UK to Austria without flying:  City of Salzburg.

London to Austria by train in a day!

It's easy to travel from the UK to Austria by train.  You can travel from London to Vienna, Salzburg or Innsbruck in a day by high-speed train.  Or take an afternoon Eurostar from London to Brussels or Paris from £78 return and the excellent Nightjet sleeper train from Brussels or Paris to Salzburg & Vienna from €59 each way with couchette.  How about the scenic route through Switzerland?  London to Paris by afternoon Eurostar in 2h20 and an evening TGV-Lyria onwards to Zurich in 4h05, stay overnight, then take a morning railjet train from Zurich to Innsbruck, Salzburg or Vienna through the fabulous Arlberg Pass.  It's comfortable, affordable and much better for the environment than any flight.  This page explains train times, fares & how to buy tickets.

  London to Linz & Vienna

  London to Salzburg

  London to Innsbruck, St Anton, Kitzbühel & Tirol

  London to Graz

  London to Hallstatt, Villach, Klagenfurt

  London to Austria via the Harwich-Hoek ferry

  UK to Austria by ferry from Newcastle or Hull

  Starting from other UK towns & cities

Train travel within Austria

  Train travel in Austria

International trains to & from Austria

  Which station in Vienna?

  Trains from Vienna to other European cities

  Trains from Salzburg to other European cities

  Trains from Innsbruck to other European cities

  Trains from other European cities to Austria

Useful travel information

  Useful country information: currency, dial code...

  Hotel recommendations in Vienna & Salzburg

  Holidays & tours to Austria by train

  General European train travel information

  Child age limits & travel with kids

  Luggage on trains   Left luggage at stations

  Taking your bike  -  Taking your dog

  Insurance, mobile data, VPN & other tips

  ÖBB first class lounges

  Vienna Hbf station guide

  Salzburg station guide

  Innsbruck Hbf station guide

Interactive map

Click a route or destination for times, fares & tickets.

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Useful country information

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London to Linz & Vienna

Which route to choose?

• Option 1, London to Vienna in a single day by high-speed train.  Take Eurostar to Brussels and luxurious ICE trains from Brussels to Frankfurt & Frankfurt to Vienna.  Fares start at €52 one-way or £78 return for London-Brussels plus €46.90 each way for Brussels-Vienna.

• Option 2, lunchtime Eurostar to Brussels and the Brussels-Vienna Nightjet sleeper.  The most time-effective option:  Take Eurostar from London to Brussels then the excellent Nightjet sleeper train from Brussels to Vienna on Tuesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays, arriving next morning.  The Nightjet has sleeping-cars (1, 2 & 3-bed sleepers, some with shower & toilet), couchettes (basic bunks with sheet, blanket & pillow in 4 or 6 berth compartments) & ordinary seats.

• Option 3, lunchtime Eurostar to Paris and the Paris-Vienna Nightjet sleeper.  As time-effective as option 2 and running on the same 3 days a week, but via Paris.  Take an afternoon Eurostar to Paris then the excellent Nightjet sleeper train from Paris to Vienna, arriving next morning.  There's no need to cross Paris, just a 7-minute walk between the Gare du Nord & Gare de l'Est.  The Nightjet has sleeping-cars (1, 2 & 3-bed sleepers, some with shower & toilet), couchettes (basic bunks with sheet, blanket & pillow in 4 or 6 berth compartments) & ordinary seats.

• Option 4, morning Eurostar to Amsterdam and the Amsterdam-Vienna Nightjet sleeper.  Take a late morning Eurostar to Amsterdam, spend some free time in the Dutch capital, then take the daily Nightjet sleeper train from Amsterdam to Vienna.  What's not to like?

• Option 5, by daytime trains with an overnight stop in Zurich.  The scenic route!  Take a lunchtime Eurostar to Paris and an evening high-speed TGV-Lyria to Zurich and stay overnight.  Next morning, take a swish Austrian Railjet train through the scenic Arlberg Pass to Vienna arriving early evening.  See the video.

• Option 6, by ferry from Harwich:  Evening departure from London or Cambridge on the overnight rail & sail service to Amsterdam, sleeping in a cosy private cabin with toilet, shower & satellite TV on the Harwich-Hoek van Holland ferry.  Next day, take daytime trains to Austria, or spend a day in Amsterdam then take the Nightjet sleeper from Amsterdam to Vienna.  This route is useful if you need to go at short notice when all the cheap Eurostar tickets have sold out, if you live in East Anglia and want to by-pass London, or want to avoid the Channel Tunnel.

• Option 7, by ferry from Newcastle or Hull:  By-pass London by sailing overnight from Newcastle or Hull to Holland.  Spend the day in Amsterdam, then take the Nightjet sleeper train to Vienna.

Which option is cheapest?  You have to go online and see, because each option involves several tickets and the price of each ticket varies like an air fare.  However, the London-Vienna in a day option is usually cheapest as no sleepers or hotels are involved.  At short notice, the Harwich ferry option may be cheaper than Eurostar.

Can you go out one way, back another?  Yes!  Almost all European train fares are priced as one-way, so you can book one-way out on one route and one-way back on another.  Eurostar is the exception where a return fare is cheaper than two one-ways, so book London-Paris or London-Brussels as a round trip if you can.

Can you stop off?  Of course!  Simply book trains either side of the stopover on whatever dates you want.  Each part of these journeys is ticketed separately in any case (for example, the Eurostar and the sleeper train), so it's no problem to stop off on the way in (for example) Paris or Brussels.

What if you're not starting from London?  See this advice about starting your journey from elsewhere in the UK.

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Option 1, London to Vienna in a day

	An ICE to Frankfurt at Brussels Midi.  More photos & information about ICE trains.

Thanks to Europe's high-speed trains, it's possible to travel from London to Vienna in a single day, potentially the cheapest option.

The Man in Seat61 says:  "Returning from a conference in Vienna, I travelled back to London by high-speed train in a single day.  ICEs are amongst Europe's most luxurious high-speed trains, a day of me-time, chilling out with a good book, with a refreshing Weissbier or two in the restaurant car as you speed through the landscapes of Austria, Germany & Belgium.  Breakfast & lunch are served on real china, you'll even glimpse the Danube after Passau as you'll see in my video..."

London ► Vienna (06:16 departure, Monday-Friday)

• Step 1, travel from London to Brussels by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 06:16 on Mondays-Fridays only, arriving Brussels Midi 09:12.

  Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Standard Premier & Business Premier fares include breakfast.

• Step 2, travel from Brussels to Frankfurt by high-speed ICE3 train, leaving Brussels Midi at 10:25 and arriving in Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen at 13:17.  There's a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Step 3, travel from Frankfurt to Vienna by ICE-T train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen at 14:01 and arriving in Linz 19:26 & Vienna Hbf 20:47.  The ICE has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Virtual tour of ICE-T train.  Map of Vienna showing station.

London ► Vienna (08:16 departure, daily)

• Step 1, travel from London to Brussels by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 08:16 every day, arriving Brussels Midi at 11:12.

  Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Standard Premier & Business Premier fares include breakfast.

  A later departure at 09:01 is possible with a 20-minute connection in Brussels, but as you're connecting with the last train of the day into Vienna, I'd play safe and take the 08:16.

• Step 2, travel from Brussels to Frankfurt by high-speed ICE3 train, leaving Brussels Midi at 12:25 and arriving in Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen at 15:17.  There's a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Step 3, travel from Frankfurt to Vienna by ICE-T train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen at 16:01 and arriving in Linz 21:36 & Vienna Hbf 23:05.  The ICE has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Virtual tour of ICE-T train.  Map of Vienna showing station.

Vienna ► London (07:13 departure, daily)

• Step 1, travel from Vienna to Frankfurt by high-speed ICE-T train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 07:13 or Linz Hbf at 08:34 every day, arriving Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen at 13:55.  There's a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Virtual tour of ICE-T train.

• Step 2, travel from Frankfurt to Brussels by high-speed ICE3 train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen at 14:31 and arriving Brussels Midi at 17:35.  There's a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Step 3, travel from Brussels to London by Eurostar, leaving Brussels Midi at 18:51 daily arriving London St Pancras at 19:47.  Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Standard Premier & Business Premier fares include dinner with wine.

Vienna ► London (09:13 departure, daily)

• Step 1, travel from Vienna to Frankfurt by high-speed ICE-T train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 09:13 or Linz Hbf at 10:34 every day, arriving Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen at 15:55. There's a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Virtual tour of ICE-T train.

• Step 2, travel from Frankfurt to Brussels by high-speed ICE3 train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen at 16:31 and arriving Brussels Midi at 19:35.  There's a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Step 3, travel from Brussels to London by Eurostar, leaving Brussels Midi at 20:56 Monday-Friday & Sunday arriving London St Pancras 21:57 or at 20:22 Saturdays arriving London St Pancras 21:27.

  Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Standard Premier & Business Premier fares include dinner with wine.  There's no Eurostar connection on Saturdays.

How much does it cost?

• London to Brussels by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £97 one-way, £140 return standard premier (1st class).

• Brussels to Vienna by ICE starts at €46.90 each way in 2nd class or €79.90 each way in 1st class.

• Fares vary like air fares, so for the cheapest prices book ahead and avoid busy times such as Fridays or Sunday afternoons.

• If making a round trip at short notice when regular fares exceed €140 each way, consider using an Interrail pass.

How to buy tickets

• Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com.

  Using www.raileurope.com means you can book all your trains together in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $, international credit cards accepted.  There's a small booking fee.  Who are Raileurope?

• Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, but significantly less than this for dates immediately after the timetable change in mid-December.  More about when booking opens.

• Enter London to Vienna one-way or return in either direction, and enter your dates of travel and a morning departure time. 

  I recommend clicking More options and entering Brussels (any station) as a via station.  Leave stopover duration as 0.

  Seat reservations are automatically included on the London-Brussels Eurostar, but are optional for a small extra charge on the Brussels-Frankfurt & Frankfurt-Vienna ICE trains.

• In the search results, look carefully for the option shown as having 2 changes with times that match the ones shown above.  Click the arrow for details and confirm that this is indeed the one with changes at Brussels & Frankfurt.

• Check out and print your tickets, and off you go.

Another way to buy tickets

• This is a more work, but with no booking fee.  Do a dry run on both sites first to check availability & prices, also check that your outward Eurostar and ICE are indeed a recognised connection by checking that they appear as a valid connection when you run a London to Cologne enquiry at int.bahn.de.

• Step 1, book the Eurostar from London to Brussels (and back, if returning) at www.eurostar.com and print your own ticket, or load it into the Eurostar app to show on your phone.  After booking you can use the Eurostar Manage Booking system to select an exact seat on Eurostar.

• Step 2, book from Brussels to Vienna at the German Railways site 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 and check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.  An advantage of booking direct with int.bahn.de is that you can select an exact seat on ICE trains from a seating plan.

• Tip: With int.bahn.de you can add a stopover and still get the end-to-end cheap fare, it allows up to 2 stopovers within the 2-day ticket validity to be incorporated in your booking using the Stopovers link.  You can specify the length of stay in hours.  Why not stop off in Cologne or Nuremberg?

Using an Interrail pass

• Pass or point to point?

  Let's be clear, a pass will not save money over the cheapest point-to-point advance-purchase fares you might see if you book a few months ahead.  But when point-to-point fares are expensive (for example, at short notice) OR you want flexibility, for example the ability to change your mind, re-route or reschedule as necessary, a pass might be what you need.

  If flexibility is what you want, buy the pass.  If it's about saving money, you'll have to check point-to-point prices and do the maths.

  It's worth doing the maths if you are under 28, if you have kids (kids get a free pass when accompanying an adult but still need to pay reservation fees) or if you live a long way from London (as a pass covers you from your home station to London). Passes are available in 1st & 2nd class.

• How to use a pass for a trip to Austria

  Step 1, buy a 4-days in 1-month Interrail pass from www.raileurope.com (click Rail passes then select Europe) or www.interrail.eu, see pass prices on the Interrail page.  You load the pass into the Railplanner app on your phone.

  A 4-day pass is enough to get from almost anywhere in mainland Britain to anywhere in Austria & back again.

  A 4-day pass gives you unlimited train travel on any 4 dates you choose in an overall 1 month period.  The first travel day can be any date you select in the 11 months after buying the pass, the overall 1 month period starts from that date.  Learn about how Interrail passes work here.

  Step 2, make a Eurostar passholder reservation from London to Brussels & back, see prices & how to make Eurostar passholder reservations online.  Tip:  Eurostar passholder availability is limited, check availability before buying a pass.

  Step 3, reservations between Brussels and Vienna are usually optional, you can just sit in any empty unreserved seat and show your pass when asked.  But it's a good idea to reserve seats for long journeys, you can reserve for around €5 each way at int.bahn.de by entering Brussels to Vienna and clicking the Book seat only link under the red search button.

  By all means go out one way, back another, with an Interrail pass you can use almost any of the trains & routes to/from Austria shown on this page, find out how to reserve the relevant trains using the Interrail reservations guide.

Have your trip arranged as a package

• Railbookers are a train travel specialist who can put together a tour or holiday to Austria for you as a package, including rail travel, hotels & transfers.  On their website you'll find a range of suggested tours & holidays which can be varied or customised to your own requirements.  And as you're booking a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens to one part of the itinerary such as a strike or delay.  They get very positive reviews.  One of their most popular trips is their Ultimate Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest which starts by train from the UK.  It can be customised to include train travel back to the UK as well, just ask them.

    UK call 0207 864 4600, www.railbookers.co.uk

    US call free 1-888-829-4775, www.railbookers.com

    Canada call 1-855-882-2910, www.railbookers.com

    Australia call 1300 971 526, www.railbookers.com.au

    New Zealand call 0800 000 554 or see website

• Byway (Byway.travel) is a UK-based eco-holiday firm with a 5-star TrustPilot rating.  If you're nervous about booking train travel yourself, book a one-way or return UK-Austria trip through Byway as a package, including hotels and starting from any British station you like.  Byway includes package protection, a 100% Covid refund guarantee, free disruption and re-planning and on-demand WhatsApp support while you're away.

  They can build a trip to your requirements if you phone 0300 131 7173 (open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday, from outside the UK call +443001317173) or email them or use this contact form.  Please say you heard about them from Seat 61.

• Tailor Made Rail can also organise a trip to Austria by train, with hotels and transfers. Call their dedicated seat61 phone line 020 3778 1461 and quote seat 61 when booking.  From outside the UK call +44 20 3778 1461.  Lines open 09:00-17:30 Monday-Friday.  Their website is www.tailormaderail.com/destinations/austria.

How to buy tickets by phone

• It's better to book online to avoid additional phone booking fees and so you can see for yourself which departures are cheapest for each stage of the journey.  Most ticketing agencies only work office hours on weekdays, but online booking is possible 24/7.  However, if you want to book by phone, see my list of UK ticketing agencies with phone numbers & opening hours.

What's the journey like?

1. London to Brussels by Eurostar

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

3. Brussels to Frankfurt by ICE3

Germany's superb ICE (InterCity Express) high-speed trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st class, food & drink orders are taken and served at your seat.  The ICE3neo train from Brussels to Frankfurt calls at Liège, where you can admire the impressive station designed by celebrity architect Santiago Calatrava, and at Cologne Hbf, where you'll see Cologne Cathedral to the right as you approach, right next to the station.  Immediately after leaving Cologne Hbf, the train crosses the long Hohenzollern bridge over the Rhine before joining the 300km/h high-speed line to Frankfurt.  More about ICE trains.  Brussels Midi station guide.  Frankfurt (Main) Hbf station guide.

An ICE3neo at Brussels Midi with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about ICE trains.  Photo above courtesy of Christian Hunt.

3. Frankfurt to Vienna by ICE-T

Also with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st class, food & drink orders are taken and served at your seat.  On the ICE-T train from Frankfurt to Vienna you'll pass rolling countryside, it runs along the Danube in several places.  More about ICE trains.  Frankfurt (Main) Hbf station guide.  Vienna Hbf station guide.

An ICE-T from Frankfurt to Vienna with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about ICE trains.

Chill out across Germany & Austria, with glimpses of the Inn and Danube rivers.

Video: Vienna to London by train in a day

The video shows departure from Vienna Westbahnhof, but remember that the train now leaves from Vienna's new Hauptbahnhof.

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Option 2, London to Vienna using the Brussels-Vienna Nightjet

This is the easiest & most time-effective way from London to Vienna.  Take Eurostar to Brussels then the excellent Nightjet sleeper from Brussels to Vienna, this runs 3-times-a-week but should become daily from autumn 2024.  Incidentally, option 3 is almost identical, but via Paris rather than Brussels, so check that out too.

London ► Vienna

• Step 1, travel from London to Brussels by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 13:01 and arriving Brussels Midi 16:06.

  Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Standard Premier & Business Premier fares include lunch with wine.

  You could book the later 15:04 departure, but the 13:01 is a safer connection as the sleeper is occasionally retimed earlier.

  Tip:  At Brussels Midi, the Pullman Hotel bar makes an excellent VIP waiting room.

