• Step 1, travel from Budapest to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:40 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 18:21.

  The railjet has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more information about railjet trains.  By all means take an earlier train and spend an afternoon or evening in Vienna.

  Tip:  If you have a 1st class ticket, you can use the business lounge at Budapest Keleti near platform 9, open 06:00-21:30 daily open for anyone with a 1st class international ticket to, from or via Budapest. 

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

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Paris by Nightjet, leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:46 on Mondays, Thursdays & Saturdays, arriving Paris Est at 09:43.

  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.

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

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 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 opens up to 6 months ahead, but less than this when the mid-June or mid-December timetable changes intervene.

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

  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.

• Step 3, now use www.thetrainline.com again to book the Vienna-Budapest railjet connection, add to basket & check out.

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

• 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

• Let's be clear:  If you book well in advance, cheap advance-purchase fares are cheaper than using a rail pass.  But at short notice when the cheap fares have sold out, or if you want flexibility to change your route or return date on the hoof, using a pass might be good idea for a round trip between the UK & Hungary.  It also covers the domestic part of your journey within the UK between your home town & London, and if you have kids under 12 they get a free pass so this can swing it on price.  Read up on Interrail passes and how they work here.

• Cost?

  A 4-days-in-1-month Interrail pass costs £209 adult, £157 youth under 28, £187 senior over 60.  Children get a free pass when accompanied by an adult, but still need to pay any relevant reservation fees in full.

  You must then add a Eurostar passholder fare, €30 each way in Standard class or (with a 1st class pass) €38 each way in Standard Premier.

  You must then add the couchette or sleeper supplement for the Paris-Vienna Nightjet, each way, per person:  Seat €14, couchette in 6-berth €34, couchette in 4-berth €44, bed in 3-berth sleeper €54, bed in 2-berth sleeper €74, bed in single-berth sleeper €114, berth in 2-berth deluxe sleeper €94, berth in single-berth deluxe sleeper €134.  Only a 2nd class ticket or pass is needed for all Nightjet accommodation types.

• How to arrange your trip...

  Step 1, buy a 4-days-in-1-months pass from www.interrail.eu.

  Step 2, book the Eurostar following the instructions here.  Check availability before buying the pass!  Eurostar passholder fares are in the 3rd from top price bucket, which means good availability at short notice, but can sell out on popular days or departures, even if seats remain for normal passengers paying top prices.  You print your own ticket.

  Step 3, book the sleeper at www.oebb.at following the instructions here.  You print out the reservation.

  If you want a reserved seat between Vienna & Budapest (recommended), make it at www.oebb.at following the instructions here.

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 at London St Pancras (45-minute minimum in Paris, Brussels & Amsterdam) as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More information about Eurostar including check-in procedure.  St Pancras station guide.  Gare du Nord station guide.

A Eurostar e320 at St Pancras.  More about Eurostar.		Standard Premier/Business Premier.  Larger photo.

Standard class seats.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, in cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

2. Paris to Vienna 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 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.  Paris Gare de l'Est station guide.  Vienna Hbf station guide.

A comfortline sleeping-car on a Nightjet sleeper train.  More information about Nightjets.

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

3. Vienna to Budapest 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.  More information about railjets.  Budapest Keleti station guide.

A railjet about to leave Vienna.  More information about railjets...

Business class.  About.		14-seat restaurant & bar counter.

First class.		Economy class.

The railjet has landed...  A railjet has arrived spot on time in Budapest's historic Keleti station, built 1881-1884

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Option 3, by Eurostar to Paris, TGV to Stuttgart, sleeper to Budapest

Another good way to reach Budapest, with daily departures, a convenient morning departure from London, cosy sleeper berth at night on a comfortable Hungarian sleeper train with a morning arrival in Budapest with a full day's sightseeing ahead of you...

London ► Budapest

• Step 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar...

  On Mondays-Fridays & Sundays, leave London St Pancras at 10:22 arriving Paris Gare du Nord at 13:57.

  On any day of the week you can leave London St Pancras at 09:24 arriving Paris Gare du Nord at 12:57.

  In Paris, it's an easy 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 15:55 Monday-Friday & Sunday arriving Stuttgart Hbf 19:04.  On Saturdays, leave Paris Gare de l'Est at 13:55 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.  Times may vary, so check your date at www.bahn.de.

• Step 3, travel from Stuttgart to Budapest by sleeper train Kalman Imre, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 20:29 and arriving Budapest Keleti 09:19.

