SET Connectivity Reports

Prague Porto Zurich Connectivity Reports Sustainable Student Mobility Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. The Connectivity Reports for the following three cities provide insights into sustainable student mobility through bus and train connections. They illustrate where direct routes allow uninterrupted travel, where interesting stopovers enrich the journey, and where night trains provide practical longdistance options. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. Nature /Landscape Train Bus City pairs Duration2Night train Possible stopovers Duration2Night bus Possible stopovers Prague Barcelona 4 changes: ~21h Vienna to Milan • Nuremberg • Frankfurt • Black Forest* & Freiburg • Sète • Girona • Camargue and beaches in Southern France* Direct: ~25.5–27.5h – • Nuremberg • Basel • Berne • Alps* • Lausanne • Geneva • Montpellier • Camargue and beaches in Southern France* • Sète • Girona Prague Lisbon 7 changes: ~34–36h To Brussels or Karlsruhe or from Berlin to Paris • Munich • Black Forest* • Strasbourg • Paris • Poitiers • Bordeaux • Girona • Barcelona • Madrid 1 change: ~43.5–45h Paris to Lisbon • Nuremberg • Black Forest* & Freiburg • Lyon • Biarritz • Bordeaux • Coast of San Sebastian* • Salamanca • Bilbao Prague Paris 3 changes: ~11.5–13h To Brussels or Karlsruhe or from Berlin to Paris • Nuremberg • Black Forest* • Strasbourg Direct: ~14h Direct: to Paris Bercy: ~13h • Nuremberg • Heidelberg • Strasbourg Prague Rome 3 changes: ~16.5h Vienna to Bologna • Salzburg • Innsbruck • Alps* • Bozen • Verona • Bologna • Florence Direct: ~21h To Florence or from Munich to Rome • Munich • Innsbruck • Alps* • Verona • Bologna • Florence Prague Vienna Direct: ~4h – • Brünn Direct: ~4h – • Brünn From 2021 to 2023, the top student exchange destinations1 for those traveling to or from Prague were Barcelona, Lisbon, Paris, Rome and Vienna. All of these cities are easily accessible through eco-friendly transportation options. This connectivity report explains how. The table above provides detailed information on the availability of direct bus and train connections, including night services. The focus is specifically on train and bus travel, as these are generally the most sustainable modes of transport. Interested in learning more about the climate impact of these routes? Be sure to check out the Factsheet Sustainable Student Mobility Prague (see Resources > Factsheets: ↗). Trains offer a comfortable and efficient way to travel across Europe. Buses can be a particularly eco-conscious and budget-friendly option for longer journeys, such as those from Prague to Barcelona. Although buses may take longer than other modes of transport, 3 they are among the most energy-efficient ways to travel long distances. Larger cities in Europe generally provide easy access to public transport upon arrival. If you book early, ticket prices can be significantly lower. Please note that for some trains and buses, e.g. night trains or high-speed trains in certain countries, reservations are mandatory. Do you want to see all the night-trains4 in Europe currently available? Here is an overview (↗). Note: The table above provides suggestions for such stopovers, focusing on larger cities or well-known natural areas. However, other cities or scenic spots may also be worth exploring. Stopover options vary depending on the different possible routes chosen for a city pair. Larger cities in Europe generally provide easy access to public transport upon arrival. Connectivity Report Sustainable Student Mobility (Prague) Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. 