This destination beats Paris and Amsterdam as the best European city break by train

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Andrew Feinberg

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Bruges has been named as the best European city break to visit by train according to a new survey, beating out top cities easily visited by rail such as Paris and Amsterdam.

Results from a Which? survey of over 1,000 travellers carried out in February revealed that Bruges has come out on top as the best city break out of all other destinations reachable from London in seven hours or less.

The city breaks were given an overall score based on satisfaction and likeliness to recommend, and marks out of five stars were given for criteria such as food and drink, accommodation, cultural sights and attractions.

The Belgian city scored a surprising 85 per cent, while Paris only received 79 per cent and Amsterdam ended up with a score of 82 per cent.

A train to Bruges from London St Pancras only takes around three-and-a-half hours in total, and respondents noted that the city’s canals and medieval cobbled streets stood out to them while on their visit.

However, it was the city’s “magical” and “enchanting” atmosphere that set it apart from the other European destinations reached by train.

Known for its chocolate shops, cosy cafes and Belgian beer, Bruges scored four stars for its food and drink options, also gaining the same score for its cultural sights, attractions, accommodation, value for money and how easy it was to get around, with respondents saying the city was compact and easily walkable.

While the city is not so far away from London, its atmosphere could not feel more different. Tourists who are fans of medieval or Gothic architecture should visit the infamous Belfry bell tower or take a trip on a canal boat tour to learn more about the city’s history.

Placing second, with a score of 84 per cent is Bordeaux, beating out the French capital as the best place to visit in France by train.

Taking around six hours on the train from London, this city is renowned for its wine and scored a maximum of five stars for food and drink in the survey, with respondents saying Bordeaux has “superb restaurants” which “cater to all tastes and pockets.”

The city also received five stars for how easy it was to get around, with tourists noting that Bordeaux could easily navigate by foot or the efficiently run tram network.

Other notable mentions included the popular wine museum La Cité du Vin, where visitors can experience an interactive exhibition on the history of wine-making and indulge in wine-tasting sessions.

Third place went to two cities, Avignon in France and Amsterdam in the Netherlands, tying with scores of 82 per cent.

Amsterdam received five stars for its cultural sights and attractions, including the Rijksmuseum, which is home to some of the world’s most celebrated artwork, and the Anne Frank House.

Avignon was also awarded five stars for its cultural sights and attractions, notably for the Unesco World Heritage site Popes’ Palace, which was described as an “essential visit” by respondents to the survey.

The city that scored the lowest was Geneva, Switzerland, landing itself at the bottom of the table with a score of 60 per cent.

The Swiss city, around six hours from London by rail, was awarded four stars for ease of getting around but received only one star for value for money due to its reputation for being a very expensive destination.

Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel noted that train journeys can be more convenient than flying to some of the top European city break hotspots.“You can reach some of Europe’s most spectacular cities by train from the UK in about the same time it would take to fly, and often for less money too,” he said.

“It’s easy to discount Eurostar if you don’t live in London, but with cities as far afield as Birmingham, Cardiff and Portsmouth only two hours from the capital, the train can still be quicker than the plane to many European destinations – it’s certainly more enjoyable and far better for the environment.”

For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calder’s podcast