  The Kalman Imre has a modern air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, an air-conditioned Hungarian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  A restaurant car is available from departure until after midnight.  See more information about this sleeper train.

Budapest ► London

• Step 1, travel from Budapest to Stuttgart by sleeper train Kalman Imre leaving Budapest Keleti at 20:40 & arriving Stuttgart Hbf 08:37.

  The Kalman Imre has a modern air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, an air-conditioned Hungarian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  A restaurant car is available from departure until after midnight.  See more information about this sleeper train.

  If you have a sleeping-car berth, you can use the business lounge in Budapest on platform 9, see here for opening hours.

• Step 2, travel from Stuttgart to Paris by high-speed ICE train, leaving Stuttgart at 10:52 & arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 14:05. 

  The high-speed ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Do not risk earlier connections.

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

• Step 3, travel from Paris to London by Eurostar, normally leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 17:03 & arriving London St Pancras 18:32.

How much does it cost?

Each train is ticketed separately, so add up the price for each leg of the journey.  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 single-berth sleeper or 2 tickets in a 2-berth sleeper or 4 tickets in a 4-berth couchette & so on.

How to buy tickets

• The best place to buy tickets is www.thetrainline.com as you can book all your tickets together in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem.  There's a small booking fee.  Who are Thetrainline.com?

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead for Eurostar, the Paris-Stuttgart TGV & the Stuttgart-Budapest sleeper.  You can book hotels & accommodation before booking the trains risk-free using www.booking.com as they offer free cancellation.  More about when train booking opens.

• Step 1, go to www.thetrainline.com and using the train times on this page as a guide, book the Eurostar from London to Paris & add to basket.

  If you're returning, book the Eurostar as a round trip because Eurostar return fares are significantly cheaper than two one-ways.  With the TGV & sleeper train it doesn't matter, a round trip is simply two one-ways and it can be easier to book one way at a time & add to basket.

  By all means book an earlier Eurostar out, or a later Eurostar coming back, if this has a cheaper fare available or if you'd like to stop off in Paris.  Remember that your return date from Paris is the day after you leave Budapest.

• Step 2, still on www.thetrainline.com, book the TGV from Paris to Stuttgart and add to basket.

• Step 3, still on www.thetrainline.com, book the sleeper from Stuttgart to Budapest, add to basket & check out. 

  If you have any problems (for example, you see no sleepers), also try the Hungarian Railways website at www.mavcsoport.hu - see my advice on using it first.

• You print your own tickets.  After booking, you can use the Manage booking link at www.eurostar.com to change your seats to an exact seat from a seating plan, see tips on choosing the best seats on Eurostar.

Another way to book tickets

• Alternatively, you can buy tickets for each train direct from the relevant train operator with no booking fee, but this means using 3 different websites and the fares should be the same.  Do a dry run on all 3 sites to confirm train times, prices & availability before booking non-refundable tickets.  If you're new to European train travel, I'd stick with www.thetrainline.com.

• Step 1, go to German Railways www.bahn.de and using the train times on this page as a guide, book the TGV from Paris to Stuttgart & back.  You print your own ticket.  Easy!  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in and check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

• Step 2, now book the sleeper from Stuttgart to Budapest at the Austrian Railways site www.oebb.at.  Bookings usually open up to 90 days ahead and you print your own ticket.

• Step 3, now add the connecting Eurostar from London to Paris at www.eurostar.com.  Remember that your return date will be the day after leaving Budapest.  Use the recommended Eurostar times above as a guide, but by all means book an earlier Eurostar outwards, or a later Eurostar on the way back, if this has cheaper seats available of if you'd like to stop off in Paris for a while.  You print your own ticket.

• Railbookers are a train travel specialist who can put together a tour or holiday for you 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 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.

    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-Hungary trip through Byway as a package, including hotels & starting from any British station you like.  Byway includes package protection, a 100% Covid refund guarantee, free disruption & re-planning and on-demand WhatsApp support while you're away.

  To see pre-configured packages from London to Budapest, use the journey planner on their website.

  Or they can build a trip to your requirements, either email them or use this contact form.  When you book, please quote 'Seat 61'.

• Escorted tours:  If you'd like to travel with a convivial group of travellers escorted by a professional tour guide, contact Great Rail Journeys at www.greatrail.com, in the UK call 01904 527 120.  They have regular escorted tours from the UK to Prague, Budapest & Vienna by train.

