A German ICE train

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This page explains how to travel by train from Frankfurt to other cities all over Europe, and how to buy tickets the cheapest way. Information current for 2024.

Before you buy your tickets

Take a moment to read these tips for buying European train tickets. It answers all the usual questions, "Do I need to book in advance or can I buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and that old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or a €35 point-to-point ticket?". How far ahead can you buy train tickets?

European train travel FAQ

An introduction to European train travel	Senior fares (over 60)	Guide to Eurail passes (overseas visitors)
Important tips for buying European train tickets	Youth fares (under 26)	Guide to Interrail passes (for Europeans)
How to check European train times	Child fares & child age limits	Couchettes & sleepers on night trains
Do I need to book in advance?	Luggage on European trains	Train seat numbering plans
How far ahead can I book?	Luggage storage at stations	Wheelchairs & special needs
Can I stop off on the way?	Taking a bike by train	Real-time service updates
Should I travel 1st or 2nd class?	Taking a car by train	Hotels & accommodation
How long to allow for connections?	Taking dogs & pets by train	Changing stations in Paris by metro or taxi
How early to arrive at the station?	Maps of the European rail network	What to do when things go wrong...

Frankfurt to other destinations in Germany

Frankfurt am Main Hauptbahnhof is the main station right in the city centre. See station guide
Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen is the airport station, also served by many mainline trains.
The German Railways website int.bahn.de will book trains from Frankfurt to anywhere in Germany, without any booking fee.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, except when the mid-December timetable change gets in the way. More about when booking opens.

With just a handful of exceptions, German domestic trains are never reservation compulsory so you can always just turn up, buy a ticket and get on the next train without a reservation - although you will usually have to pay the more expensive Flexpreis on the day of travel.

However, if you pre-book there are cheap advance-purchase Sparpreis (savings) fares for €19.90, €29.90, €39.90 etc. for long-distance journeys, so buy in advance if you want to save money.

A seat reservation is usually optional for a small extra charge, around €4.90 per seat - if you don't want one you can sit in any unreserved seat. You can choose your seat from a seating plan when booking a German IC or ICE train.

You print your own tickets (on A4 paper but U.S. Letter size is fine) or you can show it on your laptop or phone.
I recommend registering when prompted, rather than booking as a guest, so you can always log in and check or re-print all your bookings.

About train travel in Germany

See the train travel in Germany page for a beginner's guide to train travel in Germany, including how to buy tickets online or by phone and an explanation of the Deutschland Ticket, Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket and Lander tickets.

Frankfurt to Berlin

Regular fast trains run by DB

ICE trains run by Deutsche Bahn (DB, German Railways) link Frankfurt am Main Hbf with Berlin Hbf every hour or better, journey time as little as 3h53 city centre to city centre with no check-in time to add, typical journey time 4h35. These trains have 1st & 2nd class, restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Fares start at €17.90 in 2nd class or €26.90 in 1st class, fares vary like air fares to book ahead.

Book at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.
Lo-cost trains run by Flixtrain

In addition, lo-cost operator Flixtrain run two trains per day from Frankfurt Sud to Berlin Hbf, journey time just over 4 hours. Frankfurt Sud is on the edge of the city centre, easily reached by frequent S-Bahn local train from Frankfurt am Main Hbf.

Flixtrains have one class of seating with power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. There's no catering, so bring your own food & drink.

Fares start at €9.99 and vary like air fares. If you need to travel at short notice, Flixtrain can be a lot cheaper than using DB.

Book at www.flixtrain.com and a journey time of just over 4 hours.

Frankfurt to London & UK

See the London to Germany page for train times, fares, tickets and more information.

Frankfurt to Dublin & Ireland

Option 1, Frankfurt to Dublin via London & Holyhead - daily departures

Day 1, travel from Frankfurt to London St Pancras by ICE & Eurostar, see the London-Germany page for times, fares, how to buy tickets.

Stay overnight in London, see suggested hotels near St Pancras. It's a 10 minute walk from London St Pancras to London Euston.
Day 2, travel from London Euston to Dublin on the morning train & ferry service, arriving Dublin Ferryport 17:25, see the London-Dublin page for times, fares & how to buy tickets. Rail & Sail is an inexpensive, fun and interesting way to go, see an illustrated account of the journey.

Option 2, Frankfurt to Dublin via Paris & Cherbourg - several times a week

Day 1, travel from Frankfurt to Paris by high-speed train on any afternoon or early evening departure you like, as shown below.
Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

Stay overnight in Paris, see suggested hotels near Paris stations.
Day 2, travel from Paris to Dublin by train & ferry, taking a morning train from Paris St Lazare to Cherbourg & an overnight ferry to Dublin as shown in the Paris to Dublin section, arriving in the morning on Day 3.
Irish Ferries sails Cherbourg-Dublin several times a week. Start by booking the ferry at www.irishferries.com and add a train connection using www.thetrainline.com, see the Paris to Dublin section for full details.

Sail from Cherbourg to Dublin aboard Irish Ferries' WB Yeats. WB Yeats photos courtesy of Irish Ferries.


Club cabin on the WB Yeats with shower & toilet.		Deluxe cabin on the WB Yeats with shower & toilet.

Frankfurt to Paris from €39.90

Superb German ICE3 trains and the occasional French TGV Duplex link Frankfurt (Main) Hbf with Paris Gare de l'Est in 3h45 city centre to city centre several times a day. Faster than flying!
ICE3 trains have a restaurant car, TGV Duplex have a cafe-bar, both types have power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. These trains travel at up to 320 km/h (199 mph) on the TGV-Est high-speed line between Strasbourg & Paris. See the Paris-Frankfurt ICE video.

Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Tip: Use the Direct services only toggle to see just the direct Frankfurt-Paris trains.

I recommend registering when prompted rather than booking as a guest, so you can always log in and check or re-print all your bookings.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.
You can also buy tickets at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com, but read this advice:
If you're only going Frankfurt-Paris, check both sites!

I've seen int.bahn.de want €44.90 non-refundable for Frankfurt-Paris when www.sncf-connect.com wanted only €39 for exactly the same train, refundable less €15 up to 3 days before departure. And www.sncf-connect.com would let me hold the ticket at that price without payment for a week while I finished my planning. So I bought from www.sncf-connect.com! Also, www.sncf-connect.com normally lets you choose an exact seat from a plan when travelling 1st class on a TGV train to or from Germany, a feature not available when using int.bahn.de.

If you have kids, it's better to use int.bahn.de.

If you buy from the Germans, the more generous German child age limits apply, under 6 free, under 15 child rate. Furthermore, DB have a permanent offer, children under 15 go free when accompanied by a parent, grandparent or guardian using a Sparpreis advance-purchase fare. If you buy from the French, under 4s go free, under 12 get the child rate, and there's no kids-go-free deal. So if you have children, it's a no-brainer to buy from the Germans.

If you're starting somewhere else in Germany, it's usually better to use int.bahn.de.

The Germans sell through tickets from almost anywhere in Germany to Paris for one inclusive price, so in principle, Berlin-Paris or Nuremberg-Paris also starts from €39.90. The French charge for each train, so that same Berlin-Paris journey might be €39.90 for the direct Mannheim-Paris train + another €40 for the Berlin-Mannheim train, making it significantly more expensive than buying from DB. It's just the different way the French & German ticketing systems work!

An ICE3 (class 407) to Paris at Frankfurt

A Frankfurt to Paris ICE3 boarding at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf. More about ICE trains.


Bistro-restaurant car.		Lunch in the restaurant car.


2nd class seats.		1st class seats.


Cafe-bar, at the other end of the restaurant car.		Meal served at my seat in 1st class.

Frankfurt to Strasbourg from €29.90

Frankfurt to Strasbourg takes as little as 1h51 on several direct trains per day.
The trains are either German ICE trains with restaurant car or French TGV Duplex high-speed trains with cafe-bar, both types have power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Other departures are available with 1 or 2 changes.
Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €49.90 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Tip: As well as Frankfurt-Strasbourg journeys entirely by ICE/TGV (with cheap Sparpreis fares shown), you'll see hourly Frankfurt-Strasbourg journeys using an ICE to Offenburg then a regional train (shown as SWE) to Strasbourg with a hefty €66+ price tag. Do not pay this unless you need to go immediately or are willing to pay for flexibility! This is the expensive Flexpreis, because DB cannot sell cheap advance-purchase Sparpreis fares with an SWE train included. You should book a Sparpreis or Super Sparpreis from Frankfurt to Offenburg from only €17.90 using int.bahn.de, then use int.bahn.de again to buy a €11 Flexpreis for the SWE regional train from Offenburg to Strasbourg, good for any train that day.

Frankfurt to Lyon, Avignon, Marseille, Cannes, Nice

Option 1, using the direct Frankfurt-Marseille TGV

A TGV Duplex leaves Frankfurt (Main) Hbf every day at 13:56, arriving Lyon Part Dieu 19:56, Avignon TGV 21:09, Aix en Provence TGV 21:31 & Marseille St Charles 21:46.
From 14 July until December 2024 this train will start in Mannheim and a change of train will be necessary. There are also a few dates early in the year where in terminates at Aix with a connection for Marseille. Check times online.
The TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number >60 is upper deck.
Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

You can also book at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) using either of these allows you to book both tickets in one place.

Stay overnight in Marseille. Inexpensive hotels with good reviews just outside Marseille St Charles station include the Ibis Marseille Centre Gare St Charles, Holiday Inn Express Marseille St Charles.
Next morning, take any train you like from Marseille St Charles to Toulon, Cannes or Nice from €15 booked at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee). You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Marseille to Nice takes just 2h35. There's wonderful scenery along the Cote d'Azur between St Raphael and Nice, past rocky headlands, bays, harbours and millionaires' villas.

Option 2, via Milan

Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Milan by direct ETR610 EuroCity train leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 08:06 every day arriving Milan Centrale at 15:50 after a scenic ride over the Gotthard route.
Update: A freight train derailed in the Gotthard Base Tunnel in August 2023, in 2024 trains are still being diverted over the original (very scenic) Gotthard line taking an extra hour and with fewer departures. Until this is resolved, possibly September, the direct Frankfurt-Milan EuroCity train is cancelled. Please use another option.

Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de (in €, no booking fee) or www.raileurope.com (in €, £ or $).
Using Raileurope means you can book all your tickets easily in one place, small booking fee). You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

Step 2, travel from Milan to the Ventimiglia on the French border by Intercity train, leaving Milan Centrale at 17:05 arriving Ventimiglia at 20:58.
Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €26.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this journey at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, this keeps all your bookings together in one place, small booking fee). It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. You can also book at www.trenitalia.com, but you'll need to use Italian-language city names.
Step 3, travel from Ventimiglia to Menton, Monte Carlo, Nice, Antibes or Cannes by TER local train.
Check times at www.thetrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com. Ventimiglia to Nice takes about 60 minutes. There's usually a late night connection on Saturdays & Sundays and on some weekdays, but on some weekdays there's no sufficiently late TER train to provide a connection off the 17:05 from Milan. Check and see.
The fare is €8, though promotional fares of €5 or €7.50 are sometimes available. 2nd class only.

Buy a ticket at www.thetrainline.com, www.raileurope.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no fee).

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.
You'll find full details of the journey from Verona & Milan to Nice with photos & tips on the Nice to Italy by train page.

The direct TGV Duplex from Frankfurt to Marseille, ready to leave Frankfurt am Main Hbf.


The cafe-bar on the upper deck in car 4, serving tea, coffee, soft drinks, wine, beer, snacks & microwave-style hot dishes.		2nd class seats, this is upper deck seating. There's a mix or tables for 4 and unidirectional seating. 360º photo.


1st class seats on the upper deck, a club duo on the left, a club quatre on the right. 360º photo.		The TGV to Marseille, boarding at Frankfurt am Main Hbf. You enter on the lower deck, with 9 stairs up to top deck.

Frankfurt to Brussels or Bruges from €29.90

German ICE trains link Frankfurt (Main) Hbf with Brussels Midi several times a day, taking 3h05.
These superb ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. They travel at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) on the Frankfurt-Cologne high-speed line.
Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Tip: If going to Brussels and not beyond, use the Direct services only toggle.

Tip: int.bahn.de can book tickets from Frankfurt to any Belgian destination including as Bruges, Antwerp or Ghent for one inclusive price, usually cheaper than buying a separate Belgian domestic ticket.

ICE3M to Cologne & Frankfurt, boarding at Brussels Midi

An ICE3M at Brussels Midi. More about ICE trains.


2nd class seats on an ICE3M. Larger photo.		1st class seats on an ICE3M. Larger photo.


Proper china, metal cutlery. I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier! See current month's menu.		Restaurant car: This is the small 12-seat restaurant area on an ICE3M. Larger photo.

Frankfurt to Amsterdam from €29.90

German ICE trains link Frankfurt (Main) Hbf with Amsterdam Centraal several times a day, taking just 3h57.
These superb ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. They travel at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) on the Frankfurt-Cologne high-speed line.
Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €49.90 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at the German Railways site int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Tip: Use the Direct services only toggle.

