Route Comparison
Compare flying, train, bus, minivan and ferry between two places: real cost per person, door-to-door journey time and the option that fits how you travel.
Pick a country, a departure and arrival point and your travel style. The tool lines up the realistic options side by side: flight, train, bus, minivan, ferry, taxi or self-drive, with cost per person, door-to-door journey time, comfort and CO2 per trip. You see straight away whether that cheap night bus is worth the four hours a flight would save, instead of checking each operator one by one.
Free, no account. The comparison is tuned to how you travel, not to an average.
How it works
Pick your route
Select a country, then your departure and arrival point. The routes travellers actually take are ready to go, from airport to city to island hopping.
Set your travel style
Tell it your budget and priority: as lean as possible, a middle ground, or comfort first. The recommendation shifts with your choice.
Compare and choose
See every mode side by side on cost, journey time, comfort and CO2. The option that fits your trip best is highlighted.
Method and data sources
Comparing transport only works when you count the whole trip, not just the ticket price. That is why this tool works per route with door-to-door time and cost per person, so a cheap bus that takes eight hours stands fairly next to an expensive direct flight.
How the comparison works
Up to seven modes are checked per route: flight, train, bus, minivan, ferry, taxi and self-drive. Each option gets a cost per person, a door-to-door journey time, a comfort read, the frequency and an estimated CO2 figure. Group logic is built in: shared taxis and rental cars price differently per person than a solo traveller.
Your travel style sets the pick
The same route returns a different winner depending on what you choose. On the lean setting the night bus or the train often wins, on comfort the direct flight or a private transfer. The tool does not invent a single right answer: it shows the trade-off and marks what fits your preference.
| Data point | Source | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per mode | Editorially compiled per country, checked against operator fares | Price per person, in local travel reality |
| Journey time | Door-to-door, including transfers and waiting | Hours and minutes per trip |
| CO2 | Estimated emissions by mode and distance | Kilograms per passenger |
| Comfort and frequency | Judged per route from traveller experience | Qualitative read plus operators |
Why not just trawl separate booking sites?
| Feature | Route Comparison | Separate booking sites |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, no account | Free, often ad-heavy |
| Modes | 7 side by side in one overview | One mode per site |
| Journey time | Door-to-door, transfers included | Just the ride itself |
| Travel style | Recommendation shifts with your budget | A fixed sort by price |
| CO2 | Visible per trip | Rarely shown |
FAQ
1Is the Route Comparison tool free?
Yes. The tool is free, there is no paywall and no account. Pick a route and the comparison builds as you go.
2Which modes of transport does it compare?
Up to seven per route: flight, train, bus, minivan, ferry, taxi and self-drive. Which ones appear depends on what is realistic on that route.
3Are the prices live?
No. They are planning estimates per route, built to compare modes fairly. Use them to decide, then confirm the current price and schedule with the operator before you book.
4Why does the recommendation change when I adjust my style?
Because the best option depends on what you value. On a tight budget the bus or train often wins, on comfort the direct flight does. The tool weighs cost, time and comfort against your preference.
5Which countries are covered?
146 countries with the routes travellers actually take. Pick a country and the available routes and modes appear.
Know how you get there
Put flying, train, bus and ferry side by side and pick the option that fits your budget, your time and your travel style.
Start comparing