How to buy tickets

• If you buy your tickets at www.thetrainline.com you can buy all your tickets together in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee.  Anyone from any country can use www.thetrainline.com.  Who are Thetrainline.com?

  Do a dry run first to check prices and availability for each stage before booking for real.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, but sometimes less than this.  More information about when bookings open. 

• Step 1, go to www.thetrainline.com and book from London to Brussels (and back, if returning) using the train times on this page as a guide.  Add this to your basket.  Never allow less than an hour in Brussels when connecting with a sleeper train.

• Step 2, now book the Nightjet sleeper train from Brussels to Vienna and back at www.thetrainline.com, looking for the direct train with 0 changes.  Add to basket and check out.

• Step 3, now book from Vienna to Bratislava and back at www.thetrainline.com, add to basket & check out.  If you prefer, you can just buy the Vienna-Bratislava ticket at the station in Vienna, it's just a regional train, fixed price, no reservation needed, tickets always available.

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

  You print your own tickets.  After booking you can use the Eurostar Manage Booking system to select an exact seat on Eurostar.

• Step 4, if you need tickets from Bratislava to Poprad-Tatry or Kosice, book these at the Slovakian Railways website www.zssk.sk.

  Booking for these Slovakian tickets only opens 60 days ahead.  Switch it to English by clicking EN top right.  It's a little fiddly, but it works.  You print your own ticket.

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

Another way to buy tickets

• You can of course book direct with the relevant train operator without any booking fees, but this means more work on multiple websites and it can be more fiddly.  In all cases you print your own ticket, or can in some cases show it on your phone.

• Step 1, book the London-Brussels Eurostar at www.eurostar.com.

• Step 2, book the Nightjet sleeper and Vienna-Bratislava train at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.

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Option 2: London to Bratislava using the Paris-Vienna Nightjet

Like option 1 above, this is a comfortable and time-effective option:  Take a mid-afternoon Eurostar to Paris, make an easy 7-minute walk between Paris Nord and Paris Est, then take the comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper from Paris to Vienna overnight - this is a new train which will run 3 days a week starting 12 December 2021.  Then hop on an hourly regional express train from Vienna to Bratislava.

London ► Bratislava Tuesdays, Fridays, Sundays

• Step 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 14:31 and arriving Paris Gare du Nord at 17:47.

  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.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper, leaving Paris Gare de l'Est 18:58 on Tuesdays, Fridays & Sundays, arriving Vienna Hbf 10:13.

  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.

• Step 3, travel from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna by hourly regional train leaving Vienna Hbf at 11:17 arriving Bratislava Hlavna 12:23.

  There are also hourly trains to Bratislava Petrzalka, but this is not as convenient for the city centre as Bratislava Hlavna.  No reservation is necessary or possible on these regional trains, just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on.  There are always plenty of seats and they cannot sell out.

  Alternatively, you can also travel from Vienna to Bratislava by fast boat along the scenic Danube, once a day in winter, up to 5 times a day in summer, see below for more details.

• Step 4 if going to eastern Slovakia, leave Bratislava Hlavna at 13:27 arriving Poprad-Tatry 17:39 & Kosice 18:53.

  This is a smart air-conditioned Slovakian express train with restaurant car.

Bratislava ► London Mondays, Thursdays & Saturdays

• Step 0 if coming from eastern Slovakia, leave Kosice at 12:03 or Poprad-Tatry at 13:15, arriving Bratislava Hlavna 16:41.

  This is a smart air-conditioned Slovakian Intercity train with restaurant car.

• Step 1, travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 17:38 and arriving Vienna Hbf 18:44.

  Trains run every hour, by all means take an earlier one and have dinner in Vienna, but don't risk any tighter connections when catching a sleeper you can't afford to miss.  No reservation is necessary or possible on these trains, just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on.

  Alternatively, you can travel from Bratislava to Vienna by fast boat along the scenic Danube, once a day in winter, up to 5 times a day in summer, see here for more details.

  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 sleeper train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:46 on Mondays, Thursdays & Saturdays, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 09:43 next morning.

  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.

  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 13:03 daily arriving London St Pancras at 14:39.

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

• If you buy your tickets at www.thetrainline.com you can buy all your tickets together in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee.  Anyone from any country can use www.thetrainline.com.  Who are Thetrainline.com?