Tip: Frankfurt-Amsterdam ICE trains cross the Rhine before entering Cologne Hbf, with the impressive towers of Cologne cathedral on the left right by the station. The train will then leave the same way it came in, re-crossing the Rhine before turning north. So don't be surprised when your train changes direction at Cologne, and crosses the same Rhine bridge twice! See suggested hotels in Amsterdam.

An ICE3M to Frankfurt at Amsterdam Centraal. More about ICE trains.


2nd class seats on an ICE3M. Larger photo.		1st class seats on an ICE3M. Larger photo.


Proper china, metal cutlery. I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier! See current month's menu.		Restaurant car: This is the small 12-seat restaurant area on an ICE3M. Larger photo.

Frankfurt to Luxembourg from €20.90

You can travel from Frankfurt to Luxembourg by train in as little as 3h49, with regular departures through the day.

The line from Koblenz to Luxembourg is very scenic, much of it along the Moselle valley past river boats and vineyards. For the best river views, sit on the left hand side when going west from Koblenz (the train leaves Koblenz station heading north before turning west).
Fares start at €20.90 in 2nd class or €27.90 in 1st class.

Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Tip: To avoid journeys involving a bus cluttering up the search results, click Stopovers and enter Igel as a stopover leaving length of stay zero. The trains all call at Igel, the buses don't!

Tip: In the search results, look for journeys by train involving just 1 change at Koblenz.

Double-deck train between Koblenz, Trier & Luxembourg

Koblenz to Luxembourg by double deck regional train. This is a CFL double-decker at Luxembourg.


1st class on the upper deck. Larger photo.		2nd class on the upper deck. Larger photo.

Scenery along the Moselle between Koblenz & Luxembourg in the morning sun, the mists still clearing. For the best river views, sit on the right hand side of the train going east from Luxembourg, left hand side going west from Koblenz.

Frankfurt to Basel, Zurich, Geneva & Switzerland from €37.90

Superb German ICE trains link Frankfurt (Main) Hbf with Basel SBB (2h57) at least every hour through the day, some going on to Zurich HB (3h55), Bern (4h06) or Interlaken Ost (5h07). Change in Basel or Zurich for destinations all over Switzerland.
The ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book these trains at the German Railways website int.bahn.de,
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted, rather than booking as a guest, so you can always log in and check or re-print all your bookings.
You can book through tickets from Frankfurt to places like Luzern, Zermatt or St Moritz this way, for one inclusive price, cheaper than adding a domestic Swiss ticket.

ICE3M to Cologne & Brussels, boarding at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf

An ICE3 at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf. More about ICE trains.


2nd class seats on an ICE3M. Larger photo.		1st class seats on an ICE3M. Larger photo.


Proper china, metal cutlery. I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier! See current month's menu.		Restaurant car: This is the small 12-seat restaurant area on an ICE3M. Larger photo.

Frankfurt to Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome & Italy from €39.90

Option 1, Frankfurt to Italy in a day through the Alps - the scenic option

Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Milan by EuroCity train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 08:06 and arriving Milan Centrale at 15:50.
Update: A freight train derailed in the Gotthard Base Tunnel in August 2023, in 2024 trains are still being diverted over the original (very scenic) Gotthard line taking an extra hour and with fewer departures. Until this is resolved, possibly September, the direct Frankfurt-Milan EuroCity train is cancelled. Please use another option.

This excellent ETR610 EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
This train is routed via the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world's longest railway tunnel. You get excellent views of Swiss mountains and Swiss and Italian lakes, see the photos and video of the Gotthard route here.
Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Step 2, travel from Milan to Venice, Florence, Rome & Naples by high-speed Frecciarossa train.
For Venice, leave Milan Centrale at 16:45 daily except Saturdays arriving Verona P. Nuova 17:58 and Venice Santa Lucia 19:12. There's a later connection on Saturdays.
For Florence, Rome, Naples, a Frecciarossa leaves Milan Centrale at 16:58 arriving Florence SMN 18:50, Rome Termini 20:35, Naples Centrale 22:03.
Fares to Venice or Florence start at €19.90 in 2nd (standard) class or €29.90 in 1st (business) class.
Fares to Rome or Naples start at €29.90 in 2nd (standard) class or €39.90 in 1st (business) class.
Book from Milan to Florence, Rome, Naples or any Italian destination at www.italiarail.com (they'll refund their small booking fee if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (requires Italian language place names). It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

Earlier or later departures are also possible, although you need to change twice, at Zurich (or sometimes Basel SBB) and Milan. To find these journeys, use www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com. As these connect to both the German & Italian ticketing systems they can book as one transaction.
Tip: Using www.raileurope.com, click More options and enter Milan as a via station, leaving stopover duration zero.

You print your own tickets or can show them on your laptop or phone.

The direct train from Frankfurt to Milan, boarding on platform 2 at Frankfurt Hbf. There's a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Photo courtesy of @Nordkommission.


2nd class on a Trenitalia ETR610.		1st class on a Trenitalia ETR610.

Lake Maggiore, seen from a Milan to Basel train

Lake Maggiore, seen from the restaurant car over an excellent lunch of salmon tagliatelle & excellent Swiss red wine.

Option 2, Frankfurt to Milan, Genoa, La Spezia, Florence, Rome & Naples by sleeper train - the time-effective option

Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Munich by ICE train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 15:53 and arriving Munich Hbf at 19:07.
The ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Tip: Why not book an earlier train & having dinner in Munich before boarding the sleeper? For Bavarian food & beer I recommend the Augustiner Keller (www.augustinerkeller.de) at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf, see walking map.

Fares start at €17.50 in 2nd class or €31.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Step 2, travel from Munich to Italy by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Munich Hbf at 20:10, one portion for Verona P. Nuova 05:51, Milan Rogoredo 07:42, Genoa Piazza Principe 09:38, La Spezia 11:10, another portion for Bologna Centrale 05:15, Florence 06:52 & Rome Termini 09:10.
In 2024, arrival in Florence & Rome varies: Monday-Thursday mornings it arrives Florence Campo di Marte 06:52 & Rome Termini 09:10. Friday & Sunday mornings it arrives Florence SMN 06:57, Rome Termini 10:30. Saturday mornings it arrives Florence SMN 06:18, Rome Termini 09:10.
Update: Due to trackwork, the portion of this Nightjet going to Bologna, Florence & Rome won't run from 8 June to 7 September 2024.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book the nightjet at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

Step 3, for Naples take a train from Rome Termini to Naples Centrale, book this at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian place names).

Option 3, Frankfurt to Venice by sleeper train - the time-effective option

Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Stuttgart by ICE train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 17:49 and arriving Stuttgart Hbf at 19:08.
From 16 July until December 2024, departure from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf is at 17:05, arriving Stuttgart Hbf at 19:08.
The ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at €17.50 in 2nd class or €31.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Step 2, travel from Stuttgart to Venice by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 20:29 & arriving Venice Santa Lucia 08:34.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book the nightjet at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

The Nightjet sleeper train from Munich to Venice at Munich Hbf

The Stuttgart to Venice Nightjet. More about Nightjets.


Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video 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.		Couchette car on the Nightjet train.

Option 4, Frankfurt to Italy using the Bernina Express through the Swiss Alps - the ultimate scenic route

This takes longer and must be split over 2 days, but it's fabulous and well worth the extra time. It involves the most spectacular Alpine panoramic scenic train of them all, the famous narrow-gauge Bernina Express. I'll show you how to do it cheaply.
Day 1, take an afternoon or evening train from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Zurich HB in just 3h55, you can leave Frankfurt as late as 18:05, but by all means leave earlier and spend a pleasant evening in Zurich.

Stay overnight in Zurich. For something special, the 5-star Hotel Schweizerhof is one of my favourite hotels anywhere, just across the road from the station. They'll even send a uniformed commissionaire to meet you & carry your bags from the train. For something cheaper, also next to the station with great reviews, try the Ruby Mimi Hotel or the excellent 3-star Hotel St. Josef, 7 minutes walk from the station, see walking map. If you're on a budget, book a private rooms in a 1-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station at www.hostelworld.com.
Alternatively, you could stay overnight in the smaller town of Chur.

Day 2, travel from Zurich to Chur early morning, then by the fabulous Bernina Express from Chur to Tirano and by afternoon connecting regional train to Milan Centrale, see the Bernina Express page for details. You can reach Venice or Florence or Rome that evening.
How much does it cost?
Frankfurt to Tirano starts at €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

If you want to travel in the panorama carriages of the famous Bernina Express you must pay a modest reservation fee, details here.

Tirano to Milan by regional train costs €12, fixed-price.

Milan to Florence or Venice starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
How to buy tickets

Step 1, book from Frankfurt to Tirano using the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

To get the overnight stop in Zurich, click Stopovers and enter Zurich HB and a suitable length of stay, say 12:30. In the search results, look for an option marked ICE, IC, D with arrival in Tirano at 12:49. If you click show details the timings from Chur onwards should match those shown on the Bernina Express page. Adjust the departure time & length of stay in Zurich to get an earlier or later train between Frankfurt and Zurich, some trial & error may be needed!

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Step 2, if you want to travel in the panorama cars of the Bernina Express, make the necessary reservation following the instructions on the Bernina Express page. Booking opens 60 days ahead. Or you can travel in the Allegra unit that hauls the Bernina Express without a reservation.

Strep 3, buy the Tirano-Milan regional ticket on the day at the station, from the Italian station's cafe if the ticket office is closed or from the RhB station ticket office. Or online at www.thetrainline.com.

Step 4, buy an onward tickets from Milan Centrale to Florence, Rome, Naples or Venice at either www.thetrainline.com (in €, £, $ or Au$), www.italiarail.com (in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names). You print your ticket or show it on your phone. If you use ItaliaRail (which can also book the Milan-Florence/Rome/Naples connection), they'll refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR.


Bernina Express 1st class seats.		the Bernina Express uses panoramic carriages.

The train descends from the Bernina Pass

The Bernina Express descends from the Bernina Pass.

Frankfurt to Sicily

There are many and various ways to travel from Frankfurt to Sicily with many possible stopovers on the way. But here's simplest & most epic:
Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Milan by EuroCity train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 08:06 and arriving Milan Centrale 15:50.

EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Enjoy an afternoon in Milan and have an early dinner there.

Important update: A freight train derailed in the Gotthard Base Tunnel in August 2023, in 2024 trains are still being diverted over the original (very scenic) Gotthard line taking an extra hour and with fewer departures. Until this is resolved, possibly September, the direct Frankfurt-Milan EuroCity train is cancelled.

While the direct train is cancelled, travel from Frankfurt to Zurich by EuroCity train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 08:04 and arriving Zurich HB at 12:00. Then travel from Zurich to Milan by EuroCity train leaving Zurich HB at 14:33 arriving Milan Centrale 18:50. Book each of these trains using www.thetrainline.com.

Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book at the German Railways website int.bahn.de and print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

This train is routed via the new Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world's longest railway tunnel, but you still get excellent views of Swiss mountains and Swiss and Italian lakes, see the photos and video of the Gotthard route here.
Tip: For dinner in Milan I recommend the inexpensive and typically Italian restaurant Nobelsse Oblige (ristorantenoblesseoblige.com) 5 minutes walk from Milan Centrale, see walking map.

Step 2, travel from Milan to Sicily on Italy's longest train ride, an epic direct sleeper train leaving Milan Centrale at 20:10 every night and arriving next day (day 2) at Catania 14:32, Siracuse 15:48 with another portion to Palermo arriving 16:56.

This train has 4-berth Comfort couchettes and a sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments. The Milan-Catania-Palermo portion also has an Excelsior sleeping-car with a few deluxe compartments with toilet & shower. It is ferried across the Straits of Messina to Sicily on a train ferry, a unique experience and one of the few places in the world where trains go onto ships, have your camera ready! More about the trains to Sicily.

Fares start at €39.90 with a couchette, €59.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper, €89.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.

Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com and print them out or show them on your phone.

Coastal view from the Palermo to Milan sleeper train

Room with a view. The sleeper travels overnight from Milan to southern Italy, then along the coast in daylight, often right next to the water, before being shunted onto a ferry to cross the Straits of Messina to Sicily. Courtesy Philip Dyer-Perry.


2-berth sleeper. It converts to a sofa by day. Larger photo		Yes, the train goes onto a ferry! This is the Milan-Sicily sleeper train on board the train ferry crossing the Straits of Messina. Photos courtesy of Andrew Harris.

Frankfurt to Barcelona, Madrid, Alicante, Malaga & Spain

Option 1, Frankfurt to Barcelona & Spain in a single day

Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Paris by TGV Duplex leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 08:56 Monday-Saturday, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 12:52.

On Sundays, you need to leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 06:56 by ICE, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 10:38.

The TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. The ICE3 has restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at the German Railways website int.bahn.de (in €, no booking fee).

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

If you'd rather buy all your tickets together in one place, use www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) as these two websites connect to the German, French & Spanish railway ticketing systems.

