How to buy tickets

• Step 1, go to www.thetrainline.com and book from London to Brussels (and back, if returning).  Add to basket.

  Using Thetrainline means you can buy all your tickets in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $, small booking fee.  About Thetrainline.

  Use the Eurostar times on this page as a guide, by all means book an earlier one outward or a later one on the way back, if it it's cheaper or if you'd like time in Brussels.  Just make sure you allow over an hour in Brussels when connecting with a sleeper train.

  Booking opens 11 months ahead, but I'd wait till the sleeper opens for booking before buying a non-refundable Eurostar ticket.

  After booking you can use Manage your booking at www.eurostar.com to choose a better seat from a seat map.  Tips on choosing the best seats.

• Step 2, now use www.thetrainline.com to book the Nightjet sleeper from Brussels to Vienna.  Add to basket.

  Look for the direct train with 0 changes.  Booking for the Nightjet typically opens 3-4 months ahead, but it varies. Child under 6?  See here.

• Step 3, now use www.thetrainline.com to book from Vienna to Bratislava and back.  Add to basket & check out.

  If you prefer, you can just buy the Vienna-Bratislava ticket at the station in Vienna, it's only a regional train, fixed price, no reservation needed, tickets always available.

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

• Step 4, if you need tickets from Bratislava to Poprad-Tatry or Košice, 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 or can show it on your phone.

• If you're travelling from a UK town or city north or west of London, see advice about buying tickets 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.

• It's better to book online to avoid phone booking fees and see for yourself which trains are cheapest.  Most agencies only work weekday office hours, you can book online 24/7.  But if you want to book by phone, see my list of UK-based ticketing agencies.

Or use an Interrail pass

• Pass or point to point?

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

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

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

• How to use a pass for a trip to Slovakia

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

  A 4-day pass is enough to get from most regions of Britain to anywhere in Slovakia & back again.

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

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

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

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

  No reservation is necessary between Vienna & Bratislava.

Back to top

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

Almost identical to option 1, but via Paris instead of Brussels.  Option 1 involves an easy same-station change in Brussels from Eurostar to Nightjet, this involves an easy 7 minute walk from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de l'Est.  The Paris-Vienna & Brussels-Vienna Nightjets run on the same 3 days of the week, in fact they run coupled together between Mannheim and Vienna.

London ► Bratislava

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

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

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

  Tip:  I'd take the earlier 12:31 Eurostar from London and have dinner in Paris, see suggested restaurants near the Gare du Nord or Gare de l'Est.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Vienna by Nightjet, leaving Paris Gare de l'Est at 19:12 on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, arriving Vienna Hbf 10:13.

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

  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 11:14 arriving Bratislava Hlavna 12:10.

  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.  Important: see the update here.

• Step 4 if going to eastern Slovakia, leave Bratislava Hlavna at 13:27 arriving Poprad-Tatry 17:30 & Košice 18:53.

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

Bratislava ► London

• Step 0 if coming from eastern Slovakia, leave Košice at 09:07 or Poprad-Tatry at 10:30, arriving Bratislava Hlavna 14:33.

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

• Step 1, travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 15:50, arriving Vienna Hbf 16:46.

  These trains run every hour, by all means take an earlier one and have an early dinner in Vienna, but don't risk any tight connections when catching a sleeper.  No reservation is necessary or possible on these trains, just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on.  Important: see the update here.

  Tip:  If you have a sleeper, 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 18:13 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 09:39.

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

  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 13:12 daily arriving London St Pancras 14:39.

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

How much does it cost?

Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

On the sleeper train, berths are sold individually, 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, go to www.thetrainline.com and book from London to Paris (and back, if returning).  Add to basket.

  Using Thetrainline means you can buy all your tickets in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $, small booking fee.  About Thetrainline.

  Use the Eurostar times on this page as a guide, by all means book an earlier one outward or a later one on the way back, if it it's cheaper or if you'd like time in Brussels.  Just make sure you allow well over an hour in Paris when connecting with a sleeper train.

  Booking opens 11 months ahead, but I'd wait till the sleeper us open for booking before buying a non-refundable Eurostar ticket.

• Step 2, now use www.thetrainline.com to book the Nightjet sleeper from Paris to Vienna.  Add to basket.

  Look for the direct train with 0 changes.  Booking for the Nightjet typically opens 3-4 months ahead, but it varies. Child under 6?  See here.

• Step 3, now use www.thetrainline.com to book from Vienna to Bratislava and back.  Add to basket & check out.