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 at London St Pancras (45-minute minimum in Paris, Brussels & Amsterdam) as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More information about Eurostar including check-in procedure.  St Pancras station guide.  Gare du Nord station guide.

A Eurostar e320 at St Pancras.  More about Eurostar.		1st class:  Standard Premier or Business Premier.

Standard class seats.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, in cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

2. Paris to Stuttgart by TGV Duplex...   See the 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.  Paris Gare de l'Est station guide.

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

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

1st class on upper deck, a club duo on the left, a club quatre on the right.  360º photo.		A TGV Duplex.  The 1 near the door indicates 1st class, a 2 indicates 2nd class.

3. Stuttgart to Budapest by sleeper train Kalman Imre...  More information.  See the video.

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

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

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

Good morning Budapest!

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Option 4, London to Budapest with overnight stop in Munich

If you prefer to travel on daytime trains rather than sleepers, you can travel very affordably from London to Budapest with an overnight hotel stop in Munich.

London ► Budapest

• Day 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 10:22 on Mondays-Fridays & Sundays arriving Paris Nord 13:57.

  On Saturdays, leave London St Pancras at 12:24 arriving Paris Nord at 15:57.

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

• Day 1, travel from Paris to Munich by TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de l'Est at 15:55 Mondays-Fridays & Sundays arriving Munich Hbf 21:36.

  On Saturdays it leaves Paris at 17:55 arriving Munich Hbf 23:29.

  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.  Times may vary, so check your date at www.bahn.de.

  On Saturdays if you'd prefer an earlier arrival in Munich you can also leave London at 09:24 to connect with a TGV leaving Paris at 13:55 for Stuttgart, change there for Munich arriving 19:13.

  Alternatively, you can travel from London to Munich by Eurostar & ICE train via Brussels & Cologne, see the London to Germany page.

• 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 Budapest by railjet train, either leaving Munich Hbf at 07:23 arriving Budapest Keleti at 14:19, or have a leisurely breakfast and leaving Munich Hbf at 11:28 arriving Budapest Keleti at 18:19.

  The railjet has a restaurant car, treat yourself to lunch - 1st & business class passengers have their food & drink orders taken & served at their seat.  There are power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Watch out for great views of the Salzburg citadel on the right as you cross the River Salzach at Salzburg. More pictures & information about railjet trains.  Map of Budapest showing Keleti station.

Budapest ► London

• Day 1, travel from Budapest to Munich by railjet train, leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:40 every day and arriving Munich Hbf at 22:31.

  If you'd prefer an earlier train, another railjet train leaves Budapest Keleti at 13:40 arriving Munich Hbf at 20:31 or and another at 11:40 arriving 18:31.  A restaurant car is available, treat yourself to a meal - 1st & business class passengers are served at their seat.  There are power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More pictures & information about railjet trains.

  Tip:  If you have a 1st class ticket you can use the business lounge in Budapest near platform 9, open 06:00-21:30 daily with complimentary tea, coffee and soft drinks.

• 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.

  Tip:  For dinner, I recommend the Bavarian food & beer at the Augustiner Keller (www.augustinerkeller.de) at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf, see walking map.

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Paris by TGV Duplex, leaving Munich Hbf at 06:42 (06:51 until 26 August 2023), arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 12:31.

  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.  Watch the sun rise over Bavaria and the morning mist clear, see the Munich-Paris TGV video

  If you'd prefer a leisurely breakfast and later departure from Munich, there are later options via either Paris or Brussels, see the London to Germany page.

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

• Day 2, travel from Paris to London by Eurostar, leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 15:03 & arriving London St Pancras at 16:39.

How much does it cost?

• London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £115 one-way, £199 return standard premier (1st class).

• Paris to Munich by TGV starts at €39 each way in 2nd class or €69 in 1st class.

• Munich to Budapest starts at €37.90 each way in 2nd class or €56.90 in 1st class.

How to buy tickets

• Booking opens up to 6 months ahead for all these trains.  More about when booking opens.

• Buy your Eurostar ticket at www.eurostar.com.  You print your own ticket or can load it into the Eurostar app to show on your phone.

• Buy your Paris-Munich ticket at www.bahn.de.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log in at any time and check or re-print tickets.

• Buy your Munich-Budapest ticket as a second transaction at www.bahn.de.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Variation via Brussels instead of Paris

• You can also travel from London to Munich via Brussels & Frankfurt rather than Paris, see the London to Germany page.