Cross Paris by metro or taxi to the Gare de Lyon.

Step 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 14:42 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 21:27.

This impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number >60 is upper deck.

It's a scenic ride, the train passes Beziers cathedral, flamingos on the lakes between Montpelier & Narbonne, the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks before Perpignan, with great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, see more about the journey.

Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both sites easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

Booking normally opens 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your phone.

Stay overnight in Barcelona. The Hotel Barcelo Sants is the top choice here, it's part of Barcelona Sants station so easy to use when arriving & departing by train, with great reviews & good feedback from Seat61 users. See other suggested hotels near the station.

Step 3, take an onward high-speed train from Barcelona Sants next morning.

For Madrid: AVE-S103 high-speed trains link Barcelona Sants with Madrid Atocha every hour or two in as little as 2h30 from €35.

For Granada: Leave Barcelona Sants at 06:45 by AVE S112 high-speed train arriving Granada at 13:10.

For Malaga: Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE-S112 high-speed train arriving Malaga Maria Zambrano at 14:51.

For Cordoba & Seville: Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE-S112 high-speed train arriving Cordoba 13:42 & Seville Santa Justa 14:32.

For Valencia & Alicante: EuroMed trains link Barcelona with Valencia & Alicante regularly through the day, for example one leaves Barcelona Sants at 07:15 Mondays-Fridays arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 10:55 & Alicante 12:45 or at 10:15 every day arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 12:55 & Alicante 14:48. Fares from €23.

For Santiago de Compostela, A Coruna & Vigo, there's a morning Alvia train to Galicia, see details here.

Buy tickets for these trains at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (in £ or €, both easy to use, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.petrabax.com (in $, small mark-up, easy to use) or the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, rejects some overseas credit cards, in €, see this advice on using it). Spanish train booking normally opens 60 days ahead, but it varies.

Option 2, Frankfurt to Barcelona & Spain with overnight stop in Marseille - avoids having to cross Paris

Day 1, travel from Frankfurt to Marseille by TGV Duplex leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 13:56 and arriving Marseille St Charles 21:46.

From 14 July until December 2024 this train will start in Mannheim and a change of train will be necessary. There are also a few dates early in the year where in terminates at Aix with a connection for Marseille. Check times online.
This French double-deck high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Book an upstairs seat for the best views, any seat number >60 is upper deck.

Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at the German Railways website int.bahn.de (in €, no booking fee), Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or show it on your phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Alternatively, If you'd prefer to buy all your tickets together in one place, book at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, small booking fee) as these two websites connect to the German, French & Spanish railway ticketing systems.

Stay overnight in Marseille: Inexpensive hotels with good reviews just outside Marseille St Charles station include the Ibis Marseille Centre Gare St Charles, Holiday Inn Express Marseille St Charles.

Day 2, travel from Marseille to Spain by AVE S100, leaving Marseille St Charles at 08:04, arriving Barcelona Sants 12:38 & Madrid Atocha 15:45.
This comfortable Spanish high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Look out for Béziers cathedral on the right, colonies of flamingos on the étangs in southern France, the Fort de Salses on the right approaching Perpignan and great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees. More about AVE S100 & this journey.
Fares from Marseille to Barcelona start at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Fares from Marseille to Madrid start at €44 in 2nd class or €54 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this journey at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or using Renfe's own website www.renfe.com (in €, more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it). Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.

Day 2, take a high-speed train from Barcelona to Valencia & Alicante or from Madrid to Cordoba, Seville, Granada, Malaga.

A fast EuroMed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 16:10 arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 19:02 & Alicante 21:34.

An AVE high-speed train leaves Madrid Atocha at 16:35 every day, arriving Cordoba 18:34 & Malaga Maria Zambrano 19:43.
An AVE high-speed train leaves Madrid Atocha at 16:30 daily except Saturdays arriving Seville Santa Justa at 19:03. Or on any day of the week you can leave Madrid Atocha at 18:00 arriving Seville Santa Justa at 20:43.
An AVE high-speed train leaves Madrid Atocha at 20:05 every day, arriving Granada 23:36.
AVE & EuroMed trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Check times & buy tickets using either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or Spanish railways own site www.renfe.com (in €, much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it) or www.petrabax.com (in $, small mark-up). You print your own ticket.

Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but it varies. I'd allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Barcelona or Madrid.

Day 1, Frankfurt to Marseille by direct TGV Duplex, seen here at Frankfurt am Main Hbf.


Cafe-bar on the upper deck in car 4, serving tea, coffee, soft drinks, wine, beer, snacks & microwave-style hot dishes.		2nd class seats, this is upper deck seating. There's a mix or tables for 4 and unidirectional seating. 360º photo.


1st class seats on the upper deck, with a club duo on the left, a club quatre on the right. 360º photo.		The TGV to Marseille, boarding at Frankfurt am Main Hbf. You enter on the lower deck, with 9 stairs up to top deck.


Day 2, Marseille to Barcelona by AVE, seen here at Barcelona Sants.		2nd class seats, all with power sockets & free WiFi. Panorama photo of 2nd class.


1st class seats on an S100 AVE, all with power sockets. Panorama photo of 1st class.		Cafe-bar on an S100 AVE serving tea, coffee, beer, wine, soft drinks, snacks & hot dishes.

Mt Canigou & the Pyrenees. One of the highest peaks in the mighty Pyrenees, the 2,784m (9,137 feet) high Mt Canigou dominates the skyline on the right all the way from Girona to Perpignan, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canigou.

Option 3, Frankfurt to Barcelona & Spain with overnight stop in Paris

Day 1, travel from Frankfurt to Paris by TGV Duplex leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 16:56 and arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 20:43.

Or there's a later train at 18:56 daily except Saturdays arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 22:54.

The train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

Alternatively, If you'd rather buy all your tickets together in one place, use www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, small booking fee) as these two websites connect to the German, French & Spanish railway ticketing systems.

Cross Paris to the Gare de Lyon.

Stay overnight in Paris. The Mercure Paris Gare De Lyon is part of the Gare de Lyon station complex, ideal for an early train next morning. See other suggested hotels near the Gare de l'Est & Gare de Lyon.

Day 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by high-speed TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 09:42 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 16:31.

From early July to early September there should also be an earlier TGV, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon around 06:56, arriving Barcelona Sants 13:25.
This impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number >60 is upper deck.

It's a scenic ride, the train passes Beziers cathedral, flamingos on the lakes between Montpelier & Narbonne, the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks before Perpignan, with great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, see more photos & information about the journey.

Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both sites easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee). Booking normally opens 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your phone.

Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Madrid, Valencia, Alicante and so on by high-speed train.

A high-speed AVE leaves Barcelona Sants at 18:25, arriving Madrid Atocha 20:55, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

A fast EuroMed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 18:15 arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 21:07 & Alicante 23:40.

For Granada, Seville, Cordoba & Malaga, stay in Barcelona overnight, I recommend the Hotel Barcelo Sants inside the station. Next morning direct high-speed AVE trains leave Barcelona Sants at 06:45 for Granada and 08:35 for Cordoba, Seville Santa Justa & Malaga Maria Zambrano.

Check times & buy tickets using either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or Spanish railways own site www.renfe.com (in €, much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it) or www.petrabax.com (in $, small mark-up). You print your own ticket.

Booking for Spanish trains normally opens only 60 days ahead, but this varies. Allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Barcelona.

Option 4, Frankfurt to Paris by TGV, French sleeper train to the Spanish border & onward Spanish trains

Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Paris by TGV Duplex, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 12:56 and arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 16:54.
The TGV Duplex travels at up to 320 km/h (199 mph) on the TGV-Est high-speed line, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Book an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number >60 is upper deck.
Fares start from €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the German Railways website int.bahn.de (in €, no fee).
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.
Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi. Make sure you allow at least 90 minutes between trains in Paris when catching a sleeper.
Tip: Have dinner at the Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon before strolling across the bridge over the River Seine to the Gare d'Austerlitz.

Step 2, travel overnight from Paris to Latour de Carol in the heart of the Pyrenees or to Cerbère on the Spanish border by French sleeper train, leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz around 21:00. Then take a local train from Latour or Cerbère to Barcelona Sants arriving around 14:00.

See the Paris to Barcelona by sleeper train page for full details, prices, tips & how to buy tickets.

Step 3, travel from Barcelona to other Spanish destinations in the afternoon.

For Madrid: AVE-S103 high-speed trains link Barcelona Sants with Madrid Atocha every hour or two in as little as 2h30 from €35.

For Cordoba & Seville: Take the direct AVE-S112 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 15:15 arriving Cordoba & Seville Santa Justa in the evening. Fares start at around €45.

For Valencia & Alicante: A EuroMed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 16:10 arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla at 19:02 and Alicante at 21:34. Fares start from €23.

Check Spanish train times & buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, in €, see my advice before using it). I'd allow at least 1 hour between trains in Barcelona. Booking for Spanish trains normally opens only 60 days ahead, but this varies.

Frankfurt to San Sebastian

Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Paris by high-speed ICE leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 06:56 and arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 10:54.
The ICE has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

Alternatively, If you'd prefer to buy all your tickets together in one place, book at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, small booking fee) as these two websites connect to the German, French & Spanish railway ticketing systems.
Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi.

Step 2, travel from Paris to Hendaye by TGV Duplex Océane, leaving Paris Gare Montparnasse at 12:11 and arriving Hendaye at 16:47.
The high-speed double-deck TGV Duplex Océane has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both sites easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

Booking for French trains opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your phone.
Step 3, transfer from Hendaye to San Sebastian by Euskotren metro, every 30 minutes, journey time 37 minutes.

Simply walk out of Hendaye station and turn right, the little Euskotren station is in a corner of the main station forecourt. Buy a ticket for €2.75 at the Euskotren station from the machines or staffed counter and hop on the next half-hourly Euskotren metro from Hendaye to San Sebastian Amara station, journey time 37 minutes. You can check times at www.euskotren.eus. More about the journey from Paris to San Sebastian.

Frankfurt to Lisbon, Porto, Faro & Portugal

Option 1, Frankfurt to Lisbon via Barcelona & Madrid

Day 1, travel from Frankfurt to Paris by TGV Duplex leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 16:56 and arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 20:43.
A later 18:56 departure by high-speed ICE is also available on Mondays-Fridays & Sundays, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 22:54.
Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

Alternatively, If you'd rather buy all your tickets together in one place, book at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, small booking fee) as these connect to the German, French & Spanish railway ticketing systems.
Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi. Always allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris, ideally more.

Day 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 09:42 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 16:31.

This impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number >60 is upper deck.

It's a scenic ride, the train passes Beziers cathedral, flamingos on the lakes between Montpelier & Narbonne, the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks before Perpignan, with great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, see more photos & information about the journey.

Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class. Fares work like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. Booking for the TGV opens up to 4 months ahead.

Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Madrid by AVE high-speed train, leaving Barcelona Sants at 18:25 and arriving Madrid Atocha at 20:55.

The AVE has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about trains from Barcelona to Madrid.

Fares start at €38 in Standard class or €45 in Comfort class. Fares work like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but this varies.
Stay overnight in Madrid. The classic Hotel Mediodia is across the road from Atocha with good reviews, or try the NH Hotel Madrid Atocha or Only YOU Hotel Atocha, also across the road from the station.
Day 3, travel from Madrid to Lisbon by daytime trains as shown on the Madrid to Lisbon page.

Option 2, Frankfurt to Lisbon via San Sebastian & Vigo

Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Paris by TGV Duplex leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 08:56 Monday-Saturday, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 12:54.

On Sundays, leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 10:56, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 14:52.

The train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train the German Railways website int.bahn.de (in €, no booking fee) & print your own ticket or show it on your phone.

Alternatively, to buy all your tickets together in one place, use www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, small booking fee) as these websites connect to the German, French & Spanish railway ticketing systems.
Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi. Always allow at least 60 or 70 minutes between trains in Paris, ideally more.

Day 1, travel from Paris to Hendaye by TGV Duplex Océane, leaving Paris Gare Montparnasse at 16:11 arriving Hendaye 20:47.

The TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Fares start at €25 each way in 2nd class, €40 each way in 1st class. The price varies, book ahead for the cheaper prices.

Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. Booking for the TGV opens up to 4 months ahead.

Day 1, at Hendaye walk out of the station and turn right, walk across the forecourt to the Euskotren station (www.euskotren.eus). Buy a ticket and hop on the half-hourly local train to San Sebastian. Hendaye to San Sebastian Amara station takes 37 minutes - Amara (Euskotren) station is 10 minutes walk from the Renfe station.
Stay overnight in San Sebastian. The Pension Regil is close to the old town with great reviews, 10 minutes walk from the Renfe station, 7 minutes walk from the Amara Euskotren station. If you want something in the old town itself, try the Pension Garibai or Pension Alameda. If you want to push the boat out, San Sebastian's most venerable hotel (which I can recommend personally, having stayed there) is the Hotel de Londres y Inglaterra, on the sea front.

