Castle Bran, Brasov, Romania.  Travel there by train!

Bran Castle, Braşov, Transylvania.  Built in 1377 by Vlad Tepes (the Impaler), inspiration for Bram Stoker's DraculaCourtesy Bryan Dawe.

London to Braşov & Bucharest by train

In Bram Stoker’s Dracula, young lawyer Jonathan Harker travels from London to Transylvania by train.  You too can travel by train from London to Dracula’s castle at Braşov and across the scenic Carpathian mountains to Bucharest (Bucureşti in Romanian).  It's safe, comfortable and affordable.  This page explains train times, fares & how to buy tickets.

Train times, fares & tickets

small bullet point  Option 1, London to Romania via Paris & Stuttgart

small bullet point  Option 2, London to Romania via Vienna

small bullet point  Option 3, London to Romania by daytime trains

small bullet point  How to book trains within Romania

small bullet point  Trains from other European cities to Romania

small bullet point  Trains from Romania to other European cities

small bullet point  Bucharest Nord station guide

small bullet point  Useful country information: currency, dial code...

small bullet point  Visiting Braşov & Castle Bran  

small bullet point  Visiting Sighisoara

small bullet point  Hotels & accommodation in Romania

small bullet point  General European train travel information

small bullet point  Luggage & left luggage

small bullet point  Taking bikes   Taking dogs

Route map: London to Romania by train

Route map:  London to Bucharest & Romania by train

Useful country information

Train operator

in Romania:

CFR (Societatea Nationale a Cailor Ferate Romβne), www.cfrcalatori.ro

There are two or three private operators too, for a journey planner showing all train operators use mersultrenurilor.infofer.ro.

 

All-Europe online train times

Railpasses:

 

Beginner's guide to European railpasses

Time zone:

GMT+2 (GMT+3 from last Sunday in March to last Saturday in October).

Dialling code:

 

+40

Currency:

£1 = 5.5 New Lei, €1 = 4.9 New Lei, approx.   Currency converter

Tourist information:

romaniatourism.com.     Recommended guidebooks

Hotels:

www.booking.com. Backpacker hostels: www.hostelworld.com

Visas:

UK citizens don't need a visa to visit Romania for up to 90 days.

Page last updated:   

17 March 2024.  Train times valid 10 December 2023 to 14 December 2024.


Option 1, London to Romania via Paris, Stuttgart & Budapest

This is the fastest option between the UK and Romania, running daily all year round with a morning departure from London.

London ► Romania

Romania ► London

How much does it cost?

Each train is ticketed separately, so just add up the price for each leg of the journey.

 1. London to Paris

     by Eurostar

 From £52 one-way, £78 return 2nd class.

 From £97 one-way, £168 return 1st class.  Child fares 

 

 2. Paris to Stuttgart

     by TGV

 From €39.90 each way in 2nd class

 From €69.90 each way in 1st class.

 The price varies like air fares, so book ahead.

 If you book at int.bahn.de, accompanied children under 15 go free.

 

 3. Stuttgart to Budapest

 on the Kalman Imre

In a  

seat:

In a couchette

In the sleeping-car

6-berth

4-berth

3-berth

2-berth

single

 One-way per person, from

€29

€49

€59

€69

€79

€139

Cheapest fares = advance-purchase, price varies, no refunds, no changes to travel plans.

  

 4. Budapest to Bucharest

 on the Ister

 Bought online at the MAV or CFR websites

 From €39 with a bed in a 6-bunk couchette;

 From €46 with a bed in a 6-bunk couchette;

 From €69 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper;

 From €84 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper;

 From €162 with a single-bed sleeper

 Per person, as berths are sold individually.

How to buy tickets

Anyone from any country can buy tickets online this way, at the cheapest prices with few on no booking fees.

How to buy tickets by phone

Or use an Interrail pass

Or let Railbookers arrange it

What's the journey like? 

