Whether you're going abroad for an exchange programme, internship opportunity or a summer school, it is important to explore more sustainable means of transport to go and return from your destination.
On this page you will find more information so that when the time comes to actually plan your journey, you know exactly what to do and where to research.
Erasmus+ is the European programme for education, training, youth and sports. This programme gives students the opportunity to go abroad for study exchange or an internship. In 2021, the Erasmus+ programme introduced the green top-up, an incentive to promote the use of more sustainable means of transport to reach the mobility destination. This top-up awards 50 euros more and up to 4 days of additional individual support to cover travel days for a return trip, if relevant.
Now jumping into the actual planning of your journey and the different options and connections available: there are several websites that can help you plan the best trip possible according to your requirements.
- The man in seat 61: one of the go-to places to plan your rail joruney. This website is started by Mark Smith, a former rail industry worker. He decided to share his knowledge on the best routes, fares and times for rail journeys within Europe and sometimes even beyond. The website has a handmade feel - Mark created it as an autodidact - but the info is high level: you will not only see the different connections you can choose from but also check the practicalities of travel and what you might expect on the journey.
- Omio: this search engine allows you to check the options available by plane, train and bus and shows you the price of each option.
- Trainline: another search engine that focuses on railways and buses.
- Flixbus: a search engine only focusing on buses.
- Deutche Bahn: a clear mobility portal for travelling by rail, not only for Germany, but whole Europe!
Extra tip: some of these search engines allow you to book your trip. However, we recommend you to compare the prices with the ones in the actual railway/bus company's website, to ensure you get the best possible deal.
Another option that might help you make the most of the journey would be a road trip. You can reach out to other students that are going to the same destination, organise a joint journey there and visit some cities on the way, or you can use a carpooling service like Blablacar, which allows you to connect with others that are planning the same route. You can use the opportunity to get to know a different city on the way. This is one of the great advantages of travelling sustainably: usually the train or bus stations are located in the city centre, which allows you to have quick and easy access to different cities across Europe, and travelling by car gives you the freedom to reach any place you want.
Do you want to choose accommodation options that have sustainability in mind?
- Book Different!: an affiliate of booking.com that allows you to see the CO2 footprint of your stay and also see of the accommodation has any green label.
- Hostelling International: a network of hostels that advocate for sustainability.
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This document will guide you through the process of planning a more sustainable trip, showcasing why sustainable travel is an enriching experience worth sharing. Within the document, you can also explore experiences from students who opted for sustainable travel options.
"Travelling by bus is not only more sustainable, but also cheap and very flexible if you need to reschedule your journey or to bring big luggage, which is not possible with the cheap flights."