  If you prefer, you can just buy the Vienna-Bratislava ticket at the station in Vienna, it's only a regional train, fixed price, no reservation needed, tickets always available.

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

  After booking you can use Manage your booking at www.eurostar.com to choose a better seat from a seat map.  Tips on choosing the best seats.

• Step 4, if you need tickets from Bratislava to Poprad-Tatry or Košice, 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 or can show it on your phone.

• If you're travelling from another UK town or city, see advice about buying tickets 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.

How to buy tickets by phone

• It's better to book online to avoid phone booking fees and see for yourself which trains are cheapest.  Most agencies only work weekday office hours, you can book online 24/7.  But if you want to book by phone, see my list of UK-based ticketing agencies.

Or use an Interrail pass

• Pass or point to point?

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

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

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

• How to use a pass for a trip to Hungary

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

  A 4-day pass is enough to get from most regions of Britain to anywhere in Slovakia & back again.

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

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

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

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

  No reservation is necessary between Vienna & Bratislava.

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.  Plus and Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More about Eurostar including check-in procedure.  St Pancras station guide.  Gare du Nord station guide.

Eurostar e320 at St Pancras.  More about Eurostar.		1st class: Plus or Premier seating.

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

2. Paris to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper

This Austrian Railways (ÖBB) Nightjet train has two sleeping-cars, two couchette cars & 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 shower & toilet.  The sleeper berths come 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.  Couchette passengers get tea or coffee, rolls & jam in the morning.  When waiting for the northbound sleeper train in Vienna, if you have a sleeping-car ticket you can use the ÖBB lounge with complimentary refreshments.  More about Nightjets.  Paris Gare de l'Est station guide.  Vienna Hbf station guide.

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

Deluxe sleeper.  Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room.  Larger photo.  Video of deluxe room		Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out.  Larger photo.		Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided.  Larger photo.		Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open.  It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth.  Larger photo.

6-berth couchettes.		4-berth couchettes.		Couchette car on a Nightjet.

3. Vienna to Bratislava by Regional Express train

The hourly regional express train from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna, seen below about to leave Vienna.  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 about Vienna-Bratislava regional express 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!

Back to top

Option 3, London to Bratislava by daytime trains

If you prefer daytime trains and a hotel to sleepers, this is the option for you.  London to Bratislava is too far to go in a day, so an overnight stop is needed either in Brussels or Frankfurt.  Those are the obvious choices on the direct route with fewest changes.

London ► Bratislava with overnight stop in Brussels

• Day 1, travel from London to Brussels on any Eurostar you like, check times at www.eurostar.com.

  The last Eurostar leaves London St Pancras at 19:34 arriving Brussels Midi 22:38.

  Eurostar has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Plus & Premier fares include a meal with wine.

• Stay overnight in Brussels.  I recommend the Pullman Hotel Brussels Midi on the station itself, or the Ibis Brussels Midi across the road.

• Day 2, travel from Brussels to Bratislava, leaving Brussels Midi 08:25, change Frankfurt (M) Flughafen & Vienna Hbf, arriving Bratislava Hlavna 20:26.

  You travel from Brussels to Frankfurt by superb German ICE3neo, Frankfurt to Vienna by ICE-T and Vienna to Bratislava by regional express.  The ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Check times for your date at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

London ► Bratislava with overnight stop in Frankfurt

• Day 1, travel from London to Frankfurt by Eurostar & ICE, see the London to Frankfurt timetable here.

  You can travel from London to Frankfurt with 1 easy same-station change at Brussels Midi, or you can travel via Paris with an easy 7-minute walk between the Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est.

  For example, you can leave London St Pancras by Eurostar at 15:04, change at Brussels Midi onto a superb ICE3 with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf 21:31.

  But by all means take the earlier 13:01 for more of an evening in Frankfurt, see the London to Frankfurt timetable here.

• Stay overnight in Frankfurt.  Hotels next to the station with good or great reviews include the Flemings Hotel Frankfurt-Central & Hotel Hamburger Hof, both of which I have used myself and can recommend.  There's also The Frankfurt and the inexpensive Hotel Topas.

• Day 2, travel from Frankfurt to Bratislava, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 08:21, change at Vienna Hbf, arriving Bratislava Hlavna 16:26.

  You travel from Frankfurt to Vienna by ICE-T with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then Vienna to Bratislava by regional express.  You can check times for your date of travel using the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

Bratislava ► London with overnight stop in Brussels

• Day 1, travel from Bratislava to Brussels, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 07:50, change Vienna Hbf & Frankfurt Flughafen arriving Brussels Midi 19:35.