1. London to Paris by Eurostar

Eurostar trains link London & Paris in 2h20, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More about Eurostar & check-in procedureSt Pancras station guide Gare du Nord station guide.

A Eurostar e320 train at London St Pancras   Eurostar e320 first class seats

Eurostar e320 at St Pancras.  More about Eurostar.

 

1st class:  Standard Premier or Business Premier.

Eurostar e320 2nd class seats   Eurostar e320 cafe-bar

Standard class.  Larger photo.

 

One of two cafe-bars, cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

2. Paris to Stuttgart by TGV Duplex  See video guide

In Paris it's an easy 7 minute 500m walk from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de l'Est for the TGV to Germany.  Sit back with a glass of red and enjoy the ride - book an upper deck seat for the best views.  The train is equipped with power sockets for laptops & mobiles at all seats in both classes, and a cafe-bar serves drinks, snacks & microwaved hot dishes.  The train soon leaves the Paris suburbs behind and speeds across a vast wide open plateau of woods & farmland at up to 320 km/h (199 mph), past picturesque French villages of the Champagne region.  An hour or two later, the train leaves the high-speed line and slowly meanders through pretty wooded hills, the countryside eventually flattening out towards Strasbourg.  On leaving Strasbourg, look out for Strasbourg cathedral on the left with its famously missing second tower.  Minutes afterwards you rumble across the river Rhine into Germany, before heading on to Stuttgart.  Paris Gare de l'Est station guide.

TGV Duplex at Paris Gare de l'Est

TGV Duplex at Paris Est. These impressive 320 km/h double-deck trains link Paris & Stuttgart, a relaxing journey with reading book & glass of wine.  Book an upstairs seat for the best views.

TGV Duplex cafe-bar   TGV Duplex upper deck 2nd class seats

Cafe-bar on upper deck in car 4, serving tea, coffee, soft drinks, wine, beer, snacks & microwaved hot dishes.

 

2nd class seats on the upper deck.  There's a mix or tables for 4 and unidirectional seating.  360Ί photo.

First class on board a TGV Duplex   An TGV Duplex to Munich at Paris Est.

1st class on upper deck, a 'club duo' on the left, a 'club quatre' on the right.  360Ί photo.

 

A TGV Duplex.  The 1 near the door indicates 1st class, a 2 indicates 2nd class.

3. Stuttgart to Budapest by sleeper train Kalman Imre

Cosy & inviting, the photo below shows the modern air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car of the Kalman Imre at Munich Hauptbahnhof.  The sleeping-car has 11 compartments with washbasin, each of which can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth room, with toilets at the end of the corridor.  The fare includes a light breakfast of coffee, juice & croissant More about the sleeper train Kalman Imre.

The sleeper train Kalman Imre from Munich to  Budapest

Sleeper train Kalman Imre at Munich Hbf.  More about this sleeper train.

The sleeper train from Zurich to Budapest   4-berth couchettes on train to Budapest   6-berth couchettes on train to Budapest

2 bed sleeper, can also be set up as 1 or 3 bed.

 

4-berth couchettes.

 

6-berth couchettes.

City of Budapest & the Danube

Good morning Budapest!

4. Budapest to Bucharest by sleeper train Ister

The Ister from Budapest to Brasov & Bucharest has an air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car with carpeted 1, 2 or 3-berth compartments with proper beds & washbasin, see the photos below.  Travelling in the sleeping-car is safe, comfortable & civilised.  The Ister also has a Romanian couchette car with 6-berth & 4-berth compartments, each berth provided with rug, sheet & pillow, berths converting to seats by day.  Couchettes are fine although fairly basic, a proper bed in the sleeper is more comfortable yet costs very little extra, so go for a sleeper if you can.  There's no restaurant car on between Budapest and the Romanian border so take your own picnic & bottle of wine, although there's a cafe counter between Simeria & Bucharest in both directions.  The Ister also has air-conditioned seats cars, but a mere seat is not recommended.

