European Public Transportation: The Complete Breakdown
If you’re from North America, the idea of such an extensive public transportation network may seem bizarre. Although, many natives to this phenomena will claim it only works half the time but it’s too inconvenient and expensive to justify getting a driver’s license. That might be a stretch, however, many European driver’s licenses are thousands of euro’s to obtain. Nonetheless, it can be daunting as an outsider to this world to enter the metro system, board a tram, or hop on a bus to get to your destination. It might even make that hour walk not seem so bad. And if you’re going longer distances, that train might seem questionable. But I’m going to break down the public transpo fear-wall and get you ready for your European adventures.
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1. Metro
Other names include, but are not limited to, subway, underground, and tube. My preference is to call it the metro. You will usually find the entrances to the underground system with a dedicated blue sign and “M” or “U” for metro or underground, along the streets, next to stairs going underground. Often with the fastest options, the metro offers multiple lines that all intersect at various points. Each stop is given a name, which you can find along the metro course lines on a map. Each line has two carriages, one going in each direction. It is, therefore, important to pay attention to these end-points in your directions. For example, the “C” metro line can go in the direction of “Háje” or “Letňany.” Once on the metro, there will be an announcement, digital screen, or map that lights up at the current stop for you to determine where you are. If you miss any or all of these, you can also peer out of the windows to the metro station, which will have the name of the stop posted all over the walls. If you need to change metros, you won’t need to exit the underground area; simply find the name of the next line on the ceiling markings and hop on there. Once you are at your destination, don’t forget you need to go upstairs, because you are currently under the streets.
The metro is required to full-stop and open the doors at each stop along the line. This is different than the tram and bus, which will be discussed soon. Typically, the doors will be open for 10-30 seconds, then beep, and close again before taking off. There will be limited seating, but there will be many bars and handles to hold onto. In some places, such as Paris and London, it is common for the wagons to be so crowded you don’t need to hold on at all because you are packed in so tightly you can’t move. Be extra careful for pick-pockets in these situations! Certain seats might be reserved for people with handicaps or sections for bikes and strollers, so pay attention to the markings (typically in icons, so you don’t have to translate the words). In most cases, there will be a new carriage going in the same direction every 4-10 minutes, so if you miss one or can’t fit on, you don’t have to wait very long.
Often, you are required to have a ticket to even enter the metro lines once underground. However, there are a handful of stations that do not have ticket gates, but you are still required to have a ticket. There will be ticket machines all over, next to the entrances (underground) or ticket gates. If you purchase a paper ticket for one-time use, you need to validate it in a ticket reader. You will find multiple poles with a box-like item on it that has a small paper-size slit. All you need to do is insert your ticket (which will usually tell you which way to put it in via an arrow on the ticket), you will hear a click or mechanism, then you can take out the ticket. This will mark the ticket with the time and/or day you validated, which begins the validity of the ticket. If there is a ticket gate, you might find card readers to tap-and-go instead of purchasing a ticket. This works by you tapping your card when you enter a metro station, then tap again on your way out as you are done riding (don’t need to tap again if you change metros, only once you are completely done). Most cities will have 30-minute, 60-minute, and 90-minute one-time tickets, then passes such as 24-hour, 48-hour, 72-hour, and 5 or 7-day passes. Those pass tickets will usually be pre-dated and timed; you are not required to validate them in the ticket box. Almost all cities are now offering digital tickets and passes as well. You can purchase online via the city's public transportation website or download their app if they are fancy. In this case, you might validate it digitally or choose the “immediate activation” (or something of that nature) option. If you are stopped by the line’s staff to prove you have a ticket, you will show them your ticket, digital or paper, and move on with your day. The great thing about public transportation networks is that your ticket for the metro will usually also work for the tram and bus, which will be discussed now.
I don't have a picture of a metro station somehow, but they can look similar to this train station!
2. Tram
As with the metro, trams have multiple lines that intersect at various points and have the same number/name tram going in both directions. Pay attention here as well that you are not only on the right tram number or name but also direction. Also called a “trolley,” trams are carriages on train tracks that are attached to cables above the wagons. Sometimes, they will have their own section of the road, and sometimes, they will share with cars and must wait in traffic. There will be some form of notification about the stop locations, such as an announcement or digital board. If you miss these, you can look out of the windows at the stop platform, which should have the name written somewhere on a plaque.
