September 2, 2024, 3:31 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
Who would have thought that Florence and Bologna are only 35 minutes away from each other? The fast-as-a-Ferrari high-speed train makes it possible. Or known that it takes just one hour to get from Vienna to Bratislava by hydrofoil across the Danube? We present major cities in Europe that you can easily visit in combination.
Unfortunately, the number of vacation days is finite, and the desire to experience and see as much as possible in the little time available is all the greater. Thanks to the latest means of transportation, faraway places are often closer and closer together, at least in terms of the travel time between them. As a result, city trips can now be extended by adding another city. The vacation apartment provider Wimdu has identified the top 5 twin cities in Europe that are no more than 100 kilometers apart by train, car, or boat or can be reached in under an hour.
Nice & Cannes (27 km, 27 min)
Just 27 kilometers as the crow flies separate the two pearls on the French south coast. The journey takes just 27 minutes by train and 39 minutes by car. So there’s no reason why you shouldn’t visit both port cities while on vacation. The duet on the picturesque Côte d’Azur shines with magnificent buildings, picturesque promenades, and sophisticated marinas.
Copenhagen & Malmö (28 km, 34 min)
The world’s longest cable-stayed bridge for trains and cars ensures that the Danish capital, Copenhagen, and Sweden’s third-largest city, Malmö, are really only a stone’s throw apart. The Öresund Bridge stretches eight kilometers across the strait of the same name, connecting two of the most attractive cities in the whole of Scandinavia. Most holidaymakers head for Copenhagen and have no idea what they are missing out on in Malmö. The city is just 34 minutes away (41 minutes by car). It offers an old town full of magnificent buildings paired with modern Scandinavian architecture. It also boasts one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in Sweden.
Florence & Bologna in 35 minutes (111 km, 35 min)
The fastest connection of all the twin cities is definitely between the Tuscan metropolis of Florence and Bologna in Emilia-Romagna, which is actually not all that close. The “rail Ferrari,” officially called “Italo,” takes barely more than half an hour to cover the more than 100 kilometers. You would probably wish the journey wasn’t over so quickly. The super-fast train from Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori (NTV) also offers special comforts. Not only is there free Wi-Fi, but also a cinema and the best Italian food on board. You can also find out about the tourist hotspots at your destination via Italo’s internet portal.
Hamburg & Bremen (95 km, 55 min)
Of course, Hamburg already has a lot to offer: the largest port in Germany, a great mix of old architecture (such as the UNESCO-protected Speicherstadt) and magnificent modern buildings (such as the soon-to-be-completed Elb-Philharmonie), cult districts such as St. Pauli and the Schanze and much more. Nevertheless, you should also consider a detour to Bremen. The Hanseatic city, which is only a 55-minute train ride away, has a lot of charm to offer. It boasts an impressive old town, the Schlachte as a historic waterfront promenade and the medieval Schnorrviertel.
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Vienna & Bratislava (55 km, 59 min)
Vienna and Bratislava have always been intertwined, as they were located in the same country during the monarchy and, at 55 kilometers as the crow flies, are the two closest capitals in all of Europe. The “Twin-City-Liner” hydrofoil connects the two cities along the Danube through the beautiful Danube Wetlands Nature Reserve in just over an hour. Even the journey is an experience. What you can experience in Vienna is well known. But the Slovakian capital Bratislava, with its castle towering over the city and a charming historic city center, also has plenty of flair.