Day 2, travel across Spain from San Sebastian to Vigo on one of these two possible departures:
Morning departure, every day: Travel from San Sebastian (Renfe station) to Madrid by Alvia train, leaving San Sebastian at 09:02 and arriving Madrid Chamartin at 13:56. Then travel from Madrid to Vigo by Alvia train, leaving Madrid Chamartin at 16:00 and arriving Vigo Urzaiz at 20:12. The comfortable high-speed Alvia trains have a cafe-bar, standard & comfort class. From Vigo Urzaiz station it's a 1.1 km 15-minute walk to Vigo Guixar station, see walking map, or a 6-minute 450m walk using the Ascensor Halo lift, see walking map.
Afternoon departure, Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays only: Spend the morning in San Sebastian. An Intercity train leaves San Sebastian (Renfe station) at 11:58 arriving Vitoria/Gasteiz at 13:43. This is a guaranteed connection into the Barcelona-Galicia Alvia train which leaves Vitoria/Gasteiz at 14:03 on Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays arriving Vigo Guixar at 23:35.
San Sebastian to Vigo starts at €23 each way. The price varies, book ahead for the cheaper prices.

Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but this varies.

Tip: If using the daily departure with a change in Madrid, you might need to treat San Sebastian-Madrid & Madrid-Vigo as separate bookings.
Stay overnight in Vigo. The NH Collection Vigo hotel & cheaper Hotel Atlantico Vigo are both near the station with great reviews.
Day 3, travel from Vigo to Porto by air-conditioned regional train, leaving Vigo Guixar at 08:58 arriving Porto Campanhã at 10:20. If you'd like to spend some time in Vigo, there's a later train leaving Vigo at 19:56 arriving Porto 21:18.
The fare is €14.95, fixed price.
This can also be booked at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. Booking opens 60 days ahead, but this can vary.

Day 3, take any suitable onward train from Porto to Lisbon, for example the 11:40 Alfa Pendular arriving Lisbon Santa Apolonia at 14:30. Fares start at €15. Book this at the Portuguese Railways website www.cp.pt (in €) or at Omio.com (in €, £ or $).

Frankfurt to Andorra

Option 1, Frankfurt to Andorra in a day

Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Paris by ICE train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 08:56 Monday-Saturday arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 12:52.
On Sundays leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 06:56 arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 10:38.
The ICE train travels at up to 300 km/h on the TGV-Est high-speed line, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start from €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi. Always allow at least 70 minutes between trains in Paris.
Step 2, travel from Paris to Toulouse by high-speed TGV, leaving Paris Montparnasse at 15:11 arriving Toulouse Matabiau 19:29.
Fares start from €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Have dinner in Toulouse.

Step 3, travel from Toulouse Matabiau station to Andorra la Vella by bus, taking 4 hours, fare €36.
There are several services every day run by Andbus, check times at www.andorrabybus.com or Omio.com. I'd allow at least an hour between train and bus in Toulouse, just in case of delay. There's normally a bus leaving Toulouse Matabiau station (bus stand 15) at 21:45 arriving Andorra 01:45.

How to buy tickets
Buy a ticket from Frankfurt to Toulouse Matabiau at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee). If necessary, book Frankfurt-Paris & Paris-Toulouse separately, to get sufficient time between trains in Paris. You print your own ticket or can choose a mobile ticket.
Buy the bus ticket at www.andorrabybus.com or Omio.com.

Option 2, Frankfurt to Andorra using the Paris-Toulouse-l'Hospitalet overnight train

Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Paris by TGV Duplex, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 12:56 and arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 16:54.
The TGV Duplex travels at up to 320 km/h (199 mph) on the TGV-Est high-speed line, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Book an upper deck seat for the best views.
Fares start from €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the German Railways website int.bahn.de (in €, no fee). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi. Always allow at least 90 minutes between trains in Paris when catching a sleeper.
Tip: Have dinner at the Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon before strolling across the bridge over the River Seine to the Gare d'Austerlitz.

Step 2, take the Intercité de Nuit couchette train leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 21:40 and arriving Andorre-l'Hospitalet at 09:42.
This train has 1st class 4-berth couchettes, 2nd class 6-berth couchettes & 2nd class seats. More about Intercité de Nuit.
Fares start at €29 in a 2nd class couchette or €60 in a 1st class couchette. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee). You print your own ticket or can choose a mobile ticket.

Step 3, take a taxi or taxi+bus from l'Hospitalet station to Andorra La Vella as explained on the London to Andorra page - just disregard the London-Paris part.

Alternatively, you can travel from Paris to Toulouse on the same Intercité de Nuit overnight train, arriving Toulouse Matabiau at 06:30. Have breakfast in Toulouse (I recommend the breakfast buffet at the Pullman Hotel around the corner from the station), then take a bus to Andorra la Vella. A bus run by Andbus (www.andorrabybus.com) leaves from outside Toulouse Matabiau station (bus stand 15) at 09:45, arriving Andorra la Vella bus station at 14:00. This is also explained in more detail on the London to Andorra page.


The intercité de nuit overnight train from Paris to Latour de Carol has 1st class 4-berth & 2nd class 6-berth couchettes, each with lightweight sleeping-bag & mineral water.

Frankfurt to Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck & Austria from €27.90

Frankfurt to Austria by daytime trains

Comfortable ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi link Frankfurt (Main) Hbf with Vienna Hbf in 6h25.
There are also trains between Frankfurt and other cities in Austria, including Salzburg, Hallstatt, Graz or Innsbruck.
Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Check train times and buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Tip: Check www.thetrainline.com too, this connects to the Austrian Railways ticketing system. You may find cheaper fares on the Austrian system than bahn.de on the same date & train. You print your own ticket.

An ICE-T from Frankfurt to Vienna, at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf. More about ICE-T trains.


Table for two in 1st class, my favourite configuration. There are also tables for four in both classes.		Lunch in the restaurant. In 1st class you can choose to be served at your seat. I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier!


You can see into the cab at each end of the train.		Comfortable 2nd class seats on the ICE-T to Vienna.

You'll glimpse the Inn and Danube rivers from the Frankfurt-Vienna ICE.

Frankfurt to Copenhagen & Denmark from €39.90

You can easily travel from Frankfurt to Copenhagen by ICE train & EuroCity train, for example:
Leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 05:50, change at Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen 15:34.

Leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 07:58, change at Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen 17:34.

Leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 09:58, change at Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen 19:34.

Leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 11:58, change at Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen 21:34.

The Hamburg to Copenhagen Intercity trains also call at Kolding (for Legoland) & Odense.

Take a good book, sit back and enjoy the ride. The Frankfurt-Hamburg ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. The Hamburg to Copenhagen Intercity train has power sockets at all seats & a refreshment trolley. More about the Hamburg to Copenhagen journey.

Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Tip: I recommend clicking Stopovers and entering Hamburg Hbf with a length of stay of 00:40 (40 minutes), to get a robust 1 hour connection in Hamburg (with time for a coffee or beer!) rather than a 20-minute one. The times shown above take that into account.

Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train. From June 2023, these trains are temporarily being operated by former German Railways intercity cars and a Danish electric locomotive, until new trains being built by Talgo arrive in 2024. The current trains have 1st & 2nd class, power sockets at seats, but no catering so bring your own food & drink. More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.

2nd class seats are almost all open-plan like this. There are a handful of 6-seat 2nd class compartments in one of the coaches, but only a few.

1st class comparment on a Berlin to Amsterdam train

1st class 6-seat compartment on a Berlin to Amsterdam train

The 1st class car has 6-seater compartments like this. Larger photo. Larger photo.

Frankfurt to Stockholm, Gothenburg & Malmö from €59.90

Option 1, Frankfurt to Stockholm using the Hamburg-Stockholm sleeper train - the time-effective option

Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Hamburg by ICE train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 16:58 and arriving Hamburg Hbf at 20:30.
The ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Always allow at least an hour when connecting with a sleeper train you don't want to miss. Have dinner in Hamburg, see suggested restaurants near the station.

Fares start at €18.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

Step 2, travel from Hamburg to Stockholm by sleeper train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 22:03, arriving Stockholm Central 09:57 next morning.
Procured by the Swedish government and run by SJ (Swedish Railways), the train has sleeping-cars with compact 1 & 2 berth compartments with washbasin, several 1, 2 or 3 bed deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower, couchette cars with 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. The sleeping-cars are former Austrian Railways AB32s, refurbished. More about the Hamburg-Stockholm sleeper train.
Fares start at €44.90 with a couchette in 6-berth, €69.90 with a couchette in 4-berth, €79.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €164.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself. All prices per person per bed. Fares vary like air fares so book ahead.

Book tickets at SJ's website www.sj.se.

Booking opens several months ahead, You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Hamburg-StockholmSJ EuroNight at Hamburg Altona

6-berth couchette on the Hamburg-Stockholm SJ night train

The inaugural Hamburg to Stockholm SJ EuroNight train in Hamburg on 1 September 2022. The author rode this first departure. More about this train.

6-berth couchettes.

Larger photo.


2-bed sleeper. Larger photo.		The inaugural train from Hamburg to Stockholm calls at Padborg, just after entering Denmark.

Scenery from the Hamburg to Stockholm train

Typical Swedish scenery on the morning run into Stockholm.

Option 2, Frankfurt to Sweden with overnight stop in Hamburg

Day 1, travel from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Hamburg Hbf by ICE train in 3h37, there are regular departures right up until the evening.

Stay overnight in Hamburg. The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews. Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.
Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:50 arriving Copenhagen at 13:34.
Day 2, catch a connecting train from Copenhagen to Sweden:

If you're going to Stockholm, travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000 train leaving Copenhagen at 14:19 and arriving Stockholm Central at 19:37. The 200 km/h X2000 train crosses the water from Denmark to Sweden over the impressive Öresund fixed link.

If you're going to Gothenburg, travel from Copenhagen to Goteborg Central by Öresund train, these leave every hour taking 3h50, also using the impressive Öresund fixed link.
The German Railways sell through fares from Frankfurt to Stockholm from €56.90 in 2nd class.

Book from Hamburg to Stockholm at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

To get the overnight stop in Hamburg, click Stopovers and enter Hamburg Hbf with a suitable length of stay, say 11 hours.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Step 3 for Malmö or Gothenburg, Öresund trains run every 20-30 minutes from Copenhagen to Malmö Central taking 39 minutes, and hourly from Copenhagen to Gothenburg taking 3h50.
The German Railways sell through fares from Frankfurt to Malmö or Gothenburg from €56.90 in 2nd class.

Book from Hamburg to Malmö or Gothenburg (listed as Goteborg Central) at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

To get the overnight stop in Hamburg, click Stopovers and enter Hamburg Hbf with a suitable length of stay, say 11 hours.

You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

Option 3, Frankfurt to Sweden with overnight stop in Copenhagen

Day 1, travel from Frankfurt to Copenhagen by ICE train & EuroCity train, for example:
Leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 07:58, change at Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen at 17:34.

Leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 09:58, change at Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen at 19:34.

Leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 11:58, change at Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen at 21:34.

The ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi - take a good book, sit back and enjoy the ride. See photos, tips & information for the Hamburg to Copenhagen intercity train.

Stay overnight in Copenhagen. The friendly Astoria Hotel is a 1930s design classic right outside Copenhagen station main entrance, see photos & information here. Other hotels near the station with good reviews include the Nimb Hotel (5-star luxe), Radisson Blu Royal Hotel (5-star), Axel Guldsmeden (4-star), Andersen Boutique Hotel, First Hotel Mayfair (3-star), Hotel Ansgar (3-star), City Hotel Nebo (2-star).

Day 2, if travelling to Stockholm: Travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000 train in around 5h15, there are regular departures. There's usually one leaving Copenhagen around 08:19 arriving Stockholm Central 13:34, by all means have a leisurely breakfast and take a later one.
Day 2, if travelling to Gothenburg: Travel from Copenhagen to Gothenburg (= Göteborg Central) by hourly Öresund train, journey time 3h53.
How much does it cost?
German Railways sell Sparpreis tickets from Frankfurt to Malmö, Gothenburg or Stockholm from €59.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. The fare varies like air fares, so book ahead.

How to check times & buy tickets
If travelling to Stockholm or Gothenburg, go to int.bahn.de and book from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Stockholm or Göteborg Central with a morning departure selected, but to see these cheap fares you must click Stopovers, enter Copenhagen and a length of stay of (say) 12 hours. This will give you a 12-hour stopover in Copenhagen. Adjust the length of stay to get the trains you want, a little trial & error may be needed!

If travelling to Oslo, go to int.bahn.de and book from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Göteborg Central with a afternoon departure selected, but to see the cheap fares you must click Stopovers and enter Copenhagen with a length of stay of (say) 12 hours. Adjust the length of stay to get the trains you want. Now add a connecting Gothenburg to Oslo S ticket using either www.vy.no or www.sj.se.

2nd class seats are almost all open-plan like this. There are a handful of 6-seat 2nd class compartments in one of the coaches, but only a few.

The 1st class car has 6-seater compartments like this. Larger photo. Larger photo.