Traveller Philip Dyer-Perry reports:  "Budapest to Bucharest on the Ister is an absolute pleasure. I booked online with MAV and travelled in the new sleeping car, which was comfortable, smooth, and clean. There is a shower, but obviously not intended for use as most of the hose assembly was missing."

2-berth sleeper on the Ister   The Ister at Bucharest Nord

A 1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper with washbasin.  Larger photo.

 

The sleeping-car (vagon de dormit) on the westbound Ister at Bucharest.  Sleepers convert from beds to private sitting rooms for day use.  Courtesy of @AndyBTravels, DiscoverByRail.com.

Couchette car on the Ister EuroNight train from Budapest to Bucharest   Romanian couchette car from Vienna to Bucharest

The couchette car on the westbound Ister, boarding at Bucharest.  Couchettes convert from bunks at night to seats by day.  Courtesy of @AndyBTravels, DiscoverByRail.com .

 

4 or 6-berth couchettes.  Larger photo.

Or Budapest to Brasov by daytime InterCity train

The daytime train from Budapest to Bucharest

The Intercity train Traianus from Budapest to Bucharest at Budapest Keleti, with modern air-conditioned Romanian carriages.

Bar car on the Budapest-Bucharest train   2nd class Romanian InterCity coach

One of the three carriages includes a bar complete with bar stools.

 

Comfortable 2nd class seats in an air-conditioned Romanian carriage.  Larger photo.

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Option 2, London to Romania via Vienna

This is the most comfortable way to Romania.  Take Eurostar to Brussels and the 3-times-a-week Nightjet sleeper train from Brussels to Vienna, or take Eurostar to Paris and the 3-times-a-week Nightjet sleeper train from Paris to Vienna.  Apart from the days of the week they run, the only real difference between these two routes is that Brussels is a same-station change, if you go via Paris it's a 7-minute 500m walk between Paris Nord & Paris Est - the trains & range of prices are the same.  Once in Vienna, you can either take a day train to Budapest then the Budapest-Bucharest sleeper train, or you can spend the day exploring Vienna and catch the direct Dacia Express from Vienna to Romania.  Going via Budapest will get you to Brasov or Bucharest 3½ hours earlier, but spending the day in Vienna and taking the Dacia Express offers a wider range of Romanian destinations including Sighisoara, Brasov, Bucharest, Cluj, Timisoara & Craiova.  A bonus is that Romanian Railways uses their most modern type of sleeping-car on the Vienna-Sighisoara-Brasov-Bucharest portion of the Dacia Express, some compartments have en suite toilet & shower.  Incidentally, if you go via Paris you will be more or less retracing the route of the original 1883 Orient Express.

London ► Romania

You now have a choice:

London ► Romania

You now have a choice:

Romania ► London

You also have a choice for the return journey:  

Romania ► London

You also have a choice for the return journey:  

How much does it cost?

 1. London to Paris or Brussels by Eurostar

 From £52 one-way, £78 return 2nd class.

 From £97 one-way, £168 return 1st class.  Child fares 

 

 2. Paris or Brussels to Vienna

     by Nightjet train, per person per bed:

In a

seat

In a couchette

In the sleeping-car

6-berth

4-berth

3-berth

2-berth

single

3-berth

+ shower

2-berth

+ shower

single

+ shower

 One-way per person from:

€29.90

€49.90

€59.90

€89.90

€109.90

€159.90

€99.90

€139.90

€179.90

 Option A:

 3. Vienna to Brasov or Bucharest

     by Dacia Express

In a

seat

In a couchette

In the sleeping-car

6-berth

4-berth

3-berth

2-berth

single

 One-way per person from:

€49

€59

€69

€79

€99

 €159

 Option B:

 3. Vienna to Budapest

 From €19.90 each way in 2nd class.

 From €29.90 each way in 1st class.

 

 4. Budapest to Brasov or Bucharest

     by sleeper train Ister, per person, per bed:

 Booked online at the MAV or CFR websites.

