This Train Boarding Strategy Makes For A Comfortable Journey, Per Rick Steves' Tour Guide

If you're in a European city that has a metro (subway) system, chances are it is a fairly big city. Aside from millions of locals calling these cities home, some tend to be among the continent's biggest tourism destinations. This means the metro can get busy. You've likely seen images of public transportation vehicles with standing room only and passengers packed in like sardines.

As a longtime collaborator and co-author for Rick Steves' Europe guidebooks, Cameron Hewitt has some tricks for crowded metros. After spending time in London, Paris, and Rome — which he calls "The Big Three" — Hewitt noticed something about crowd dispersal. "On any given train, the middle cars were crammed like sardine cans, while the cars at the start and end had more room," he explained in a blog post. This is likely because things like route maps and vending machines tend to be centrally located on the platforms, and people tend to congregate in the middle to ensure they have access to the train's doors once it arrives. Hopping on the metro cars at either end of the platforms "earned me a less crowded, more enjoyable commute. Sometimes, I even got a seat," the tour guide reflected.

For many European destinations, including Paris, the best way to get around in order to get the most out of your trip is on foot. This means that being able to actually sit down when riding on public transportation will help relieve your travel-weary feet, at least until you reach your stop. Cameron Hewitt's metro boarding tip also applies to inter-city trains, as these trains can be just as crowded as metros.

Besides saving your feet, the advice may also save your wallet. Tourists are most likely to encounter pickpockets in crowded places, including at train and metro stations. Riding in a less crowded metro car will lower your chances of this because, with the extra space and seated passengers, pickpockets can't make clean getaways like they would in a big crowd. Even still, keep your personal items close, and remain aware of your surroundings. 

In general, Hewitt is all about avoiding crowds when traveling. Whether you're getting your adventurous day started via public transportation or not, the early bird gets the worm. So, perhaps set your alarm a little earlier than usual to avoid hordes of tourists and commuters. Riding on a metro or simply walking the streets of Europe with fewer crowds makes for a much more peaceful trip.