What is The Man in Seat 61?
The Man in Seat 61 is a train travel guide written by Mark Smith, whose copyright on the site runs from 2001. It explains how to get from one place to another by train or ferry, country by country, including which operator to use, where to buy tickets and what the journey is like.
It is especially useful for trips that booking sites make hard to piece together, such as London to Eastern Europe, the Trans-Siberian Railway or overnight sleeper trains. It reads as one person's practical guide rather than a booking engine, and links out to places where you can buy tickets, passes and ferry crossings.
Main Features
- Country guides for rail travel across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas and Australasia
- Route pages for journeys from the UK to other countries
- Guides to Eurail and Interrail passes
- Pages on sleeper trains and famous scenic routes
- Advice on how to buy European train tickets
- Ferry and motorail information
- Links to rail, ferry and hotel booking partners
How to Get Started with The Man in Seat 61
- Open seat61.com in your browser.
- Pick your destination from the country menus.
- Read the route page for times, fares and how to book.
- Follow the links to buy tickets, passes or ferry crossings.
- Email the author if your question is not covered.
The Man in Seat 61 Pricing
The site is free to read, with no paid plan or sign-up. You pay only for any tickets you book with the operators and agents it links to. The author asks readers who find it useful to consider donating to UNICEF.
Who Should Use It?
- Travellers planning a trip by train instead of flying
- Interrail and Eurail pass users
- People booking sleeper trains and long routes
- Anyone who wants a route explained in plain language
The Man in Seat 61 Alternatives
- Rome2Rio shows how to get between two places by train, bus, plane or ferry.
- Skyscanner searches flights, hotels and car hire across many providers.
- Numbeo compares the cost of living between cities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Man in Seat 61 free?
Yes. All of the guides are free to read with no account. You pay only for tickets you choose to book through the operators and agents it mentions.
Who writes The Man in Seat 61?
It is written by Mark Smith, a train travel enthusiast who has run the site since the early 2000s.
Can I buy tickets on Seat 61?
The site is a guide, not a ticket seller. Its pages explain where to buy and link to rail, ferry and hotel booking services.
Does it only cover Europe?
No. It also has guides for Asia, Africa, the Americas and Australasia, as well as long routes such as the Trans-Siberian Railway.