Ferries transform distance into experience, turning the sea into a living transition rather than empty space. Departure and arrival become visible, tangible processes. You do not disappear into the sky. You move across the surface of the world.
From Rail to Water
Land gradually gives way to water.
The journey often begins on rail. Along the Adriatic coast, the horizon widens slowly. The sea appears beside the tracks. Travel feels continuous.
The edge of Italy, where movement changes form.
Arriving in Ancona, geography shifts. From here, movement becomes maritime.
Industrial, practical, transitional.
The ferry terminal is functional rather than romantic. Vehicles queue. Passengers gather. It is where one landscape ends and another begins.
Boarding the Crossing
A floating structure replacing the runway.
Boarding reveals scale. The vessel rises above the dock like a moving building. Cars disappear below deck. Foot passengers climb upward.
Transit that allows rest.
Cabins are compact but self-contained. Unlike air travel, you can unpack slightly. You can lie down. You can sleep.
At sea, the journey is inhabited, not endured.
Even a small private bathroom changes the rhythm. The crossing is not a gap in the journey. It is part of it.
Northern Routes and Everyday Infrastructure
Sea as corridor, not obstacle.
In northern Europe, ferries feel embedded in daily life. Baltic crossings carry commuters, families, and freight.
Transport and social space intertwined.
On Viking Line routes, restaurants, cabins, and open decks transform transit into shared experience. The sea becomes connective tissue.
Signals of transition within maritime travel.
Environmental messaging is increasingly visible. The shift is gradual but tangible.
Infrastructure linking regions where bridges cannot.
In Scandinavia, ferries replace highways. Engines rest while ships carry vehicles across water.
Why Ferry Travel Still Matters
Ferries are not zero-emission. They consume significant fuel, especially when carrying vehicles and operating overnight. Compared to rail, maritime travel generally produces higher emissions per passenger.
In northern Europe, however, the transition is visible.
Operators on Baltic and North Sea routes, including Viking Line and Fjord Line, have introduced LNG-powered vessels, hybrid systems, and shore power connections. These upgrades can reduce CO₂ emissions by roughly 15–30% compared to heavy fuel oil, while sharply lowering sulfur and nitrogen oxides.
The Baltic Sea is a designated Sulphur Emission Control Area, and since 2024 maritime transport has been gradually integrated into the EU Emissions Trading System.
Average emissions per passenger kilometer in Europe are approximately: Rail: ~14 g CO₂ Ferry: ~20–80 g CO₂ Short-haul flight: ~150–250 g CO₂
Rail remains the lowest-carbon option. But when the alternative is short-haul flying over water, ferries often represent a lower-impact choice.
Sustainable travel is rarely about perfection. It is about direction.
When the sea replaces the sky, movement becomes visible again.
Fairy-tale calm, bicycle bells, and little libraries: Odense welcomes you with a smile and a story.
Set on the green island of Funen (Fyn), Odense is Denmark’s third-largest city and the hometown of the beloved storyteller Hans Christian Andersen. It’s a place where cobbled lanes, red-timbered houses, and creative public art meet a modern university, a buzzing robotics cluster, and café culture. If you like cities that whisper rather than shout, Odense is your kind of magic.
Quick Facts
Population: ~200,000 in the municipality (city proper ~180–190k), youthful thanks to the University of Southern Denmark (SDU).
Economy: Education & research (SDU), healthcare (Odense University Hospital), advanced manufacturing, and a fast-growing robotics hub (Odense Robotics). Tourism peaks June–September.
Vibe: Bike-first, book-friendly, café-chatty. Festivals include Tinderbox (music) and the Odense International Film Festival.
Getting around: Flat and compact—walk or rent a bike; light rail connects the center with SDU & the hospital.
Hans Christian Andersen: Life, Works & Why He Still Matters
Born in Odense in 1805 to a poor shoemaker’s family, Andersen moved to Copenhagen as a teenager with a dream to perform. Mentors encouraged him to write, and by his 30s he was publishing the fairy tales that would circle the world. He traveled widely (over 30 countries), kept meticulous diaries, and never forgot the feeling of being an outsider—an emotion that gives his stories unusual tenderness and bite.
Signature stories:The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, The Snow Queen, Thumbelina, The Nightingale, The Little Match Girl, and the razor-sharp satire The Emperor’s New Clothes. Children love the imagery; adults wince (and grow) at the truths about vanity, compassion, resilience, and belonging.