1 Travel routes from exchange students collected by the Charles University of Prague (2021–2023), University of Porto (2021–2023), University of Zurich (2018–2024) and EU Data Collection of student exchanges (2021–2023) 2 Connections: Rome2Rio.com (↗): retrieved Sept 24 – Jan 2025 and Jul – Aug 2025 3 Factsheet: set-project.eu > Resources (↗): retrieved Sept 2025 4 Night trains: eurail.com (↗): retrieved Jan 2025 5/6 Interrail.eu 1/2 (↗): retrieved Jan 2025 7 Seat61.com (↗): citing European Rail Map Imprint Authorship: Nadine Wolf with contributions from Linde Warland, Youngseo Kim and Somara Gantenbein, Version September 2025, Publisher: Sustainability Hub, University of Zurich in collaboration with the Consortium of the Sustainable Erasmus+ Travel project Train (incl. transfer) Bus (incl. transfer) Car (incl. rest periods) Plane (incl. check-in & transfer) Main station city center You can also choose to stop along your route and spend a few nights exploring the places you pass through. Travelling from Prague to Barcelona, you will have the chance to visit the landscape of Camargue or stay at the beaches of Southern France. When travelling to Rome you can stop for a few days to go hiking in the Alps in Austria and on your way to Paris you can visit the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Traveling by train or bus also gives you a unique opportunity to explore Europe from your seat. For example, on your way to Barcelona you can see the beaches of Southern France and maybe even flamingos directly from your train window. If you decide for a stopover in Freiburg on your way to Barcelona or Lisbon, you can take a train through the Black Forest5 to enjoy scenic views . If you take a little detour on your way to Barcelona via the Swiss Alps, you can enjoy the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Albula and Bernina railway6. Also the trip from Prague to Vienna offers some scenic views7. While the map above shows that traveling by train or bus takes more time than flying or driving, you can use that time productively. You can read, work, play games, or simply connect with other travelers on the train or bus. Most long-distance trains even have a bistro on board, where you can relax and enjoy a meal. Through these interactions, you might learn something new about Europe or pick up ideas for things to do in the city you’re traveling to. Travelling by train or bus to your exchange destination in Europe • reduces your climate impact compared to other transport modes, • gives you a great opportunity to explore Europe, its natural and urban environments, people, and cultural diversity, • enables you to make productive use of travel time, to reconnect with yourself and / or other people. Prague Vienna 4 h 4 h 4 h 3 h Barcelona 21 h 25.5 –27.5 h 38.5 –40 h 5.5 h Lisbon 34 –36 h 43.5 –45 h 47.5 –62.5 h 6.5 h Rome 16.5 h 21 h 24 h 5 h 11.5 –13 h 14 h 20 –22 h 5 h Paris Estimated travel times for the five most popular Student Exchange Routes1 Notes: Travel times were calculated using Rome2Rio2 for two randomly selected dates: Monday, October 24, 2024, and Monday, October 20, 2025. Calculations assume travelers take the fastest routes and direct flights where available. Travel times were rounded to the nearest half hour. Where the variation was an hour or less, average times are reported; otherwise, ranges are shown. Direct flight times show little variation, while travel by train, bus, or car may vary due to new routes or road traffic. Times incorporate real-time data, travel time estimates, and average transit times. For car travel, a 30-minute break was added every 3 hours, plus a 10-hour overnight rest every 8.5 hours. For train and bus travel, it was assumed travelers sleep while en route. The dotted route on the map does not represent the exact travel route. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. Nature /Landscape From 2021 to 2023 the top student exchange destinations1 for those traveling to or from Porto were Barcelona, Madrid, Milan, Prague and Rome. All of these cities are easily accessible through eco-friendly transportation options. This connectivity report explains how. Train Bus City pairs Duration2Possible stopovers Duration2Night bus Possible stopovers Porto Barcelona 2 changes: ~12h • Vigo* * (Cies Islands) • Ourense • Madrid • Alcalá de Henares 1 change: ~18.5h – • Burgos • Zaragoza • Detour to Bilbao and San Sebastian* Porto Madrid 1 change: ~9–10.5h • Vigo* (Cies Islands) • Santiago de Compostela* • Salamanca • Valladolid Direct: ~9–11h Direct: to Estación Sur: ~7h • Aveiro • Salamanca Porto Milan 4 changes: ~30–31.5h • Tarragona • Barcelona • Girona • Figueres • Camargue • Sète • Avignon • Arles 1 change: ~30.5–36.5h 1 change: to Milano Lampugnano ~29.5–33h • Burgos • San Sebastian*• Lyon • Turin Porto Prague 4 changes: ~35.5–36h Night Train: Mannheim– Prag: ~9.5h • Coast of San Sebastian* • Bordeaux • Poitiers • Paris • Strasbourg • Munich 1 change: ~37–39.5h – • Santiago de Compostela* • Coast of San Sebastian* • Bordeaux • Poitiers • Paris Porto Rome 5 changes: ~26.5–37.5h • Barcelona • Girona • Sète • Montpellier • Turin • Milan • Bologna • Florence • Possibility to take a ferry from Barcelona to Civitavecchia near Rome 1 change: ~37.5h – • Coast of San Sebastian* • Sète • French Riviere* (Marseille, Nice, Cannes) • Monaco • Pisa • Florence The table above provides detailed information on the availa bility of direct bus and train connections, including night services. The focus is specifically on train and bus travel, as these are generally the most sustainable modes of transport. Interested in learning more about the climate impact of these routes? Be sure to check out the Factsheet Sustainable Student Mobility Porto (see Resources > Factsheets: ↗). Trains offer a comfortable and efficient way to travel across Europe. Buses can be a particularly eco-conscious and budget-friendly option for longer journeys, such as those from Porto to Rome or Prague. Although buses may take longer than other modes of transport, they are among the most energy-efficient ways to travel long distances. Larger cities in Europe generally provide easy access to public trans3 port upon arrival. If you book early, ticket prices can be significantly lower. Please note that for some trains and buses, e.g. night trains or high-speed trains in certain countries, reservations are mandatory. Night trains are currently not available directly from Porto or nearby. Nevertheless, you can travel parts of the journey by night, for instance Turin-Rome or Karlsruhe/Frankfurt-Prague. Alternatively, regular trains or buses are faster for trips from Portugal/Spain. Do you want to see all the night-trains4 in Europe currently available? Here is an overview (↗). Note: The table above provides suggestions for such stopovers, focusing on larger cities or wellknown natural areas. However, other cities or scenic spots may also be worth exploring. Stopover options vary depending on the different possible routes chosen for a city pair. Connectivity Report Sustainable Student Mobility (Porto) Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. 1 Travel routes from exchange students collected by the Charles University of Prague (2021–2023), University of Porto (2021–2023), University of Zurich (2018–2024) and EU Data Collection of student exchanges (2021–2023) 2 Connections: Rome2Rio.com (↗): retrieved Sept 24 – Jan 2025 and Jul – Aug 2025 3 Factsheet: set-project.eu > Resources (↗): retrieved Sept 2025 4 Night trains: eurail.com (↗): retrieved Jan 2025 5 Interrail.eu (↗): retrieved Jan 2025 You can also choose to stop along your route and spend a few nights exploring the places you pass through. In Portugal, for instance, you could stop in Vigo, a coastal city in Galicia, known for its harbor, seafood and Islas Cíes. Or you could stop at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Santiago de Compostela and even hike along the famous pilgrim trail for some days. Alternatively, you could learn to surf in Biarritz, France, have a stopover in Paris or enjoy the Baverian food in Munich on your way to Prague. Larger cities in Europe generally provide easy access to public transport upon arrival. If you want to add another scenic train ride, you could consider taking a trip from Porto to the nearby Pocinho5. Traveling by train or bus also gives you a unique opportunity to explore Europe from your seat. The routes from Porto take you through regions of natural beauty, including the Cantabrian Mountains, the Pyrenees (if you take a slightly northern detour), and beautiful Spanish plains. On your way to Milan or Rome, you’ll have the Atlantic Ocean along the rails /streets and later ride along the Mediterranean Sea through the stunning beach landscapes of Southern France. Near Séte, the train will be for a few minutes between the Mediterranean Sea and the water of the Bassin de Thau (lagoon). If you’re lucky, you might spot flamingos from your