 From €39 with a bed in a 6-bunk couchette;

 From €59 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper;

 From €86 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper;

 From €172 with a single-bed sleeper

 Per person, as berths are sold individually.

You might want to consider a Eurail/Interrail pass for this journey, although sleeper or couchette supplements will need to be paid in addition to buying the pass.

Braşov is 12 km from the skiing resort of Poiana Braşov, and starting point for trips to Castle Bran - Dracula's castle!

How to buy tickets

How to buy tickets by phone

Or use an Interrail pass

Or let Railbookers arrange it

What's the journey like?

1. London to Paris or Brussels by Eurostar

Eurostar trains link London & Paris in 2h20, London & Brussels in 2 hours, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More about Eurostar & check-in procedureSt Pancras station guide.  Paris Gare du Nord Brussels Midi station guideIn Brussels, I recommend the Pullman Hotel bar as your VIP waiting room.

A Eurostar e320 train at London St Pancras   Eurostar e320 first class seats

Eurostar e320 at St Pancras.  More about Eurostar.

 

1st class:  Standard Premier or Business Premier.

Eurostar e320 2nd class seats   Eurostar e320 cafe-bar

Standard class.  Larger photo.

 

One of two cafe-bars, cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

2. Paris or Brussels to Vienna by Nightjet  See the Nightjet guide

This is an Austrian Railways (ΦBB) Nightjet train, with sleeping-car, couchettes & seats.  The sleeping-car has 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, plus three deluxe compartments with 1, 2 or 3 beds with private shower & toilet.  The sleeper berths come fully made up with sheets and duvets, all sleeper passengers get mineral water in the evening and a light breakfast served in their compartment next morning.  Towels & toiletries are provided, including shampoo and shower gel in the deluxe sleepers.  In the more economical couchettes, you can book a couchette in a cheaper 6-berth compartment or a less-crowded 4-berth compartment, each provided with sheet, blanket, pillow & small bottle of water, and couchette passengers get a tea or coffee in the morning.  When waiting for the northbound sleeper train in Vienna, if you have booked a sleeper you can use the ΦBB lounge with complimentary refreshments.  More pictures & information about Nightjet trains.

The Nightjet sleeper from Brussels to Vienna at Brussels

On 20 January 2020, the inaugural Nightjet left Brussels for Vienna, the first scheduled sleeper train to leave Brussels in 16 years.  Above, that inaugural train is seen ready to leave Brussels Midi on 20 January - naturally, the Man in Seat 61 was on board!

Nightjet deluxe 2-berth sleeper   Nightjet deluxe sleeper in day mode   Nightjet deluxe sleeper toilet & shower   Nightjet standard (economy) sleeper

Deluxe sleeper.  Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room.  Larger photoVideo of deluxe room

 

Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out.  Larger photo.

 

Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided.  Larger photo.

 

Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open.  It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth.  Larger photo.

6-berth couchettes   4-berth couchettes on Nightjet train   Couchette car on Brussels-Vienna sleeper

6-berth couchettes.

 

4-berth couchettes.

 

Couchette car on the Brussels-Vienna Nightjet.

As night falls, the train to Vienna crosses the Rhine at Mainz

As night falls, the sleeper train speeds along the Rhine Valley.  Above, crossing the Rhine at Mainz.

3. Vienna to Bucharest on the Dacia Express

The Dacia Express from Vienna to Brasov & Bucharest has a modern & comfortable Romanian sleeping-car with carpeted 1, 2 or 3-bed compartments with washbasin, see the photos below.  There are two deluxe compartments with en suite shower & toilet.  The beds fold away to reveal a sofa for daytime use.  The Dacia Express also has a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6-bunk compartments.  The couchettes have compartments with 6 seats by day which convert to bunks for night time use with rug, sheet and pillow supplied.  Couchettes are fairly basic, and a proper bed in the sleeper is much more comfortable and secure yet costs very little extra, so is the recommended option.  The Dacia Express also has several air-conditioned seats cars, but making this journey in an ordinary seat is not recommended.  A bar car is attached in Romania, operating to & from Bucharest, serving drinks & snacks.