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 at London St Pancras (45-minute minimum in Paris, Brussels & Amsterdam) as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More information about Eurostar including check-in procedure.  St Pancras station guide.  Gare du Nord station guide.

A Eurostar e320 at St Pancras.  More about Eurostar.		1st class:  Standard Premier or Business Premier.

Standard class seats.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, in cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

2. Paris to Munich by TGV Duplex.   See video guide

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

TGV Duplex at Paris Est. These impressive 320 km/h double-deck trains link Paris with Nice, Marseille, Munich, Barcelona & Switzerland...

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

1st class on upper deck, a club duo on the left, a club quatre on the right.  360º photo.		A TGV Duplex.  The 1 near the door indicates 1st class, a 2 indicates 2nd class.

3. Munich to Budapest by railjet...

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

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

Business class.  About.		14-seat restaurant & bar counter.

First class.		Economy class.

Bavarian scenery between Munich & Salzburg...

The view of Salzburg's Fortress Hohensalzburg on your right hand side as the railjet crosses the River Salzach & approaches Salzburg station....

Pleasant farmland scenery in Austria, between Salzburg & Vienna...

Between Vienna & Budapest it's largely flat, with more wind turbines than you can shake a stick at - allegedly over 200.  This photo sums up this part of the route!

The railjet has landed...  A railjet has arrived spot on time in Budapest's historic Keleti station, built 1881-1884

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Option 5, London to Budapest with overnight stop in Zurich. The scenic route!

This option not only keeps you on daytime trains with an overnight hotel in Zurich, rather than using a sleeper, it's the scenic option as it takes you through the Alps via the fabulous Arlberg Pass between Switzerland and Austria, hugging the valley wall with the mountaintops high above and the valley floor way below.  You then travel on right across the Austrian Tirol.  This option uses a direct railjet train between Zurich & Budapest - although the way cheap tickets work you're better off having a lunch stop in Austria!

London ► Budapest

• Day 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 12:24 arriving Paris Gare du Nord at 15:57.

  Cross Paris by taxi or metro to the Gare de Lyon, 2 stops on RER line D.

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

• Stay overnight in Zurich.  For something really 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 4-star Hotel St Gotthard or the excellent 3-star Hotel St. Josef, 7 minutes walk from the station, see walking map.  If you're on a tight budget you can book private rooms in a one-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station at www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2, travel from Zurich to Budapest by smart modern railjet train, leaving Zurich HB at 10:40 and arriving Budapest Keleti 21:19.

  The railjet has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Treat yourself to lunch - in first & business class, a steward takes food & drink orders and serves you at your seat.  More pictures & information about railjet trains.  Map of Budapest showing Keleti station.

  This is a lovely scenic ride, taking you along the Zürichsee & Walensee lakes, then snaking at low speed through the mountains of the Arlberg Pass in the Alps and across the Austrian Tirol, watch this video.  You get great views of the citadel at Salzburg as the train crosses the river Salzach, then it travels through Vienna and on to Budapest.  For the best views, find a 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, they you'll be on the right-hand (valley) side of the train through most of the Arlberg Pass, and on the side for views of Salzburg.

Budapest ► London

• Day 1, travel from Budapest to Zurich by air-conditioned railjet train, leaving Budapest Keleti at 06:40 and arriving Zurich HB at 17:20.

  The railjet has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Treat yourself to lunch - in first & business class, a steward takes food & drink orders and serves you at your seat.  More pictures & information about railjet trains.

  The train travels over the flatlands to Vienna, then past Salzburg's impressive citadel, through the Austrian Tirol, it snakes through the scenic Arlberg Pass in the Alps (watch the video!), then along the Walensee and Zürichsee lakes to Zurich.  For views of Salzburg castle, the Zürichsee lake and most of the Arlberg valley, find a seat on the left-hand side of the train leaving Budapest (this advice allows for the train changing direction at Buchs).

  Tip:  If you have a first class ticket, you can use the business lounge in Budapest near platform 9, open 06:00-21:30 daily with complimentary tea, coffee & soft drinks.

• Stay overnight in Zurich.  For something really 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 4-star Hotel St Gotthard or the excellent 3-star Hotel St. Josef, 7 minutes walk from the station, see walking map.  If you're on a tight budget you can book private rooms in a one-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, leave Zurich HB at 07:34 by TGV-Lyria arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 11:38.  Cross Paris by metro or taxi to the Gare du Nord.  The 13:13 Eurostar from Paris Gare du Nord will get you back at London St Pancras at 14:30.