• Step 2, travel from Brussels to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Brussels Midi at 19:07 on Tuesdays & Thursdays, 19:03 on Saturdays, arriving Linz 08:46, St Pölten 09:36, Vienna Meidling 10:05 & Vienna Hbf 10:13.  This train is expected to become daily from autumn 2024.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars each with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The train has two couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and an ordinary seats car.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

  There's no restaurant car, but in sleepers or couchettes you can order drinks, snacks and hot dishes from a room service menu, served in your compartment.  The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee, served in your compartment.

  The train travels along the famous Rhine Valley between Koblenz (23:46) and Mainz (00:39), so if you're still awake and your compartment happens to be on the left-hand side of the train, switch off the lights and watch the Rhine pass by, mountains, vineyards, castles & the legendary Lorelei Rock lit by moonlight.  Wonderful!

Vienna ► London

• Step 1, travel from Vienna to Brussels by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Vienna Hbf 19:38, Vienna Meidling 19:46, Linz 21:04 on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, arriving Brussels Midi 09:56 next morning.  This train is expected to become daily from autumn 2024.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars each with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The train has two couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and an ordinary seats car.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

  There's no restaurant car, but in sleepers or couchettes you can order drinks, snacks and hot dishes from a room service menu, served in your compartment.  The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee.

  Tip:  If you have a sleeper, you can use the ÖBB lounge at Vienna Hbf with complimentary tea, coffee, snacks & free WiFi.

  Tip:  On arrival at Brussels Midi, the Pullman Hotel bar makes an excellent VIP waiting room.

• Step 2, travel from Brussels to London by Eurostar, leaving Brussels Midi at 12:52 arriving London St Pancras at 13:57.

  Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Standard Premier & Business Premier fares include dinner with wine.

How much does it cost?

Fares vary like air fares, book early for the cheapest prices.  Return fares are twice the one-way fare.

On the sleeper train, berths are sold individually, so one ticket means one bed, the other beds in your compartment will be sold to other passengers.  For sole occupancy, simply book 1 ticket in a 1-berth sleeper or 2 tickets in a 2-berth sleeper or 4 tickets in a 4-berth couchette and so on.

How to buy tickets

• Step 1, book the Nightjet sleeper train from Brussels to Vienna at www.thetrainline.com and add to basket.  Who are Thetrainline.com?

  Using www.thetrainline.com allows you to book all your tickets in one place, in €, £ or $, international cards no problem, small booking fee.  Booking for this Nightjet typically opens 3-4 months ahead, but this can vary.  More about when bookings open.  Child under 6?  See here.

• Step 2, now use www.thetrainline.com again to book the London-Brussels Eurostar connection, add to basket & check out.

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

  Tip:  After booking you can use the Manage booking facility at www.eurostar.com to choose an exact seat from a seating plan, see tips on choosing a seat on Eurostar.

  Tip:  If you're travelling from a town or city north of London, see advice about buying domestic tickets to London to connect with Eurostar.

• Alternatively, you can book the Nightjet at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €) and then the Eurostar at www.eurostar.com.  It means more work on multiple websites, prices should be the same, but no booking fee.

Or use an Interrail pass

• Pass or point to point?

  Let's be clear, a pass will not save money over the cheapest point-to-point advance-purchase fares you might see if you book a few months ahead.  But when point-to-point fares are expensive (for example, at short notice) OR you want flexibility, for example the ability to change your mind, re-route or reschedule as necessary, a pass might be what you need.

  If flexibility is what you want, buy the pass.  If it's about saving money, you'll have to check point-to-point prices and do the maths.

  It's worth doing the maths if you are under 28, if you have kids (kids get a free pass when accompanying an adult but still need to pay reservation fees) or if you live a long way from London (as a pass covers you from your home station to London).  Passes are available in 1st & 2nd class, a 2nd class pass is all you need to book any type of sleeper on the Nightjet, even a deluxe.

• How to use a pass for a trip to Austria

  Step 1, buy a 4-days in 1-month Interrail pass from www.raileurope.com (click Rail passes then select Europe) or www.interrail.eu, see pass prices on the Interrail page.  You load the pass into the Railplanner app on your phone.

  A 4-day pass is enough to get from almost anywhere in mainland Britain to anywhere in Austria & back again.

  A 4-day pass gives you unlimited train travel on any 4 dates you choose in an overall 1 month period.  The first travel day can be any date you select in the 11 months after buying the pass, the overall 1 month period starts from that date.  Learn about how Interrail passes work here.

  Step 2, make a Eurostar passholder reservation from London to Brussels & back, €30 each way.  See prices & how to make Eurostar passholder reservations online.  Tip:  Eurostar passholder availability is limited, so check availability before buying a pass.

  Step 3, make a couchette or sleeper reservation on the Nightjet sleeper at www.oebb.at following the instructions here, method 1.  Prices can be found on the Interrail reservations page.

  By all means go out one way, back another, with an Interrail pass you can use almost any of the trains & routes to/from Austria shown on this page, find out how to reserve the relevant trains using the Interrail reservations guide.

Have your trip arranged as a package

• Railbookers are a train travel specialist who can put together a tour or holiday to Austria for you as a package, including rail travel, hotels & transfers.  On their website you'll find a range of suggested tours & holidays which can be varied or customised to your own requirements.  And as you're booking a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens to one part of the itinerary such as a strike or delay.  One of their most popular trips is their Ultimate Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest which starts by train from the UK.  It can be customised to include train travel back to the UK as well, just ask them.

  UK call 0207 864 4600, www.railbookers.co.uk. 

  US call free 1-888-829-4775, www.railbookers.com

  Canada call free 1-855-882-2910, www.railbookers.com

  Australia call toll-free 1300 971 526, www.railbookers.com.au. 

  New Zealand call toll-free 0800 000 554 or see website.

• Byway (Byway.travel) is a UK-based eco-holiday firm with a 5-star TrustPilot rating.  If you're nervous about booking train travel yourself, book a UK-Austria trip through Byway as a package, including hotels and starting from any British station you like.  Byway includes package protection, a 100% Covid refund guarantee, free disruption and re-planning and on-demand WhatsApp support while you're away.

  They can build a trip to your requirements if you phone 0300 131 7173 (open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday, from outside the UK call +443001317173) or email them or use this contact form.  Please say you heard about them from Seat 61.

How to buy tickets by phone

• It's better to book online to avoid additional phone booking fees and so you can see for yourself which departures are cheapest for each stage of the journey.  Most ticketing agencies only work office hours on weekdays, but online booking is possible 24/7.  However, if you want to book by phone, see my list of UK ticketing agencies with phone numbers & opening hours.

What's the journey like?

1. London to Brussels by Eurostar

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

2. Brussels to Vienna by Nightjet  See the Nightjet guide

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

Video guide: By Nightjet to Vienna

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Option 3, London to Vienna using the Paris-Vienna Nightjet

Almost identical to option 2, but via Paris instead of Brussels.  Option 2 involves an easy same-station change in Brussels from Eurostar to Nightjet, this involves an easy 7 minute walk from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de l'Est, that's the only real difference.  The Paris-Salzburg (-Vienna) & Brussels-Salzburg (-Vienna) Nightjets run on the same 3 days of the week, in fact they run coupled together as a single train between Mannheim and Vienna.

London ► Vienna

• Step 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 14:31 and arriving Paris Gare du Nord at 17:48.

  Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Standard Premier & Business Premier fares include lunch with wine.

  In Paris, it's an easy 7 minute 500m walk from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de l'Est.

  Tip:  I'd take the earlier 12:31 Eurostar from London and have an early dinner in Paris, see recommended restaurants near the Gare du Nord, see recommended restaurants in or near the Gare de l'Est.  I recommend the oysters & white wine at the Brasserie Terminus Nord.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Paris Gare de l'Est at 19:12 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays, arriving Linz 08:46, St Pölten 09:36, Vienna Meidling 10:05 & Vienna Hbf 10:13.  This train is expected to become daily from autumn 2024.

  Important update 2024:  ÖBB have given up trying to run this train from 12 August to 25 October 2024, due to the amount of trackwork.  Use the Brussels-Vienna sleeper instead (option 2) as this will run.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars each with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The train has two couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and two ordinary seats cars.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

  There's no restaurant car, but in sleepers or couchettes you can order drinks, snacks and hot dishes from a room service menu, served in your compartment.  The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee, served in your compartment.

Vienna ► London

• Step 1, travel from Vienna to Paris by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:38, Vienna Meidling 19:46, Linz 21:04 on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 10:24 next morning.  This train is expected to become daily from autumn 2024.

  Important update 2024:  ÖBB have given up trying to run this train from 12 August to 25 October 2024, due to the amount of trackwork.  Use the Vienna-Brussels sleeper instead (option 2) as this will run.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars each with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The train has two couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and two ordinary seats cars.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

  There's no restaurant car, but in sleepers or couchettes you can order drinks, snacks and hot dishes from a room service menu, served in your compartment.  The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee.

  Tip:  If you have a ticket for a sleeper, you can use the ÖBB lounge at Vienna Hbf with complimentary tea, coffee, snacks & free WiFi.

  In Paris, it's an easy 7 minute 500m walk from the Gare de l'Est to the Gare du Nord.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to London by Eurostar, leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 13:12 daily arriving London St Pancras at 14:30.

  Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Standard Premier & Business Premier fares include lunch with wine.

How much does it cost?

Fares vary like air fares, book early for the cheapest prices.

On the sleeper train, berths are sold individually, so one ticket means one bed, the other beds in your compartment will be sold to other passengers.  For sole occupancy, simply book 1 ticket in a 1-berth sleeper or 2 tickets in a 2-berth sleeper or 4 tickets in a 4-berth couchette and so on.

Return fares are twice the one-way fare.

How to buy tickets

• Step 1, book the nightjet sleeper from Paris to Vienna at www.thetrainline.com and add to basket.  Who are Thetrainline.com?

  Using www.thetrainline.com allows you to book all your tickets in one place, in €, £ or $, international cards no problem, small booking fee. 

  Booking for this Nightjet typically opens 2-4 months ahead, it varies.  More about when bookings open.  Child under 6?  See here.

• Step 2, now use www.thetrainline.com again to book the London-Paris Eurostar connection, add to basket & check out.

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

  Tip:  After booking you can use the Manage booking facility at www.eurostar.com to choose an exact seat from a seating plan, see tips on choosing a seat on Eurostar.

  Tip:  If you're travelling from a town or city north of London, see advice about buying domestic tickets to London to connect with Eurostar.

• Alternatively, you can book the Nightjet sleeper train at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly, in €, has been known to reject some international cards, but no booking fee) and then the Eurostar at www.eurostar.com.  This means more work on multiple websites, prices should be exactly the same, but no booking fee.

Or use an Interrail pass

• Pass or point to point?

  Let's be clear, a pass will not save money over the cheapest point-to-point advance-purchase fares you might see if you book a few months ahead.  But when point-to-point fares are expensive (for example, at short notice) OR you want flexibility, for example the ability to change your mind, re-route or reschedule as necessary, a pass might be what you need.

  If flexibility is what you want, buy the pass.  If it's about saving money, you'll have to check point-to-point prices and do the maths.

  It's worth doing the maths if you are under 28, if you have kids (kids get a free pass when accompanying an adult but still need to pay reservation fees) or if you live a long way from London (as a pass covers you from your home station to London).  Passes are available in 1st & 2nd class, a 2nd class pass is all you need to book any type of sleeper on the Nightjet, even a deluxe.

• How to use a pass for a trip to Austria

  Step 1, buy a 4-days in 1-month Interrail pass from www.raileurope.com (click Rail passes then select Europe) or www.interrail.eu, see pass prices on the Interrail page.  You load the pass into the Railplanner app on your phone.

  A 4-day pass is enough to get from almost anywhere in mainland Britain to anywhere in Austria & back again.

  A 4-day pass gives you unlimited train travel on any 4 dates you choose in an overall 1 month period.  The first travel day can be any date you select in the 11 months after buying the pass, the overall 1 month period starts from that date.  Learn about how Interrail passes work here.

  Step 2, make a Eurostar passholder reservation from London to Paris & back, €30 each way.  See prices & how to make Eurostar passholder reservations online.  Tip:  Eurostar passholder availability is limited, so check availability before buying a pass.

  Step 3, make a couchette or sleeper reservation on the Nightjet sleeper at www.oebb.at following the instructions here, method 1.  Prices can be found on the Interrail reservations page.

  By all means go out one way, back another, with an Interrail pass you can use almost any of the trains & routes to/from Austria shown on this page, find out how to reserve the relevant trains using the Interrail reservations guide.

How to buy tickets by phone

• It's better to book online to avoid additional phone booking fees and so you can see for yourself which departures are cheapest for each stage of the journey.  Most ticketing agencies only work office hours on weekdays, but online booking is possible 24/7.  However, if you want to book by phone, see my list of UK ticketing agencies with phone numbers & opening hours.

What's the journey like?

1. London to Paris by Eurostar

Eurostar trains link London & Paris in just 2 hours 20 minutes, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More about Eurostar & check-in procedure.  St Pancras station guide.  Gare du Nord station guide.

2. Paris to Vienna by Nightjet  See the Nightjet guide

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

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Option 4, London to Vienna using the Amsterdam-Vienna Nightjet

This is similar to option 2, but instead of taking an afternoon Eurostar from London to Brussels and the 3-times-a-week Nightjet sleeper train from Brussels to Vienna, you take a late-morning Eurostar to Amsterdam, spend some time there, then take the daily Nightjet sleeper train from Amsterdam to Vienna.  This is a round-about route taking a few hours longer, but London-Amsterdam Eurostar fares are similar to (and often less than) London-Brussels fares, Amsterdam-Vienna Nightjet fares are the same as Brussels-Vienna, this option runs every day and you get some time in the Dutch capital.  What's not to like?

London ► Vienna

• Step 1, travel from London to Amsterdam by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 11:04 & arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 16:11.

  Times may vary, so check for your date at www.eurostar.com.  Always allow at least 1 hour between trains in Amsterdam, ideally more.

  Tip:  In Amsterdam, I recommend the Cafe 1e Klas as your VIP waiting room, also good for an early dinner before boarding your sleeper.

• Step 2, travel from Amsterdam to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 19:00 every day, arriving Wels 07:14, Linz 07:44, Vienna Meidling 09:08 & Vienna Hbf 09:17.

  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's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats cars.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

  There's no restaurant car, but in sleepers or couchettes you can order drinks, snacks and hot dishes from a room service menu, served in your compartment.  The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee, served in your compartment.

  The train travels along the famous Rhine Valley between Koblenz (23:46) and Mainz (00:39), so if you're still awake and your compartment happens to be on the left-hand side of the train, switch off the lights and watch the Rhine pass by, mountains, vineyards, castles & the legendary Lorelei Rock lit by moonlight.  Wonderful!

Vienna ► London

• Step 1, travel from Vienna to Amsterdam by direct Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 20:10, Vienna Meidling 20:17, Linz 21:34 or Wels 21:51 every day, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 09:59 next morning.

  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's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats cars.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

  There's no restaurant car, but in sleepers or couchettes you can order drinks, snacks and hot dishes from a room service menu, served in your compartment.  The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee.

  Tip:  If you have a ticket for a sleeper, you can use the ÖBB lounge at Vienna Hbf with complimentary tea, coffee, snacks & free WiFi.

  Tip:  In Amsterdam, I recommend the Cafe 1e Klas as your VIP waiting room.

• Step 2, travel from Amsterdam to London by Eurostar, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 13:47 arriving London St Pancras at 16:57.

  Times may vary, so check what trains Eurostar is running on your date at www.eurostar.com.  I'd allow at least 2 hours between trains in Amsterdam, ideally 3.  By all means book a later Eurostar and spend a day in Amsterdam!

How much does it cost?

Fares vary like air fares, book early for the cheapest prices.

On the sleeper train, berths are sold individually, so one ticket means one bed, the other beds in your compartment will be sold to other passengers.  For sole occupancy, simply book 1 ticket in a 1-berth sleeper or 2 tickets in a 2-berth sleeper or 4 tickets in a 4-berth couchette and so on.

Return fares are twice the one-way fare.

How to buy tickets

• Step 1, book the nightjet sleeper from Amsterdam to Vienna at www.thetrainline.com and add to basket.  Who are Thetrainline.com?

  Using www.thetrainline.com allows you to book all your tickets in one place, in €, £ or $, international cards no problem, small booking fee.

  Booking for this Nightjet typically opens 3-4 months ahead, but it can vary.  More about when bookings open.

• Step 2, now use www.thetrainline.com again to book a connecting London-Amsterdam Eurostar, add to basket & check out.

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

  Tip:  After booking you can use the Manage booking facility at www.eurostar.com to choose an exact seat from a seating plan, see tips on choosing a seat on Eurostar.

  Tip:  If you're travelling from a town or city north of London, see advice about buying domestic tickets to London to connect with Eurostar.

• Alternatively, you can book the Nightjet sleeper train at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly, in €, has been known to reject some international cards) and then the Eurostar at www.eurostar.com.  This means more work on multiple websites, prices should be the same, but there's no booking fee.

How to buy tickets by phone

• It's better to book online to avoid additional phone booking fees and so you can see for yourself which departures are cheapest for each stage of the journey.  Most ticketing agencies only work office hours on weekdays, but online booking is possible 24/7.  However, if you want to book by phone, see my list of UK ticketing agencies with phone numbers & opening hours.

What's the journey like?