Copenhagen to Stockholm by tilting 200km/h X2000, seen at Stockholm Central. More about X2000 trains.


1st class on an X2000. Larger photo.		2nd class on an X2000. Larger photo.


Bistro seating on an X2000 train. Larger photo.		Bistro on an X2000 train. Larger photo.

Crossing the impressive Öresund bridge from Denmark to Sweden.

Option 4, Frankfurt to Gothenburg using Stena Line's Kiel-Gothenburg overnight ferry

Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Kiel by train, leaving late morning.
The journey takes around 5h00, you'll typically find a train leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf around 11:00 with 1 easy change in Hamburg. However, you should book the ferry first and confirm ferry times, then book a train that arrives at Kiel Hbf at least 2 hours before the ferry sails.

Book the train at the German Railways site int.bahn.de.

You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

In Kiel, the ferry terminal is 750m from the station, a 9-minute walk, see walking map.

Step 2, sail overnight from Kiel to Gothenburg by Stena Line ferry.
The ferry normally sails at 18:45 and arrives around 09:15, but times may vary so check online.

The ferry is a floating hotel with restaurants & bars, all passengers travel in a cosy private cabin with en suite toilet & shower. You can add dinner & breakfast to your ticket when you book.

Fares vary, you might pay €39 per passenger as basic fare plus €75-€89 per cabin for a private 1 or 2 bed room.

Book the ferry at www.stenaline.com and print your own ticket or show it on your phone.
In Gothenburg, the ferry terminal is a short taxi ride (or 4.3 km 53-minute walk) from Goteborg Central station, see walking map.

Frankfurt to Oslo & Norway

Option 1, Frankfurt to Oslo with overnight stop in Hamburg - by train all the way

Day 1, travel from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Hamburg Hbf by ICE in around 4h30. There are regular departures until early evening.
Fares start at €17.90 in 2nd class or €23.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy a ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

Stay overnight in Hamburg. The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews. Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.

Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Gothenburg by EuroCity train & Öresund train:

Leave Hamburg Hbf 08:50, arriving Copenhagen 13:34. Leave Copenhagen at 14:30, arriving Göteborg Central at 18:20.

The EuroCity train from Hamburg to Copenhagen has power sockets at all seats & a refreshment trolley. More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey. The Öresund train from Copenhagen to Gothenburg has power sockets & free WiFi, but bring your own food & drink.

Have an early dinner in Gothenburg.

Fares from Hamburg to Gothenburg start at €56.90. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy a ticket from Hamburg to Gothenburg at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

Tip: If you're clever, you may be able to book a through ticket all the way from Frankfurt to Gothenburg using int.bahn.de. To get the overnight stop in Hamburg, click Stopovers and enter Hamburg Hbf with a suitable length of stay, say 10 hours. Adjust departure time and length of stay to get the departure from Brussels you want and the 08:50 departure from Hamburg next morning.

Tip: If you don't see any affordable fares (which may be the case if you want 1st class), split the booking: First book Hamburg to Copenhagen at int.bahn.de. Then buy a ticket from Copenhagen to Goteborg Central at www.oresundstag.se.

Day 2, travel from Gothenburg to Oslo by Norwegian train, leaving Göteborg Central at 20:10 and arriving Oslo Sentral at 23:47.

The smart modern Norwegian train is run by Vy, it has power sockets & free WiFi, but bring your own food & drink.
Fares start at 249 Krone (€24) if you book a few weeks ahead.
Book this at the Vy website www.vy.no or at www.entur.no.

Option 2, Frankfurt to Oslo with overnight stop in Copenhagen - by train all the way

Day 1, travel from Frankfurt to Copenhagen as explained above.
Stay overnight in Copenhagen. The friendly Astoria Hotel is a 1930s design classic right outside Copenhagen station main entrance, see photos & information here. Other hotels near the station with good reviews include the Nimb Hotel (5-star luxe), Radisson Blu Royal Hotel (5-star), Axel Guldsmeden (4-star), Andersen Boutique Hotel, First Hotel Mayfair (3-star), Hotel Ansgar (3-star), City Hotel Nebo (2-star).
Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Oslo by train, leaving Copenhagen at 07:30, change at Gothenburg Central, arriving Oslo Sentral 15:47.

Earlier & later departures are available, see the Copenhagen-Oslo timetable & how to buy tickets here.

Alternatively, spend the day in Copenhagen and take the DFDS overnight ferry to Oslo with a comfortable private cabin with shower & toilet, sailing from Copenhagen at 16:30 (15:00 some days) and arriving Oslo at 10:00 on day 3, as shown here. This is remarkably affordable, and saves a hotel bill. Book the ferry at www.dfds.com.

Option 3, Frankfurt to Oslo via the Kiel-Oslo cruise ferry - the most luxurious & scenic route to Oslo

Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Kiel, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 05:06 Monday-Saturday, arriving Kiel Hbf 10:09.
On Sundays, leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 05:50, change Hamburg Hbf, arriving Kiel Hbf 11:23.
Fares start at €17.50 in 2nd class or €26.40 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
In Kiel it's a 7 minute 450m walk from Kiel Hbf to the Color Line ferry terminal, see walking map. But always allow several hours between trains and ferry for the ferry check-in and in case of any delay.

Step 2, sail from Kiel to Oslo by luxurious overnight Color Line ferry, with a full range of en suite cabins, suites, bars, restaurants and lounges. The m/v Magic or m/v Fantasy normally sails at 14:00 arriving Oslo at 10:00 next morning.
Check times & buy tickets using the Direct Ferries website or at www.colorline.com. You print your own ticket.
Money-saving tip: It appears that it's considerably cheaper to book on Color Line's Norwegian website www.colorline.no in Norwegian Krone, for example a €274 fare becomes the equivalent of €164. You'll need to use Google Chrome translation to translate the Norwegian. You are still able to enter a UK or other European address and contact details. Feedback appreciated.

Make sure you're on deck next morning as the ship sails through spectacular scenery up Oslo Fjord. The ship docks at the modern Color Line terminal about 2 km from the city centre. Color Line provide transfer buses to Oslo Sentral station costing 55 krone, or there are plenty of taxis. If you have little luggage it's possible to walk. See map of Oslo showing ferry terminal.

Germany to Oslo Color Line ferry at Kiel

This photo is taken from the exit of Kiel station, so you can see how close the ferry is. It's a 5-6 minute walk across the harbour, with a street lift up to a connecting walkway which takes you to the ferry terminal. If you have reserved one of what Color Line call their "5 star suites", check in at the desk rather than the machines and you'll be directed to a special lounge to wait with free tea, coffee, juice, snacks & WiFi. You'll also have priority boarding of the ship. Photos courtesy of Andrew Leo.

Boarding the Color Line ferry to Oslo in Kiel.


A 5 Star Suite on the ferry.		More cruise liner than ferry! The restaurant.

Wake up to this...

Frankfurt to Helsinki & Finland

Option 1, Frankfurt to Helsinki using a Finnlines ferry from Germany - the easiest option

Day 1, travel from Frankfurt to Hamburg by ICE train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 14:57 and arriving Hamburg Hbf 18:36.

Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €56.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Tip: You should book from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Skandinavienkai Terminal, Lübeck as one transaction as this gets you a through ticket to the ferry terminal covering the train to Hamburg, the regional train to Lübeck and the bus to the Skandinavienkai Terminal. If you'd like time for dinner in Lübeck (see suggested restaurant here), click Stopovers and enter Lübeck Hbf with a length of stay of (say) 2 hours.

Day 1, travel from Hamburg Hbf to Lübeck by regional train then take a bus to the Skandinavienkai ferry terminal in Travemünde.

Sail from Travemünde to Helsinki by Finnlines ferry. Finnlines sail from Travemünde to Helsinki every day, boarding at 23:30, sailing at 02:45 (the exact time varies) and arriving at Helsinki's Hansa Terminal in Vuosaari at 09:15 2 nights later (Day 3 from Frankfurt).

For full details of the transfer, check-in arrangements & ferry crossing, see the Hamburg page.

Book the ferry using the Direct Ferries website or at www.finnlines.com.
Book onward trains within Finland at the Finnish Railways website www.vr.fi.

Finnlines operate the Finnstar, Finnmaid & Finnlady on the Travemünde-Helsinki route. Photo courtesy of Hubert Bartkowiak. Photos below courtesy of Chris Russell.

Standard cabin. Larger photo.

Gym with a view.

Sauna.

Option 2, Frankfurt to Helsinki by train to Stockholm, then ferry

Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Stockholm as shown above.
Step 2, travel from Stockholm to Helsinki either by direct overnight cruise ferry, or by daytime or overnight ferry to Turku and connecting train to Helsinki as shown on the Trains & ferries from Stockholm page.

Frankfurt to Prague from €20.90

Option 1, Frankfurt to Prague via Cheb

You can travel from Frankfurt to Prague via Nuremberg & Cheb, it's the most direct and (by a small margin) fastest route, although this year it involves yet another change at Maktredwitz, so isn't the most relaxed:

Leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf 06:19, change at Nuremberg, Marktredwitz & Cheb, arrive Prague Hlavni 13:22.

Leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf 08:21, change at Nuremberg, Marktredwitz & Cheb, arrive Prague Hlavni 15:22.

Leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf 10:22, change at Nuremberg, Marktredwitz & Cheb, arrive Prague Hlavni 17:22.

Leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf 12:22, change at Nuremberg, Marktredwitz & Cheb, arrive Prague Hlavni 19:22.

Leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf 14:21, change at Nuremberg, Marktredwitz & Cheb, arrive Prague Hlavni 21:22.

Leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf 16:21, change at Nuremberg, Marktredwitz & Cheb, arrive Prague Hlavni 23:22.

You take a top-quality high-speed ICE train from Frankfurt to Nuremberg with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then a smart German air-conditioned regional train from Nuremberg to Marktredwitz, another to Cheb then a comfy air-conditioned Czech Interjet train from Cheb to Prague with refreshment trolley and free WiFi. More about travel to Prague via Cheb.
Fares start at €20.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.

Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Tip: If you don't see any attractive prices at int.bahn.de, check prices for the same trains at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz instead. Booking at cd.cz only opens 90 days ahead.

Cheb station, en route from Brussels to Prague

The easy interchange at Cheb. The red train on the right is the German regional train arrived from Nuremberg. You cross to the blue Czech train on the left about to leave for Prague - although always check the departure boards as sometimes a faster train to Prague goes from an adjacent platform.


Scenery between Nuremberg & Cheb. Courtesy of Arnaud Loneux.		Hills & forest between Cheb & Prague. Courtesy of Arnaud Loneux.

Option 2, Frankfurt to Prague via Dresden - the scenic route, from €27.90

This usually takes just over an hour longer than option 1, but with only one change of train and high-quality express trains with restaurant car throughout, plus great scenery between Dresden & Prague along the Elbe River valley, see photos of the Dresden-Prague scenery here.
Frankfurt (Main) Hbf depart 07:18, change at Dresden Hbf, arriving Prague Hlavni 15:24.

Frankfurt (Main) Hbf depart 09:18, change at Dresden Hbf, arriving Prague Hlavni 17:24.

Frankfurt (Main) Hbf depart 11:18, change at Dresden Hbf, arriving Prague Hlavni 19:24.

Frankfurt (Main) Hbf depart 13:18, change at Dresden Hbf, arriving Prague Hlavni 21:24.

Frankfurt (Main) Hbf depart 17:18, change at Dresden Hbf, arriving Prague Holesovice 00:18.

Frankfurt to Dresden is by luxurious ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, Dresden to Prague is by comfortable EuroCity train with restaurant car along the scenic Elbe valley. Sit on the left hand side of the train for the best river views.
Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €36.90 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Tip: Book from Frankfurt to Prague, but before running the enquiry click Stopovers and enter Dresden as a stopover.
Look for options with just 1 change.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Stopover in Dresden? If you'd like to spend a few hours exploring Dresden on the way, no problem, click Stopovers, enter Dresden Hbf and any length of stay up to 48h. Dresden is well worth a stop, even for a few hours, left luggage lockers are available.


So civilised! A meal in the Czech restaurant car as the Berlin-Prague express snakes along the beautiful Elbe river south of Dresden. See more photos, tips & info for the Dresden to Prague train ride. Photo courtesy of Philip Dyer-Perry.

Frankfurt to Cesky Krumlov & other Czech destinations

You can book from Frankfurt to almost anywhere in the Czech Republic at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

Through fares start at €37.90.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

Tip: Also check times & prices using the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz. On cd.cz, booking normally opens 90 days ahead.

For Cesky Krumlov (a lovely town, and the second most-visited place in the Czech Republic, see the Cesky Krumlov page) you must book to Ceske Budejovice, not Cesky Krumlov, because the branch line between Ceske Budejovice and Cesky Krumlov is now run by private operator GWTR and German Railways can no longer ticket that part.