Dacia Express sleeper at Vienna   Dacia Express 2-berth sleeper compartment

Dacia Express sleeping-car at Vienna Hbf.  Standard 2-bed sleeper, courtesy of Jose Carlos Barbosa.  Larger photo.

Romanian couchette car from Vienna to Bucharest   Dacia Express couchette car

Dacia Express couchette car, boarding at Vienna Hbf.  Larger photo.

Scenery in Transylvania

Transylvania:  The Dacia Express passes villages in rural Transylvania. Courtesy of @PaliparanDotCom.

Dacia Express Carpathian mountains

Carpathians:  Alpine scenery as the Dacia Express passes through the Carpathian mountains.  Courtesy @PaliparanDotCom.

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Option 3, London to Romania by day trains with overnight stops

This takes longer as it's not as time-effective as using sleeper trains, but if you prefer daytime trains through the scenery with overnight stops in comfortable hotels, this is the option for you.  It's also potentially the cheapest option, at least before the cost of hotels is added.  By all means stop off for longer between trains, what you do is up to you.

London ► Romania

Romania ► London

How much does it cost?

How to buy tickets

How to buy tickets by phone

Or use an Interrail pass

What's the journey like?

1. London to Paris by Eurostar

Eurostar trains link London & Paris in 2h20, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More about Eurostar & check-in procedureSt Pancras station guide Gare du Nord station guide.

A Eurostar e320 train at London St Pancras   Eurostar e320 first class seats

Eurostar e320 at St Pancras.  More about Eurostar.

 

1st class:  Standard Premier or Business Premier.

Eurostar e320 2nd class seats   Eurostar e320 cafe-bar

Standard class.  Larger photo.

 

One of two cafe-bars, cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

2. Paris to Munich by TGV Duplex  See video

In Paris it's an easy 7 minute 500m walk from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de l'Est for the TGV to Germany.  Sit back with a glass of red and enjoy the ride - book an upper deck seat for the best views.  The train is equipped with power sockets for laptops & mobiles at all seats in both classes, and a cafe-bar serves drinks, snacks & microwaved hot dishes.  The train soon leaves the Paris suburbs behind and speeds across a vast wide open plateau of woods & farmland at up to 320 km/h (199 mph), past picturesque French villages of the Champagne region.  An hour or two later, the train leaves the high-speed line and slowly meanders through pretty wooded hills, the countryside eventually flattening out towards Strasbourg.  On leaving Strasbourg, look out for Strasbourg cathedral on the left with its famously missing second tower.  Minutes afterwards you rumble across the river Rhine into Germany, before heading on to Stuttgart & Munich.  Paris Gare de l'Est station guideMunich Hbf station guide.

TGV Duplex at Paris Gare de l'Est

TGV Duplex at Paris Est. These impressive 320 km/h double-deck trains link Paris & Munich, a relaxing journey with reading book & glass of wine.  Book an upstairs seat for the best views.

TGV Duplex cafe-bar   TGV Duplex upper deck 2nd class seats

Cafe-bar on upper deck in car 4, serving tea, coffee, soft drinks, wine, beer, snacks & microwaved hot dishes.

 

2nd class seats on the upper deck.  There's a mix or tables for 4 and unidirectional seating.  360Ί photo.

First class on board a TGV Duplex   An TGV Duplex at Paris Est.

1st class on upper deck, a club duo on the left, a club quatre on the right.  360Ί photo.

 

A TGV Duplex.  The 1 near the door indicates 1st class, a 2 indicates 2nd class.