Lasting impact: Andersen shaped global children’s literature and modern storytelling—from picture books and ballets to Disney films and public art. In Odense, you’ll feel his presence in murals, sculptures, the immersive H.C. Andersen’s House museum, and in a civic habit of reading, gifting books, and keeping little free libraries stocked.
History, Culture & Everyday Life
Odense grew from a Viking settlement by the Odense River (Odense Å) and became a medieval market town. St. Canute’s Cathedral recalls the dramatic 11th-century past; Brandts Quarter and the Latin Quarter show off 19th-century industry remixed as galleries, indie shops, and night cafés. Today’s Odense is deeply people-scaled: pocket parks, river paths, board-game cafés, and neighborhood libraries make it easy to meet locals. Try asking, “What’s your favorite Andersen tale and why?”—instant conversation starter.
What to See & Do (Interactive Mini-Quest)
Trace a fairy tale—find the sculptures that nod to Andersen’s stories and match them to the moral.
River ramble—stroll Munke Mose & Eventyrhaven parks; count how many readers you spot on the grass.
Brandts—dip into art, design shops, and the old textile mills turned culture spaces.
Café crawl—order an Albani beer (Odense’s historic brewery) or a local craft IPA and join a pub quiz.
Library love—swap a book at a little library and leave a note for the next traveler.
Odense in Photos
City sentinel: A bronze figure watching over a red-brick courtyard—Odense wears its history in the open.
Hats in the air: Whimsical top hats floating above the shopping street—Andersen would approve.
Truth in the mirror: A playful nod to The Emperor’s New Clothes—satire wrapped as a fairy tale.
Take a book, leave a book: Little libraries pop up on corners all over the city.
Roll the dice: Board-game cafés make instant friends on rainy Danish evenings.
Local pour: From Albani classics to new IPAs—cheers to Odense’s brewing heritage.
The storyteller himself: Hans Christian Andersen—Odense’s most famous son.
Dusk in the Latin Quarter: Timbered houses, soft lights, and lingering conversations.
Let the book travel: A leafy book cabinet where stories keep moving—just like travelers.
Eat, Drink & Slow Down
Try hearty smørrebrød, local cheeses, and seasonal fish. Pair dinner with an Odense Pilsner or a tart Nordic cider. Many places host pub quizzes and meetups—easy ways to join local life.
Practical Tips
Best time: Late spring to early autumn; July–August bring festivals and long golden hours.
Budget saver: Borrow bikes via your hotel or rental shops; museums often have combo tickets.
Rain plan: H.C. Andersen’s House, Montergarden Museum, Brandts, and those cozy board-game cafés.
Personal Reflection
Visiting Odense in late July came near the end of my three-month Interrail journey in 2025, the second-to-last country on an unforgettable loop. The city’s quiet rhythm invited me to slow down and reflect on the landscapes I’d crossed, the conversations that shifted my thinking, the foods and wines I tasted, and the challenges I overcame traveling solo.
I placed a well-traveled book—The Turk Who Loved Apples by Matt Gross (and my Chinese edition)—into a park little library, letting it begin its own journey from hand to hand. In Odense, Andersen’s spirit is everywhere: in street libraries, in sculptures that ask you to think, in the gentle smiles of people lost in thought. Perhaps that is the joy of thinking itself.
This small city helped me understand why Denmark so often ranks among the world’s happiest countries. Thank you, Odense, for the calm, the conversations, and the reminder that every traveler carries a story, and sometimes leaves one behind.
From May to August 2022, I embarked on my first major Interrail adventure — a 3-month train journey through 21 European countries that became the foundation for my travel lifestyle today. It wasn’t just a trip; it was a deep dive into the heart of Europe, its landscapes, cultures, and the unique rhythm of slow travel.
Whether you’re dreaming of backpacking Europe by train, planning your own Interrail route, or simply curious about the magic of long-term travel, here’s my full review — with stats, highlights, and personal insights to inspire your journey.
Trip Overview
May–August 2022 · 21 countries visited Trains: 104 · Distance: 22,952 km · Time on trains: 11 days 14 hours 39 minutes
This route was almost 95% by train, proving that Europe’s rail network is one of the most rewarding and sustainable ways to explore the continent. I used the Interrail Global Pass to weave together iconic capitals, hidden gems, and breathtaking natural landscapes.