train window. While the map above shows that traveling by train or bus takes more time than flying or driving, you can use that time productively. You can read, work, play games, or simply connect with other travelers on the train or bus. Most long-distance trains even have a bistro on board, where you can relax and enjoy a meal. Through these interactions, you might learn something new about Europe or pick up ideas for things to do in the city you`re traveling to. Imprint Authorship: Nadine Wolf with contributions from Linde Warland, Youngseo Kim and Somara Gantenbein, Version September 2025, Publisher: Sustainability Hub, University of Zurich in collaboration with the Consortium of the Sustainable Erasmus+ Travel project Travelling by train or bus to your exchange destination in Europe • reduces your climate impact compared to other transport modes, • gives you a great opportunity to explore Europe, its natural and urban environments, people, and cultural diversity, • enables you to make productive use of travel time, to reconnect with yourself and / or other people. Estimated travel times for the five most popular Student Exchange Routes1 Train (incl. transfer) Bus (incl. transfer) Car (incl. rest periods) Plane (incl. check-in & transfer) Main station city center Prague Vienna 4 h 4 h 4 h 3 h Barcelona 21 h 25.5 –27.5 h 38.5 –40 h 5.5 h Lisbon 34 –36 h 43.5 –45 h 47.5 –62.5 h 6.5 h Rome 16.5 h 21 h 24 h 5 h 11.5 –13 h 14 h 20 –22 h 5 h Paris Notes: Travel times were calculated using Rome2Rio2 for two randomly selected dates: Monday, October 24, 2024, and Monday, October 20, 2025. Calculations assume travelers take the fastest routes and direct flights where available. Travel times were rounded to the nearest half hour. Where the variation was an hour or less, average times are reported; otherwise, ranges are shown. Direct flight times show little variation, while travel by train, bus, or car may vary due to new routes or road traffic. Times incorporate real-time data, travel time estimates, and average transit times. For car travel, a 30-minute break was added every 3 hours, plus a 10-hour overnight rest every 8.5 hours. For train and bus travel, it was assumed travelers sleep while en route. The dotted route on the map does not represent the exact travel route. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. From 2021 to 2023, the top student exchange destinations1 for those traveling to or from Zurich were Copenhagen, Berlin, Munich, Vienna, and Madrid. All of these cities are easily accessible through eco-friendly transportation options. This connectivity report explains how. The table above provides detailed information on the availa bility of direct bus and train connections, including night services. The focus is specifically on train and bus travel, as these are generally the most sustainable modes of transport. Interested in learning more about the climate impact of these routes? Be sure to check out the Factsheet Sustainable Student Mobility Zurich (see Resources > Factsheets: ↗). Trains offer a comfortable and efficient way to travel across Europe. Buses can be a particularly eco-conscious and budget-friendly option for longer journeys, such as those from Zurich to Berlin or Madrid. Although buses may take longer than other modes of transport, they 3 are among the most energy-efficient ways to travel long distances. Larger cities in Europe generally provide easy access to public transport upon arrival. If you book early, ticket prices can be significantly lower. Please note that for some trains and buses, e.g. night trains or high-speed trains in certain countries, reservations are mandatory. Do you want to see all the night-trains4 in Europe currently available? Here is an overview for you (↗). Train Bus City pairs Duration2Night train Possible stopovers Duration2Night bus Possible stopovers Zurich Berlin Direct: ~9–12h ~12h • Freiburg & Black Forest* • Frankfurt • Constance • Nuremberg Direct: ~12.5–14h Direct: to Berlin Wannsee: ~12h • Constance • Munich • Nuremberg Zurich Copenhagen 2 changes: ~14–15.5h Direct: to Hamburg • Strasbourg • Frankfurt • Hamburg • Island Odense* 1 change: ~22.5–24.5h Direct: to Hamburg • Munich • Hamburg Zurich Madrid 3 changes: ~14h – • Geneva • Dijon • Lyon • Montpellier • Beaches of Southern France* • Barcelona 1 change: ~28h – • Lyon • Bordeaux • Beaches & city of San Sebastian* Zurich Munich Direct: ~3.5–5h –– Direct: ~4h – – Zurich Vienna Direct: ~8h ~9–11h • Alps/Vorarlberg* • Innsbruck • Salzburg Direct: ~7.5–12h Direct: to Vienna Erdberg: ~10–11.5h • Alps/Vorarlberg* • Innsbruck • Salzburg Nature /Landscape Note: The table above provides suggestions for such stopovers, focusing on larger cities or well-known natural areas. However, other cities or scenic spots may also be worth ex ploring. Stopover options vary depending on the different possible routes chosen for a city pair. Connectivity Report Sustainable Student Mobility (Zurich) Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. 1 Travel routes from exchange students collected by the Charles University of Prague (2021–2023), University of Porto (2021–2023), University of Zurich (2018–2024) and EU Data Collection of student exchanges (2021–2023) 2 Connections: Rome2Rio.com (↗): retrieved Sept 24 – Jan 2025 and Jul – Aug 2025 3 Factsheet: set-project.eu > Resources (↗): retrieved Sept 2025 4 Night trains: eurail.com (↗): retrieved Jan 2025 Imprint Authorship: Nadine Wolf with contributions from Linde Warland, Youngseo Kim and Somara Gantenbein, Version September 2025, Publisher: Sustainability Hub, University of Zurich in collaboration with the Consortium of the Sustainable Erasmus+ Travel project You can also choose to stop along your route and spend a few nights exploring the places you pass through. In Denmark, for instance, the island of Fyn offers picturesque coastal landscapes, historic castles, and charming villages where you can enjoy cycling. Traveling by train or bus also gives you a unique opportunity to explore Europe from your seat. For example, on your way to Madrid, you’ll pass through the stunning beach landscapes of Southern France, and if you’re lucky, you might even spot flamingos from your train window. Alternatively, if you’re traveling to Copenhagen by bus, part of the journey includes a ferry ride, where your bus is loaded onto the boat as well. While the map above shows that traveling by train or bus takes more time than flying or driving, you can use that time productively. You can read, work, play games, or simply connect with other travelers on the train or bus. Most long-distance trains even have a bistro on board, where you can relax and enjoy a meal. Through these interactions, you might learn something new about Europe or pick up ideas for things to do in the city you`re traveling to. Travelling by train or bus to your exchange destination in Europe • reduces your climate impact compared to other transport modes, • gives you a great opportunity to explore Europe, its natural and urban environments, people, and cultural diversity, • enables you to make productive use of travel time, to reconnect with yourself and / or other people. Estimated travel times for the five most popular Student Exchange Routes1 Train (incl. transfer) Bus (incl. transfer) Car (incl. rest periods) Plane (incl. check-in & transfer) Main station city center Notes: Travel times were calculated using Rome2Rio2 for two randomly selected dates: Monday, October 24, 2024, and Monday, October 20, 2025. Calculations assume travelers take the fastest routes and direct flights where available. Travel times were rounded to the nearest half hour. Where the variation was an hour or less, average times are reported; otherwise, ranges are shown. Direct flight times show little variation, while travel by train, bus, or car may vary due to new routes or road traffic. Times incorporate real-time data, travel time estimates, and average transit times. For car travel, a 30-minute break was added every 3 hours, plus a 10-hour overnight rest every 8.5 hours. For train and bus travel, it was assumed travelers sleep while en route. The dotted route on the map does not represent the exact travel route. Zurich 14 –15.5 h 22.5 –24.5 h 23.5 –25 h 4.5 h Copenhagen Munich 3.5 –5 h 4 h 3.5 h 3 h Vienna 8 h 7.5 –12 h 8.5 h 4 h 9 –12 h 12.5–14 h 9.5 h 4.5 h Berlin 14 h 28 h 28 – 40 h 5.5 h Madrid