I recently completed a 3-week trip through Austria, Italy, Croatia, and Greece with my family (two children aged 4 and 8). We traveled entirely by train, bus, and one ferry, with no flights at all.
Trip overview:
We used only ground transportation throughout the journey, covering multiple legs across different countries. The total transport cost for all four of us came to around 800 euros across 14 segments.
For comparison, I checked similar routes using budget airlines and the total came to roughly 1,400 euros once baggage fees, airport transfers, and limited child discounts were included.
Key observations:
Germany (DB): Children under 15 travel free with a parent on most tickets
Austria (ÖBB): Free travel for children under 6
Italy (Trenitalia): Free only under 4, then reduced fares
Czech Republic (RegioJet): Around 50% child discount
Negative experience:
We had one bad experience with an overnight FlixBus from Munich to Zagreb. The seats were uncomfortable for children, they struggled to sleep, and the late-night stop was chaotic. I would recommend avoiding overnight buses with kids if possible and choosing daytime trains plus a hotel instead.
Best experience:
The ÖBB Railjet from Vienna to Munich was excellent. It had comfortable seating, a dining car that the kids enjoyed, working Wi-Fi, and a relaxed environment. That leg cost about 90 euros for the four of us when booked in advance.
Overall takeaway:
Trains worked much better than expected with children. Being able to move around, sit at a table, and look out large windows made a noticeable difference in comfort and behavior compared to flights or buses.
Happy to answer any questions if anyone is planning a similar trip.
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