In the summer of 2025, our travel specialist Bianca travelled to the USA with her daughter to experience the American East Coast by train. Read about their adventures below.
This summer, my 17-year-old daughter and I crossed the Atlantic to experience the East Coast of the USA by train (Amtrak).
It takes less than 15 minutes to get through immigration in Washington. A good tip: download the MPC app before you travel, enter your details, and when you arrive in the USA, you’ll receive a QR code that grants access to the app’s “Fast Lane”.
The journey starts in Washington, D.C. – the heart of power and politics, and the stage of great history. The city itself feels rather calm, and it’s easy to get around on foot, by Uber, or by metro. A city tour in electric open vehicles takes you past all the major attractions such as the Washington Monument, the White House, Capitol Hill, and many memorials – with short stops along the way.
After spending two nights, the journey continues via Amtrak to Philadelphia – a short train ride of around two hours.
Often called New York’s little sister, Philadelphia is ideal for exploring on foot. There is so much to admire here – from the urban waterfront and numerous museums to charming hidden gardens and, of course, the Rocky statue and those famous steps.
When it comes to food, don’t miss out on a slice of Philadelphia cheesecake and the city’s iconic Philly cheesesteak sandwich.
Next stop on our tour: The Big Apple, just an Amtrak train ride of approximately 1½ hours from Philadelphia.
New York is vast – so vast that “gigantic” might be the best word to describe it. The skyline stretches towards the heavens, and the streets seem endless. Yet, finding your way around Manhattan (arguably the city’s most well-known borough) is surprisingly simple. Apart from Broadway, the only street running diagonally through the grid, the rest of Manhattan’s streets are neatly laid out like a chessboard.
New York has plenty to offer: in Central Park, you’ll find peaceful green oases, Times Square buzzes with tourists and musical theatres, and the many observation decks tempt you with breathtaking views of the skyline. The city’s shopping opportunities are endless. On a Circle Line boat trip, you can also take in stunning views of the city, the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges, as well as Liberty Island with the Statue of Liberty.
The city is full of free attractions, and a MetroCard for the subway makes it easy to get around and explore all the different neighbourhoods.
We travelled during the summer heat, and a quick trip to the beach was a welcome breath of fresh air. The subway takes you from Manhattan to Coney Island or Brighton Beach in about an hour. And then you’ll find yourself on a lively, packed beach with a view of the skyline 😉.
My personal tip: go to a sporting event featuring one of the big local teams. We watched a baseball game with the New York Yankees (in The Bronx). It was a fantastic experience, even if you don’t fully understand the rules.
Next stop: Boston – a train journey of around four hours with Amtrak.
As the birthplace of the American Revolution, with a modern city centre brimming with quirky shops and inviting food halls, Boston – New England’s largest city – offers a perfect blend of old-world charm and contemporary energy.
Here, you can follow the famous Freedom Trail, explore the city by bike, and experience both culture and history in its expansive parks.
Fun fact: the American TV series “Cheers” was filmed here – and you can even visit the original bar.
Afterwards, we hired a car for a few days and drove out to the coast and Cape Cod, where you can, among other things, go on a whale-watching tour. From here, you can also take day trips to Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket Island.
A few dining tips from us:
Food in the USA can be quite pricey, but there are always good and affordable alternatives: enjoy breakfast in a small café, grab a delicious slice of pizza for a dollar in New York, or go all in on an “all you can eat” buffet. Supermarkets naturally offer a wide selection of salads, sandwiches, and fresh fruit, too. On hot days, watermelon was a must for us – and with a few simple items from the supermarket, you can easily put together a wonderful picnic.
Travelling in the USA is both safe and great fun!
/Bianca
TourCompass – From tourist to traveller
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