  But by all means have a leisurely breakfast and take a later service, for example leaving Zurich HB at 09:34 arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 13:38, connecting with the 17:03 Eurostar from Paris Nord arriving London St Pancras at 18:32.

How much does it cost?

• London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £115 one-way, £199 return standard premier (1st class).

• Paris to Zurich by TGV-Lyria starts at €29 each way in 2nd class or from €79 in 1st class.  See the Switzerland page for full details.

• Zurich to Budapest starts at €49.80 each way in 2nd class, €79.80 in 1st class - that's a combination of Zurich-Innsbruck from €19.90 & Innsbruck-Budapest from €29.90.

How to buy tickets

• Booking at www.raileurope.com allows you to buy all your tickets together in one place, easily in plain English, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem. There's a small booking fee.

  Booking for Eurostar opens up to 6 months ahead, booking for TGV-Lyria opens up to 4 months ahead, booking for the Zurich-Austria-Budapest train up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend waiting until all trains are open for sale, so you can confirm times before buying a non-refundable Eurostar ticket.  More about when bookings open.

  I suggest booking in stages like this, first doing a dry run to check times & prices.  Read the detailed booking tips here.

• Step 1, go to www.raileurope.com and book from London to Paris and add to your basket.

  If returning, you should book London to Paris as a round trip, because Eurostar return fares are significantly cheaper than two one-ways.  All the other trains are one-way ticketed where a round trip is simply two one ways, so it doesn't matter, and it can be easier to book one way at a time.  On Eurostar, a reserved seat is automatically included.

  Always allow at least 60 minutes between trains outbound, 90 minutes inbound (as inbound you have to allow for the 30 minute Eurostar check-in).

• Step 2, still on www.raileurope.com, book from Paris to Zurich and add to basket.  On TGV-Lyria, a reserved seat is automatically included.

• Step 3, still on www.raileurope.com, book from Zurich to Budapest for the following day, add to basket & check out.  Seat reservation on the railjet is optional, I recommend adding a seat reservation when prompted, for an extra €3 or so.

  Tip:  If you like, you can break up the journey by taking the 08:40 departure from Zurich and spending 2 hours having lunch in Innsbruck.  Just book Zurich-Innsbruck and Innsbruck-Budapest as two tickets.

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

Another way to buy tickets

• Alternatively, you can book direct with each train operator.  This is more work with separate bookings on different websites.  The prices should be exactly the same, but there's no booking fee.  First buy the London-Paris Eurostar ticket at www.eurostar.com.  Then buy the Paris-Zurich ticket at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com.  Then buy your Zurich-Budapest ticket 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 short break for you as a package, including rail travel, hotels & transfers.  On their website you'll find a range of suggested tours & holidays by rail which can be 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.

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

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

    Canada call free 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) is a UK-based eco-holiday firm with a 5-star TrustPilot rating.  If you're nervous about booking train travel, book a one-way or return UK-Hungary 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.

  To see pre-configured packages from London to Budapest, use the journey planner on their website.

  Or they can build a trip to your requirements, either email them or use this contact form.  When you book, please quote 'Seat 61'.

• Escorted tours:  If you'd like to travel with a convivial group of travellers escorted by a professional tour guide, contact Great Rail Journeys at www.greatrail.com, in the UK call 01904 527 120.  They have regular escorted tours from the UK to Prague, Budapest & Vienna by train.

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 & 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 at London St Pancras (45-minute minimum in Paris, Brussels & Amsterdam) as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More information about Eurostar including check-in procedure.  St Pancras station guide.

A Eurostar e320 train at St Pancras.  More about Eurostar.		Standard Premier/Business Premier.  Larger photo.

Standard class seats.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, in cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

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 information about TGV-Lyria.

TGV-Lyria TGV Duplex train at Paris Gare de Lyon. More information about TGV-Lyria

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

1st class on upper deck, a club duo on the left, a club quatre on the right. Larger photo.		A TGV-Lyria for Geneva, boarding at Paris Gare de Lyon.  You enter on the lower deck, with 9 stairs up to top deck.

3. Zurich to Budapest by Railjet.  More about railjet trains...

A railjet about to leave Zurich HB...

Business class.  About.		Restaurant car.

First class.		Economy class.

Scenery through the Arlberg Pass...

Soon after leaving Zurich, the Railjet is running alongside the Zürichsee, then along the Walensee...