3. Munich to Budapest by railjet

Railjet trains have 1st & 2nd class plus a small Business Class area where seats cost €15 more than regular 1st class and a complimentary welcome drink of tea, coffee or wine is included.  All seats have power sockets.  There's a bistro-restaurant car and a cafe-bar, an attendant will take food orders at your seat in 1st & Business classes.  More about railjets.

A railjet train about to leave Munich Hbf

A railjet to Budapest about to leave Munich Hbf.

Business class seats on a railjet train   Railjet restaurant car

Business class.  About.

 

14-seat restaurant & bar counter.

Business class seats on a railjet train   Economy class seats on a railjet train

First class.

 

Economy class.

4. Budapest to Romania by InterCity train

The daytime train from Budapest to Bucharest has modern air-conditioned Romanian carriages.  Three cars travel all the way, additional cars are attached whilst in Hungary, and additional cars and a bar car are attached between Drobeta Turnu Severin & Bucharest.

The daytime train from Budapest to Bucharest

The Intercity train to Bucharest, about to leave Budapest Keleti.

The 'Transylvania' train to Brasov about to leave Budapest   2nd class on the Budapest to Bucharest train

On the left, the daytime train to Bucharest is about to leave Budapest Keleti.

 

Comfortable 2nd class seats on the Budapest to Bucharest train.  There are power outlets under the tables.  Larger photo.

Bar stools on the Budapest to Bucharest train   Bar car on the Budapest to Bucharest train

A bar car is attached within Romania.  Photos courtesy of @AndyBTravels, DiscoverByRail.com.

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Braşov & Castle Bran

Braşov is well worth a stop, both for the city itself and nearby Bran Castle.  The station is in the city.  Below left, Braşov's main city square.  It's decidedly Germanic, no accident as it was once largely German and known as Kronstadt.  Below right, the Black Church.  See map of Braşov showing station.

Brasov, Romania - the main square   The Black Church, Brasov, Romania.

Dracula's castle, or that of a British princess?

How to reach Castle Bran:  The village of Bran is 30km from Braşov and easily reached by bus from Brasov's Autogara No.2, half-hourly on weekdays, hourly at weekends, fare around 5 Lei (€1.20).  A taxi from Brasov to Castle Bran will cost around 100-120 Lei (€23).

Often referred to as Dracula's castle, the connection with Vlad the Impaler (the model for Bram Stoker's Dracula) is tenuous at best.  True, it's a defensive castle thought to be built Vlad Dracul (Vlad Tepes, the Impaler) but it's not clear if he spent much time there.  The surprise is the British connection.  A British princess, grand-daughter of Queen Victoria, married the King of Romania and made the castle her villa, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_of_Romania.  Much of the rustic interior design is hers, rather than that of any Transylvanian vampire.  For information on the castle, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bran_Castle.  The official castle website is www.bran-castle.com.

Castle Bran   Castle Bran courtyard   The royal bedroom, Castle Bran

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Sighisoara

Sighisoara is Transylvania's historic walled town, a must-see.  It's a 10-15 minute walk up the hill from Sighisoara station to the old town.  You can climb Sighisoara's iconic clock tower dating from 1556, and walk up the town's wooden covered steps to the church on the citadel, seen in the photo below right taken from the clock tower.  The yellow building in the photo below left is the birthplace of Vlad Dracul, known as Vlad the Impaler, the role model for Dracula See map of Sighişoara showing station.

Clocktower & Vlad the Impaler's birthplace   View of Sighisoara citadel from clock tower gallery.