So book from Frankfurt to Ceske Budejovice at int.bahn.de from €27.90, then buy the local ticket from Ceske Budejovice to Cesky Krumlov either at the station in Ceske Budejovice from the distinctive green & orange ticket kiosk in the main hall, or on board the train using the self-service ticket machines, contactless cards accepted. You can check train times from Ceske Budejovice to Cesky Krumlov at www.gwtr.cz.

Tip: The easiest journey is with 1 change in Linz, but Bahn.de doesn't show any cheap fares for this route! The solution is to split the booking, first book Frankfurt to Linz at int.bahn.de then book Linz to Ceske Budejovice at www.cd.cz. It's a short connection in Linz, so I'd actually book Frankfurt-Passau at int.bahn.de then Passau-Ceske Budejovice at www.cd.cz, making sure the Passau-Linz part of your train-specific Czech ticket is for the same ICE train that your Frankfurt-Passau ticket is for. Then your rights are protected if there's a delay and you miss the connection and can take a later onward train at no extra cost.
For Karlovy Vary or Plzen, book at int.bahn.de, looking for 3-change options via Frankfurt, Nuremberg & Cheb from €18.90.
For Brno, book Frankfurt to Brno at int.bahn.de. It tends to route you via Vienna, as this is slightly quicker. By all means click Stopovers and enter Prague, this can be cheaper. By adding a stopover with a suitable length of stay, you can have an overnight stop there if you like.

Frankfurt to Bratislava from €39.90

Take a luxurious ICE train from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Vienna Hbf in 6h24 and change onto the hourly Regional Express train from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna taking 1h09. Important: If travelling between 4 March & 14 December 2024, see the update here.
Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
In the search results, look for options with just 1 change. Bratislava Hlavna (main station, shown as Bratislava hl.st) is the best station to arrive at, closer to the city centre than Bratislava Petrzalka.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket, though in this case it cannot be shown on a laptop or phone, it must be printed out. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Tip: If you'd like more time in Vienna between trains - perhaps a stop for lunch or even overnight - simply click Stopovers before running the enquiry at bahn.de, enter Vienna Hbf and a length of stay up to 48 hours, and you'll get a ticket from Frankfurt to Bratislava with a stopover built in.

Tip: It's sometimes cheaper to book Frankfurt to Vienna using www.thetrainline.com as this connects to the Austrian Railways system rather than the German, then buy an open €11.60 ticket from Vienna to Bratislava either at www.thetrainline.com or at the station in Vienna, no reservation necessary or possible, you simply hop on the next hourly regional Express train to Bratislava Hlavna.


The hourly regional express train from Vienna to Bratislava Hlavna, about to leave from Vienna Hbf. More about Vienna-Bratislava trains.

Frankfurt to Poprad Tatry & Kosice

You can book from Frankfurt to Poprad-Tatry or Kosice at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.
It's an all-day journey taking a superb ICE-T train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Vienna Hbf leaving just after 08:00, the hourly regional express from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna, then a Slovakian Express from Bratislava Hlavna to Poprad Tatry & Kosice, arriving late at night.
Tip: It can help to click Stopovers and enter Bratislava.
Tip: You might want to break up the journey with an overnight stop in Vienna or Bratislava. click Stopovers and enter Bratislava hl.st. or Vienna Hbf as a via station with a suitable overnight length of stay. Adjust the departure time and length of stay to get the trains you want either side of your overnight stop.

Frankfurt to Budapest from €39.90

Option 1, Frankfurt to Budapest by daytime trains - the leisurely daytime option

Take a luxurious ICE-T train from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Vienna, then a smart Austrian railjet train or Hungarian EuroCity train to Budapest:
Frankfurt (Main) Hbf depart 06:19, change at Vienna Hbf, arriving Budapest Keleti 16:19.
Frankfurt (Main) Hbf depart 08:21, change at Vienna Hbf, arriving Budapest Keleti 18:19.
Frankfurt (Main) Hbf depart 09:53, change at Vienna Hbf, arriving Budapest Keleti 20:19.
Frankfurt (Main) Hbf depart 12:22, change at Vienna Hbf, arriving Budapest Keleti 22:19.

Frankfurt (Main) Hbf depart 14:21, change at Vienna Hbf, arriving Budapest Keleti 00:19.

All these trains have restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, it's a chill-out day with a good book, take a bottle of wine and put your feet up.
Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket, although in this case it must be printed out, it cannot be shown on a mobile device. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Tip: It's best to specify Budapest Keleti as your destination rather than the generic BUDAPEST. If you use plain BUDAPEST the journey planner sometimes finds the privately-run Regiojet IC trains (which go to Budapest Deli station and which it can't sell tickets for) as the fastest onward connection from Vienna, and therefore can't sell that departure from Frankfurt. If you specify Budapest Keleti it always finds a normal Austrian or Hungarian Railways train to Budapest Keleti so cheap fares now appear for that departure from Frankfurt. Easy when you know!

A railjet train about to leave Munich Hbf

A railjet to Budapest about to leave Munich Hbf. More about railjets.


Business class. About business class.		Restaurant. In 1st & business you're served at your seat.


First class.		Economy (2nd) class.

A railjet train from Vienna to Budapest, arrived at Budapest Keleti

A railjet arrived on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti. More about railjets.

Option 2, Frankfurt to Budapest using the Stuttgart-Budapest sleeper - the safe, comfortable, time-effective way

Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Stuttgart by ICE train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 17:49 and arriving Stuttgart Hbf at 19:08.
From 16 July until December 2024, departure from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf is at 17:05, arriving Stuttgart Hbf at 19:08.
The ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at €17.50 in 2nd class or €31.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Step 2, take the Hungarian sleeper train Kalman Imre leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 20:29 and arriving Budapest Keleti at 09:19.

This train has a comfortable air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, see the Hungarian sleeping-car video, an air-conditioned Hungarian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. The sleeper fare includes morning tea or coffee.

Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €69.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €88.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.

The sleeper train Kalman Imre from Munich to Budapest

Sleeper train Kalman Imre. More about this sleeper train.


2 bed sleeper, can also be set up as 1 or 3 bed.		4-berth couchettes.		6-berth couchettes.

Frankfurt to Brasov & Bucharest from €79

Option 1, Frankfurt to Romania by Dacia Express sleeper train from Vienna to Sighisoara, Brasov & Bucharest - the fastest & most comfortable option

Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Vienna by ICE-T high-speed train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 12:22 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 18:47.

Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.
Step 2, travel from Vienna to Romania on the Dacia Express, leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:42 every day and arriving next day in Simeria 07:10, Sighisoara 09:13, Braşov 12:36, Ploeşti Vest 14:28 & Bucharest Nord at 15:06.

The Dacia Express has a modern air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, plus several deluxe compartments with en suite shower & toilet. It has a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments.

A Hungarian restaurant car operates between Vienna & Budapest, treat yourself to dinner and a glass of wine. A bar car is attached in the morning between Arad & Bucharest, serving drinks & snacks. There's wonderful almost Alpine scenery through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov and Bucharest.

The Dacia Express also conveys a portion from Vienna to Cluj Napoca, also leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:42 and arriving Cluj Napoca at 10:47. This portion has a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.

Fares start at €59 with a couchette in a 6-berth compartment, €69 with a couchette in a 4-berth compartment, €79 with a bed in a 3-berth sleeper, €99 with a bed in a 3-berth sleeper or €159 with a bed in a single-berth sleeper all to yourself. All per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.

Booking opens up to 90 days ahead. In the search results, look for the direct train marked D with no changes. You collect tickets from an ÖBB ticket machine in Vienna.

You can also book this train at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro. Click EN top right for English. Booking opens up to 90 days ahead. For Vienna type Wien, for Bucharest type Bucuresti. For Austria to Romania journeys you now print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. Tip: Prices might be cheaper than on oebb.at, so check both sites!


*The Dacia Express* sleeping-car** at Vienna Hbf. Interior photo courtesy of Jose Carlos Barbosa. Larger photo.


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

Transylvania: The Dacia Express crosses rural Transylvania. Courtesy of @PaliparanDotCom.

The Carpathian mountains: Almost Alpine scenery between Brasov & Bucharest. Courtesy of @PaliparanDotCom

Option 2, Frankfurt to Romania using the sleeper train Ister from Budapest to Brasov & Bucharest

Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Budapest, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 06:19, change at Vienna Hbf, arriving Budapest Keleti 16:19.

Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. You print your own ticket, although in this case it must be printed out, it cannot be shown on a mobile device. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Important tip: You should specify Budapest Keleti as your destination rather than the generic BUDAPEST. If you use plain BUDAPEST the journey planner sometimes finds the privately-run Regiojet IC trains (which go to Budapest Deli station and which it can't sell tickets for) as the fastest onward connection from Vienna, and therefore can't sell that departure from Frankfurt. If you specify Budapest Keleti it always finds a normal Austrian or Hungarian Railways train to Budapest Keleti so cheap fares now appear for that departure from Frankfurt.

Step 2, travel from Budapest to Romania by sleeper train Ister, leaving Budapest Keleti at 19:10 and arriving Brasov 08:50 & Bucharest Gara de Nord at 11:30 next day.

This comfortable train has an air-conditioned sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments. There's no restaurant car (although a bar-bistro is usually attached within Romania) so take a picnic and bottle of wine. There's wonderful almost Alpine scenery through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov and Bucharest, a real treat.

Fares start at €39 with a couchette in 6-berth, €46 with a couchette in 4-berth, €69 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €84 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €162 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself. All prices per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.
Click EN top right for English. Booking opens up to 90 days ahead. For Bucharest type Bucuresti. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.
You can also book at the Hungarian Railways website www.mav-start.hu, see my advice on using it. For Bucharest type Bucuresti. You show your ticket in the MAV app on your phone.


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 DiscoverByRail.


The vagon cuseta (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.

Option 3, Frankfurt to Romania with overnight stop in Budapest - if you prefer daytime trains & hotel to sleepers

Day 1, travel from Frankfurt to Budapest on any departure you like, as shown in the Frankfurt to Budapest section.

Stay overnight in Budapest. Top choice for an inexpensive stay next to Budapest Keleti is the Intercity Hotel just across the square in front of the station. Also try the Royal Park Boutique Hotel, the inexpensive Baross City Hotel across the road or the Elit Hotel two minutes walk away. Of course, if you want to push the boat out, the luxurious Corinthia Hotel opened in 1896 was almost certainly the inspiration for the 2014 film The Grand Budapest Hotel, 20 minutes walk or 9 minutes by taxi from Keleti station. More hotels in Budapest.

Day 2, travel from Budapest to Romania by comfortable air-conditioned Intercity train. These link Budapest Keleti with Cluj, Timisoara, Craiova, Sibiu, Sinaia, Brasov & Ploesti. It's an all-day daytime run across Transylvania, see the Trains from Budapest page for details.

Fares start at €26.30 in 2nd class or (on trains which have 1st class) €40.50 in 1st class.

Buy tickets at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.

Booking opens 60 days ahead. You show your ticket in the MAV app on your phone.

You can also book at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.

Click EN top right for English. Booking opens up to 90 days ahead. For Bucharest type Bucuresti. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

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.


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.


A bar car is attached between Drobeta Turnu Severin & Bucharest. Photos courtesy of @AndyBTravels, DiscoverByRail.com.

Frankfurt to Ljubljana or Zagreb from €29

Option 1, Frankfurt to Ljubljana & Zagreb in a day

A EuroCity train leaves Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 08:20, there's a quick & easy cross-platform change at Villach, arriving Lesce-Bled 17:50, Ljubljana 18:32 & Zagreb 20:47.

The train has comfortable air-conditioned Austrian coaches, an Austrian restaurant car runs from Frankfurt to Villach on the border with Slovenia, so treat yourself to breakfast and/or lunch. The scenery through the mountains on the Tauern route through Austria is fantastic, and the scenery along the Sava river between Ljubljana and Zagreb is lovely, at least in summer when it's light.
Fares to Ljubljana or Zagreb start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at the German Railways website, int.bahn.de.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Scenery in the Austrian Alps between Munich & Ljubljana

Through the Austrian Alps. Clinging to the mountainside high in the Austrian Alps, the train snakes along between snow-capped mountains, absolutely wonderful.


2nd class seats in an open-plan saloon. See larger photo.		2nd class seats in a compartment. See larger photo.


...and along the Sava river in Slovenia. Now across the border in Slovenia, the EuroCity train runs along the pretty River Sava all the way to Ljubljana and Zagreb.		1st class seats in an Austrian 6-seat compartment with side corridor as used on the Blauer Enzian/Mimara.

Option 2, Frankfurt to Ljubljana & Zagreb by sleeper - safe, comfortable & time-effective

Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Stuttgart by ICE train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 17:49 and arriving Stuttgart Hbf at 19:08.
From 16 July until December 2024, departure from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf is at 17:05, arriving Stuttgart Hbf at 19:08.
The ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at €17.50 in 2nd class or €31.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Step 2, travel from Stuttgart by sleeper train, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 20:29 and arriving Lesce-Bled 07:13, Ljubljana 08:09 & Zagreb 10:39.