Watch out for hilltop castles - this is Sargans castle, seen from the train...		The train cuts across Liechtenstein, passing non-stop through Schaan-Vaduz station...

The mountains keep on coming...

Mountain scenery and snowy peaks all the way, as the air-conditioned Railjet crosses into Austria...

In the Arlberg pass itself, the railway hugs the valley side, past fir forests and meadows...		In first & business class, orders are taken & served at your seat...

The view of the Fortress Hohensalzburg as the Railjet crosses the River Salzach & approaches Salzburg station....

Watch the Video: Through the Arlberg

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Option 6, via Brussels & Prague

OK, so this isn't the fastest route or the simplest route with fewest changes.  But it's a useful route which can sometimes have the cheapest fares.  There is nothing second-rate about the quality of the trains (see the photos below), and a night-day-night journey taking up just one day is quite time-effective.  Why not stop off in Prague?  So worth considering!

London ► Budapest

• Day 1, travel from London to Brussels on any evening Eurostar you like.

  The last Eurostar usually leaves London St Pancras at 19:34 arriving Brussels Midi at 22:38, but by all means travel earlier for a pleasant evening in Brussels.  Check times at www.eurostar.com.

• Stay overnight in Brussels.  I recommend the excellent Pullman Hotel Brussels Midi which is an integral part of Brussels Midi station itself, or the inexpensive Ibis Brussels Midi just across the road.

• Day 2, travel from Brussels to Prague all on one ticket on one of these departures:

  Leave Brussels Midi 06:23, change Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, Nuremberg & Cheb, arrive Prague Hlavni at 17:17.

  Leave Brussels Midi 08:25, change Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, Nuremberg & Cheb, arrive Prague Hlavni at 19:17.

  It involves 4 trains, but all on one inclusive ticket:  You take high-quality high-speed ICE trains from Brussels to Frankfurt & Frankfurt to Nuremberg with bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then a swish air-conditioned regional train from Nuremberg to Cheb and from Cheb to Prague.

  Tip:  When boarding the train from Nuremberg to Cheb, make sure you join the portion for Cheb, as another portion goes to Hof.

  See the Brussels to Prague via Cheb page for more information, tips & photos.

  Have dinner in Prague...  The Restaurant Šalanda (www.restauracesalanda.cz) is at the station, just inside the modern station's main front entrance, but it gets so-so reviews.  Consider a 6 minute 550m walk to the Restaurant Zvonice (www.restaurantzvonice.cz) which gets great reviews, see walking map.  It's at the top of a historic Prague watchtower and usually open until midnight, ideal if you're catching the sleeper.  Feedback appreciated.

• Day 2 evening, travel from Prague to Budapest by sleeper train Metropol, leaving Prague Hlavni at 22:43 and arriving Budapest Nyugati at 08:29 next morning (day 3 from London).

  This train has a comfortable air-conditioned Czech Railways sleeping-car with ten 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin.  Morning tea or coffee is included in the fare in the sleepers.

  Alternatively, stay overnight in Prague and catch a daytime train from Prague to Budapest from €21, see the timetable here.  Hotels with good reviews next to the station include the Esplanade Hotel (good choice, I've stayed there myself), Falkensteiner Hotel Maria, Chopin Hotel.

Budapest ► London

• Day 1, take the sleeper train Metropol from Budapest to Prague, leaving Budapest Nyugati at 19:29 & arriving Prague Hlavni at 08:37.

  This train has a comfortable air-conditioned Czech Railways sleeping-car with ten 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin.  Morning tea or coffee is included in the fare in the sleepers.

  Alternatively, take a daytime train from Budapest Nyugati to Prague Hlavni from €21 & stay overnight in Prague, see the timetable here.  Hotels with good reviews next to the station include the Esplanade Hotel, Falkensteiner Hotel Maria, Chopin Hotel.

• Day 2, travel from Prague to Brussels by train all on one ticket on one of two departures:

  Leave Prague Hlavni at 06:43, change at Cheb, Nuremberg & Frankfurt arriving Brussels Midi at 17:35.

  Leave Prague Hlavni at 10:43, change at Cheb, Nuremberg & Frankfurt arriving Brussels Midi at 21:35.

  You travel on a swish air-conditioned regional express train from Prague to Cheb and from Cheb to Nuremberg, then by top-quality high-speed ICE train from Nuremberg to Frankfurt and Frankfurt to Brussels, complete with bistro-restaurant cars and beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  See the Prague to Brussels via Cheb page for more information, tips & photos.