1. London to Amsterdam by Eurostar

Eurostar trains link London & Amsterdam in just 3h55, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More about Eurostar & check-in procedure.  St Pancras station guide.  Amsterdam Centraal station guide.

2. Amsterdam to Vienna by Nightjet  See the Nightjet guide

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

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Option 5, London to Vienna with overnight stop in Zurich

The scenic route!  If you prefer daytime trains & scenery to overnight sleepers and want a leisurely journey with an overnight break, here's the scenic route with a hotel stop in Zurich.  Take an afternoon Eurostar & evening high-speed TGV-Lyria from London to Zurich in Switzerland, stay overnight, and next morning take a relaxing low-speed ride on a swish modern railjet train along the Zürichsee then snaking through the fabulous Arlberg Pass into Austria.  The world-class scenery through the Alps makes it a worthwhile experience!  By all means go one way by sleeper, the other by day.  See for yourself, watch the video & see the photos below.

First class on a railjet to Vienna, with a nice weissbier served at my seat.  Cheers!

London ► Vienna

• Day 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 12:31 arriving Paris Nord at 15:48.

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

• Day 1, travel from Paris to Zurich by TGV-Lyria, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 18:22 & arriving Zurich HB 22:26.

  This double-deck high-speed train travels at up to 320 km/h (199 mph), with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Book an upper deck seat for the best views, and seat number >60 is upper deck.

  There are earlier departures from London to Zurich if you'd like more of an evening in Zurich, see the London to Zurich timetable here.  Train leaves Paris at 18:19 on certain dates.

• 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.

• Day 2, travel from Zurich to Vienna by railjet train through the lovely Arlberg Pass on any train you like.

  The first train leaves Zurich HB at 06:40 arriving Linz at 13:15 & Vienna Hbf at 14:32.

  The next one leaves Zurich HB at 10:40 arriving Linz 17:15 & Vienna Hbf at 18:32.

  There are power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  There's a restaurant car for lunch, or in first & business classes food orders are taken by a steward & served at your seat, so treat yourself as the scenery passes by!

  This is an amazingly scenic route, the train runs along the Zürichsee and Walensee lakes, then hugs the mountainside and snakes through a huge valley, past Swiss & Austrian scenery taken straight from The Sound of Music.  Look out for views of Salzburg's castle on the right as the train crosses the River Salzach approaching Salzburg station.  See the Arlberg Railway page & watch the video!

  For the best views, find an unreserved seat on the left hand side of the train leaving Zurich, that way you'll be on the lake side of the train out of Zurich, the train reverses at Buchs, then you'll be on the right-hand (valley) side of the train through most of the Arlberg Pass, and on the right side for views of Salzburg castle.

Vienna ► London

• Day 1, travel from Vienna to Zurich through the Alps via the fabulous Arlberg Pass, with a number of departures to choose from:

  A railjet train leaves Vienna Hbf at 09:28 or Linz at 10:45, arriving Zurich HB at 17:20.

  A railjet train leaves Vienna Hbf at 13:28 or Linz at 14:45, arriving Zurich HB at 21:20.

  A railjet train leaves Vienna Hbf at 15:28 or Linz at 16:45, arriving Zurich HB at 00:12.

  There are power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  There's a restaurant car for lunch, or in first & business classes food orders are taken by a steward & served at your seat.

  It's a really scenic route - the train travels past Salzburg's impressive citadel, through the Austrian Tirol, snakes through the scenic Arlberg Pass in the Alps, then along the Walensee and Zürichsee lakes to Zurich.  See the Arlberg Railway page & Watch the video.

  For the best views, find an unreserved seat on the left hand side of the train leaving Vienna.  There are power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  A bistro car is available for lunch, or in first & business classes food orders are taken by the stewardess & served at your seat, so treat yourself!

• 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.

• Day 2, travel from Zurich to London using any of the services suggested on the London to Switzerland page.

  For example, you can leave Zurich HB by TGV-Lyria at 07:34 arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 11:38.  Cross Paris by metro or taxi to the Gare du Nord.  Leave Paris Gare du Nord by Eurostar at 15:12 arriving London St Pancras at 16:30.

  Or have a leisurely breakfast and leave Zurich HB by TGV-Lyria at 09:34 arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 13:38, connecting with the 17:12 Eurostar from Paris Nord arriving London St Pancras at 18:32  Or there's a later 11:34 from Zurich, too.

How much does it cost?

• London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £97 one-way, £168 return standard premier (1st class).

• Paris to Zurich by TGV-Lyria starts at €29 each way in 2nd class or €79 in 1st class.

• Zurich to Vienna by railjet starts at €39.90 each way in 2nd class, €54.90 in 1st class or €69.90 in business class.

• Fares work like air fares, rising at departure date approaches, so book early for the cheapest fares.  You'll find full details of London-Paris fares on the London to Paris by Eurostar page and full details of Paris-Zurich fares on the London to Switzerland page.

How to buy tickets

• Step 1, buy tickets from London to Paris & Paris to Zurich at www.raileurope.com.  I recommend reading these booking tips first.

  Booking at www.raileurope.com allows you to book all your tickets in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $. There's a small booking fee.  About Rail Europe.  You can either book each sector separately, add to basket and pay at the end, or you can book from London to Zurich in one go.

  Make sure you allow at least 60 minutes between trains southbound, 90 minutes northbound (to allow for the 30 minute Eurostar check-in).

  Booking usually opens 4 months ahead, you can print your own tickets or show them on your phone.

  If you're booking less than 3 months ahead you can buy tickets to Zurich starting at any station in Britain, not just London.

• Step 2, now buy your ticket from Zurich to Vienna at www.raileurope.com.  A reserved seat is not essential, it's optional for an extra €3 or so but a good idea.  You print your own ticket.

• Alternatively, more work, a little more fiddly, same prices, but with no booking fee, you can (1) book the Eurostar at www.eurostar.com, then (2) book the Paris-Zurich TGV-Lyria at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com, then (3) book Zurich to Austria at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.  You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.

Or use an Interrail pass

• Pass or point to point?

  Let's be clear, a pass will not save money over the cheapest point-to-point advance-purchase fares you might see if you book a few months ahead.  But when point-to-point fares are expensive (for example, at short notice) OR you want flexibility, for example the ability to change your mind, re-route or reschedule as necessary, a pass might be what you need.

  If flexibility is what you want, buy the pass.  If it's about saving money, you'll have to check point-to-point prices and do the maths.

  It's worth doing the maths if you are under 28, if you have kids (kids get a free pass when accompanying an adult but still need to pay reservation fees) or if you live a long way from London (as a pass covers you from your home station to London). Passes are available in 1st & 2nd class.

• How to use a pass for a trip to Austria

  Step 1, buy a 4-days in 1-month Interrail pass from www.raileurope.com (click Rail passes then select Europe) or www.interrail.eu, see pass prices on the Interrail page.  You load the pass into the Railplanner app on your phone.

  A 4-day pass is enough to get from London to anywhere in Austria & back again via this route.

  A 4-day pass gives you unlimited train travel on any 4 dates you choose in an overall 1 month period.  The first travel day can be any date you select in the 11 months after buying the pass, the overall 1 month period starts from that date.  Learn about how Interrail passes work here.

  Step 2, make a Eurostar passholder reservation from London to Paris & back, €30 each way.  See prices & how to make Eurostar passholder reservations online.  Tip:  Eurostar passholder availability is limited, so check availability before buying a pass.

  Step 3, make a passholder reservation on the Paris-Switzerland TGV-Lyria, €29 each way, see cost of reservations & how to make them.

  Step 4, seat reservations from Zurich to Vienna are optional, but a good idea.  Make them at www.oebb.at using method 2 shown here. 

  By all means go out one way, back another, with an Interrail pass you can use any of the trains & routes to/from Austria shown on this page, find out how to reserve the relevant trains using the Interrail reservations guide.

Have your trip arranged as a package

• Railbookers are a train travel specialist who can put together a tour or holiday to Austria for you as a package, including rail travel, hotels & transfers.  On their website you'll find a range of suggested tours & holidays which can be varied or customised to your own requirements.  And as you're booking a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens to one part of the itinerary such as a strike or delay.  They get very positive reviews.  One of their most popular trips is their Ultimate Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest which starts by train from the UK.  It can be customised to include train travel back to the UK as well, just ask them.

    UK call 0207 864 4600, www.railbookers.co.uk

    US call free 1-888-829-4775, www.railbookers.com

    Canada call 1-855-882-2910, www.railbookers.com

    Australia call 1300 971 526, www.railbookers.com.au

    New Zealand call 0800 000 554 or see website

• Byway (Byway.travel) is a UK-based eco-holiday firm with a 5-star TrustPilot rating.  If you're nervous about booking train travel yourself, book a one-way or return UK-Austria trip through Byway as a package, including hotels and starting from any British station you like.  Byway includes package protection, a 100% Covid refund guarantee, free disruption and re-planning and on-demand WhatsApp support while you're away. 

  They can build a trip to your requirements if you phone 0300 131 7173 (open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday, from outside the UK call +44 300 131 7173) or email them or use this contact form.  Please say you heard about them from Seat 61.

• Tailor Made Rail can also organise a trip to Austria by train, with hotels and transfers. Call their dedicated seat61 phone line 020 3778 1461 and quote seat 61 when booking.  From outside the UK call +44 20 3778 1461.  Lines open 09:00-17:30 Monday-Friday.  Their website is www.tailormaderail.com/destinations/austria.

How to buy tickets by phone

• It's better to book online to avoid additional phone booking fees and so you can see for yourself which departures are cheapest for each stage of the journey.  Most ticketing agencies only work office hours on weekdays, but online booking is possible 24/7.  However, if you want to book by phone, see my list of UK ticketing agencies with phone numbers & opening hours.

What's the journey like?

1. London to Paris by Eurostar

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

2. Paris to Zurich by TGV-Lyria

All TGV-Lyria trains are now 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex like the one shown below.  TGV-Lyria trains have 3 classes:  Standard class (2nd), standard premiere (1st class) and business premiere (1st class with hot meal & drinks included in the fare).  There's a cafe-bar car selling drinks & snacks.  There are power points for mobiles & laptops at all seats in all classes.  Lyria is a consortium of the French and Swiss national railways.  More about TGV-Lyria.  Paris Gare de Lyon station guide.  Zurich HB station guide.

3. Zurich to Vienna by Railjet

Railjets are ÖBB's (Austrian Railways) premier trains, with economy & 1st class, plus a premium 1st class called business class.  There's a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st & business class, restaurant car orders are taken and served at your seat.  This journey takes you along the Swiss lakes Zürichsee & Walensee, past Sargans castle, then into Austria through the beautiful Arlberg Pass.  More photos, information & tips about railjet trains & the scenic Arlberg Railway.  Zurich HB station guide.

Scenery on the Arlberg route

Swiss lakes:  Soon after leaving Zurich, the railjet runs alongside the shore of the Zürichsee and then the Walensee.

Arlberg Pass:  Above, we're now in Austria, with brooding skies over the Arlberg pass.  The pass itself is long, narrow and curvaceous with the train snaking along the valley sides, often high above the valley floor.

Arlberg Tunnel:  Between Bludenz and St Anton am Arlberg the train passes through the Arlberg Tunnel, 6.2 km (6.3 miles) long and opened in 1884.  See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlberg_Railway_Tunnel.

River Inn:  Running alongside the river Inn in the Tirol, somewhere between Landeck & Ötzal.

Mountains near Innsbruck.  The train calls at Innsbruck Hbf for several minutes.

Kufstein:  The train stops at Kufstein, where the castle towers above the station.

Above right, lunch is served.  In first & business class on a railjet, the steward takes your order & serves lunch at your seat.

Cutting across Germany:  East of Kufstein, the train takes a short cut through Germany without stopping, see the route map here.  All fast Innsbruck-Salzburg-Vienna trains do this, they're still considered Austrian domestic trains even though they spend an hour on German territory!  Such a train is called a Korridorzug.  The train crosses back into Austria near Freilassing, just before Salzburg.

Salzburg:  View of the Fortress Hohensalzburg on the right hand side as the railjet crosses the River Salzach into Salzburg Hbf heading east.

Video: By railjet through the Arlberg

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London to Salzburg

Salzburg Castle.  The views over the old town and to the nearby mountains are wonderful.  The castle is reached via a funicular railway, included in the admission price.  See www.hohensalzburgcastle.com.

Which route to choose?

• Option 1: London to Salzburg in a day via Paris.  Take a morning Eurostar to Paris, a 320 km/h (199 mph) TGV Duplex to Stuttgart and an Intercity night train to Salzburg.  London to Austria in a day!

• Option 2: London to Salzburg in a day via Brussels.  Take a morning Eurostar to Brussels, an ICE to Frankfurt, another ICE to Munich and a connecting train to Salzburg.

• Option 3: London to Salzburg using the Brussels-Salzburg Nightjet sleeper train.  The most time-effective option.  Take an afternoon Eurostar to Brussels and the 3-times-a-week Nightjet sleeper train from Brussels to Salzburg.

• Option 4: London to Salzburg using the Paris-Salzburg Nightjet sleeper train.  Another time-effective option.  Take an afternoon Eurostar to Paris and the 3-times-a-week Nightjet sleeper from Paris to Salzburg.

• Option 5: London to Salzburg with overnight stop in Zurich - the scenic route!  Take a lunchtime Eurostar to Paris and an evening TGV-Lyria to Zurich in Switzerland, stay overnight, then travel to Salzburg next day through the scenic Arlberg Pass.  It's a relaxing & very scenic trip.  By all means go out one way and back another.

• Option 6: By ferry from Harwich.  The ferry alternative.  Travel from London or Cambridge to Amsterdam on the overnight Rail & Sail service, sleeping in a cosy private cabin with en suite toilet, shower & satellite TV on the Stena Line ferry from Harwich to Hoek van Holland.  Next day, take daytime trains or the Nightjet sleeper train from Amsterdam to Austria.  This route is useful at short notice if all the cheap Eurostar tickets have sold out, if you live in East Anglia and want to by-pass London, or want to avoid the Channel Tunnel.

• Option 7: By ferry from Newcastle or Hull.  By-pass London, sailing overnight from Newcastle or Hull to Holland.  Spend the day in Amsterdam, then take the daily Nightjet sleeper train to Wels with a connection for Salzburg, arriving before 09:00.

• By all means go out one way and back another, each train is ticketed separately with one-way fares, except for Eurostar which is cheaper booked as a round trip to Paris or a round trip to Brussels because a return fare is less than two one-ways.  From other UK town & cities, travel up to London to connect with Eurostar, see this advice, or use the overnight ferry from Hull or Newcastle.

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Option 1, London to Salzburg in a day via Paris

Mozart's birthplace.  This is the house where Mozart was born, in Salzburg's old town, see www.mozarteum.at.  Salzburg is in many ways a much nicer place to visit than Vienna, though others may disagree!

You can travel from London to Salzburg in a single day using Eurostar, a Paris-Stuttgart TGV Duplex and an Intercity train.  This route is sometimes cheaper than option 2, sometimes not.  It's slightly faster and more reliable than option 2, in fact, I'd choose this option 1 for that reason alone, but it's not as scenic as option 3.

London ► Salzburg

• Step 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 09:31 arriving Paris Gare du Nord 12:50.

  In Paris, it's a 7 minute 500m walk from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de l'Est.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Stuttgart by TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de l'Est at 13:51, arriving Stuttgart Hbf 17:04.

  The 320 km/h 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.

• Step 3, travel from Stuttgart to Salzburg by Intercity train, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 17:59 arriving Salzburg Hbf 22:02.

Salzburg ► London

• Step 1, travel from Salzburg to Stuttgart by EuroCity train, leaving Salzburg Hbf at 10:00 and arriving Stuttgart Hbf 13:59.

• Step 2, travel from Stuttgart to Paris by ICE3, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 14:52 and arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 18:16.

  The superb German ICE3 has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  In Paris, it's an easy 7 minute 500m walk from the Gare de l'Est to the Gare du Nord.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to London by Eurostar, leaving Paris Nord at 20:12 and arriving London St Pancras at 21:30.

How much does it cost?

• London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £97 one-way, £168 return standard premier (1st class).

• Paris to Salzburg starts at €39.90 each way in 2nd class, €69.90 each way in 1st class.

How to buy tickets

• Step 1, book the Eurostar from London to Paris at www.eurostar.com.  You book online and print your own ticket.

• Step 2, book from Paris to Salzburg & back at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.  You simply print your own ticket.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log in at any time and check or re-print tickets.

• Alternatively, you can book both tickets in one place at www.raileurope.com, also with print-your-own tickets.  With raileurope.com you can either book each train separately, adding it to your basket and paying at the end, or you can book from London to Salzburg in one go, although it may help to click More options and specify Paris in the via box. There's a small booking fee.

How to buy tickets by phone

• It's better to book online to avoid additional phone booking fees and so you can see for yourself which departures are cheapest for each stage of the journey.  Most ticketing agencies only work office hours on weekdays, but online booking is possible 24/7.  However, if you want to book by phone, see my list of UK ticketing agencies with phone numbers & opening hours.

What's the journey like?