  Do a dry run first to check prices and availability for each stage before booking for real.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, but sometimes less than this.  More information about when bookings open.

• Step 1, go to www.thetrainline.com, book the nightjet sleeper train from Paris to Vienna and add to basket.

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

  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-Bratislava connection, add to basket & check out.

  You print your own tickets.

• Step 4, if you need tickets from Bratislava to Poprad-Tatry or Kosice, book these at the Slovakian Railways website www.zssk.sk.

  Booking for these Slovakian tickets opens 60 days ahead.  Switch it to English by clicking EN top right.  It's a little fiddly, but it works.  You print your own ticket.

• 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 cheaper and easier to buy tickets online as you can see for yourself which departures are cheapest for each stage of the journey and you avoid phone booking fees.  Online booking is possible 24/7, but most telephone booking agencies only work office hours on weekdays.  However, if you'd rather call someone, here is a list if UK ticketing agencies with phone numbers & opening hours.  For a journey between the UK & Austria I'd call Deutsche Bahn's UK phone line, or Ffestiniog Travel, International Rail or Trainseurope.

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 & Slovakia.  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, book the Eurostar following the instructions here.  Do this or at least 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 2, book the sleeper at www.oebb.at following the instructions here.  You print out the reservation.

  Step 3, once your reservations are bought, buy a 4-days-in-1-months pass from www.interrail.eu.  No reservation is needed for the Vienna-Bratislava regional train.

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 Bratislava by Regional Express train: 

The hourly regional express train from Vienna to Bratislava Hlavna, seen below about to leave from Vienna Hbf.  Behind the locomotive is a smart Slovakian air-conditioned intercity coach, whilst the rest of the train consists of more basic non-air-con Austrian City Shuttle carriages, with interiors as shown in the photo above right.  Find a seat in the more comfortable Slovakian car if you can! More photos, tips & information about Vienna-Bratislava trains...

The hourly regional express train from Vienna to Bratislava Hlavna, seen about to leave from Vienna's new Hauptbahnhof.  Behind the locomotive is a smart Slovakian air-conditioned intercity coach, whilst the rest of the train consists of more basic non-air-con Austrian City Shuttle carriages, with interiors as shown in the photo above right.  Find a seat in the more comfortable Slovakian car if you can!

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Option 3, via Brussels & Prague

OK, so this isn't the fastest route or the simplest route with fewest changes, but it's sometimes the cheapest.  There is nothing second-rate about the quality of the trains, see the photos below.

London ► Bratislava

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

  The last Eurostar currently leaves London St Pancras at 18:04 Mondays-Fridays & Sundays arriving Brussels Midi at 21:05, or at 15:04 on Saturdays arriving 18:05, 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 on one of these departures, they all run every day:

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

  Leave Brussels Midi 08:23, change Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, Nuremberg & Cheb, arrive Prague Hlavni at 19:17.

  Leave Brussels Midi 10:25, change Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, Nuremberg & Cheb, arrive Prague Hlavni at 21:17.

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

• Stay overnight in Prague.  Hotels in Prague with good reviews next to the station include the Esplanade Hotel (good choice, I've stayed there myself), Falkensteiner Hotel Maria, Chopin Hotel.

• Day 3, travel from Prague to Bratislava by comfortable air-conditioned EuroCity train with restaurant car, see the timetable here.

  You can leave Prague Hlavni as early as 05:24 and arrive Bratislava Hlavna at 09:54, but by all means have breakfast and catch a later train.

Bratislava ► London

• Day 1, travel from Bratislava to Prague on any EuroCity train you like, see the timetable here.

  For example you can leave Bratislava Hlavna at 18:06 arriving Prague Hlavni 22:35, but by all means take an earlier train, or the later 20:06.

• Stay overnight in Prague.  Hotels with good reviews next to the station include the Esplanade Hotel (good choice, I've stayed there myself), Falkensteiner Hotel Maria, Chopin Hotel.

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

  Prague Hlavni depart 06:43, change Cheb, Nuremberg & Frankfurt (Main) Hbf arriving Brussels Midi at 17:35.

  Prague Hlavni depart 10:43, change Cheb, Nuremberg & Frankfurt (Main) Hbf 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 car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  See the Brussels to Prague via Cheb page for more photos, tips & information.

