AARP Hearing Center
Traveling by train offers the advantages of a good road trip — an adventure that lets you explore new places while crossing through a variety of landscapes and natural environments — without requiring you to spend long hours behind the wheel or navigating stressful traffic situations.
The 2025 AARP Travel Trends survey found that travelers 50-plus are seeking opportunities to escape from everyday life, relax, rejuvenate and go on an adventure — and many train trips check all those boxes. Making it a group getaway would also achieve the top travel goal for this demographic: spending time with family and friends.
Dan Reisig, communications manager at Railbookers Group, says “bucket-list” trips continue to be popular — a fact confirmed by the AARP survey respondents, who indicated that once-in-a-lifetime journeys were their biggest motivation for international travel. Reisig says travelers 50-plus want opportunities that offer a deeper sense of purpose and meaning. “Travelers in this demographic are prioritizing experiences that combine comfort, culture and connection, whether by tracing family roots through Europe, immersing themselves in a country’s culinary scene or simply slowing down to enjoy the journey itself,” he says.
Europe continues to be the top international destination for travelers 50-plus, according to the AARP survey. Hugo van Vondelen, product specialist at Eurail, notes a growing interest in the Nordic region and says Eurail is seeing greater demand for tours that offer the chance to visit multiple countries.
To maximize your travel budget, van Vondelen suggests looking for trips that involve overnight train travel to save on hotel accommodations. It’s also a smart idea — when planning any kind of travel — to look for comprehensive passes and discounts for travelers over a certain age.
The following new train tours may be a good option for your next adventure. (Prices are listed in U.S. dollars and depend on currency exchange rates.)