1. London to Paris by Eurostar

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

2. Paris to Munich by TGV Duplex   See video

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

Option 2, London to Salzburg in a day via Brussels

This route involves one or two more changes compared to going via Paris (option 1), but the changes of train are all easy same-station changes.

London ► Salzburg

• Option 1, London depart 06:16 on Mondays-Fridays.  Leave London St Pancras by Eurostar at 06:16, change Brussels Midi, Frankfurt (Main) Hbf  & Munich Hbf, arrive Salzburg Hbf 18:58.

• Option 2, London depart 09:01 daily:  Leave London St Pancras by Eurostar at 09:01, change Brussels Midi, Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen & Munich Hbf, arrive Salzburg Hbf 21:42.

• Option 3, London depart 11:04 daily:  Leave London St Pancras by Eurostar at 11:04, change Brussels Midi, Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen & Munich Hbf, arriving Salzburg Hbf 23:37.

Salzburg ► London

• Option 1, departing 06:00 on Mondays-Fridays:  Leave Salzburg Hbf at 06:00 by regional train, change at Munich, Frankfurt & Brussels Midi onto Eurostar to London, arriving London St Pancras at 19:10.

• Option 2, departing 08:00 daily, recommended:  Leave Salzburg Hbf by comfortable EuroCity train at 08:00, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf onto a high-speed ICE to Brussels Midi, change at Brussels onto Eurostar to London, arriving London St Pancras at 19:43.

• Option 3, departing 10:00 daily except Saturdays:  Leave Salzburg Hbf by comfortable EuroCity train at 10:00, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf onto a high-speed ICE to Brussels Midi, change at Brussels onto Eurostar to London, arriving London St Pancras at 21:57.  No connection on Saturdays.

How much does it cost?

• London to Brussels by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £97 one-way, £140 return standard premier (1st class).

• Brussels to Salzburg starts at €27.90 each way in 2nd class or €69.90 each way in 1st class.

• Fares are dynamic like air fares, so for the cheapest prices book early and avoid busy times such as Fridays or Sunday afternoons.

How to buy tickets

• Buy tickets from London to Salzburg at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

  Anyone from any country can use www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, in plain English, in €, £ or $, international credit cards accepted.  There's a small booking fee.

  You print your own ticket, or after booking you can load the Eurostar ticket into the Eurostar app, and show the DB ticket on your laptop or phone.

• When does booking open?

  Booking for Eurostar and onward trains to Austria opens up to 6 months ahead, but often significantly less than this when the mid-December timetable change intervenes.  Any journey involving a Brussels-Cologne Eurostar (formerly Thalys) only opens 4 months ahead.  More about when booking opens.

• Booking tips

  Fares are dynamic like air fares, so book early for the cheapest prices and avoid busy days such as Fridays or Sunday afternoons.

  It can help to specify Brussels as a via station if you want to see journeys with an easy same-station change in Brussels, rather than also seeing journeys via Paris.  At www.raileurope.com, click More options and enter Brussels (any station).

  After booking you can use the Eurostar Manage Booking system to select an exact seat on Eurostar.

• Is it a through ticket?

  No, as there are no through tickets from London to Salzburg any more, DB's Sparpreis London fares were discontinued in March 2020.  But www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com will seamlessly sell you a Eurostar ticket from London to Brussels plus an onward ticket from Brussels to Salzburg.

• One-way or round trip?

  With Eurostar, a return ticket costs significantly less than two one-ways.  With ICE & Eurostar (formerly Thalys), a return is normally two one-ways.  So for a round trip you should book London to Salzburg & back as a return journey, or for more control over the booking, book London-Brussels as a return journey to benefit from the round trip discount, add to basket, then book Brussels to Salzburg one way, add to basket, then Salzburg to Brussels one-way, add to basket & check out.

  An 'open jaw' journey out from London to Salzburg, back from Munich to London, would be cheapest booked as London to Brussels & back, add to basket, Brussels to Salzburg one-way, add to basket, Munich to Brussels one-way, add to basket, and check out.  Easy when you know!

• Seat reservations

  A seat reservation on Eurostar is automatically included with every Eurostar ticket.  It's the same with Eurostar (formerly Thalys).  However, seat reservations on ICE trains are optional, if you want a reserved seat it can be added during the booking process for fee of around €4.50 each way.  A reserved seat is a good idea, especially at busy periods, so I'd add one when prompted.

• About the 20-minute connections (sometimes less) between Eurostar & ICEs at Brussels Midi

  The slick 20-minute connection in Brussels between Eurostar and an onward ICE, sometimes less than this, is usually a recognised connection which lots of people make.  It's not usually a problem, especially if you use the Brussels Midi short cut between platforms.

  Even though the system sells you separate tickets either side of Brussels, you are protected by the Railteam Promise/HOTNAT so if there's a delay and you miss the connection you will be allowed to travel on later onwards trains at no extra charge.

  The system is programmed to know which connections are recognised/acceptable and which are too tight - if you intend booking your Eurostar and ICE tickets separately (which I often do to check prices for Eurostar and onwards trains separately, and to retain more control over the booking) it's wise to run a London-Cologne enquiry first just to check that the system does indeed recognise that specific Eurostar as connecting with that specific onward ICE, on that specific date.

  Tip:  Nothing stops you booking an earlier Eurostar than the one which directly connects with your chosen onward ICE, if it has cheaper fares or if you want a more robust connection.  There are plenty of places for a meal, coffee or beer between trains in Brussels!

• How to buy a connecting ticket from other UK towns & cities:  See the advice on special add-on tickets here.

• Onward tickets from Salzburg to Vienna and other Austrian cities can be booked at either www.thetrainline.com (easiest) or Austrian Railways' own website www.oebb.at from just €19 if you pre-book.  Potentially, that's London to Vienna for €78, about £65!

Another way to buy tickets

• This is a little more work, but there's no booking fee.  Obviously, do a dry run on both sites first to check availability & prices.  Also check that your outward Eurostar and ICE are indeed a recognised connection by checking that they appear together when you run a London to Cologne enquiry at int.bahn.de, as explained in the paragraph about the 20-minute connections in Brussels in the previous section.

• Step 1, book the Eurostar from London to Brussels (and back, if returning) at www.eurostar.com and print your own ticket, or load it into the Eurostar app to show on your phone.  Eurostar return fares are significantly less than two one-ways, so if you're coming back, make sure you book this as a round trip.  After booking you can use the Eurostar Manage Booking system to select an exact seat on Eurostar.

• Step 2, book from Brussels to Salzburg at the German Railways site 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 and check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.  An advantage of booking direct with int.bahn.de is that you can select an exact seat on ICE trains from a seating plan.  A round trip is ticketed as two one-ways, so feel free to book one way at a time if it's easier.

  Tip: With int.bahn.de you can add a stopover and still get the end-to-end cheap fare, it allows up to 2 stopovers within the 2-day ticket validity to be incorporated in your booking using the Stopovers link.  You can specify the length of stay in hours.  Why not stop off in Cologne or Munich?

Using an Interrail pass

• Pass or point to point?

  Let's be clear, a pass will not save money over the cheapest point-to-point advance-purchase fares you might see if you book a few months ahead.  But when point-to-point fares are expensive (for example, at short notice) OR you want flexibility, for example the ability to change your mind, re-route or reschedule as necessary, a pass might be what you need.

  If flexibility is what you want, buy the pass.  If it's about saving money, you'll have to check point-to-point prices and do the maths.

  It's worth doing the maths if you are under 28, if you have kids (kids get a free pass when accompanying an adult but still need to pay reservation fees) or if you live a long way from London (as a pass covers you from your home station to London). Passes are available in 1st & 2nd class.

• How to use a pass for a trip to Austria

  Step 1, buy a 4-days in 1-month Interrail pass from www.raileurope.com (click Rail passes then select Europe) or www.interrail.eu, see pass prices on the Interrail page.  You load the pass into the Railplanner app on your phone.

  A 4-day pass is enough to get from almost anywhere in mainland Britain to anywhere in Austria & back again.

  A 4-day pass gives you unlimited train travel on any 4 dates you choose in an overall 1 month period.  The first travel day can be any date you select in the 11 months after buying the pass, the overall 1 month period starts from that date.  Learn about how Interrail passes work here.

  Step 2, make a Eurostar passholder reservation from London to Brussels & back for €30 each way.  See prices & how to make Eurostar passholder reservations online.  Tip:  Eurostar passholder availability is limited, so check availability before buying a pass.

  Step 3, reservations between Brussels and Salzburg are usually optional, you can just sit in any empty unreserved seat and show your pass when asked.  But it's a good idea to reserve seats for long journeys, you can reserve for around €5 each way at int.bahn.de by entering Brussels to Salzburg and clicking the Book seat only link under the red search button.

  By all means go out one way, back another, with an Interrail pass you can use almost any of the trains & routes to/from Austria shown on this page, find out how to reserve the relevant trains using the Interrail reservations guide.

Have your trip arranged as a package

• Railbookers are a train travel specialist who can put together a tour or holiday to Austria for you as a package, including rail travel, hotels & transfers.  On their website you'll find a range of suggested tours & holidays which can be varied or customised to your own requirements.  And as you're booking a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens to one part of the itinerary such as a strike or delay.  They get very positive reviews.  One of their most popular trips is their Ultimate Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest which starts by train from the UK.  It can be customised to include train travel back to the UK as well, just ask them.

    UK call 0207 864 4600, www.railbookers.co.uk

    US call free 1-888-829-4775, www.railbookers.com

    Canada call 1-855-882-2910, www.railbookers.com

    Australia call 1300 971 526, www.railbookers.com.au

    New Zealand call 0800 000 554 or see website.

• Byway (Byway.travel) is a UK-based eco-holiday firm with a 5-star TrustPilot rating.  If you're nervous about booking train travel yourself, book a one-way or return UK-Austria trip through Byway as a package, including hotels and starting from any British station you like.  Byway includes package protection, a 100% Covid refund guarantee, free disruption and re-planning and on-demand WhatsApp support while you're away.

  They can build a trip to your requirements if you phone 0300 131 7173 (open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday, from outside the UK call +44 300 131 7173) or email them or use this contact form.  Please say you heard about them from Seat 61.

• Tailor Made Rail can also organise a trip to Austria by train, with hotels and transfers. Call their dedicated seat61 phone line 020 3778 1461 and quote seat 61 when booking.  From outside the UK call +44 20 3778 1461.  Lines open 09:00-17:30 Monday-Friday.  Their website is www.tailormaderail.com/destinations/austria.

What's the journey like?

1. London to Brussels by Eurostar

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

2.  Brussels to Frankfurt & Frankfurt to Munich by ICE

Germany's superb Intercity Express (ICE) high-speed trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st class, food & drink orders are taken at your seat.  The ICE3 train from Cologne to Frankfurt calls at Liège, where you can admire the impressive station designed by celebrity architect Santiago Calatrava, and at Cologne Hbf, where you'll see Cologne Cathedral to the right as you approach, right next to the station.  Immediately after leaving Cologne Hbf, the train crosses the long Hohenzollern bridge over the Rhine before joining the 300km/h high-speed line to Frankfurt.  More about ICE trains.  Brussels Midi station guide.  Frankfurt (Main) Hbf station guide.  Munich Hbf station guide.

An ICE3neo at Brussels Midi with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about ICE trains.  Photo above courtesy of Christian Hunt.

Travel tips

• Tip 1:  Take the couloir sud short cut when changing trains from Eurostar onto an ICE at Brussels Midi.  Diving down the 'Couloir sud' escalator half way along the Eurostar platform makes changing trains much quicker than slowly following the crowds off the front end of the Eurostar platforms and going the long way round to the main concourse.

• Tip 2:   If you DO miss a connection because of a late-running train, don't panic, just get your ticket endorsed by the station staff.  Because you're travelling with a 'through ticket' you're entitled to travel onwards forward on the next available later train at no extra charge.  All explained here.

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Option 3, London to Salzburg using the Brussels-Salzburg Nightjet

This is the easiest & most time-effective way from the UK to Salzburg.  Take Eurostar to Brussels, then the excellent Nightjet sleeper from Brussels to Salzburg.  This runs 3 times a week, but should become daily in autumn 2024.  Incidentally, option 4 is almost identical, but via Paris rather than Brussels, so check that out too.

London ► Salzburg

• Step 1, travel from London to Brussels by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 13:01 and arriving Brussels Midi at 16:06.

  Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Standard Premier & Business Premier fares include lunch with wine.

  A later 15:04 departure is possible, but the 13:01 is a safer connection as the sleeper is occasionally retimed earlier.

  Tip:  At Brussels Midi, the Pullman Hotel bar makes an excellent VIP waiting room.

• Step 2, travel from Brussels to Salzburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Brussels Midi at 19:07 on Tuesdays & Thursdays, 19:03 on Saturdays, arriving Salzburg Hbf 07:26.  This train is expected to become daily from autumn 2024.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper 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's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The train has a couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and an ordinary seats car.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

  There's no restaurant car, but in sleepers or couchettes you can order drinks, snacks and hot dishes from a room service menu, served in your compartment.  The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee, served in your compartment.

  The train travels along the famous Rhine Valley between Koblenz (23:25) and Mainz (00:22), so if you're still awake and your compartment happens to be on the left-hand side of the train, switch off the lights and watch the Rhine pass by, mountains, vineyards, castles & the legendary Lorelei Rock lit by moonlight.

Salzburg ► London

• Step 1, travel from Salzburg to Brussels by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Salzburg Hbf at 22:18 on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, arriving Brussels Midi 09:56 next morning.  This train is expected to become daily from autumn 2024.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper 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's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The train has a couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and an ordinary seats car.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

  There's no restaurant car, but in sleepers or couchettes you can order drinks, snacks and hot dishes from a room service menu, served in your compartment.  The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee.

  Tip:  If you have a ticket for a sleeper, you can use the ÖBB lounge at Salzburg Hbf  with complimentary tea, coffee, snacks & free WiFi.

  Tip:  On arrival at Brussels Midi, the Pullman Hotel bar makes an excellent VIP waiting room.

• Step 2, travel from Brussels to London by Eurostar, leaving Brussels Midi at 12:52 arriving London St Pancras at 13:57.

  Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Standard Premier & Business Premier fares include lunch with wine.

How much does it cost?

Fares vary like air fares, book early for the cheapest prices.  Return fares are twice the one-way fare.

On the sleeper train, berths are sold individually, so one ticket means one bed, the other beds in your compartment will be sold to other passengers.  For sole occupancy, simply book 1 ticket in a 1-berth sleeper or 2 tickets in a 2-berth sleeper or 4 tickets in a 4-berth couchette and so on.

How to buy tickets

• Step 1, book the Nightjet sleeper train from Brussels to Salzburg at www.thetrainline.com and add to basket.  Who are Thetrainline.com?

  Using www.thetrainline.com allows you to book all your tickets in one place, in €, £ or $, international cards no problem, small booking fee.

  Booking for this Nightjet typically opens 3-4 months ahead, but it can vary.  More about when bookings open.

• Step 2, now use www.thetrainline.com again to book the London-Brussels Eurostar connection, add to basket & check out.

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

  Tip:  After booking you can use the Manage booking facility at www.eurostar.com to choose an exact seat from a seating plan, see tips on choosing a seat on Eurostar.

  Tip:  If you're travelling from a town or city north of London, see advice about buying domestic tickets to London to connect with Eurostar.

• Alternatively, you can book the Nightjet at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €) and then the Eurostar at www.eurostar.com.  It means more work on multiple websites, prices are the same, but no booking fee.

Or use an Interrail pass

• Pass or point to point?

  Let's be clear, a pass will not save money over the cheapest point-to-point advance-purchase fares you might see if you book a few months ahead.  But when point-to-point fares are expensive (for example, at short notice) OR you want flexibility, for example the ability to change your mind, re-route or reschedule as necessary, a pass might be what you need.

  If flexibility is what you want, buy the pass.  If it's about saving money, you'll have to check point-to-point prices and do the maths.

  It's worth doing the maths if you are under 28 (so can buy the cheaper Youth pass), if you have kids (kids get a free pass when accompanying an adult but still need to pay reservation fees) or if you live a long way from London (as a pass covers you from your home station to London as well).  Passes are available in 1st & 2nd class, a 2nd class pass is all you need to book any type of sleeper on the Nightjet, even a deluxe.

• How to use a pass for a trip to Austria

  Step 1, buy a 4-days in 1-month Interrail pass from www.raileurope.com (click Rail passes then select Europe) or www.interrail.eu, see pass prices on the Interrail page.  You load the pass into the Railplanner app on your phone.

  A 4-day pass is enough to get from almost anywhere in mainland Britain to anywhere in Austria & back again.

  A 4-day pass gives you unlimited train travel on any 4 dates you choose in an overall 1 month period.  The first travel day can be any date you select in the 11 months after buying the pass, the overall 1 month period starts from that date.  Learn about how Interrail passes work here.

  Step 2, make a Eurostar passholder reservation from London to Paris & back, €30 each way.  See prices & how to make Eurostar passholder reservations online.  Tip:  Eurostar passholder availability is limited, so check availability before buying a pass.

  Step 3, make a couchette or sleeper reservation on the Nightjet sleeper at www.oebb.at following the instructions here, method 1.  Prices can be found on the Interrail reservations page.