Slightly different than the metro, trams are required to stop at each destination along the line but not open the doors. Therefore, missing your stop’s a little easier if you’re not paying attention. The doors will have a button of some sort that you push to make the doors open automatically. You can even push the button before the tram stops to dismount quickly. Same as the metro, there will be 10-30 second stops, beeping, then opened doors will close. Seats will be limited, so you might need to stand, holding onto a bar or handle. It is preferred that you do not stand on the moving part that connects two wagons together for your safety. If you need to stand by the doors, pay attention to the way they open, or you might be caught in the door. There will be sections marked for people with handicaps and larger items such as bicycles and strollers. Trams might run less frequently than the metro, averaging 5-20 minutes between trams.
Getting a ticket for the tram is not as easy as with the metro. Not all stops will have a ticket machine, and not all trams will have machines on them. Nonetheless, you are required to have a ticket to ride. Again, you can purchase a ticket or pass online or through an app for that particular city, which is validated online. If you can purchase a paper ticket, there will be ticket readers on the tram for you to validate. Simply read your ticket first because if it doesn’t fit in the reader, it is probably already validated with the date and time. Tap-and-go systems are becoming more common as well, and you will find card readers at the entrances of the tram for you to tap when you get on and again when you get off. This allows the system to calculate how long you rode the tram and charge your card the correct amount. It is more common for the city’s public transportation staff to do ticket checks on the tram and bus than on the metro. Be ready with your digital or paper ticket if someone shows you their badge and asks for verification of your ticket. If you cannot provide a ticket or one that is still valid, you will be fined then and there, typically 5-10x more expensive than the ticket would be. If you used the tap-and-go option, then you will need to present the card you used along with a valid ID, and the staff will verify that the card was indeed tapped when you got on. If you purchased a pass instead of a one-time ticket, it should also work for the metro and bus as well.
One of the trams in Milano, Italia.
3. Bus
Perhaps you’ll notice a pattern here, but buses will also have multiple lines or routes, with multiple buses on the same lines going in both directions. Buses are, quite literally, buses that are not fixed on a line and are free to move around traffic. Announcements and/or digital screens with the names of the stops will indicate where you are. Usually, bus stops are much closer together than metro or tram stops. Bus stops aren’t always marked clearly either, so if you are unsure of which stop you are approaching, it might be best to look it up on Google Maps or City Mapper (my favorite). Some bus stations are just poles with a bus icon and the number of the buses that stop there. These, therefore, require a bit more awareness.
Unlike the metro and tram, buses are not required to stop at each destination along the route. If you do not indicate to the driver you need to get off, or if they do not see anyone at the stop, they will keep driving. The way you indicate you need to get off is easy, and it doesn’t require speaking to the driver. There will be (often red) buttons all throughout the bus that say “STOP,” perhaps in the native language. Press this button once the doors close at the stop just before yours, or any time after that but before the bus approaches your stop. The more notice you give, the better. With the least amount of time the doors are open, the driver will look at the mirrors and close the doors as soon as they see no one else getting on or off. Buses also have seats, but it might not be enough, so standing could be required. There will be bars and handles here as well. If you are standing near the doors, be careful not to get stuck behind or block the opening mechanism. There will be sections for people with handicaps and strollers as well. Buses might be delayed because they flow with the speed of traffic. Unlike metros and trams, they typically do not have digital boards with ETAs for the next bus at the stop platforms. You will need to be patient as you wait, which might be 5-20 minutes between buses.
Getting a ticket for the bus is even more difficult than the tram. Very few bus platforms have ticket machines, as it is assumed most people taking the bus are locals who will purchase yearly passes and cards. This makes it even more common for digital tickets/passes or tap-and-go options. Sometimes, you can purchase a ticket on the bus with the driver, but you must do it as you board before they start driving again. Your passes for the metro and tram will likely work on the bus as well, or you can tap your card on and off the bus to get charged for your exact route. Ticket checks happen somewhat frequently on buses, so be prepared to offer your ticket here. You will be fined on the spot if you can’t produce one and it is usually 5-10x more expensive than the ticket would’ve been. Do yourself a favor and simply buy the ticket.
On a double-decker bus in London.