• Stay overnight in Brussels.  I recommend the excellent Pullman Hotel Brussels Midi which is an integral part of Brussels Midi station itself, or the inexpensive Ibis Brussels Midi just across the road.

• Day 3, travel from Brussels to London in 2 hours on any morning Eurostar you like.

  The first train currently leaves Brussels Midi at 08:52 arriving London St Pancras 09:57, check times at www.eurostar.com.

How much does it cost?

• London to Brussels by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £115 one-way, £199 return standard premier (1st class).

• Brussels to Prague starts at €46.90 each way 2nd class or €61.90 in 1st class.

• Prague to Budapest by sleeper starts at €35 each way with a couchette, €46 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €71 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.  Prague to Budapest by daytime EuroCity train starts at €20 in 2nd class or €35 in 1st class.

• All these fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

How to buy tickets

• Step 1, book from London to Brussels at www.eurostar.com.  You print your own ticket or can show it in the Eurostar app on your phone.

• Step 2, book from Brussels to Prague at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.

  You'll see journeys via various routes, to specify this route click Stopover and enter Cheb as a via station, leaving duration zero.

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

  You can also book at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz, in this case booking only opens up to 90 days ahead.  If you are booking well in advance, I find www.bahn.de is often cheaper.  Booked close to departure date, www.cd.cz is often cheaper.

• Step 3, book from Prague to Budapest at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz, looking for the direct sleeper train marked No transfers (EN).  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

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 at London St Pancras (45-minute minimum in Paris, Brussels & Amsterdam) as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More information about Eurostar including check-in procedure.  St Pancras station guide.  Brussels Midi station guide & short cut for changing trains in Brussels.

A Eurostar e320 at St Pancras.  More about Eurostar.		Standard Premier/Business Premier.  Larger photo.

Standard class seats.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, in cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

2. Brussels to Frankfurt & Frankfurt to Nuremberg by ICE...

Germany's superb ICEs have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st class, bistro orders are taken at your seat.  The Brussels to Frankfurt train 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 information about ICE3.  Brussels Midi station guide.  Frankfurt (Main) Hbf station guide.

An ICE3M from Brussels at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf.  More information about ICE.  Advice on changing trains in Brussels.

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

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

3. Nuremberg to Cheb by regional train, Cheb to Prague by express train...

You'll find tips and more scenery & train photos on the Brussels to Prague via Cheb page

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

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

4. Prague to Budapest by sleeper train:  More information about the sleepers & couchettes on this train.

Washstand, soap & towels provided.  Larger photo.		Czech Railways 2-bed 'double' sleeper on the Prague-Budapest route.  Each room can be used with 1, 2 or 3 beds.  Larger photo.		The corridor.  Each compartment locks securely.  Larger photo.

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Option 7, via the Harwich - Hoek van Holland ferry

This is the ferry alternative, a great option if you live in East Anglia.  It's the route to use if Eurostar fares are expensive or if you want to avoid the Channel Tunnel, for example if you suffer from claustrophobia.  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.

London, Cambridge & Harwich ► Budapest

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

  You leave London Liverpool Street at 18:45 Mondays-Fridays, 19:36 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 onto Stena Line's luxurious overnight superferry Stena Britannica to Hoek van Holland.  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.

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

  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.

  Next morning, take the frequent metro train from Hoek van Holland Haven to Schiedam Centrum and a Dutch Intercity train from Schiedam Centrum to Amsterdam Centraal arriving 10:25.  See the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for full details.

  At Amsterdam Centraal, have a coffee at the delightfully retro Cafe 1e Klas.

• Day 2, travel from Amsterdam to Stuttgart on ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  You leave Amsterdam Centraal at 12:38, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf & arrive Stuttgart Hbf at 18:08.

  Have dinner in Stuttgart.

• Day 2, travel from Stuttgart to Budapest by EuroNight sleeper Kalman Imre, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 20:29 & arriving Budapest Keleti at 09:19.

  The Kalman Imre has a comfortable air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, a modern Hungarian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments and ordinary seats, see more information about this sleeper train.

• Alternatively, spend the day in Amsterdam and take the Nightjet sleeper train from Amsterdam to Vienna, leaving leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 19:30 (exact time may vary) arriving Vienna Hbf 09:14.  Then travel from Vienna to Budapest by EuroCity train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 10:42 arriving Budapest Keleti 13:19.  The Amsterdam-Vienna Nightjet train has a sleeping-car & couchettes, see more information about Nightjets.