  By all means go out one way, back another, with an Interrail pass you can use almost any of the trains & routes to/from Austria shown on this page, find out how to reserve the relevant trains using the Interrail reservations guide.

How to buy tickets by phone

• It's better to book online to avoid additional phone booking fees and so you can see for yourself which departures are cheapest for each stage of the journey.  Most ticketing agencies only work office hours on weekdays, but online booking is possible 24/7.  However, if you want to book by phone, see my list of UK ticketing agencies with phone numbers & opening hours.

What's the journey like?

1. London to Brussels by Eurostar

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

2. Brussels to Salzburg by Nightjet  See the Nightjet guide

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

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Option 4, London to Salzburg using the Paris-Salzburg Nightjet

Almost identical to option 3, but via Paris instead of Brussels.  Option 3 involves an easy same-station change in Brussels from Eurostar to Nightjet, this involves an easy 7 minute walk from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de l'Est, that's the only real difference.  The Paris-Salzburg (-Vienna) & Brussels-Salzburg (-Vienna) Nightjets run on the same 3 days of the week, in fact they run coupled together as a single train between Mannheim and Vienna.

London ► Salzburg

• Step 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 14:31 and arriving Paris Gare du Nord at 17:48.

  Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Standard Premier & Business Premier fares include lunch with wine.

  In Paris, it's an easy 7 minute 500m walk from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de l'Est.

  Tip:  I'd take the earlier 12:24 Eurostar from London and have an early dinner in Paris, see recommended restaurants near the Gare du Nord, see recommended restaurants in or near the Gare de l'Est.  I recommend the oysters & white wine at the Brasserie Terminus Nord.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Salzburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Paris Gare de l'Est at 19:12 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays, arriving Salzburg Hbf 07:26.

  Important update 2024:  ÖBB have given up trying to run this train from 12 August to 25 October 2024, due to the amount of trackwork.  Use the Brussels-Salzburg sleeper instead (option 3) as this will run.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars each with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The train has a couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and an ordinary seats car.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

  There's no restaurant car, but in sleepers or couchettes you can order drinks, snacks and hot dishes from a room service menu, served in your compartment.  The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee, served in your compartment.

Salzburg ► London

• Step 1, travel from Salzburg to Paris by Nightjet, leaving Salzburg Hbf at 22:18 on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, arriving Paris Est 10:24.

  Important update 2024:  ÖBB have given up trying to run this train from 12 August to 25 October 2024, due to the amount of trackwork.  Use the Salzburg-Brussels sleeper instead (option 3) as this will run.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars each with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The train has a couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and an ordinary seats car.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

  There's no restaurant car, but in sleepers or couchettes you can order drinks, snacks and hot dishes from a room service menu, served in your compartment.  The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee.

  Tip:  If you have a ticket for a sleeper, you can use the ÖBB lounge at Salzburg Hbf with complimentary tea, coffee, snacks & free WiFi.

  Tip:  For dinner in Salzburg before the sleeper, consider the brewpub Die Weisse (www.dieweisse.at) which also serves food, a 1.1 km  15-minute walk from the station, see walking map.  Feedback appreciated!

  In Paris, it's an easy 7 minute 500m walk from the Gare de l'Est to the Gare du Nord, but I'd allow 2-3 hours between trains in case of delay.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to London by Eurostar, leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 13:12 daily arriving London St Pancras at 14:30.

  Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Standard Premier & Business Premier fares include lunch with wine.

How much does it cost?

Fares vary like air fares, book early for the cheapest prices.

On the sleeper train, berths are sold individually, so one ticket means one bed, the other beds in your compartment will be sold to other passengers.  For sole occupancy, simply book 1 ticket in a 1-berth sleeper or 2 tickets in a 2-berth sleeper or 4 tickets in a 4-berth couchette and so on.

Return fares are twice the one-way fare.

How to buy tickets

• Step 1, book the nightjet sleeper train from Paris to Salzburg at www.thetrainline.com and add to basket.  Who are Thetrainline.com?

  Using www.thetrainline.com allows you to book all your tickets in one place, in €, £ or $, international cards no problem, small booking fee. 

  Booking for this Nightjet typically opens 2-4 months ahead, it varies.  More about when bookings open.

• Step 2, now use www.thetrainline.com again to book the London-Paris Eurostar connection, add to basket & check out.

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

  Tip:  After booking you can use the Manage booking facility at www.eurostar.com to choose an exact seat from a seating plan, see tips on choosing a seat on Eurostar.

  Tip:  If you're travelling from a town or city north of London, see advice about buying domestic tickets to London to connect with Eurostar.

• Alternatively, you can book the Nightjet sleeper train at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly, in €, has been known to reject some international cards, but no booking fee) and then the Eurostar at www.eurostar.com.  This means more work on multiple websites, prices should be exactly the same, but no booking fee.

Or use an Interrail pass

• Pass or point to point?

  Let's be clear, a pass will not save money over the cheapest point-to-point advance-purchase fares you might see if you book a few months ahead.  But when point-to-point fares are expensive (for example, at short notice) OR you want flexibility, for example the ability to change your mind, re-route or reschedule as necessary, a pass might be what you need.

  If flexibility is what you want, buy the pass.  If it's about saving money, you'll have to check point-to-point prices and do the maths.

  It's worth doing the maths if you are under 28 (so can buy the cheaper Youth pass), if you have kids (kids get a free pass when accompanying an adult but still need to pay reservation fees) or if you live a long way from London (as a pass covers you from your home station to London as well).  Passes are available in 1st & 2nd class, a 2nd class pass is all you need to book any type of sleeper on the Nightjet, even a deluxe.

• How to use a pass for a trip to Austria

  Step 1, buy a 4-days in 1-month Interrail pass from www.raileurope.com (click Rail passes then select Europe)  or www.interrail.eu, see pass prices on the Interrail page.  You load the pass into the Railplanner app on your phone.

  A 4-day pass is enough to get from almost anywhere in mainland Britain to anywhere in Austria & back again.

  A 4-day pass gives you unlimited train travel on any 4 dates you choose in an overall 1 month period.  The first travel day can be any date you select in the 11 months after buying the pass, the overall 1 month period starts from that date.  Learn about how Interrail passes work here.

  Step 2, make a Eurostar passholder reservation from London to Paris & back, €30 each way.  See prices & how to make Eurostar passholder reservations online.  Tip:  Eurostar passholder availability is limited, so check availability before buying a pass.

  Step 3, make a couchette or sleeper reservation on the Nightjet sleeper at www.oebb.at following the instructions here, method 1.  Prices can be found on the Interrail reservations page.

  By all means go out one way, back another, with an Interrail pass you can use almost any of the trains & routes to/from Austria shown on this page, find out how to reserve the relevant trains using the Interrail reservations guide.

How to buy tickets by phone

• It's better to book online to avoid additional phone booking fees and so you can see for yourself which departures are cheapest for each stage of the journey.  Most ticketing agencies only work office hours on weekdays, but online booking is possible 24/7.  However, if you want to book by phone, see my list of UK ticketing agencies with phone numbers & opening hours.

What's the journey like?

1. London to Paris by Eurostar

Eurostar trains link London & Paris in just 2 hours 20 minutes, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More about Eurostar & check-in procedure.  St Pancras station guide.  Gare du Nord station guide.

2. Paris to Salzburg by Nightjet  See the Nightjet guide

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

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Option 5, London to Salzburg with overnight stop in Zurich

The scenic route!  You can reach Salzburg in one day from London using options 1 & 2 above, but it means an early start and late arrival, and it's a long day.  A more leisurely and scenic way is to break your journey in Switzerland, taking an afternoon Eurostar & evening high-speed TGV-Lyria from London to Zurich, stopping overnight, then taking a relaxing low-speed Railjet train snaking through the fabulously scenic Arlberg Pass into Austria.  The world-class scenery through the Alps makes it a worthwhile experience, see for yourself, watch the video & see the Arlberg Railway page.  By all means go out one way and back another.

London ► Salzburg

• Day 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 12:31 arriving Paris Gare du Nord at 15:48. 

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

• Day 1, travel from Paris to Switzerland by TGV-Lyria high-speed train, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 18:22 and arriving Zurich HB at 22:26.

  This double-deck high-speed train travels at up to 320km/h (199 mph), it has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Book an upper deck seat for the best views. 

  There are earlier departures from London to Zurich if you'd like more of an evening in Zurich, see the London to Zurich timetable here.

• 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.

• Day 2, travel from Zurich to Salzburg via the fabulous Arlberg Pass into the Austrian Tirol, using any train you like.

  If you're an early riser, an air-conditioned railjet train leaves Zurich HB at 06:40 and arrives Salzburg Hbf at 12:03. 

  If you'd prefer a leisurely breakfast, take a later railjet train leaving Zurich HB at 10:40 and arriving Salzburg Hbf 16:03.

  This is a lovely scenic route, see the Arlberg Railway page and watch the video.  The train runs along the Zürichsee and Walensee lakes, then hugs the mountainside and snakes through a huge valley, past scenery taken straight from the Sound of Music.

  For the best views, find an unreserved seat on the left hand side of the train leaving Zurich, that way you'll be on the lake side of the train, the train changes direction at Buchs, then you'll be on the right-hand (valley) side of the train through most of the Arlberg Pass. 

  There are power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  A restaurant car is available for breakfast & lunch, in first and business class food orders are taken by a steward & served at your seat, so treat yourself as the scenery passes by!

Salzburg ► London

• Day 1, travel from Salzburg to Zurich via the Arlberg Pass, an extremely scenic route, see the Arlberg Railway page & watch the video.

  There are several trains to choose from, for example:

  A railjet train leaves Salzburg Hbf at 11:56 arriving Zurich HB at 17:20.

  A railjet train leaves Salzburg Hbf at 15:56 arriving Zurich HB at 21:20.

  A railjet train leaves Salzburg Hbf at 17:56, arriving Zurich HB at 00:12.

  On the railjet, a restaurant car is available for lunch (or food orders taken & served at your seat in first & business classes), so treat yourself!  There are power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• 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.

• Day 2, travel from Zurich to London using any of the services suggested on the London to Switzerland page.

  For example, you can leave Zurich HB by TGV-Lyria at 07:34 arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 11:38.  Cross Paris by metro or taxi to the Gare du Nord.  Leave Paris Gare du Nord by Eurostar at 15:12 arriving London St Pancras at 16:30.

  Or have a leisurely breakfast and leave Zurich HB by TGV-Lyria at 09:34 arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 13:38, connecting with the 17:12 Eurostar from Paris Nord arriving London St Pancras at 18:32  Or there's a later 11:34 from Zurich, too.

How much does it cost?

• London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £97 one-way, £168 return standard premier (1st class).

• Paris to Zurich starts at €29 each way in 2nd class or €79 in 1st class.  For more details see the London to Switzerland page.

• Zurich to Salzburg starts at €29 each way in 2nd class or €39 each way in 1st class.

• All these fares work like air fares, cheaper in advance and on less popular days or dates, more expensive closer to departure date or on popular days or dates.  So book as far ahead as you can.

How to buy tickets

• Step 1, buy tickets from London to Paris & Paris to Zurich at www.raileurope.com.  I recommend reading these booking tips first.

  Booking at www.raileurope.com allows you to book all your tickets in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $. There's a small booking fee.  About Rail Europe.  You can either book each sector separately, add to basket and pay at the end, or you can book from London to Zurich in one go.

  Make sure you allow at least 60 minutes between trains southbound, 90 minutes northbound (to allow for the 30 minute Eurostar check-in).

  Booking usually opens 4 months ahead, and you can print your own tickets or show them on your phone.

• Step 2, now buy tickets from Zurich to Salzburg at www.raileurope.com.  A reserved seat is not essential, it's optional for an extra €3 or so but a good idea.  You print your own ticket.

• Alternatively, more work, a little more fiddly, same prices, but with no booking fee, you can (1) book the Eurostar at www.eurostar.com, then (2) book the Paris-Zurich TGV-Lyria at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com, then (3) book Zurich to Austria at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.  You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.

Or use an Interrail pass

• Pass or point to point?

  Let's be clear, a pass will not save money over the cheapest point-to-point advance-purchase fares you might see if you book a few months ahead.  But when point-to-point fares are expensive (for example, at short notice) OR you want flexibility, for example the ability to change your mind, re-route or reschedule as necessary, a pass might be what you need.

  If flexibility is what you want, buy the pass.  If it's about saving money, you'll have to check point-to-point prices and do the maths.

  It's worth doing the maths if you are under 28, if you have kids (kids get a free pass when accompanying an adult but still need to pay reservation fees) or if you live a long way from London (as a pass covers you from your home station to London). Passes are available in 1st & 2nd class.

• How to use a pass for a trip to Austria

  Step 1, buy a 4-days in 1-month Interrail pass from www.raileurope.com (click Rail passes then select Europe) or www.interrail.eu, see pass prices on the Interrail page.  You load the pass into the Railplanner app on your phone.

  A 4-day pass is enough to get from London to anywhere in Austria & back again via this route.

  A 4-day pass gives you unlimited train travel on any 4 dates you choose in an overall 1 month period.  The first travel day can be any date you select in the 11 months after buying the pass, the overall 1 month period starts from that date.  Learn about how Interrail passes work here.

  Step 2, make a Eurostar passholder reservation from London to Paris & back, €30 each way.  See prices & how to make Eurostar passholder reservations online.  Tip:  Eurostar passholder availability is limited, so check availability before buying a pass.

  Step 3, make a passholder reservation on the Paris-Switzerland TGV-Lyria, €29 each way, see cost of reservations & how to make them.

  Step 4, seat reservations from Zurich to Salzburg are optional, but a good idea.  Make them at www.oebb.at using method 2 as shown here. 

  By all means go out one way, back another, with an Interrail pass you can use any of the trains & routes to/from Austria shown on this page, find out how to reserve the relevant trains using the Interrail reservations guide.

Have your trip arranged as a package

• Railbookers are a train travel specialist who can put together a tour or holiday to Austria for you as a package, including rail travel, hotels & transfers.  On their website you'll find a range of suggested tours & holidays which can be varied or customised to your own requirements.  And as you're booking a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens to one part of the itinerary such as a strike or delay.  They get very positive reviews.  One of their most popular trips is their Ultimate Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest which starts by train from the UK.  It can be customised to include train travel back to the UK as well, just ask them.

    UK call 0207 864 4600, www.railbookers.co.uk. 

    US call free 1-888-829-4775, www.railbookers.com

    Canada call free 1-855-882-2910, www.railbookers.com

    Australia call toll-free 1300 971 526, www.railbookers.com.au. 

    New Zealand call toll-free 0800 000 554 or see website.

• Byway (Byway.travel) is a UK-based eco-holiday firm with a 5-star TrustPilot rating.  If you're nervous about booking train travel yourself, book a one-way or return UK-Austria trip through Byway as a package, including hotels and starting from any British station you like.  Byway includes package protection, a 100% Covid refund guarantee, free disruption and re-planning and on-demand WhatsApp support while you're away.

  They can build a trip to your requirements if you phone 0300 131 7173 (open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday, from outside the UK call +44 300 131 7173) or email them or use this contact form.  Please say you heard about them from Seat 61.

• Tailor Made Rail can also organise a trip to Austria by train, with hotels and transfers. Call their dedicated seat61 phone line 020 3778 1461 and quote seat 61 when booking.  From outside the UK call +44 20 3778 1461.  Lines open 09:00-17:30 Monday-Friday.  Their website is www.tailormaderail.com/destinations/austria.

How to buy tickets by phone

• It's better to book online to avoid additional phone booking fees and so you can see for yourself which departures are cheapest for each stage of the journey.  Most ticketing agencies only work office hours on weekdays, but online booking is possible 24/7.  However, if you want to book by phone, see my list of UK ticketing agencies with phone numbers & opening hours.

What are the trains like?

1. London to Paris by Eurostar

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

2. Paris to Zurich by TGV-Lyria

All TGV-Lyria trains are now 320km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex like the one shown below.  TGV-Lyria trains have 3 classes:  Standard class (2nd), standard premiere (1st class) and business premiere (1st class with hot meal & drinks included in the fare).  There's a cafe-bar car selling drinks & snacks.  There are power points for mobiles & laptops at all seats in all classes.  Lyria is a consortium of the French and Swiss national railways.  More about TGV-Lyria.  Paris Gare de Lyon station guide.  Zurich HB station guide.

3. Zurich to Salzburg by Railjet

Railjets are ÖBB's (Austrian Railways) premier trains, with economy & 1st class, plus a premium 1st class called business class.  There's a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st & business class, restaurant car orders are taken and served at your seat.  This journey takes you along the Swiss lakes Zürichsee & Walensee, past Sargans castle, then into Austria through the beautiful Arlberg Pass.  More photos, information & tips about railjet trains & the scenic Arlberg Railway.  Zurich HB station guide.

Scenery on the Arlberg route

Swiss lakes:  Soon after leaving Zurich, the railjet runs alongside the shore of the Zürichsee and then the Walensee.

Arlberg Pass:  Above, we're now in Austria, with brooding skies over the Arlberg pass.  The pass itself is long, narrow and curvaceous with the train snaking along the valley sides, often high above the valley floor.

Arlberg Tunnel:  Between Bludenz and St Anton am Arlberg the train passes through the Arlberg Tunnel, 6.2 km (6.3 miles) long and opened in 1884.  See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlberg_Railway_Tunnel.