3b. Long Distance Bus
Also a bus but not for the city, are companies such as Flixbus and BlaBlaBus. These offer routes from city to city and country to country, sometimes even with overnight options. The stations for these buses are separate from the city buses and will usually have a digital board that mentions which platform or parking space your bus is waiting at. Pay attention to your ticket, as the destination you are going to might not be the last stop of the bus, which is the destination given on the board. Once on the bus, an announcement will be made before each stop. If you are sleeping, you will likely be woken up by the rustling of people moving, and you can ask which stop you are at.
These buses have to stop at each destination on the route and possibly even make pit stops for gas and restroom breaks. Sitting is the only option, although your ticket may or may not have an assigned seat. If not, ask the driver where you can sit when checking in. These buses will have storage space for larger luggage and items, which you will store anything that can’t go under your seat or in the overhead area (the size of a personal item on a flight). Some buses will also have bicycle racks on the back. The bus times, frequency, and speed vary. Sometimes, a particular time of day is cheaper, or certain routes have more stops, sometimes even needing you to change buses. Take a look at the details when booking your ticket.
Getting a ticket for these buses is easiest online or on the apps, but it is possible at a ticket office at the station. You run the risk of the bus you want to be on being full, though, unless you go to the office days before you want to leave. Buying a ticket online or on the app is easy and gives you an email confirmation with a QR code, which you will show to the bus driver to scan before boarding. These buses are usually full or will be full the more stops they have, with people getting on and off at various locations. It is impossible to board these buses without a ticket. You might also need to purchase more luggage space if you have more than one “checked bag,” so check the benefits of your ticket. These buses will usually have a restroom on them, but they might not be usable, so try not to drink too much while traveling.
Barely awake at 5am for my Flixbus transfer.
4. Train
Think of trains as completely separate from the public transportation network within a city. Trains are almost exclusively used to get from city to city or country to country. That being said, it is shared transportation, so I thought it fitting to add it here. There are a large number of different train companies that have different routes to take. Some trains are faster, more expensive, or have fewer stops, so determine how quickly you need to get somewhere and how much money you are willing to spend. There will be an announcement and digital screen with the names of the stops, but if you miss these, you can check the station names outside of your window. There will be different types of trains, such as high-speed, intercity, regional/local, and special. The three-letter code before your train number will indicate this (e.g. ICE 156, being an intercity train). Finding the correct platform might take more time at train stations than the other modes of transport, as the platforms can be separated by quite a distance. When you first enter a station, there will be a board with the list of upcoming trains and their platforms. Alternatively, if you search for that station’s website, you can find a Departures/Arrivals section, which tells you which platforms the trains are on.
Trains are required to stop at each place along the route. The doors may or may not open automatically or quickly unless you press the button on the door. Seat reservations might be required on some trains, recommended on others, or entirely unnecessary. When booking, pay attention to this. If reservations are not required, the seats might be full, so you can sit on the floor in the hallways. It is not comfortable to do this on trains longer than 2 hours, though, so perhaps you just splurge on the seat. Seat reservations are specific seats as well, so pay attention to the wagon number and seat number. You might be at the right seat number but wrong wagon. Trains will also have dedicated areas for larger items such as bicycles and strollers, which you will need to book space for ahead of time. There will be overhead bins and space under your feet that you can use for smaller items. Stops on trains might be longer, from 2-10 minutes, or perhaps even longer if they need to refuel.
While there are stories of people “train-hopping,” it is risky, with very expensive fines if caught. Depending on your plans for Europe, it may or may not be worth purchasing a Eurail pass. This is the non-European version of Interail. There are different packages, such as flexi and continuous passes. If you plan on trains being your primary mode of transportation between cities and countries, it is usually cheaper to buy a pass than individual tickets. That being said, you can purchase your tickets online or at the train station ticket offices. Be mindful that same-day tickets are usually not available, at least not the time you wanted. The ticket offices also have limited hours; even if trains are leaving, offices might be closed. That said, I suggest buying tickets online if you do not purchase a Eurail pass. However, even with the pass, seat reservation tickets usually need to be bought at the train station ticket offices, with very few being available online. In this case, I recommend you go to the train station at least a day before the train you wish to take, as the seats fill up quickly. Sometimes, getting a seat on the same day is possible, but perhaps later than you were planning. Some train routes also have more stops or transfers, where you must change trains at different stations to get to your destination. Check the options or ask the ticket office staff about all available options and choose the one that works best for you. Once on the train, staff will come by periodically, asking to scan your ticket (with a barcode or QR code). They will need to scan both if you have a Eurail pass and a seat reservation ticket. Trains require some more planning but are usually quite nice. There might also be “quiet zone” wagons where everyone is silent or nice sleeper coaches for overnight trains if you have the money for it. Additionally, trains will have restrooms and restaurant wagons. There are plenty of options with this mode of transportation.