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Guidebooks

You should take a good guidebook, even in the age of the internet.  For the independent traveller, this means either the Lonely Planet or the Rough Guide.  Both series are excellent.  The Lonely Planet range offers an in-depth guide for Romania or a guide covering all the countries in Eastern Europe.  You won't regret buying one!Amazon logo

Click the images to buy at Amazon

Lonely Planet Eastern Europe - buy online at Amazon.co.uk   Lonely Planet Romania - buy online at Amazon.co.uk   Rough Guide to Romania - click to buy at Amazon

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European Rail Timetable & maps

Thomas Cook European Timetable -  click to buy onlineTraveller's Railway Map of Europe - buy onlineThe European Rail Timetable (formerly the Thomas Cook European Timetable) has train & ferry times for every country in Europe plus currency & climate information.  It is essential for regular European train travellers and an inspiration for armchair travellers.  Published since 1873, it had just celebrated 140 years of publication when Thomas Cook decided to pull the plug on their entire publishing department, but the dedicated ex-Thomas Cook team set up a private venture and resumed publication of the famous European Rail Timetable in March 2014.  You can buy it online at www.amazon.co.uk (UK addresses) or www.europeanrailtimetable.eu (shipping worldwide).  More information on what the European Rail Timetable contains.

Rail Map Europe is the map I recommend, covering all of Europe from Portugal in the west to Moscow & Istanbul in the east, Finland in the north to Sicily & Athens in the south.  Scenic routes & high-speed lines are highlighted.  See an extract from the map.  Buy online at www.europeanrailtimetable.eu (shipping worldwide) or at www.amazon.co.uk (UK addresses).

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Hotels in Romania

Find hotels at Booking.comMy favourite hotel search: www.booking.com

Booking.com is my favourite hotel booking site and I generally use it to book all my hotels in one place.  I've come to trust booking.com's review scores, you won't be disappointed with any hotel that scores 8.0 or more.  Crucially, booking.com usually lets you book with free cancellation, which means you can confirm accommodation risk-free before train booking opens and/or you can hold accommodation while you finalise your itinerary and alter your plans as they evolve - a feature I use all the time when planning a trip.  I never book hotels non-refundably!

Backpacker hostels

www.hostelworld.com:  If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels.  Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in most cities at rock-bottom prices.

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Travel insurance & other tips

 

Staysure travel insurance

 

Columbus Direct logo

Always take out travel insurance

You should take out travel insurance with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover from a reliable insurer.  It should cover trip cancellation and loss of cash & belongings up to a reasonable limit.  These days, check you're covered for covid-19-related issues, and use an insurer whose cover isn't invalidated by well-meant but excessive Foreign Office travel advice against non-essential travel. An annual policy is usually cheapest even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself.  Don't expect travel insurance to bail you out of every missed connection, see the advice on missed connections here.  Here are some suggested insurers, I get a little commission if you buy through these links, feedback always welcome.

UK flag  www.staysure.co.uk offers enhanced Covid-19 protection and gets 4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot.

UK flag  www.columbusdirect.com is also a well-know brand.

US flag  If you live in the USA try Travel Guard USA.

 

Maya.net logo

Get an eSIM with mobile data package

Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a European mobile data package and stay connected.  Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list.  There's no need to buy a physical SIM card!  Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data.

 

Curve card

Curve card

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate then add a foreign transaction fee on top.  A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month as I write this.  The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.  And you can get a Curve card for free.

How it works:  1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android.  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app.  You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader.  The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than getting a card out).  I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card, they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.

 

Express VPN

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  Why you need a VPN

When travelling you may use free public WiFi which is often insecure.  A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi.  It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply.  See VPNs & why you need one explainedExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using this link you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription.  I also get some commission to help support this site.

 

Anker Powerrbank

Carry an Anker powerbank

Tickets, reservations, hotel bookings and Interrail or Eurail passes are often now held on your mobile phone.  You daren't let it run out of power, and you can't always rely on the phone's internal battery or on being near a power outlet.  I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over.  Buy from Amazon.co.uk or Buy from Amazon.com.

Touring cities?  Use hill walking shoes!

One of the best things I've done is swap my normal shoes for hill-walking shoes, in my case from Scarpa.  They're intended for hiking across the Pennines not wandering around Florence, but the support and cushioning for hiking works equally well when you're on your feet all day exploring foreign cities.  My feet used to give out first and limit my day, now the rest of me gives up before they do!

 


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