Budapest  ► Harwich, Cambridge & London

• Day 1, travel from Budapest to Stuttgart by EuroNight sleeper Kalman Imre, leaving Budapest Keleti at 20:40 & arriving Stuttgart Hbf 08:37.

  The Kalman Imre has a comfortable air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, a modern Hungarian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments and ordinary seats, see more information about this sleeper train.

  If you have a first class ticket, you can use the business lounge in Budapest on platform 9, open 06:00-21:30 daily with complimentary tea, coffee & soft drinks.

• Day 2, travel from Stuttgart to Amsterdam on ICE trains leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 09:51, changing at Cologne Hbf, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 15:29.  The ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Alternatively, you could travel from Budapest to Vienna by railjet train leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:40 arriving Vienna Hbf at 18:21, then take the Nightjet sleeper train leaving Vienna Hbf at 20:11 arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 09:59.  The Vienna to Amsterdam Nightjet train has a Comfortline sleeping-car with 1 & 2 bed compartments with washbasin, 1, 2 & 3 bed deluxe compartments with shower & toilet, and 4 & 6 berth couchettes.  The sleeper & couchette fare includes breakfast.  You then have a day free in Amsterdam.

• Day 2, travel from Amsterdam to London overnight by Stena Line Rail & Sail.

  You leave Amsterdam Centraal at 18:35 by Dutch intercity train to Schiedam Centrum and change onto the frequent metro to Hoek van Holland Haven.  At Hoek, the metro station is next to the ferry terminal.  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 Hollandica and sail overnight to Harwich in a cosy private cabin with shower, toilet & satellite TV.

  The ferry sails from Hoek van Holland at 22:00 and arrives at Harwich International at 06:30 next morning (day 3), UK time.  Day 3, take a train from Harwich to London Liverpool Street arriving around 08:54, or from Harwich to Cambridge arriving 09:41 (10:39 on Sundays).  See the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for full details.

How much does it cost?

• London to Hoek van Holland by Rail & Sail starts at £55 per person each way, plus 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.

  Hoek to Schiedam by metro costs around €4.  Schiedam to Amsterdam by train costs €17.20.

• Amsterdam to Stuttgart starts at €37.90 each way in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Stuttgart to Budapest by sleeper train starts at €49.90 with a couchette in 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in 4-berth, €69.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 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 a Stena Line Rail & Sail ticket from London to Hoek van Holland online as shown on the Stena Line Rail & Sail page.

  Buy the onward metro & train ticket to Amsterdam as shown on that page.

• Step 2, book the train from Amsterdam to Stuttgart at www.bahn.de,  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Step 3, book the sleeper from Stuttgart to Budapest at www.thetrainline.com or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

• If you want to use the Amsterdam-Vienna Nightjet sleeper, use www.thetrainline.com to book from Amsterdam to Vienna, then from Vienna to Budapest.

What's the journey like?

1. London to 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.  There's free WiFi in the public areas on 9 deck.  The journey from London to Holland is explained in detail on the Stena Line Rail & Sail page.  See the video...

Captain's Class cabin on the Harwich-Hoek ferry with double bed, complimentary minibar with sparkling wine, tea & coffee making facilities, hairdryer.  Larger photo.		Boarding the Stena Britannica at Harwich.  She's a floating hotel to Hoek van Holland, with easy rail connections on either side of the Channel.  Restaurants, bars, shop, kennels, cinema...

Dinner before bed?  Metropolitan à la carte restaurant.		Standard outside cabin.  Larger photo.  360º photo.

2. Amsterdam to Stuttgart by ICE...

ICEs are German Railways' premier trains, with 1st & 2nd class, a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

An ICE3M to Frankfurt at Amsterdam.  More information about ICE...

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

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

3. Stuttgart to Budapest by sleeper train Kalman Imre...  More information

Cosy & inviting, the photo below shows the modern air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car of the Kalman Imre at Munich Hbf.  The sleeping-car has 11 compartments with washbasin, each of which can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth room, with toilets at the end of the corridor.  The fare includes a light breakfast of coffee, juice & croissant.  See more information about the sleeper train Kalman Imre.  The sleeper used to run Munich-Budapest, but is extended to run Stuttgart-Munich-Budapest from 11 December 2022.

Sleeper train Kalman Imre, boarding on platform 12 at Munich Hbf.  More information about this train.

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

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