  You travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional express, from Vienna to Frankfurt by ICE-T and from Frankfurt to Brussels by ICE3.  Both ICEs have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You can check times at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

• Stay overnight in Brussels.  I recommend the Pullman Hotel Brussels Midi on the station itself, or the Ibis Brussels Midi across the road.

• Day 2, travel from, Brussels to London on any morning Eurostar you like, check times at www.eurostar.com.

  The first train leaves Brussels Midi at 07:56 on Mondays-Saturdays arriving London St Pancras 08:59.

  On Sundays the first train leaves Brussels Midi at 08:52, arriving London St Pancras 09:57.

  Eurostar has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Plus & Premier fares include breakfast.

Bratislava ► London with overnight stop in Frankfurt

• Day 1, travel from Bratislava to Frankfurt, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 15:50, change at Vienna Hbf, arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf 21:36.

  You travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional express then Vienna to Frankfurt by superb high-speed ICE-T with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You can check times at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

• Stay overnight in Frankfurt.  Hotels next to the station with good or great reviews include the Flemings Hotel Frankfurt-Central & Hotel Hamburger Hof, both of which I have used myself and can recommend.  There's also The Frankfurt and the inexpensive Hotel Topas.

• Day 2, travel from Frankfurt to London.  You can travel from Frankfurt to London with 1 easy same-station change at Brussels Midi, or you can travel via Paris with an easy 7-minute walk between the Gare du Nord and nearby Gare de l'Est.

  For example, you can leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 08:16, change at Brussels Midi and arrive London St Pancras 13:57.

  By all means have a leisurely breakfast and take a later train, see the Frankfurt to London timetable here.

  The ICE from Frankfurt to Brussels has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Plus & Premier fares include a meal with wine.

How much does it cost?

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

• Brussels to Bratislava starts at €59.99 each way 2nd class, €71.99 each way 1st class.

• Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

How to buy tickets

• When does booking open?

  Booking for Eurostar opens up to 11 months ahead, onward trains from Brussels up to 6 months ahead, less when the mid-December timetable change intervenes.  I recommend waiting until all trains open for booking before buying a non-refundable Eurostar ticket.  More about when booking opens.

• If you're overnighting in Brussels:

  Step 1, book the Eurostar from London to Brussels & back at www.eurostar.com.

  If you're returning, make sure you book this as a round trip as Eurostar return fares are cheaper than two one-ways.  Beyond Brussels fares are all priced one-way so it makes no difference.  You print your ticket or can load it into the Eurostar app on your phone.

  Step 2, book from Brussels to Bratislava using the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

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

• If you're overnighting in Frankfurt:

  Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com.  This way, you can book all your tickets together in one place.

  Anyone from any country can use www.raileurope.com, in plain English, overseas credit cards accepted and fares shown in €, £ or $. There's a small booking fee.  About Raileurope.

  First book your ticket from London to Frankfurt.  If you're returning, book London to Frankfurt as a round trip because Eurostar return fares are cheaper than two one-ways.  Add this to your basket.

  Then book from Frankfurt to Bratislava one-way for the following day, add to basket, and (if returning) book from Bratislava to Frankfurt one way for the day prior to your Frankfurt-London journey, add this to your basket and check out.

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

• If you're overnighting in different cities out and back, book like this:

  First use www.raileurope.com to run some dummy enquiries to find the combination of trains you want.  Then book London to Brussels & back and add to basket, to benefit from Eurostar's cheaper return fares.  Then book one-way tickets from Brussels to Frankfurt, Frankfurt to Bratislava, Bratislava to Brussels (or whatever) on the trains you want, adding each ticket to your basket, then check out.

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

• Booking tips

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead and avoid busy days such as Fridays or Sunday afternoons.

  After booking you can use the Eurostar Manage your booking link to select a better seat on Eurostar.

• Is it a through ticket?

  No, as there are no through tickets from London to anywhere beyond Paris or Brussels.  But www.raileurope.com will seamlessly sell you a Eurostar ticket from London to Brussels plus an onward German Railways ticket from Brussels to Frankfurt, then it'll sell you a separate German Railways ticket from Frankfurt to Bratislava for the following day.