The comfortable sleeper train Lisinski has a modern air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, and a modern air-conditioned Croatian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments. See the photos below & see the Croatian sleeper video.
From 11 December to 8 January, 22 March to 8 April & 9 May to 29 September 2024, there's a direct Croatian sleeping-car for Rijeka, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 20:29 & arriving Rijeka 11:17.
Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €66.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €86.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at (same prices, in €, more fiddly). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.

The 'Lisinski' sleeper train from Munic to Zagreb, boarding in Munich

Above, the air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car from Stuttgart to Zagreb. It has 10 compartments with washbasin, each of which can be used as 1, 2 or 3 berth, with toilets at the end of the corridor. Compartments convert to a private sitting room for evening or morning use. A light breakfast is included in the sleeper fare. The Croatian couchette car is the next vehicle to the right, also modern & air-conditioned with 4 & 6 bunk compartments, ideal for families. Couchettes convert from bunks to seats for evening or morning use.


1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper.		Set up as a single-berth.		4 or 6-berth couchettes. 360º photo.

Wake up to scenery like this between Ljubljana & Zagreb, along the river Sava.

Scenery between Ljubljana, Zagreb & Belgrade

More scenery along the river Sava.

Frankfurt to Belgrade & Montenegro

Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Stuttgart by ICE train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 17:49 and arriving Stuttgart Hbf at 19:08.
From 16 July until December 2024, departure from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf is at 17:05, arriving Stuttgart Hbf at 19:08.
The ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at €17.50 in 2nd class or €31.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Step 2, travel from Stuttgart to Zagreb by sleeper train, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 20:29 and arriving Zagreb at 10:39.

The comfortable sleeper train Lisinski has a modern air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, and a modern air-conditioned Croatian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments. See the photos below & see the Croatian sleeper video.
Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €66.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €86.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at (same prices, in €, more fiddly). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Step 3, travel from Zagreb to Belgrade by train, leaving Zagreb at 11:04 and arriving Novi Beograd 18:04 & Belgrade Centar at 18:12.

This train was suspended due to Covid-19 and is still suspended.

This train has air-conditioned Serbian carriages with comfortable 2nd class seats, but no 1st class. There's no dining-car, so bring a picnic and some beer or wine.

The fare is around €29 bought at the station in Zagreb or paid on board the train, but tickets cannot be bought online.
While the train is suspended, take a bus from Zagreb to Belgrade
It's a 17-minute 1.3 km walk from Zagreb station to Zagreb bus station, see walking map.
A Flixbus leaves Zagreb bus station at 14:00, arriving Belgrade bus station at 19:30.
The fare is around €20, buy a ticket at www.flixbus.com.
Step 4 for Montenegro, take the overnight sleeper Lovcen to Podgorica and Bar arriving in the morning on day 3, or stay overnight in Belgrade and take the daytime train Tara next day. See the Belgrade to Montenegro page for schedule, fares & how to buy tickets.

Stuttgart to Zagreb by sleeper. Above, the air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car to Zagreb is seen at Munich Hbf. It has 10 compartments with washbasin, each of which can be used as 1, 2 or 3 berth, with toilets at the end of the corridor. Compartments convert to a private sitting room for evening or morning use. A light breakfast is included in the sleeper fare. The Croatian couchette car is the next vehicle to the right, also modern & air-conditioned with 4 & 6 bunk compartments, ideal for families. Couchettes convert from bunks to seats for evening or morning use.


1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper.		Set up as a single-berth.		4 or 6-berth couchettes. 360º photo.

Wake up to scenery like this between Ljubljana & Zagreb, along the river Sava.

More scenery along the river Sava.


Zagreb to Belgrade by Serbian train.

Frankfurt to Sofia

Option 1, Frankfurt to Sofia via Bucharest

Day 1, travel from Frankfurt to Budapest using the Stuttgart-Budapest sleeper as shown above.

Or use daytime trains and stay overnight in Budapest.

Day 2, travel from Budapest to Bucharest on the sleeper train Muntenia, leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:10 and arriving Bucharest Nord at 08:42.
The Muntenia has 4 & 6-berth couchettes and ordinary seats. A Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments is attached from Arad (depart 21:04) to Bucharest. There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink.

Fares start at €40 with a couchette in 6-berth or €47 with a couchette in 4-berth. These are limited-availability advance-purchase fares

Book this at the Romanian Railways international website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en. You print your own ticket.

If you want the comfort & privacy of a proper sleeper from Arad to Bucharest, (1) book a 2nd class seat from Budapest to Arad from €17 using bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en. You print your own ticket. (2) Now book berths in a 1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper from Arad to Bucharest Nord at the Romanian domestic website bilete.cfrcalatori.ro and print your own ticket.

Day 3, travel from Bucharest to Sofia by daytime train as shown on the train from Bucharest page.
You leave Bucharest Nord at 10:55 and arrive Sofia Central at 20:10 after a pleasant day meandering across the Danube and through the river valleys of Bulgaria. In summer it's direct, in winter you have to switch trains at Ruse. There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink.
The fare is around €34.

Book this at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en. You print your own ticket.

Option 2, Frankfurt to Sofia via Belgrade

Not currently viable while Zagreb-Belgrade, Budapest-Belgrade and Belgrade-Sofia trains remain suspended.

Frankfurt to Warsaw & Krakow from €37.90

Option 1, Frankfurt to Warsaw by in a single day from €37.90 - all in one day

You can travel from Frankfurt to Warsaw in a single day, for example:
Frankfurt (Main) Hbf depart 06:14, change at Berlin Hbf, arrive Warsaw Centralna 17:09.
Frankfurt (Main) Hbf depart 09:14, change at Berlin Hbf, arrive Warsaw Centralna 19:08.
Frankfurt (Main) Hbf depart 11:14, change at Berlin Hbf, arrive Warsaw Centralna 21:08.

Frankfurt (Main) Hbf depart 13:14 daily except Saturdays, change at Berlin Hbf, arrive Warsaw Centralna 23:08.
You travel from Frankfurt to Berlin on a superb ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then from Berlin to Warsaw on a comfortable Polish EuroCity train with restaurant car. Take a good book, a bottle of wine and put your feet up.

Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking to Poland opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Tip: Consider clicking Stopovers and entering Berlin Hbf as a stopover with a length of stay of (say) 40 minutes, this gives you a longer journey but a more robust connection in case of delay.

Option 2, Frankfurt to Wroclaw & Krakow in a single day from €37.90

You can travel from Frankfurt to Warsaw in a single day, for example:
Frankfurt (Main) Hbf depart 06:13, change at Berlin Hbf, arrive Wroclaw 15:05, Katowice 17:15 & Krakow Glowny 18:07.
Frankfurt (Main) Hbf depart 11:13, change at Berlin Hbf, arrive Wroclaw 20:56, Katowice 23:05 & Krakow Glowny 23:54.

You travel from Frankfurt to Berlin on a superb ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then from Berlin to Warsaw on a comfortable Polish EuroCity train with restaurant car. Take a good book, a bottle of wine and put your feet up.

Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

Booking to Poland opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Tip: Consider clicking Stopovers and entering Berlin Hbf as a stopover with a length of stay of (say) 40 minutes.

Berlin to Warsaw or Krakow by EuroCity train. This is the Wawel to Krakow at Berlin Hbf.


1st class on the Wawel to Krakow.		2nd class. Some seats are in compartments.

Restaurant car on the Berlin to Warsaw train

Restaurant car. You don't need to reserve a table, just go along and sit down. A steward will take your order. Larger photo.


Zurek soup - an excellent tasty starter.		Kotlet schabowy, served on proper china.

Option 3, Frankfurt to Warsaw or Krakow with overnight stop in Berlin from €37.90

Day 1, travel from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Berlin by ICE train in 3h59. You can leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf as late as 19:14 arriving Berlin Hbf at 23:29, but by all means take an earlier train and have an evening in Berlin.

Stay overnight in Berlin. Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station. If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com. Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.

For Warsaw

Day 2, travel from Berlin to Warsaw on any Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity train you like. Daily except Sundays the 05:51 from Berlin Hbf will get you to Warsaw Centralna at 11:14 with breakfast in the restaurant car. Or have a leisurely breakfast at your hotel and take the daily 09:52 arriving 15:14. By all means take a later train from Berlin to spend some time in Berlin. The German capital is fascinating.

For Krakow

The direct Berlin-Krakow EuroCity train Wawel made a welcome return in 2020: Day 2, travel from Berlin to Krakow by EuroCity train Wawel, leaving Berlin Hbf at 10:52 every day, arriving Wroclaw 15:05, Katowice 17:15 & Krakow Glowny at 18:07. The Wawel is comfortable & air-conditioned with restaurant car, treat yourself to lunch and a beer or two.
Fares from Frankfurt to Warsaw or Krakow start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

To get the overnight stop in Berlin, click Stopovers and enter Berlin Hbf with a length of stay of, say, 12 hours. Adjust the departure time and length of stay to get the trains you want either side of Berlin. A little trial and error may be needed!

You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

Tip: Tickets to Poland only go on sale 60 days ahead, but you can book from Frankfurt to Berlin up to 6 months ahead, adding a separate Berlin-Warsaw or Berlin-Krakow ticket when booking to Poland opens.

Frankfurt to Vilnius. Riga, Tallinn

Frankfurt to Lithuania with overnight stop in Warsaw

Day 1, travel from Frankfurt to Warsaw in a day as shown in the Frankfurt to Warsaw section.

Stay overnight in Warsaw. The Polonia Palace Hotel is excellent, historic, relatively inexpensive for such a good hotel, and it's just across the road from the station. For something much cheaper, but still with great reviews and near the station, try the Hotel Metropol next door to the Polonia Palace or the nearby Novotel Warsaw Centrum. Also see the Warsaw Centralna station & city information.
Day 2, travel from Warsaw to Kaunas & Vilnius by train as shown on the Warsaw to Vilnius page.
Day 3, for onward travel from Vilnius to Riga in Latvia, see here.
Day 4, for onward travel from Riga to Tallinn in Estonia, see here.

Frankfurt to Lviv, Kyiv & Ukraine

Option 1, Frankfurt to Lviv & Kyiv via Vienna

Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Vienna, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 08:21 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 14:47.
The ICE-T train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

Step 2, travel from Vienna to Lviv or Kyiv by direct Ukrainian sleeping-car, leaving Vienna Hbf at 16:42 every day and arriving next day (day 3) at Lviv at 09:20 & Kyiv at 16:03.
Introduced in December 2017, this train has one or two direct Ukrainian sleeping-cars with comfortable 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, see the photos below. At Chop on the other side of the border the through sleeping-cars are jacked up to have their wheelsets changed from European standard gauge (4'8½") to Russian gauge used in Ukraine (5').

Book the train from Vienna to Lviv or Kyiv online at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.

This will only book one-way or round trip starting in Vienna because tickets need to be collected from an ÖBB station in Austria. They cannot be collected in Ukraine. Booking this way you pay no fee or mark-up, just the official fare.

Be warned, these direct sleeping-cars can sell out within hours of reservations opening.

If you have any problems or want a one-way ticket starting in Ukraine, you can also book the Vienna-Kyiv train via reliable agency www.polrail.com, with tickets posted or couriered to you for a small fee. Polrail are based in Poland so charge in zlotys, but as they have access to Ukrainian ticketing system they are good for booking this train.

Booked through oebb.at:

Vienna to Kyiv costs €80.50 in a 3-berth sleeper, €90.50 in a 2-berth sleeper or €152.90 in a single sleeper.

Vienna to Lviv costs €62.10 in a 3-berth sleeper, €70.10 in a 2-berth sleeper or €119.30 in a single sleeper.
Booked through Polrail:

Vienna to Kyiv costs around €138 in a 3-berth sleeper €149 in a 2-berth sleeper, or €241 in a single-berth sleeper.

Vienna to Lviv costs around €120 in a 3-berth sleeper €129 in a 2-berth sleeper, or €207 in a single-berth sleeper.

Booked at the station in Ukraine, Kyiv to Vienna costs around €80, Lviv to Vienna around €60, in both cases with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper.

The Vienna-Kiev sleeping-car at Vienna Hbf

The Vienna-Kyiv sleeping-car at Vienna Hbf.


The Vienna-Kyiv sleeper about to leave Vienna Hbf. Courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.		The sleeper corridor. Courtesy Helmut Uttenthaler.		1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper compartment.

Option 2, Frankfurt to Kyiv via Warsaw

Day 1, take a late afternoon or early evening train from Frankfurt to Berlin, booked at the German Railways website int.bahn.de from €27.90. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

Day 2 morning, travel from Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity train leaving Berlin Hbf at 09:52 daily and arriving Warsaw Centralna at 15:14. On Mondays to Saturdays there's also an earlier Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity train leaving Berlin Hbf at 05:51 every day and arriving Warsaw Centralna 11:14. Fares start at €27.90, also booked at int.bahn.de.
If you take the earlier train you have some time to explore Warsaw, see Warsaw Centralna station & city information. Warsaw's historic old town is a 30 minute walk from Centralna station - if you fancy a modest splurge, the celebrated Ufukiera restaurant (www.ufukiera.pl) is excellent and right on the square in the heart of Warsaw's old town. The Palace of Culture (a wedding cake style Soviet skyscraper and distinctive Warsaw landmark, www.pkin.pl) is right next to the station and has a viewing terrace on the 30th floor.
Tip: It's usually cheaper to book like this: Go to int.bahn.de and set up an enquiry from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Warsaw Centralna, click Stopovers and enter Berlin with a length of stay of (say) 10 hours. You'll then get a through fare from €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class with an overnight stop in Berlin built in. Adjust the departure time and length of stay as necessary to get the trains you want in the evening and morning.