• 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 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 Bratislava starts at €15 each way in 2nd class or €25 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 Bratislava at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz.  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 Bratislava by EuroCity train:  See the Prague-Bratislava page...

A Prague-Bratislava-Budapest EuroCity train about to leave Prague Hlavni.

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Option 4, London to Bratislava by ferry from Harwich...

The ferry alternative!  This is a great option if you live in East Anglia, if you prefer a ferry to the Channel Tunnel, or if problems are affecting Eurostar.  Indeed, if you need to travel at short notice when there are no cheap Eurostar tickets, the rail & sail option is often still affordable.  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 ► Bratislava

• 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 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.

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

  Spend the day in Amsterdam, left luggage lockers are available at Amsterdam Centraal.

• Day 2, travel from Amsterdam to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 19:30 every day arriving Vienna 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 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 3, travel from Vienna to Bratislava by regional express train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 10:17 and arriving Bratislava Hlavna at 11:23.

  These trains run every hour, no reservation is necessary or possible on these trains, just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on.  There are always plenty of seats and they cannot sell out.  There are also hourly trains on the hour to Bratislava Petrzalka, but this is not as convenient for the city centre as Bratislava Hlavna.

Bratislava ► Harwich, Cambridge & London

• Day 1, travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional express train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 17:38 and arriving Vienna Hbf 18:44.

  Trains run every hour, by all means take an earlier one and have dinner in Vienna, but don't risk any tighter connections when catching a sleeper you don't want to miss.  No reservation is necessary or possible on these trains, just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on.

  Tip:  At Vienna Hbf, if you have a 1st class ticket or a ticket for any sort of sleeper (not couchette or seat) you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary tea, coffee, snacks & free WiFi.

• Day 1, travel from Vienna to Amsterdam by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 20:11 & arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 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 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 most of day 2 in Amsterdam...

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

  You 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.

  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 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.  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, photos & travel tips.

How much does it cost?

• Amsterdam to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train starts at €59.90 with a couchette in 6-berth, €69.90 with a couchette in 4-berth, €109.90 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 with a bed in a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Vienna to Bratislava by regional train costs €10.20, fixed-price, the ticket is good for any train that day.

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 tickets to Amsterdam as shown on that page.

• Step 2, book the Nightjet sleeper train from Amsterdam to Vienna at either www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a little more fiddly, no booking fee).  You print your own ticket.

• Step 3, now book from Vienna to Bratislava and back at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at, or just buy a Vienna-Bratislava ticket at the station in Vienna, it's just a regional train, fixed price, no reservation needed, tickets always available.

What's the journey like?

Step 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.  The journey from London to Amsterdam 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 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.

The Nightjet sleeper to Vienna, 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		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 the Nightjet train to Vienna...

3. Vienna to Bratislava by Regional Express train: 

The hourly regional express train from Vienna to Bratislava Hlavna, seen below about to leave from Vienna Hauptbahnhof.  Behind the locomotive is a smart Slovakian air-conditioned intercity coach, whilst the rest of the train consists of more basic non-air-con Austrian City Shuttle carriages, with interiors as shown in the photo above right.  Find a seat in the more comfortable Slovakian car if you can! More photos, tips & information about Vienna-Bratislava trains...

The hourly regional express train from Vienna to Bratislava Hlavna, seen about to leave from Vienna's new Hauptbahnhof.  Behind the locomotive is a smart Slovakian air-conditioned intercity coach, whilst the rest of the train consists of more basic non-air-con Austrian City Shuttle carriages, with interiors as shown in the photo above right.  Find a seat in the more comfortable Slovakian car if you can!

If you live in the North of England or Scotland, one option is to take a train up to London, then travel to Slovakia by train as described above.  You can buy special connecting train tickets from most UK stations to London International, see advice on buying connecting train tickets to London.  But DFDS Seaways (www.dfds.co.uk) run an excellent daily cruise ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam overnight, and P&O Ferries (www.poferries.com) sail overnight from Hull to Rotterdam.  So why not by-pass London, with lunch in Amsterdam into the bargain?

Scotland & the North ► Bratislava

• 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 are available.

• Day 2, travel from Amsterdam to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 19:30 & arriving Vienna 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.