River Inn:  Running alongside the river Inn in the Tirol, somewhere between Landeck & Ötzal.

Mountains near Innsbruck.  The train calls at Innsbruck Hbf for several minutes.

Kufstein:  The train stops at Kufstein, where the castle towers above the station.

Above right, lunch is served.  In first & business class on a railjet, the steward takes your order & serves lunch at your seat.

Cutting across Germany:  East of Kufstein, the train takes a short cut through Germany without stopping, see the route map here.  All fast Innsbruck-Salzburg-Vienna trains do this, they're still considered Austrian domestic trains even though they spend an hour on German territory!  Such a train is called a Korridorzug.  The train crosses back into Austria near Freilassing, just before Salzburg.

Salzburg:  View of the Fortress Hohensalzburg on the right hand side as the railjet crosses the River Salzach into Salzburg Hbf heading east.

Watch the Video:  Through the Arlberg

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London to Innsbruck & Tirol

Which route to choose?

• Option 1, London to Innsbruck via Paris, Zurich & the Arlberg Pass - the scenic option!  This is the fastest and most direct route, with an added bonus:  The Zurich-Innsbruck route is a scenic treat, passing through the wonderful Arlberg Pass.  Thanks to high-speed trains you can do the whole trip in a single day, or break it up with overnight stops in Paris or Zurich.

• Option 2, London to Innsbruck via the Cologne-Innsbruck Nightjet sleeper:  The most time-effective option.  Take a lunchtime Eurostar from London to Brussels, a connecting high-speed train to Cologne, have dinner, then take the Nightjet sleeper train to Innsbruck arriving next morning.  It may save a hotel bill, too.

• Option 3, London to Innsbruck via the Amsterdam-Innsbruck Nightjet sleeper:  Take a late-morning Eurostar from London to Amsterdam in 3h55, spend a few hours in the Dutch capital, then take the excellent Nightjet sleeper train to Innsbruck, arriving after breakfast next morning.  A few hours slower than option 2 as you have to leave London earlier, but this route only involves 1 change of train not 2, and it's usually cheaper, too.

• Option 4, London to Innsbruck via Munich:  This is slower and much less scenic than option 1, but it's possible that fares may work out cheaper this way on your particular date, and can be a useful alternative if the route via Paris and Zurich is affected by engineering work, for example.

• Option 5, by ferry from Harwich:  Travel from London or Cambridge to Amsterdam on the overnight Rail & Sail service, sleeping in a cosy private cabin with en suite toilet, shower & satellite TV on the Harwich-Hoek van Holland Stena Line superferry, all for one inclusive price.  Next day, take daytime trains or the Nightjet sleeper train from Amsterdam to Innsbruck.  This route is useful at short notice when all the cheap Eurostar tickets have sold out, if you live in East Anglia and want to by-pass London, or if you have an aversion to the Tunnel.

• Option 6, by ferry from Newcastle or Hull:  Sail overnight from Newcastle or Hull to Holland, spend the day in Amsterdam, then take a Nightjet sleeper train to Vienna or Innsbruck.

• Option 7, by Eurostar & Brussels-Innsbruck sleeper:  Twice a week during February & March 2025, European Sleeper will run a direct sleeper train from Brussels to Innsbruck.  London to Innsbruck with one easy same-station change in Brussels!  You can also travel by ferry from London or Harwich and pick it up in Rotterdam.  See details here.

• You can go out one way and back another if you like, as each train is ticketed separately with one-way fares, except for Eurostar which is cheaper booked as a round trip to Paris or a round trip to Brussels because a return fare is less than two one-ways.  From other UK town & cities, travel up to London to connect with Eurostar, see this advice, or use the overnight ferry from Hull or Newcastle.

Option 1, London to Innsbruck via the Arlberg Pass

This is the fastest & most direct route, you take a Eurostar from London to Paris in just 2h20, a 320 km/h TGV-Lyria from Paris to Zurich in 4h05 and an Austrian railjet train from Zurich to Innsbruck in 3h31.  City centre to city centre through the scenic Arlberg Pass, no airports, no flights.

The highlight of the journey is the amazingly scenic run through the Arlberg Pass between Zurich and Innsbruck, see the Arlberg Railway page and watch the video.  After leaving Zurich the train runs along the lovely Zürichsee and Walensee lakes, then hugs the mountainside and snakes through a huge valley, past scenery lifted straight from the Sound of Music.  For the best views, find an unreserved seat on the left hand side of the train leaving Zurich, that way you'll be on the lake side of the train, the train changes direction at Buchs, then you'll be on the right-hand (valley) side of the train through most of the Arlberg Pass.  A restaurant car is available for dinner, in first and business class food orders are taken by the stewardess & served at your seat.

This option is in fact three options, each explained below:  First, thanks to Europe's 320 km/h (199 mph) high-speed trains, you can now travel from London to Innsbruck in a single day.  It means an early start from London and a late night arrival in Innsbruck, in the outward direction it's only possible on Mondays-Saturdays and of course the scenic part will be in darkness except in summer, but it's easily done.  Second, you can leave London at lunchtime and stop overnight in Zurich, arriving in Innsbruck around lunchtime next day.  Third, you can leave London in the evening with an overnight hotel stop in Paris and an arrival in Innsbruck late afternoon or early evening next day.  Stopping overnight breaks up the journey and allows a later departure from London if you're starting from outside London.  It also means that the scenic Zurich-Innsbruck section will be done in daylight.

London ► Innsbruck in a single day

• Step 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 07:01 Mondays-Fridays arriving Paris Gare du Nord 10:19, at 06:31 on Saturdays arriving Paris Gare du Nord 09:48, or at 08:01 on Sundays arriving Paris Gare du Nord 11:20.

  There's also an 08:01 Eurostar on Mondays-Saturdays, but I'd play safe and book an earlier Eurostar when available.

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

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Zurich by TGV-Lyria high-speed train, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 12:22 and arriving Zurich HB at 16:26.

  This double-deck high-speed train travels at up to 320 km/h (199 mph), with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Book an upper deck seat for the best views, and seat number >60 is upper deck.

  In Zurich, you can have a late lunch or early dinner, I recommend the steak frites and a beer at the Brasserie Federal inside Zurich HB.

• Step 3, travel from Zurich to Innsbruck air-conditioned railjet train via the fabulous Arlberg Pass leaving Zurich HB at 18:40, arriving Feldkirch 20:09, St Anton 21:01, Landeck 21:25 & Innsbruck Hbf at 22:14.

  In summer when it's still light this is an amazingly scenic ride, see the Arlberg Railway page & watch the video.  In winter it'll be dark, so it's worth considering an overnight stop in Paris or Zurich as explained below.  Railjet trains have free WiFi, power sockets at all seats and a restaurant car, although in 1st & business class food orders are taken & served at your seat.

London ► Innsbruck with overnight stop in Zurich

• Day 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar in 2h20, cross Paris by metro or taxi from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de Lyon, and take a high-speed TGV-Lyria from Paris to Zurich in 4h05.  There are a variety of departures every day, see the London to Switzerland page for details.

  For example, you can leave London St Pancras at 12:31, pick up the 18:22 TGV-Lyria from Paris Gare de Lyon to Zurich HB arriving 22:26.

  The 320 km/h double-deck TGV-Lyria has a 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.

• 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.

• Day 2, travel from Zurich to Innsbruck by swish modern railjet train via the fabulous Arlberg Pass using any departure you like.

  The earliest train leaves Zurich HB at 06:40 daily, arriving Feldkirch 08:12, St Anton 09:01, Landeck 09:25 & Innsbruck Hbf at 10:11.

  Or have a leisurely breakfast and take the later 08:40 EuroCity train with 1st class panorama car or 10:40 railjet train from Zurich.

  This is an amazingly scenic ride, see the Arlberg Railway page and watch the video.  Railjet trains have free WiFi, power sockets at all seats and a restaurant car although in 1st & business class food orders are taken & served at your seat.

  The railjets continue beyond Innsbruck to Wörgl, change there for Kitzbühel.  www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at will give you Zurich-Kitzbühel times.

London ► Innsbruck with overnight stop in Paris

• Day 1, travel from London to Paris by any evening Eurostar you like.

  The last one leaves London St Pancras at 20.01 arriving Paris Gare du Nord 23:18, but by all means book an earlier one.

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

• Stay overnight in Paris.  If you want a hotel room on arrival at the Gare du Nord, I recommend the excellent 25 Hours Terminus Nord, directly across the road from the Gare du Nord with great reviews & great feedback from Seat61 users.  If you'd rather stay at the Gare de Lyon ready for the morning train to Switzerland, the Mercure Paris Gare De Lyon is part of the Gare de Lyon station complex with great reviews for staff, cleanliness & comfort.  See other suggested hotels near the Gare du Nord or Gare de Lyon.

• Day 2 morning, travel from Paris to Zurich by TGV-Lyria.

  You can leave Paris Gare de Lyon at 07:22 on Mondays-Saturdays arriving Zurich HB at 11:26 or you can leave Paris Gare de Lyon at 10:22 any day of the week arriving Zurich HB at 14:26.

  The 320 km/h double-deck TGV-Lyria has a 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.

• Day 2 afternoon, travel from Zurich to Innsbruck air-conditioned railjet train via the fabulous Arlberg Pass.

  If you left Paris at 07:22 you'd make the 12:40 from Zurich HB, arriving Feldkirch 14:09, St Anton 15:01, Landeck 15:25 & Innsbruck Hbf 16:11.

  If you left Paris at 10:22 you'd make the 16:40 from Zurich HB, arriving Feldkirch 18:15, St Anton 19:01, Landeck 19:25 & Innsbruck Hbf 20:14.

  This is an amazingly scenic ride, see the Arlberg Railway page and watch the video.  Railjet trains have free WiFi, power sockets at all seats and a restaurant car, although in 1st & business class food orders are taken & served at your seat.

  All these railjet trains continue beyond Innsbruck to Wörgl, change there for Kitzbühel.  www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at will give you Zurich-Kitzbühel times.

Innsbruck ► London in a single day, early departure

• Step 1, travel from Innsbruck to Zurich by railjet train, leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 07:47, Landeck 08:33, St Anton 08:57 or Feldkirch 09:44 and arriving Zurich HB at 11:20.

  This is a wonderfully scenic route, see the Arlberg Railway page and watch the Arlberg Pass video.  Railjet trains have free WiFi, power sockets at all seats and a restaurant car, in 1st & business class food orders are taken & served at your seat.  Have an early lunch in Zurich, I recommend a beer & steak frites at the Brasserie Federal inside Zurich HB.

• Step 2, travel from Zurich to Paris by TGV-Lyria, leaving Zurich HB at 13:34 daily & arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 17:38.

  The 320 km/h double-deck TGV-Lyria has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Book an upper deck seat for the best views.

  Cross Paris by metro or taxi to the Gare du Nord.

• Step 3, travel from Paris to London by Eurostar, leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 20:12 and arriving London St Pancras at 21:30.

Innsbruck ► London with overnight stop in Zurich

• Day 1, travel from Innsbruck to Zurich by railjet train through the Arlberg Pass, a lovely scenic route, see the Arlberg Railway page & watch the Arlberg Pass video.  There are several trains to choose from:

  The EuroCity Transalpin with 1st class panorama car leaves Innsbruck Hbf 15:47, St Anton 16:57, Feldkirch 16:44, arriving Zurich HB 19:20.

  A railjet train leaves Innsbruck at 17:47, St Anton at 18:57, Feldkirch at 19:44, arriving Zurich HB at 21:20. 

  Another railjet train leaves Innsbruck at 19:47, St Anton at 20:57, Feldkirch at 21:44, arriving Zurich HB at 00:12.

  From Kitzbühel you'd take a train from Kitzbühel to Wörgl and change onto a railjet to Zurich, www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at will give you Kitzbühel-Zurich times.  It's possible to leave Kitzbühel as late as 18:00 if you don't mind arriving in Zurich just after midnight, but by all means take an earlier train.

  Railjet trains have free WiFi, power sockets at all seats and a restaurant car, in 1st & business class food orders are taken & served at your seat.

• 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.

• Day 2, travel from Zurich to London using any of the services suggested on the London to Switzerland page.

  For example, you can leave Zurich HB by TGV-Lyria at 07:34 arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 11:38.  Cross Paris by metro or taxi to the Gare du Nord.  Leave Paris Gare du Nord by Eurostar at 15:12 arriving London St Pancras at 16:30.

  Or have a leisurely breakfast and leave Zurich HB by TGV-Lyria at 09:34 arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 13:38, connecting with the 17:12 Eurostar from Paris Nord arriving London St Pancras at 18:32  Or there's a later 11:34 from Zurich, too.

How much does it cost?

• London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £97 one-way, £168 return standard premier (1st class).

• Paris to Zurich starts at €29 each way in 2nd class or €79 in 1st class.  For more details see the London to Switzerland page.

• Zurich to Innsbruck starts at €19 each way in 2nd class or €29 each way in 1st class.

• All these fares work like air fares, cheaper in advance and on less busy days or dates, more expensive closer to departure date or on popular days or dates.  So book as far ahead as you can.

How to buy tickets

• Step 1, buy tickets from London to Paris & Paris to Zurich at www.raileurope.com.  I recommend reading these booking tips first.

  At www.raileurope.com you can book all your tickets in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $. There's a small booking fee.  About Rail Europe.  You can either book each sector separately, add to basket and pay at the end, or you can book from London to Zurich all in one go.

  Make sure you allow at least 60 minutes between trains southbound, 90 minutes northbound (to allow for the 30 minute Eurostar check-in).

  Booking usually opens 4 months ahead, and you can print your own tickets or show them on your phone.

• Step 2, now buy tickets from Zurich to Innsbruck at www.raileurope.com.  A reserved seat is not essential, it's optional for an extra €3 or so but a good idea.  You print your own ticket.

• Alternatively, more work, a little more fiddly, same prices, but with no booking fee, you can (1) book the Eurostar at www.eurostar.com, then (2) book the Paris-Zurich TGV-Lyria at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com, then (3) book Zurich to Austria at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.  You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.

Have your trip arranged as a package

• Railbookers are a train travel specialist who can put together a tour or holiday to Austria for you as a package, including rail travel, hotels & transfers.  On their website you'll find a range of suggested tours & holidays which can be varied or customised to your own requirements.  And as you're booking a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens to one part of the itinerary such as a strike or delay.  They get very positive reviews.  One of their most popular trips is their Ultimate Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest which starts by train from the UK.  It can be customised to include train travel back to the UK as well, just ask them.

    UK call 0207 864 4600, www.railbookers.co.uk

    US call free 1-888-829-4775, www.railbookers.com

    Canada call 1-855-882-2910, www.railbookers.com

    Australia call 1300 971 526, www.railbookers.com.au

    New Zealand call 0800 000 554 or see website.

• Byway (Byway.travel) is a UK-based eco-holiday firm with a 5-star TrustPilot rating.  If you're nervous about booking train travel yourself, book a one-way or return UK-Austria trip through Byway as a package, including hotels and starting from any British station you like.  Byway includes package protection, a 100% Covid refund guarantee, free disruption and re-planning and on-demand WhatsApp support while you're away.

  They can build a trip to your requirements if you phone 0300 131 7173 (open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday, from outside the UK call +44 300 131 7173) or email them or use this contact form.  Please say you heard about them from Seat 61.

• Tailor Made Rail can also organise a trip to Austria by train, with hotels and transfers. Call their dedicated seat61 phone line 020 3778 1461 and quote seat 61 when booking.  From outside the UK call +44 20 3778 1461.  Lines open 09:00-17:30 Monday-Friday.  Their website is www.tailormaderail.com/destinations/austria.

How to buy tickets by phone

• It's better to book online to avoid additional phone booking fees and so you can see for yourself which departures are cheapest for each stage of the journey.  Most ticketing agencies only work office hours on weekdays, but online booking is possible 24/7.  However, if you want to book by phone, see my list of UK ticketing agencies with phone numbers & opening hours.

What are the trains like?

1. London to Paris by Eurostar

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

2. Paris to Zurich by TGV-Lyria   More about TGV-Lyria

All TGV-Lyria trains are now 320km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex like the one shown below.  TGV-Lyria trains have 3 classes:  Standard class (2nd), standard premiere (1st class) and business premiere (1st class with hot meal & drinks included in the fare).  There's a cafe-bar car selling drinks & snacks.  There are power points for mobiles & laptops at all seats in all classes.  Lyria is a consortium of the French and Swiss national railways.  More about TGV-Lyria.  Paris Gare de Lyon station guide.  Zurich HB station guide.

3. Zurich to Innsbruck by Railjet

Railjets are ÖBB's (Austrian Railways) premier trains, with economy & 1st class, plus a premium 1st class called business class.  There's a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st & business class, restaurant orders are taken and served at your seat.  This journey takes you along the Swiss lakes Zürichsee & Walensee, past Sargans castle, then into Austria through the beautiful Arlberg Pass.  More photos, information & tips about railjet trains & the scenic Arlberg Railway.  Zurich HB station guide.

Scenery on the Arlberg route

Swiss lakes:  Soon after leaving Zurich, the railjet runs alongside the shore of the Zürichsee and then the Walensee.

