If you’re planning a trip to explore numerous European countries and cities from Africa, GoEuro is what you need. Organizing travel around Europe can often seem daunting at first, with fragmented travel networks across countries and regions. Thankfully, the Berlin-based startup GoEuro, can help you get from point A to B even in remote towns and villages across Western Europe with just one click on their site and the rail planner app.

Founded by Naren Shaam in 2013, the multi-mode travel search engine is continuing its expansion across Europe, integrating more and more travel providers into its booking system. GoEuro currently works with over 500 travel providers and offers rail, coach and air travel in one booking platform. Once you enter the departure and arrival city in the GoEuro search, the search engine simultaneously combines and compares rail, coach and air flight options. This allows users to browse from a number of different options, before booking routes which best suit them, whether that be the quickest, cheapest or most direct routes.

Bus, train or plane – the rail planner app compares them all

Whilst flying is often people’s first choice when it comes to travelling between European cities, taking the train is often overlooked. A study by GoEuro found that there are plenty of popular European connections which are faster by train than by plane. 14 popular European connections were examined including London – Paris, Barcelona – Madrid and Berlin – Prague, results showed that the train is often faster and cheaper than taking a flight.

For example, Brussels to Paris takes 5 hours 30 minutes by flight (including check in and baggage drop/reclaim) compared with just 1 hour 22 minutes by train. Frequent trains depart from Brussels and arrive at Paris’ Gare du Nord throughout the day. Flights from Brussels to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport take over 5 hours when airport wait times are taken into consideration.

The journey between the United Kingdom and French Capitals can be completed in just over 2 hours. The fastest method of transport being the Eurostar train from St Pancras Station in London. The journey to Paris takes 2 hours 16 minutes and will save you 1 hour 41 minutes over taking a flight which is 3 hours and 57 minutes.

It’s easy to make the best of both worlds and visit Spain’s capital city, Madrid and Barcelona, capital of Catalonia in one trip. The two cities are connected via train which takes just 2 and a half hours, compared with a flight time of 3 hours and 35 minutes.

Be a savvy traveler and make the best of your trip by visiting multiple locations in Europe. It may be worth booking flights from Nigeria to a city in mainland Europe. Paris is a good example, with regular flights from Lagos, not to mention the French capital being centrally located in Europe. With the advantage of having European cities connected by fast train routes, it really is worth considering looking at train tickets when travelling to the continent. Book flights from Lagos to European cities including Amsterdam, Brussels, London, Paris, Stockholm, Budapest, Helsinki, and Sofia – to name a few!  Your journey to see Europe starts from here.