Alternatively, you could leave Frankfurt earlier on day 1 and go Frankfurt-Warsaw all in one day, and staying overnight in Warsaw rather than Berlin. That would also allow you to take the Sunday departure of the Warsaw-Kyiv Kyiv Express, as there's no connection from Berlin early enough on Sundays in this timetable period. And it would give you a half day to explore Warsaw.

Day 2, travel from Warsaw to Kyiv on the Kyiv Express sleeper train leaving Warsaw Wschodnia at 17:40 and arriving Kyiv at 12:17 next day.
This train has comfortable Ukrainian 1, 2 and 3 bed sleepers with washbasin. There's no restaurant car, so take a picnic and perhaps some wine or beer.
The fare booked with Polrail is around €59 including a bed in a 3-berth sleeper, €93 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €162 in a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.
Buy tickets via reliable Polish agency Polrail, booking.polrail.com.
Tickets can be collected in Warsaw or (at extra charge) shipped to any address worldwide. Polrail may or may not be able to arrange the return reservation back from Kyiv.
To book onward trains from Kyiv to Odessa and other places in Ukraine, see the Ukraine page.

The Warsaw to Kiev train at Warsaw Centralna

The Kyiv Express. Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com.


1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper.		Washbasin.		Kyiv Express.

Frankfurt to Moscow, St Petersburg & Russia

Option 1, Frankfurt to Moscow via Kyiv - avoids Belarus, daily departures. Suspended due to sanctions.

Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Kyiv as explained in detail above, taking a morning train to Vienna on day 1 and overnight sleeper from Vienna to Kyiv, arriving in late afternoon on day 2.
Step 2, take one of the various Kyiv to Moscow sleeper trains, for example train 6 leaves Kyiv at 19:36 arriving Moscow Kievskaya station at 10:09 the next morning (= the morning of day 3 from Frankfurt).
This train was suspended due to Covid-19 and remains suspended due to sanctions & the war in Ukraine.
The fare is around €92 with a bed in 4-berth kupé or €180 with a bed in a 2-berth spalny vagon.

You can ask www.polrail.com to book this for you too, or you can book tickets from Kyiv to Moscow at the Ukrainian Railways site booking.uz.gov.ua/en/ booking from Kyiv to Moskva Kievskaya. You collect tickets at the station in Kyiv. Feedback appreciated!

Option 2, Frankfurt to Moscow using the Berlin-Moscow sleeper train, twice a week. Suspended due to sanctions

Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Berlin from €27.90. For example, the 14:13 from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf arrives Berlin Hbf at 18:29, but by all means take an earlier train and have dinner in Berlin. Book this at int.bahn.de and print your own ticket.
Step 2, travel from Berlin to Moscow by direct Russian sleeper train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 20:08 on Mondays & Saturdays, arriving at Moscow Belorussky station at 21:24 next day.
This train was suspended due to Covid-19 and remains suspended due to sanctions & the war in Ukraine.
This train is an articulated Spanish-built Talgo train branded Strizh (Russian for swift) which started running in 2016. It has ordinary seats, 2nd class 4-berth sleepers, 1st class 1 or 2 berth sleepers with washbasin and deluxe 1 or 2 berth sleepers with en suite shower & toilet. There's a restaurant & bistro car.
Russian track gauge is 5', but most of Europe (including the UK) is 4' 8½", so at Brest on the Belarus frontier the Talgo train runs through a special gauge-changing shed and the axles automatically adjust to the new gauge. Once in Russia, the scenery is rolling hills, birch tree forests, and villages of small wooden houses. Approaching Moscow, you may glimpse the plaques on the station building marked '1812' and '1942' as the train passes through the small station of historic Borodino.

You can book the Berlin-Moscow train at the Russian Railways website www.rzd.ru and print your own ticket, it's a little fiddly but usually works, or you can easily buy it online with English language after-sales service if you need it, using the Real Russia online system here.

Don't forget to arrange both your Russian visa and Belarus transit visa as the train runs via Belarus. See my important update about travel to Russia through Belarus.

Option 3, Frankfurt to Moscow using the daily Warsaw-Moscow sleeper.

Day 1, take a late afternoon or early evening train from Frankfurt to Berlin, it takes just 4h10 from €27.90 with regular departures, check times and buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de and print your own ticket.

Day 2 morning, travel from Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity train leaving Berlin Hbf at 09:52 daily and arriving Warsaw Centralna at 15:14. Fares start at €27.90, also booked at int.bahn.de.
Alternatively, on Mondays to Saturdays you can take the earlier 05:52 EuroCity train arriving 11:16, which gives you time to explore Warsaw, see Warsaw Centralna station & city information. Warsaw's historic old town is a 30 minute walk from Centralna station - if you fancy a modest splurge, the celebrated Ufukiera restaurant (www.ufukiera.pl) is excellent and right on the square in the heart of Warsaw's old town. The Palace of Culture (a wedding cake style Soviet skyscraper and distinctive Warsaw landmark, www.pkin.pl) is right next to the station and has a viewing terrace on the 30th floor.
Tip: It's usually cheaper to book like this: Go to int.bahn.de and set up an enquiry from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Warsaw Centralna, click Stopovers and enter Berlin Hbf with a length of stay of (say) 10 hours. You'll then get a through fare from €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class with an overnight stop in Berlin built in. Adjust the departure time and length of stay as necessary to get the trains you want in the evening and morning.

Alternatively, you could leave Frankfurt earlier on day 1 and go Frankfurt-Warsaw all in one day, and staying overnight in Warsaw rather than Berlin.

Day 2, travel from Warsaw to Moscow by Russian sleeper train, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 19:15 daily and arriving Moscow Belorussky at 16:58 next day (day 3 from Frankfurt). You can check times at the Russian Railways website www.rzd.ru.
This train is currently suspended due to sanctions & the war in Ukraine.
This train uses impressive Austrian-built sleeping-cars with 4-berth compartments built in 2014, see photos of this type of sleeper here & see panorama photo inside one of these modern sleepers. Each compartment can be sold as 1st class 1-berth, 1st class 2-berth or 2nd class 4-berth. The train consist of two or three sleeping-car which start their journey in Prague. There's a bistro car in Poland and a Russian restaurant car is attached between Brest (on the Polish/Belarus border) & Moscow.

You can book this train by contacting reliable Polish train ticketing agency www.polrail.com - their booking system is at http://booking.polrail.com. Tickets can be collected in Warsaw or (at extra charge) shipped to any address worldwide.

Alternatively, you can book with Russian Railways at www.rzd.ru although it's a little quirky and may not accept some overseas credit cards.

Don't forget to arrange both your Russian visa & Belarus transit visa as the train runs via Belarus. See my important update about travel to Russia through Belarus.

For St Petersburg it's best to travel via Moscow. Moscow to St Petersburg takes as little as 3h50 by daytime Sapsan trains, or can be done an a number of traditional overnight sleepers. See the train travel in Russia page to buy tickets within Russia.


These modern sleeping-cars run from Warsaw to Moscow.

Frankfurt to Athens, Corfu & Greece

Option 1, Frankfurt to Athens by train & ferry via Italy - the leisurely option with an Adriatic cruise thrown in

The best and most comfortable option is to pick up a ferry in Bari. The whole scenic and relaxing journey to Athens will take around 2 nights & 3 days, depending how the connections work out on your particular date.
Day 1, travel from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Verona Porta Nuova via Munich and the scenic Brenner Pass on any train you like.

Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Check times & buy a ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de,

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I'd change Transfer time from normal to 40 minutes. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

Stay overnight in Verona. Hotels near the station with good or great reviews include the Corte Merighi Rooms & Breakfast, Novo Hotel Rossi, Guesthouse Verona or (a little closer to the centre but with fab reviews) the Relais Empire.
Day 2, travel from Verona to Bari, leaving Verona Porta Nuova around 07:50.

Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.

Book this at either www.italiarail.com (they'll refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com. Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

In Bari, transfer from station to port, see map of Bari showing station, port entrance, check-in building & Superfast Ferries berth.

You can walk the 1.9 km from the station to the port entrance in 25 minutes, a stroll through Bari's pleasant old town, see correct walking map from the station to the port entrance gate - if Google tells you any different, trust me, not Google!

Alternatively, bus 50 runs from Bari Centrale station to the road outside the port gate roughly every 40 minutes. A taxi will take 10 minutes.

Day 2, sail overnight from Bari to Patras in Greece with Superfast Ferries.

The ferry sails from Bari at 19:30 on Mondays-Saturdays, arriving Patras at 13:00 next day (Day 3).

On Sundays the ship sails at 13:30, too early to make connections from Milan.

You can check sailing times & dates at using the Direct Ferries website or at www.superfast.com or www.ferriesingreece.com.

You should check in at the Superfast desk on the ground floor of the cruise terminal (Terminal Crociere) at Bari port with passport & booking number to get your boarding pass, ideally 3 hours before departure in summer, although in practice 2 hours or even 1½ hours is normally fine.

You then walk 500m from check-in to the ferry, board the ferry via the foot passenger gangway at the stern and head up the escalator to the main lounge and reception desk to get your cabin key.

The ship is comfortable, with self-service restaurant, lounge, bar and sun deck. You can book a deck place (a good & cheap option in summer if you have your own sleeping bag), a reclining seat or various types of cabin, all with private shower & toilet. Strolling the decks in the morning sun as the ship cruises past the islands of Cephalonia and Ithaca is the nicest part of the trip, and it's a wonderful way to arrive in Greece.

In Patras, the ferry arrives at the new South ferry terminal a few km from the town centre. Bus 18 links the port with the Patras bus station every hour on the hour, fare €1.20 or you can hop in a taxi for around €9, journey time 15-20 minutes.

Day 3, travel from Patras to Athens by Greek Railways bus/train combo.

Hellenic Train (Greek Railways) operate an integrated bus/train service from Patras to Athens every hour or two, total journey time 3h02, fare around €18. No prior reservation is necessary, just buy a ticket to Athens at Patras railway station ticket office.
For example, at the time I write this, buses leave from outside Patras railway station at 14:15, 15:15, 16:00, 17:15 & 18:15, taking 90 minutes to reach Kiato railway station near Corinthos. At Kiato they connect with a modern air-conditioned regional train taking 78 minutes to Athens Larissa Station in downtown Athens. You can check Patra to Athens bus/train times using the journey planner at www.hellenictrain.gr.

The ferry Superfast II from Bari to Patras, boarding at Bari. Photos courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com.

The passenger gangway, onto the ferry.

Reception desk & lounge on the ferry.

Lounge and bar on the Superfast II.

Self-service restaurant.

Private cabin with en suite toilet & shower.

The ferry passes Cephalonia & Ithaca then approaches mainland Greece. This is what travel to Greece should be like!

The ferry approaches the new port of Patras.

Option 2, Frankfurt to Athens overland by train via Munich & Belgrade - a rail adventure across the Balkans

This is not a viable option as there are currently no international trains to or from Greece.

Frankfurt to Istanbul

Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Bucharest as shown above.

Do not risk any tight connections in Bucharest, I'd allow a minimum of 2 hours, or plan an overnight stop.

Step 2, travel overnight from Bucharest to Istanbul as shown on the Bucharest to Istanbul page.
Book online as shown on those pages, but you should consider using an Interrail pass for the flexibility it gives. You'll find more info about using a pass for a journey like this on the London to Istanbul page.

Hotels in Frankfurt

For advice on hotels in Frankfurt, see the hotels section on the Frankfurt Hbf page.

My 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.

Travel insurance & VPN

Always take out travel insurance

Never travel overseas without travel insurance from a reliable insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover. It should also cover cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible limit. An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself. Here are some suggested insurers. Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.

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

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

If you live in the USA try Travel Guard USA.

Get an eSIM with mobile data package

Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a mobile data package for the country you're visiting and stay connected. Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM card so you don't need to buy a physical SIM, including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list. 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.

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 at time of writing. The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.

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 digging 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.

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

When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure. 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 explained. ExpressVPN 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 the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription. I get a small commission to help support this site.

Carry an Anker powerbank

Tickets, reservations, vaccination records and Interrail or Eurail passes are often held digitally on your mobile phone, so it's vital to keep it charged. I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over if I can't get to a power outlet. Buy from Amazon.co.uk or from Buy from Amazon.com.

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The passenger gangway, onto the ferry.		Reception desk & lounge on the ferry.

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