Arlberg Pass:  Above, we're now in Austria, with brooding skies over the Arlberg pass.  The pass itself is long, narrow and curvaceous with the train snaking along the valley sides, often high above the valley floor.

Arlberg Tunnel:  Between Bludenz and St Anton am Arlberg the train passes through the Arlberg Tunnel, 6.2 km (6.3 miles) long and opened in 1884.  See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlberg_Railway_Tunnel.

River Inn:  Running alongside the river Inn in the Tirol, somewhere between Landeck & Ötzal.

Mountains near Innsbruck.

Watch the Video:  Through the Arlberg

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Option 2, London to Innsbruck by Nightjet sleeper train

Take a lunchtime Eurostar to Brussels, a high-speed train to Cologne, then the time-effective Austrian Nightjet sleeper from Cologne to Innsbruck overnight.  This is a comfortable & time-effective option. 

Tip:  Before booking this option, consider option 3 via Amsterdam - although you leave London a few hours earlier, it's usually cheaper, it only involves 1 change of train not 2, and you get to spend some time in the Dutch capital.

London ► Innsbruck

• Step 1, travel from London to Brussels by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 13:01 and arriving Brussels Midi at 16:06.

• Step 2, travel from Brussels to Cologne by high-speed Eurostar (formerly Thalys) train, leaving Brussels Midi at 17:27, arriving Cologne Hbf at 19:15.  Transfer by frequent S-Bahn train across the Rhine bridge to Cologne Messe-Deutz.

• Step 3, travel from Cologne to Innsbruck by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Cologne Messe-Deutz at 21:45, arriving Innsbruck Hbf at 09:14.

  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's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The train has several couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

  There's no restaurant car, but in sleepers or couchettes you can order drinks, snacks and hot dishes from a room service menu, served in your compartment.  The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee, served in your compartment.

• For Kitzbühel, change at Wörgl.  The sleeper arrives at Wörgl at 08:36, a connecting train leaves at 09:00 arriving Kitzbühel at 09:29.

Innsbruck ► London

• Step 1, travel from Innsbruck to Cologne by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Innsbruck Hbf 20:44 & arriving Cologne Messe-Deutz at 06:53.

  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's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The train has several couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

  There's no restaurant car, but in sleepers or couchettes you can order drinks, snacks and hot dishes from a room service menu, served in your compartment.  The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee, served in your compartment.

  Tip:  If you have a ticket for a sleeper, you can use the ÖBB lounge at Innsbruck Hbf with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.

  If you're starting in Kitzbühel, take the 20:00 from Kitzbühel arriving Wörgl at 20:40.  This gives a safe connection into the sleeper to Cologne, which leaves Wörgl at 21:23.

  Transfer from Cologne Messe-Deutz across the Rhine bridge to Cologne Hbf by frequent S-Bahn train.

• Step 2, travel from Cologne to Brussels by high-speed ICE train, leaving Cologne Hbf at 07:42 and arriving Brussels Midi at 09:35.

• Step 3, travel from Brussels to London by Eurostar, leaving Brussels Midi at 12:52 arriving London St Pancras at 13:57.

How much does it cost?

• London to Brussels by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £97 one-way, £140 return standard premier (1st class).

• Brussels to Cologne starts at €19 each way by Eurostar (formerly Thalys) or €19.90 by ICE.

• Brussels or Cologne to Innsbruck by Nightjet starts at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper.  All fares per person per bed.

• Fares vary like air fares, book early for the cheapest prices.

How to buy tickets

• Step 1, book the nightjet sleeper train from Cologne to Innsbruck at either www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, in plain English, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly, in €, has been known to reject some international cards, no booking fee).

  Booking for this Nightjet typically opens 3-4 months ahead, but it can vary.  More about when bookings open.  You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.

• Step 2, add a London-Cologne ticket at www.thetrainline.com, using the train times on this page as a guide.  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead for journeys involving Eurostar (formerly Thalys), up to 6 months ahead for journeys involving ICE.  You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.

• How to buy a connecting ticket from other UK towns & cities:  See the advice on special add-on tickets here.

How to buy tickets by phone

• It's better to book online to avoid additional phone booking fees and so you can see for yourself which departures are cheapest for each stage of the journey.  Most ticketing agencies only work office hours on weekdays, but online booking is possible 24/7.  However, if you want to book by phone, see my list of UK ticketing agencies with phone numbers & opening hours.

What's the journey like?

1. London to Brussels by Eurostar

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

2. Brussels to Cologne by Eurostar (formerly Thalys)

These trains have 3 classes, Standard (2nd class), Comfort (1st class seating) & Premium (1st class seating with at-seat food & drink included in the fare).  There's a cafe-bar selling drinks, snacks & hot dishes.  All seats have power sockets and there's free WiFi.  More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).

3. Cologne to Innsbruck by Nightjet

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

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Option 3, London to Innsbruck via the Amsterdam-Innsbruck sleeper

This is similar to option 2, but instead of taking a mid-afternoon Eurostar from London to Brussels, a high-speed train to Cologne, then picking up the Nightjet sleeper train to Innsbruck in Cologne, you take a late-morning Eurostar to Amsterdam, spend some time there, then take the Nightjet sleeper train from Amsterdam to Innsbruck.  OK, so this is a more round-about route and you have to leave London a couple of hours earlier - but it involves only 1 simple same-station change of train instead of 2 changes, you get to spend some time in the Dutch capital, you can board the sleeper earlier in the evening rather than late at night, and it's cheaper:  London-Amsterdam Eurostar fares are similar to (and often less than) London-Brussels fares, Amsterdam-Innsbruck Nightjet fares are the same as Cologne-Innsbruck fares and you don't need a Brussels-Cologne ticket.  What's not to like?

London ► Innsbruck

• Step 1, travel from London to Amsterdam by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 11:04 & arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 16:11.

  Times may vary, so check what trains Eurostar is running on your date at www.eurostar.com.  Always allow at least 1 hour between trains in Amsterdam, ideally more.

  Tip:  In Amsterdam, I recommend the Cafe 1e Klas as your VIP waiting room, also good for an early dinner before boarding your sleeper.

• Step 2, travel from Amsterdam to Innsbruck by Nightjet sleeper, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 19:00 every day, arriving Innsbruck Hbf 09:14.

  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's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats cars.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

  There's no restaurant car, but in sleepers or couchettes you can order drinks, snacks and hot dishes from a room service menu, served in your compartment.  The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee, served in your compartment.

  The train travels along the famous Rhine Valley between Koblenz (23:46) and Mainz (00:39), so if you're still awake and your compartment happens to be on the left-hand side of the train, switch off the lights and watch the Rhine pass by, mountains, vineyards, castles & the legendary Lorelei Rock lit by moonlight.  Wonderful!

Innsbruck ► London

• Step 1, travel from Innsbruck to Amsterdam by Nightjet sleeper, leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 20:44 every day, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 09:59.

  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's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats cars.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

  There's no restaurant car, but in sleepers or couchettes you can order drinks, snacks and hot dishes from a room service menu, served in your compartment.  The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee.

  Tip:  If you have a ticket for a sleeper, you can use the ÖBB lounge at Vienna Hbf with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.

  Tip:  In Amsterdam, I recommend the Cafe 1e Klas as your VIP waiting room.

• Step 2, travel from Amsterdam to London by Eurostar, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 14:45 Monday-Friday, arriving London St Pancras at 17:47.  On Saturdays & Sundays, leave Amsterdam Centraal at 16:17, arriving London St Pancras at 19:47.

How much does it cost?

Fares vary like air fares, book early for the cheapest prices.

On the sleeper train, berths are sold individually, so one ticket means one bed, the other beds in your compartment will be sold to other passengers.  For sole occupancy, simply book 1 ticket in a 1-berth sleeper or 2 tickets in a 2-berth sleeper or 4 tickets in a 4-berth couchette and so on.

Return fares are twice the one-way fare.

How to buy tickets

• Step 1, book the nightjet sleeper train from Amsterdam to Innsbruck at www.thetrainline.com and add to basket.  Who are Thetrainline.com?

  Using www.thetrainline.com allows you to book all your tickets in one place, in €, £ or $, international cards no problem, small booking fee.

  Booking for this Nightjet typically opens 3-4 months ahead, but it can vary.  More about when bookings open.

• Step 2, now use www.thetrainline.com again to book a connecting London-Amsterdam Eurostar, add to basket & check out.

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

  Tip:  After booking you can use the Manage booking facility at www.eurostar.com to choose an exact seat from a seating plan, see tips on choosing a seat on Eurostar.

  Tip:  If you're travelling from a town or city north of London, see advice about buying domestic tickets to London to connect with Eurostar.

• Alternatively, you can book the Nightjet sleeper train at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly, in €, has been known to reject some international cards, but no booking fee) and then the Eurostar at www.eurostar.com.  This means more work on multiple websites, prices should be exactly the same, but no booking fee.

How to buy tickets by phone

• It's better to book online to avoid additional phone booking fees and so you can see for yourself which departures are cheapest for each stage of the journey.  Most ticketing agencies only work office hours on weekdays, but online booking is possible 24/7.  However, if you want to book by phone, see my list of UK ticketing agencies with phone numbers & opening hours.

What's the journey like?

1. London to Amsterdam by Eurostar

Eurostar trains link London & Amsterdam in just 3h55, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More about Eurostar & check-in procedure.  St Pancras station guide.  Amsterdam Centraal station guide.

2. Amsterdam to Innsbruck by Nightjet

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

Option 4, London to Innsbruck via Munich

It's also possible to travel by Eurostar to Paris and TGV to Munich, or Eurostar to Brussels, ICE to Cologne or Frankfurt and onwards to Munich.  Stay overnight in Munich and travel to Innsbruck next morning.  See the London to Germany page for travel between London & Munich, then see information on Munich to Innsbruck trains here.

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Option 1, by Nightjet sleeper train via Vienna

This is the most time-effective option, and includes a moonlit run down the Rhine Valley in your sleeper.

London ► Graz

• Travel from London to Vienna via Brussels and the Brussels-Vienna Nightjet sleeper train as shown above.  You leave London in the afternoon and arrive at Vienna Hbf at 09:14 next morning.

• Hourly railjet trains link Vienna Hbf with Graz in 2h30 over the beautifully scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route.  I'd allow at least an hour between trains in Vienna.

Graz ► London

• Hourly railjet trains link Graz with Vienna Hbf in just 2h30 over the beautifully scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route.

• Travel from Vienna to London via the Vienna to Cologne Nightjet sleeper train, as shown above.

Fares & how to buy tickets

• See the London to Vienna section above for fares and how to buy tickets between London & Vienna.

• Book your ticket from Vienna to Graz from €19 at either www.thetrainline.com (easiest) or Austrian Railways' own website www.oebb.at.

Option 2, by daytime trains with overnight stop in Munich

London ► Graz

• Day 1, travel from London to Munich in a day, either via Brussels or via Paris, as shown on the London-Germany page.

  You can leave London around 10:24 (12:31 on Saturdays) via Paris and arrive Munich Hbf at 21:36 (23:26 on Saturdays).

• Stay overnight in Munich.

  The affordable Eden Hotel Wolff & NH Collection München are across the road from the station's north side exit with great reviews.  Or consider the more upmarket 25 Hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian, Excelsior by Giesel & Mercure City Center.  For a splurge, the luxurious Sofitel Munich Beyerpost occupies the former Royal Bavarian Post Office building of 1896-1900, at the station's south side exit.

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Graz, leaving Munich Hbf 08:16 by railjet, change Bischofshofen (arrive 10:52, depart 11:12) arriving Graz 14:14.

  Or have a leisurely breakfast and take the direct EuroCity train with restaurant car leaving Munich Hbf at 10:16 & arriving Graz at 16:14.

Graz ► London

• Day 1, leave Graz at 11:45 by direct EuroCity train to Munich Hbf, arriving 17:41, with a restaurant car for lunch.  Have dinner in Munich.  Or you can leave Graz at 13:45, change trains at Wörgl (arrive 19:00, depart 19:16), arriving Munich Hbf 20:26.

• Stay overnight in Munich.

  The affordable Eden Hotel Wolff & NH Collection München are across the road from the station's north side exit with great reviews.  Or consider the more upmarket 25 Hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian, Excelsior by Giesel & Mercure City Center.  For a splurge, the luxurious Sofitel Munich Beyerpost occupies the former Royal Bavarian Post Office building of 1896-1900, at the station's south side exit.

• Day 2, travel back from Munich to London in a day by high-speed trains, either via Brussels or via Paris, as shown on the London-Germany page.  You can leave Munich Hbf at 06:49 via Paris and arrive London 16:30, or there are later departures.

How much does it cost?

• For London to Munich fares, see the London-Germany page.

• Munich to Graz fares start at just €18.90 each way if you book in advance.

How to buy tickets

• Book the London-Munich trains as shown on the London-Germany page.

• Book the Munich-Graz trains at the German Railways website 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 in and check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

How to buy tickets by phone

• It's better to book online to avoid additional phone booking fees and so you can see for yourself which departures are cheapest for each stage of the journey.  Most ticketing agencies only work office hours on weekdays, but online booking is possible 24/7.  However, if you want to book by phone, see my list of UK ticketing agencies with phone numbers & opening hours.

London ► Hallstatt, Villach, Klagenfurt

• Day 1, travel from London to Munich in a day, either via Brussels or via Paris, as shown on the London-Germany page.  You can leave London St Pancras at 10:24 (12:31 on Saturdays) via Paris and arrive Munich Hbf 21:36 (23:26 on Saturdays).

• Stay overnight in Munich.

  The affordable Eden Hotel Wolff & NH Collection München are across the road from the station's north side exit with great reviews.  Or consider the more upmarket 25 Hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian, Excelsior by Giesel & Mercure City Center.  For a splurge, the luxurious Sofitel Munich Beyerpost occupies the former Royal Bavarian Post Office building of 1896-1900, at the station's south side exit.

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Villach & Klagenfurt by railjet train leaving Munich Hbf at 08:16 & arriving Villach 12:43 & Klagenfurt 13:16.

  The railjet has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about railjets.

• For Hallstatt, there are regular departures from Munich with easy changes at Salzburg & Attnang-Puchheim, for example the 08:16 gets you to Hallstatt Bahnhof at 12:47, just check times at int.bahn.de.  Later trains are also available, of course.  Hallstatt Bahnhof is across the lake from Hallstatt town.  A ferry connects with most train arrivals, sailing from Hallstatt Bahnhof to Hallstatt Markt (Marketplace) in the town itself, see www.hallstattschifffahrt.at for a timetable.  You pay for the ferry separately.

Klagenfurt, Villach, Hallstatt ► London

• Day 1, travel to Munich by railjet, leaving Klagenfurt at 16:42 or Villach at 17:16, arriving Munich Hbf at 21:41.

  The railjet has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about railjets.

• Coming from Hallstatt, take the local ferry from Hallstatt Markt (Hallstatt town marketplace) to Hallstatt Bahnhof (Hallstatt station, on the other side of the lake), this leaves roughly 20 minutes before most train departures, see www.hallstattschifffahrt.at for a timetable.  You pay for the ferry separately at the quayside before boarding.  There are then plenty of trains from Hallstatt Bahnhof to Munich, for example one leaving at 17:07 with easy changes at Attnang-Puchheim & Salzburg, reaching Munich Hbf at 21:41.  Check times at int.bahn.de.

• Stay overnight in Munich.

  The affordable Eden Hotel Wolff & NH Collection München are across the road from the station's north side exit with great reviews.  Or consider the more upmarket 25 Hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian, Excelsior by Giesel & Mercure City Center.  For a splurge, the luxurious Sofitel Munich Beyerpost occupies the former Royal Bavarian Post Office building of 1896-1900, at the station's south side exit.

• Day 2, travel from Munich to London by high-speed trains, either via Brussels or Paris as shown on the London-Germany page.

  You can leave Munich Hbf at 06:49 via Paris and arrive London 16:30, or have a leisurely breakfast and leave around 10:54 via Brussels arriving London 19:57.

How much does it cost?

• For London-Paris-Munich fares, see the London-Germany page.

• Fares from Munich to Hallstatt, Villach or Klagenfurt start at just €19 each way if you book well in advance.

How to buy tickets

• Book the London-Paris & Paris-Munich trains as shown on the London-Germany page.

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

How to buy tickets by phone

• It's better to book online to avoid additional phone booking fees and so you can see for yourself which departures are cheapest for each stage of the journey.  Most ticketing agencies only work office hours on weekdays, but online booking is possible 24/7.  However, if you want to book by phone, see my list of UK ticketing agencies with phone numbers & opening hours.

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London to Austria by ferry from Harwich

The ferry alternative!  It's a great option if you live in East Anglia (there's a direct train from Cambridge & Ipswich to Harwich to connect with the night boat), if you want to avoid the Channel Tunnel or if there are strikes in France.  And if you need to travel at short notice when Eurostar is expensive, the rail & sail fare is usually cheaper.  I don't recommend the Dover-Calais route because of poor train/ferry connections, the Stena Line rail & sail service via Harwich & Hoek van Holland is the one to use as it has co-ordinated timetables and integrated ticketing, see the Stena Line Rail & Sail page & watch the video.  It's one of the routes shown in dark blue on the route map above.