  If you have a sleeper ticket (meaning sleeper not couchette or seat, or a 1st class ticket for the onward train to Budapest, you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary tea, coffee, snacks & free WiFi.

• Day 3, travel from Vienna to Bratislava by regional express train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 10:17 and arriving Bratislava Hlavna at 11:23.

  These trains run every hour, no reservation is necessary or possible on these trains, just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on.  There are always plenty of seats and they cannot sell out.  There are also hourly trains on the hour to Bratislava Petrzalka, but this is not as convenient for the city centre as Bratislava Hlavna.

Bratislava ► Scotland & the North

• Day 1, travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional express train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 17:38 and arriving Vienna Hbf 18:44.

  Trains run every hour, by all means take an earlier one and have dinner in Vienna, but don't risk any tighter connections when catching a sleeper you don't want to miss.  No reservation is necessary or possible on these trains, just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on.

  Tip:  At Vienna Hbf, if you have a 1st class ticket or a ticket for any sort of sleeper (not couchette or seat) you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary tea, coffee, snacks & free WiFi.

• Day 1, travel from Vienna to Amsterdam by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 20:11 & arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 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.

  You've now the best part of the day to explore Amsterdam, left luggage lockers are available.

  In the afternoon, if you're heading for Hull take a frequent Dutch train to Rotterdam and the P&O transfer bus from Rotterdam Centraal to Rotterdam Europoort ferry terminal.  If you're heading for Newcastle, a DFDS transfer bus runs from Amsterdam Centraal to IJmuiden ferry terminal.

• Day 2, sail from Holland to Hull or Newcastle by overnight cruise ferry, whichever is most convenient for where you live, arriving next morning (day 3).  Transfer to the station and take a train home.

  For details of timetables, fares & how to buy tickets from Amsterdam to the UK via these ferry routes, see the Hull-Rotterdam page or the Newcastle-Amsterdam page.

How much does it cost?

• To check train fares to Hull or Newcastle, see any train operator website such as www.lner.co.uk.

• To check ferry fares, go to www.dfds.co.uk (Newcastle-Amsterdam), www.poferries.com (Hull-Rotterdam).  There's more info on the Hull-Rotterdam page & Newcastle-Amsterdam page.

• Amsterdam to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train starts at €59.90 with a couchette in 6-berth, €69.90 with a couchette in 4-berth, €109.90 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 with a bed in a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.

• Vienna to Bratislava by regional train costs €10.20, the ticket is good for any train that day.

How to buy tickets

• Step 1, book your ferry at www.dfds.co.uk (Newcastle-Amsterdam) or www.poferries.com (Hull-Rotterdam).  There's more info on the Hull-Rotterdam page & Newcastle-Amsterdam page.

• Step 2, book the nightjet sleeper train from Amsterdam to Vienna at www.thetrainline.com, which links to the Austrian Railways system.  You print your own ticket.

• Step 3, now book from Vienna to Bratislava and back at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at, or just buy a Vienna-Bratislava ticket at the station in Vienna, it's just a regional train, fixed price, no reservation needed, tickets always available.

• Step 4, add any UK trains you need to Hull or Newcastle at any train operator website such as www.lner.co.uk.

What's the journey like?

Step 1, take the overnight cruise ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam with DFDS or Hull to Rotterdam with P&O, with private en suite cabins, restaurants, bars, cinema.  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.

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, take the daily Nightjet sleeper train from Amsterdam to Linz, Vienna or Innsbruck.

The Nightjet sleeper train to Vienna, 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		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...

3. Travel from Vienna to Bratislava by Regional Express train.

The hourly regional express train from Vienna to Bratislava Hlavna, seen below about to leave from Vienna Hauptbahnhof.  Behind the locomotive is a smart Slovakian air-conditioned intercity coach, whilst the rest of the train consists of more basic non-air-con Austrian City Shuttle carriages, with interiors as shown in the photo above right.  Find a seat in the more comfortable Slovakian car if you can! More photos, tips & information about Vienna-Bratislava trains...

The hourly regional express train from Vienna to Bratislava Hlavna, seen about to leave from Vienna's new Hauptbahnhof.  Behind the locomotive is a smart Slovakian air-conditioned intercity coach, whilst the rest of the train consists of more basic non-air-con Austrian City Shuttle carriages, with interiors as shown in the photo above right.

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