Countries Visited
Here’s the full list of countries from my Interrail 2022 journey, in the order they appeared on my passport stamps and travel memories:
🇵🇹 Portugal
🇪🇸 Spain
🇫🇷 France
🇳🇱 Netherlands
🇩🇪 Germany
🇦🇹 Austria
🇮🇹 Italy
🇬🇷 Greece
🇹🇷 Turkey
🇷🇴 Romania
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
🇷🇸 Serbia
🇭🇺 Hungary
🇨🇿 Czech Republic
🇵🇱 Poland
🇨🇭 Switzerland
🇱🇺 Luxembourg
🇩🇰 Denmark
🇸🇪 Sweden
🇳🇴 Norway
🇫🇮 Finland
Tip: If you’re planning a similar route, mixing major hubs like Paris and Rome with smaller cities such as Brno and Luxembourg will give you a richer, more balanced travel experience.
Trip Highlights
🏔 Scenic train rides across the Swiss Alps and Norwegian fjords
🏞 Discovering the Lofoten Islands in Norway — a photographer’s dream
🌌 Crossing the Arctic Circle in Sweden and experiencing the midnight sun
🏛 Exploring ancient history in Athens, Greece, and Istanbul, Türkiye
🌇 Sunset views over Ankara, Türkiye
🌊 Coastal sunsets in Pisa, Italy
🏰 Medieval old towns in Brno, Budapest, and Luxembourg City
🍷 Regional wine & spirits tastings in Portugal, Spain, Italy, and the Balkans
🎶 Immersing in Balkan culture in Belgrade, Sofia, and Bucharest
🌉 Iconic cityscapes of Paris, Berlin, Rome, and Stockholm
Why This Journey Was Special
Interrail 2022 was my first long-distance, multi-country train journey — and it completely transformed my travel philosophy. At the time, I was studying philosophy and practicing the Socratic method as a way to engage more deeply with the world. My goal was to learn how to talk to strangers when traveling, ask thoughtful questions, and discover stories I could never find in guidebooks.
This journey became my personal classroom on wheels. I learned how to balance fast-paced exploration with the art of slow travel, how to stay flexible with plans, and how to connect with local culture beyond the typical tourist experience. From brief chats in train stations to hours-long conversations on night trains, I became more confident in approaching strangers — and far less shy than when I started.
It wasn’t just about ticking countries off a list; it was about living the journey. From quiet moments watching landscapes blur past the window to spontaneous detours into cities I’d never heard of, every train ride carried a sense of possibility.
If you’re planning your own Interrail or Eurail trip, my biggest advice is to leave space for the unexpected. Some of my most memorable travel moments happened in places that weren’t on my original itinerary. Whether you’re seeking scenic train rides, cultural immersion, or meaningful human connection, Interrail offers the perfect blend of adventure and self-discovery.
Between May and July 2025, I embarked on my most ambitious journey yet — a 3-month Interrail trip covering 24 countries. From sipping wine in the vineyards of Spain to crossing the Arctic Circle under the midnight sun, each train ride was a chapter of discovery. Here’s the full route, highlights, and what made this adventure unforgettable.
May–July 2025 · Visited 24 countries (Interrail app shows 21 because two were reached by ferry and Austria was exited by bus) Trains: 121 · Distance: 20,432 km · Time on trains: 11d 20h 45m
Countries Visited (24)
🇳🇱 Netherlands
🇩🇪 Germany
🇮🇹 Italy
🇲🇪 Montenegro
🇷🇸 Serbia
🇬🇷 Greece
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
🇷🇴 Romania
🇭🇺 Hungary
🇨🇿 Czech Republic
🇨🇭 Switzerland
🇸🇮 Slovenia
🇪🇸 Spain
🇫🇷 France
🇵🇱 Poland
🇱🇹 Lithuania
🇱🇻 Latvia
🇪🇪 Estonia
🇫🇮 Finland
🇩🇰 Denmark
🇳🇴 Norway
🇭🇷 Croatia ferry
🇸🇪 Sweden ferry
🇦🇹 Austria exited by bus
Notes: Croatia and Sweden were reached by ferry, hence not counted by the Interrail app. Austria was exited via bus/other transport, so no rail record.
Trip Highlights
🏔 Scenic rides across the Swiss Alps
❄️ Crossing the Arctic Circle in Finland
🏰 Visiting Europe’s charming microstates and small countries
❄️ Nordic arc: Tallinn → Helsinki → Rovaniemi → Bergen