London, Cambridge & Harwich ► Austria

• Day 1, travel from London to Hoek van Holland overnight by Stena Line Rail & Sail.

  You leave London Liverpool Street at 19:36 Mondays-Fridays, 19:04 Saturdays or 20:00 Sundays by direct train to Harwich International.

  You leave Cambridge at 19:47 Mondays-Saturdays or 19:45 on Sundays by direct train to Harwich International.

  At Harwich, the station is right next to the ferry terminal and you walk off the train into the terminal, check in at the Stena Line desk and walk straight onto Stena Line's luxurious overnight superferry Stena Hollandica to Hoek van Holland.

  The ferry sails at 23:00 and arrives at Hoek van Holland at 08:00 next morning, Dutch time.

  All passengers travel in cosy private cabins with en suite toilet & shower & satellite TV.  Deluxe Comfort class & Captains class cabins are also available, and there's free WiFi in the lounges, restaurants & bars on 9 deck.  You can get on board the ferry around 9pm, have a late dinner in the restaurant and settle into your cabin.

  This is an integrated train & ferry service, see the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for full details, photos & travel tips.  The special fare from London is valid from any Abellio Greater Anglia station, for example Norwich, Cambridge, Romford, Ilford, Ipswich.

• Day 2, take the frequent metro train from Hoek van Holland Haven to Schiedam Centrum then an Intercity train from Schiedam Centrum to Amsterdam Centraal arriving 10:25, or take the metro to Rotterdam Alexander followed by a mainline train to Utrecht, arriving at or before 10:28.  See the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for full details.

• Option 1, take daytime trains to Austria.  You can check train times from either Utrecht or Amsterdam to Austria using the German Railways website int.bahn.de.  Travelling by daytime trains, you can be in Austria by late evening (Day 2 from London), though it will be a long day.

• Option 2, spend the day in Amsterdam and travel overnight on the excellent Nightjet sleeper train from Amsterdam to Austria.  It leaves Amsterdam Centraal at 19:00 every day, one portion arrives Innsbruck Hbf at 09:14, another portion arrives Wels 07:14, Linz 07:44 & Vienna Hbf 09:17.  Change at Wels for a railjet train to Salzburg, arriving 08:49.

  Both portions of this comfortable Austrian Nightjet train have 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's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The train has several couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

  There's no restaurant car, but in sleepers or couchettes you can order drinks, snacks and hot dishes from a room service menu, served in your compartment.  The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee.

Austria ► Harwich, Cambridge & London

• Option 1, take daytime trains from Austria to Hoek van Holland.  Using this option, you'd leave Austria early in the morning on day 1, and arrive London in the morning of day 2.  Use int.bahn.de to find suitable daytime trains from Austria to Hoek van Holland Haven, arriving no later than 21:00.  You'll need to leave Austria fairly early.  At Hoek van Holland Haven, the ferry terminal is right next to the station.

• Option 2,  take the Nightjet sleeper train from Austria to Amsterdam, and enjoy a day in the Dutch capital.  Using this option, you leave Austria in the evening of day 1, and arrive London in the morning of day 3.

  The Nightjet sleeper train leaves Vienna Hbf at 20:10, Linz at 21:34 or Wels at 21:51, with another portion leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 20:44, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 09:59 next morning.  Coming from Salzburg, take the 19:11 railjet train from Salzburg to Wels and pick up the sleeper there.

  Both portions of this comfortable Austrian Nightjet train have 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's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The train has several couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

  There's no restaurant car, but in sleepers or couchettes you can order drinks, snacks and hot dishes from a room service menu, served in your compartment.  The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee.

• Spend the day in Amsterdam, then take the 18:35 Dutch intercity train from Amsterdam Centraal to Schiedam Centrum and change onto the frequent metro to Hoek van Holland Haven.  The metro station is right next to the ferry terminal. 

• Travel overnight from Hoek van Holland to London by train & superferry.  Check in at the Stena Line desk at least 45 minutes before sailing time, then walk up the gangway onto the luxurious Stena Line superferry Stena Britannica and sail overnight to Harwich in a snug private cabin with shower, toilet & satellite TV.  There's free WiFi in the public areas on 9 deck.

  The ferry sails from Hoek van Holland at 22:00 and arrives at Harwich International at 06:30 next morning, UK time.  Take a train from Harwich to London Liverpool Street arriving around 08:56, or from Harwich to Cambridge arriving 09:41 (10:39 on Sundays).  See the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for full details, photos & travel tips.

How much does it cost?

• London or any Greater Anglia station to Hoek van Holland starts at £62 per person each way, plus the cost of a cabin.

  Cabins start at £34 for a single berth cabin or £45 per cabin for a 2-berth, and are compulsory on the night sailing.  For full details of fares and cabin types and costs, see the Stena Line Rail & Sail page.

  A metro ticket from Hoek van Holland to either Schiedam Centrum or Rotterdam Alexander costs around €4.

  A train ticket from Schiedam Centrum to Amsterdam costs €17.20.

• If you prefer option 1, Rotterdam Alexander to Innsbruck, Salzburg Linz, or Vienna starts at €46.90 each way in 2nd class, €79.90 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• If you prefer option 2, Amsterdam to Innsbruck, Wels, Linz or Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train starts at €59 with a couchette in 6-berth, €69 with a couchette in 4-berth, €99 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper or €139 with a bed in a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

How to buy tickets

• Step 1, buy tickets from London or any Greater Anglia station to Hoek van Holland as shown on the Stena Line Rail & Sail page.

• Step 2 if you want to use daytime trains, book from Rotterdam Alexander or Schiedam Centrum to Austria at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.

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

  You'll still need a metro ticket from Hoek van Holland to Schiedam or Rotterdam, but can buy that on the day using the ticket machines.

  Tip:  Before running the enquiry at int.bahn.de, click Stopovers, enter Utrecht (if going this way) or Amsterdam Centraal (if going that way) with length of stay 1 hour.  This gives a robust connection.  However, even train-specific Sparpreis or Super Sparpreis tickets are usually good for any train you like on a Dutch domestic part of the journey, for example Rotterdam to Utrecht or Schiedam Centrum to Amsterdam.

• Step 2 if you want the Nightjet sleeper train, book from Amsterdam to anywhere in Austria at either www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem) or the Dutch Railways international website www.nsinternational.nl (in €, no booking fee).

  Add a Schiedam Centrum to Amsterdam NS train ticket & buy a Hoek van Holland to Schiedam metro ticket as shown on the Stena Line Rail & Sail page.

What's the journey like?

Step 1, London to Utrecht or Amsterdam by train & ferry

A train takes you from London's Liverpool Street station directly to the ferry terminal at Harwich.  You walk off the train, into the terminal, get your boarding card & cabin key at the Stena Line check-in desk and walk straight onto the overnight ferry to Hoek van Holland.  The superferry Stena Britannica is the largest ferry of its kind in the world.  All passengers travel in private cabins with shower, toilet & satellite TV.  The journey from London to Utrecht or Amsterdam is explained in detail on the Stena Line Rail & Sail page.  See the video.

The Stena Hollandica boarding at Harwich, a floating hotel with private cabins, restaurant, bar, lounges, shop & kennels.

Above left, a standard outside cabin.  Larger photo.  360º photo.  Above right, the Stena Plus lounge with complimentary red & white wine, tea, coffee & snacks.

Above left, the bar on 9 deck. Above right, a Captain's Class cabin with complimentary minibar, toilet & shower.

Step 2, Amsterdam or Utrecht to Austria by daytime train

At Hoek van Holland, you walk off the ship, through passport control and straight onto the station for the frequent metro train to Schiedam & Rotterdam.  Change at Schiedam Centrum for a Dutch Railways (NS) train to Amsterdam Centraal, or at Rotterdam Alexander for a train to Utrecht.  You can pick up a German Railways (DB) train to Cologne & Frankfurt at either Amsterdam Centraal (where these trains start) or at Utrecht Centraal (a bit quicker).  Change in Frankfurt for an onward daytime train to Austria, More info about ICE trains.

An ICE3neo at Amsterdam Centraal.  More about ICE trains.

Or Amsterdam to Vienna or Innsbruck by Nightjet sleeper train  See the Nightjet guide

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

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Scotland & the North to Austria

Naturally, you can take a train up to London then travel to Austria as described above.  You can buy special connecting train tickets from most British stations to London International, see my advice on buying connecting train tickets to London.  But DFDS Seaways (www.dfds.com) run an excellent overnight cruise ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam, and P&O Ferries (www.poferries.com) sail overnight from Hull to Rotterdam.  After a day in Amsterdam, take the Nightjet sleeper to Austria.  So why not by-pass London, and have some time in Amsterdam into the bargain?

Scotland & the North ► Austria

• Day 1, take a train to either Hull or Newcastle, whichever is most convenient for where you live.

  In Hull, transfer to P&O ferry terminal and sail overnight from Hull to Rotterdam by P&O cruise ferry, with bus/train connection to Amsterdam Centraal.  The ferry has bars, restaurants & cosy en suite cabins.  For details of schedule, fares & tickets, see the Hull-Rotterdam page.

  In Newcastle, transfer to the DFDS ferry terminal at North Shields and sail overnight from Newcastle to Amsterdam by DFDS Seaways cruise ferry.  The ferry has bars, restaurants & cosy en suite cabins.  For details of schedule, fares & tickets see the Newcastle-Amsterdam page.

• Day 2, spend the rest of the day in Amsterdam, all the sights are an easy walk from Amsterdam Centraal.  Left luggage lockers available.

• Day 2, take the Nightjet sleeper train from Amsterdam to Austria, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 19:00 with a portion for Innsbruck Hbf arriving 09:14 and another portion for Vienna arriving Wels 07:14, Linz 07:44 & Vienna Hbf 09:17.

  Change at Wels for Salzburg, arriving 08:49.

  Both portions of this comfortable Austrian Nightjet train have 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's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The train has several couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

  There's no restaurant car, but in sleepers or couchettes you can order drinks, snacks and hot dishes from a room service menu, served in your compartment.  The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee.

Austria ► Scotland & the North

• Day 1, take the Nightjet sleeper train from Austria to Amsterdam, leaving Vienna Hbf at 20:10, Linz at 21:34 & Wels at 21:51, with another portion leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 20:44, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 09:59 next morning.

  Coming from Salzburg, you'd take a train from Salzburg to Wels and pick up the sleeper there.

  Both portions of this comfortable Austrian Nightjet train have 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's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The train has several couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

  There's no restaurant car, but in sleepers or couchettes you can order drinks, snacks and hot dishes from a room service menu, served in your compartment.  The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee.

• Day 2, you've now the best part of the day to explore Amsterdam, left luggage lockers are available.

• Day 2, transfer from Amsterdam to Rotterdam Europoort or IJmuiden ferry terminal and sail overnight by ferry from Rotterdam to Hull or Amsterdam to Newcastle, whichever is most convenient for you, arriving next morning (day 3).  Transfer to the station and take a train home.

  For details of transfers, ferry times & how to buy tickets from Amsterdam to Hull or Newcastle, see the Hull-Rotterdam page or Newcastle-Amsterdam page.

Fares & how to buy tickets

• Step 1, check ferry fares & book the ferry at www.dfds.com for Newcastle-Amsterdam or www.poferries.com for Hull-Rotterdam.

• Step 2, book the Amsterdam-Austria Nightjet at either www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem) or the Dutch Railways international website www.nsinternational.nl (in €, no booking fee).  You print your own ticket.

• Step 3, buy a train ticket from your local station to Newcastle or Hull at any train operator website such as tfw.wales.  Make sure you allow plenty of time for the transfer from station to ferry terminal and for the ferry check-in.

What's the journey like?

Step 1, Newcastle to Amsterdam (DFDS) or Hull to Rotterdam (P&O) by overnight ferry,

Both ferries have private cabins all with shower & toilet, restaurants, bars, cinema, a floating hotel.  If travelling with DFDS from Newcastle, a transfer bus takes you from IJmuiden ferry terminal to Amsterdam Centraal station next morning.  If travelling with P&O from Hull, a transfer bus takes you from Rotterdam Europoort ferry terminal to Rotterdam Centraal, from where frequent Dutch trains run to Utrecht or Amsterdam.

DFDS Seaways Princess of Norway (now Princess Seaways) about to sail overnight from Newcastle to Amsterdam.  The ferry also has deluxe Commodore class cabins with minibar, satellite TV, shower & toilet.  See the video.		A standard Seaways class cabin with shower & toilet on DFDS Princess of Norway from Newcastle to Amsterdam.

P&O Ferries Pride of Rotterdam at Rotterdam Europoort.  The ferry also has deluxe class cabins with minibar, satellite TV, shower & toilet.		A standard outside cabin with shower & toilet on P&O's Pride of Rotterdam from Hull to Rotterdam.

Step 2, Amsterdam to Austria by Nightjet sleeper train

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

The Nightjet sleeper, boarding at Amsterdam Centraal.

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.

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Holidays & tours to Austria by train

If you want a holiday to Austria by train not plane, and want someone to organise all the train tickets & hotels for you, several specialist companies do just that, for a holiday with no airport hassles and no long days in cramped coach seats on motorways.  Railbookers offer tailor-made individual holidays with departure on any date you like.

Railbookers, railbookers.co.uk

Railbookers are a train travel specialist who can put together a tour or holiday to Austria as a package, including rail travel, hotels & transfers.  Their website has a range of suggested tours & holidays which can be varied or customised to your requirements.  As you're booking a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens such as a strike or delay. 

For example, they can do a 2-night short break from the UK to Vienna by train both ways, or an 8-night trip to Vienna & Venice via the Swiss Alps.  Or how about 8 nights to Vienna, Prague & Budapest, also by train throughout?  See the Railbookers Austria page for suggested itineraries & sample prices.

  UK call 0207 864 4600, www.railbookers.co.uk

  US call free 1-888-829-4775, see website

  Canada call 1-855-882-2910, see website

  Australia call 1300 971 526, see website

  New Zealand call 0800 000 554 or see website

Byway, byway.travel

Byway (Byway.travel) is a UK-based eco-holiday firm with a 5-star TrustPilot rating.  If you're nervous about booking train travel yourself, book a one-way or return UK-Austria trip through Byway as a package, including hotels and starting from any British station you like.  Byway includes package protection, a 100% Covid refund guarantee, free disruption and re-planning and on-demand WhatsApp support while you're away.

They can build a trip to your requirements if you phone 0300 131 7173 (open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday, from outside the UK call +44 300 131 7173) or email them or use this contact form.  Please say you heard about them from Seat 61.

Tailor Made Rail, tailormaderail.com

Tailor Made Rail can also organise a trip to Austria by train, with hotels and transfers. Call their dedicated seat61 phone line 020 3778 1461 and quote seat 61 when booking.  From outside the UK call +44 20 3778 1461.  Lines open 09:00-17:30 Monday-Friday.  Their website is www.tailormaderail.com/destinations/austria.

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European Rail Timetable & maps

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

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

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Guidebooks

A good guidebook is a sound investment, even in the internet age.  For independent travel, the best guides are the Lonely Planet or Rough Guide.  Both guidebooks have the same excellent level of practical information and cultural and historical background.  You won't regret buying one!

Click the images to buy at Amazon.co.uk

Alternatively, you can download just the chapters or areas you need in .PDF format from the Lonely Planet Website, from around £2.99 or US$4.95 a chapter.

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Hotels in Austria

Hotels in Vienna

• Near the station:  There are a number of good and relatively inexpensive hotels just outside Vienna Hbf, try the Novotel Vienna Hbf, Motel One Vienna Hbf, Hotel Zeitgeist Vienna Hbf.

• Hotels in the city centre near the sights tend to be expensive, but try the 3-star Pension Nossek (with art nouveau rooms, just 5 minutes walk from St Stephen's cathedral), 4-star K&K Palais Hotel, Mercure Centrum Wien or Le Meridien Vienna.  If you really want to push the boat out, there's the 5-star Palais Hansen Kempinski Vienna & Park Hyatt Vienna.

• For something inexpensive try the Best Western Plus Amedia Hotel, a little way out of the centre and a taxi ride from the station.

Hotels in Salzburg

• Near the station:  Try the H+ Hotel (4-star), across the road from the station with great reviews, or the Adlerhof Hotel or Hotel Hohenstauffen (both 3-star), also with great reviews.

• If you want to stay in or near the old town, try the Boutique Guesthouse arte vida, in a town house just 100m from Mozart's residence, or Gästehaus im Priesterseminar.  Going upmarket, the Hotel Elefant is a stone's throw from Mozart's birthplace, and the Radisson Blu Hotel Altstadt is in the old town with river views, located in a historic building dating from 1377.

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 Paris and most other European cities at rock-bottom prices.

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Travel insurance & VPN

Always take out travel insurance

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

  www.staysure.co.uk offers enhanced Covid-19 protection and 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 European mobile data package and stay connected.  Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list.  There's no need to buy a physical SIM card!  Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data.

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

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

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

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

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

When travelling you may use free public WiFi which is often insecure.  A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi.  It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply.  See VPNs & why you need one 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 this link you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription.  I also get some commission to help support this site.

Carry an Anker powerbank

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

Touring cities?  Use hill walking shoes!

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

 

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