Why North American tourists overwhelmingly prefer trains to visit Europe

As the end of 2025 approaches, Rail Europe has just unveiled booking statistics revealing the extent and evolution of North American tourists’ travel habits on the Old Continent. These figures confirm the crucial role of visitors from the United States and Canada, who accounted for nearly half of the sessions on the platform this year, boasting some of the highest average spends on the market.

Their booking behavior demonstrates a clear preference for multi-city trips, scenic itineraries, and more secluded destinations, reflecting a quest for enriching cultural experiences and a more relaxed pace of travel, far from the stress of airports.

Among the most booked European destinations, major cultural centers such as Paris, London, Rome, Florence, Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Seville, Brussels, Edinburgh, and Vienna maintain their leading positions, confirming that rail is perceived as the simplest and most convenient way to travel between historic metropolises.

At the same time, 2025 was marked by the emergence of new destinations experiencing record growth, notably Annecy, Bordeaux, Bolzano, Budapest, Lucerne, and Zermatt.

This dramatic increase underscores a growing interest in Alpine landscapes, renowned wine regions, and charming lakeside towns—sites often more accessible and enjoyable to reach via national and cross-border rail networks.

This shift toward mid-sized cities demonstrates that North American travelers now prioritize the seamless and authentic experience of a truly European journey.