On a train somewhere in Europe.
5. My Tips
Once I determine a new city that I will be staying in, I do some research on what I want to do there and do a quick Google Maps check of walking distances from my accommodation. Typically, if I can walk 30 minutes or less to everywhere I want to go, I do not use public transportation. However, if I am in a location for multiple days, doing a lot of traveling around the city, or simply am tired… then I will go online and Google “public transportation in [city name].” You should automatically find the name of the public transportation network in that location and go to their website. If the city has an app for tickets, I prefer to download the app for quick and easy access. In that case, I will usually purchase a pass for 24 hours up to a multi-day pass, depending on my needs. This is easier than finding a ticket machine, validating it, or speaking with someone at a ticket counter. I only do this if I know I am going to use it frequently. Usually, the passes are a better price than individual one-time tickets, but still, I’m on a budget and don’t want to feel like I’m losing money.
My other big tip is about one of my favorite apps. City Mapper. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work everywhere yet, but where it does, I find that it’s better than Google Maps- sorry, Google. The only downside is that you cannot pre-download a city’s map, so it does take up more data this way. Nonetheless, with City Mapper, you get more explicit directions, details, and options for reaching a destination. You can also save locations and exact directions to and from specific places for future reference. If it’s available, I use this over Google Maps.
If you are in a bind, you can also find a multitude of scooter and bicycle rentals dispersed throughout the cities. You usually need to download an app first, so make sure you have data on your phone for this. I use Airalo and love it (click here for a discount on your first plan). Please note that bikes and scooters can be more or less dangerous in certain cities, as some, such as Dutch cities, were built for bikes, whereas Milan, for example, is a little more dangerous. Also, if you are in an area for an extended period of time, then it might be more cost-effective to rent a bicycle from a rental company rather than use Lime or any other app-based rentals on the streets. Otherwise, getting an Uber or Bolt can be relatively cost-friendly in many places. Alternatively, some cities might have car-share options, such as Share Now. This requires pre-registration and approval of your driver’s license, but you can use the map to find the nearest car, open the car via the app, drive it, and then leave it once you are done. Do your research on the cities and countries you will be visiting, but often, the “city taxi” is much more expensive than Uber.
Pack snacks! This is only relevant for intercity and international buses and trains, but I learned the hard way. Trains might have snacks and meals available for purchase, but they are overpriced and usually not that great. Before your trip, go to the grocery store and get some snacks. I usually get a loaf of bread and a cheese spread or dip, maybe some hummus, an apple or the cheapest fruit, or possibly a yogurt drink. Something that you can easily make last as multiple snacks along the way is best.
Be careful of scams! Both on-site and online, there will be scammers waiting for you. Be careful about the websites where you buy passes and tickets online, as there will often be fake sites that just take your money. Always go through the official city websites or use apps like Trainline and Omio. Then, of course, there will often be stands and/or individuals offering you items and tickets at and near the stations. While it is possible that some are not scammers, save yourself the hassle and just don’t purchase anything from anyone in these areas.
Headless picture of me showing my snack spread on an overnight train!
Takeaways
While in some places in the world it’s almost required to have your own vehicle for transportation, Europe is one of those places where you don’t have to. This makes it particularly convenient for travelers who don’t want to go through the hassle of renting cars. But, if you aren’t used to public transportation, it can be scary your first few times. Hopefully, after reading this, you are more confident and prepared for your adventures throughout Europe. At the end of the day, you will gain more confidence the more you take public transportation. Simply look at a map or enter your destination in City Mapper, have your ticket or pass ready, and do it. You will mess up sometimes- even the locals do. Stay aware, be mindful of your belongings, and get to your destination. It’s really not so bad or scary after all, huh? If you find any of this useful, let me know! If you have questions, comments, or concerns, share them! My goal is for this to be a platform for like-minded travelers to share and help others. If you follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, you will find that’s the easiest place to interact with a community of wanderers. On my YouTube channel, I will share tips, tricks, and lessons learned from each destination I go to, and my podcast will have similar content in a different format. I hope that you find this information helpful and use it as a starting point for your own wonderful, magical adventures! Happy wandering.
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