with ease!

Provence in Detail – full itinerary

6) Berlin City Break

From £629 per person for 4 days. £150 extra per person in first class

If you’re going all the way to Berlin on this whistle-stop itinerary, you may as well choose to travel in first class on Eurostar and the modern, comfortable German ICE trains, where you can order food and drinks to be served at your seat.

There’s a lot to experience in Berlin – from the remains of the Berlin Wall, an outdoor museum full of artwork and memorials, to the impressive Reichstag building and Brandenburg Gate, you can feel the history.

This holiday itinerary isn’t included in our first class offer, but if you wanted to extend it and add another stay either outbound or on the return, the upgrade offer will apply.

Options for extending include time in Cologne, Achen, Hamburg or even Prague.

Berlin City Break – full itinerary

7) Copenhagen & Stockholm by Rail

From £1,399 per person for 10 days. £200 extra per person in first class

Head north in comfort and style on first class trains. This holiday has several long journeys, making an upgrade even more value.  

Extra benefits are also available – with access to lounges in Stockholm and Copenhagen, and complimentary coffee served on SJ’s services within Sweden.

This holiday takes in some fabulous scenery along the way, and you’ll go across the spectacular 16km long Oresund Bridge, linking Sweden and Denmark.

Copenhagen & Stockholm by Rail – full itinerary

8) Venice, Rome & Florence

From £1,399 per person for 9 days.. £200 extra per person in first class

Italy is one of the most popular and scenic countries to travel to and around by train. One of the benefits is that most routes from the UK take you through the Swiss Alps first – the itinerary for this holiday includes the Gotthard route.  

When you get to Italy, the trains are modern and high speed. Premium class on the Frecciarossa is a joy – the usual bigger, more comfortable seats and a complimentary snack box. 

Walk in the footsteps of the Medici, Romans and Venetians and explore the abundance of culture and history in these cities. Get a taste of their luxurious and indulgent lifestyles with a huge choice of hotel upgrades – from the 5* Bauer L’Hotel & Il Palazzo just off St Marks Square in Venice to the Hotel Majestic Roma, one of the leading hotels of the world.

Venice, Rome & Florence – full itinerary

9) Grand Train Tour of Switzerland

From £2,799 per person for 16 days. £200 extra per person in first class.

Switzerland is the ultimate destination for rail travel fans, and our Grand Tour packs in three of its world renowned rail journeys – the Golden Pass Route, Glacier Express and Bernina Express. 

It’s always difficult to explain how meticulously integrated the Swiss travel system is if you haven’t travelled there before. The carefully planned timetables and pinpoint accurate schedules make connections seamless and hassle free.

And it’s even better in first class, with extra wide seats giving you space to breathe in this country of mountain air, lakes and stunning vistas around every corner.

Grand Train Tour of Switzerland – full itinerary

10) Warsaw, Krakow and Prague  

From £1,499 per person for 13 days. £300 extra per person in first class

Last but not least, head east in first class to experience first class aboard several different operators and compare. As with some of our other selections, you get more value as well as extra comfort the further you travel.

Trains in Poland are extremely comfortable, with wider, more comfortable seats. Some services offer food and drinks service at your seat, others provide complimentary drinks. 

If you want an even better first class experience, upgrading your hotels in these cities is much better value than in many other European cities. Throw in the distances travelled, and this is a great value option for first class travel.

Warsaw, Krakow and Prague – full itinerary

Upgrade to First Class Travel

If you want to book one of these holidays, tailor-make your own or choose from our other re-planned itineraries, contact our team