• Seat reservations

  A seat reservation is automatically included with every ticket on Eurostar.  No seat reservation is necessary or even possible on the regional express between Vienna & Bratislava.  Seat reservations are usually optional on German ICE trains, a reserved seat can be added when booking for €5.20 each way in 2nd class, €6.50 in 1st class.  I strongly recommend reserving a seat.

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

  The slick 20-minute connection in Brussels between Eurostar and an onward ICE, sometimes less than this, is usually a recognised connection which lots of people make.  It's not usually a problem.

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

  Tip:  Nothing stops you booking an earlier Eurostar than the one which directly connects with your chosen onward ICE, if it has cheaper fares or if you want a more robust connection.  To do this using www.raileurope.com, click More options, then enter Brussels (any station) as a via station with a stopover duration of (say) 1 or 2 hours.  There are plenty of places for a meal, coffee or beer between trains in Brussels!

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

A cheaper way to buy tickets

• If you're overnighting in Brussels one way or round trip, ignore this section as I've already told you to use eurostar.com then int.bahn.de.  But if you're overnighting in Cologne or Berlin, or in different cities outward and return, read on.

• This is more work as it means using two websites, but there are 3 advantages:  First, you don't pay any booking fee.  Second, you can use the Stopovers feature at int.bahn.de to book a Brussels to Bratislava through ticket with an overnight stop in Frankfurt which is cheaper than buying two separate tickets.  And third, int.bahn.de lets you select your seat from a seat map on ICE trains.  This is the way I'd book myself.

• Before booking for real, do a dry run on both sites to check availability & prices and to find a combination of trains that works for you.  Also check that your outward Eurostar and ICE are a recognised connection by checking that they appear together when you run a London to Cologne enquiry at int.bahn.de - read the paragraph above about the 20-minute connection in Brussels.

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

• Step 2, book from Brussels to Bratislava at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Fares are all priced one-way, so if you're returning you'll find it easier to book one way at a time, in fact you'll need to book one way at a time if you're overnighting in different cities out and back.

  To get an overnight stop in Frankfurt, click Stopovers and  enter Frankfurt (Main) Hbf with a suitable length of stay for an overnight stop, say 10 hours.  Adjust the departure time & length of stay to get the trains you want either side of Frankfurt.  This will get you a Brussels to Bratislava through ticket with an overnight stop in Frankfurt included.

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

How to buy tickets by phone

• It's better to book online to avoid phone booking fees and see for yourself which trains are cheapest.  Most agencies only work weekday office hours, you can book online 24/7.  But if you want to book by phone, see my list of UK-based ticketing agencies.

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.  Plus and Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More about Eurostar & check-in procedure.  St Pancras station guide.  Brussels Midi station guide.

Eurostar e320 at St Pancras.  More about Eurostar.		1st class: Plus or Premier seating.

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

2. Brussels to Frankfurt by ICE3

Germany's superb ICEs have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st class, restaurant orders are taken at your seat.  50 minutes after leaving Brussels the ICE calls at Liège, where you can admire the impressive station designed by celebrity architect Santiago Calatrava.  As you approach Cologne Hbf you'll see the twin towers of Cologne Cathedral on the right, next to the station.  Immediately after leaving Cologne Hbf, the train crosses the long Hohenzollern bridge over the Rhine before joining the 300km/h high-speed line to Frankfurt.  More about ICE3 trains.  Brussels Midi station guide.  Cologne Hbf station guide.

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

The restaurant car.  See current month's menu.		1st class seats on an ICE3neo.  Larger photo.

2nd class seats on an ICE3neo.  Larger photo		Lunch:  I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier!

3. Frankfurt to Vienna by ICE-T

The ICE-T has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st class, bistro orders are taken at your seat.  Between Frankfurt and Vienna you'll pass rolling countryside and run along the Danube in several places.  More about ICE-T trains.  Brussels Midi station guide.  Frankfurt (Main) Hbf station guide.  Vienna Hbf station guide.

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

Table for two in 1st class, my favourite configuration.  There are also tables for four in both classes.		Lunch in the restaurant.  I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier!  See current month's menu.

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

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

4. Vienna to Bratislava by Regional Express train

The hourly regional express train from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna, seen below about to leave Vienna.  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 about Vienna-Bratislava regional express 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 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 Eurostar is expensive, the rail & sail option is often still affordable.  I don't recommend Dover-Calais because of poor train/ferry connections, the Stena Line rail & sail service via Harwich & Hoek van Holland 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, see the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for full details.

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

  Or leave Cambridge at 19:46 daily, by direct train to Harwich International.

  The Rail & Sail fare is valid from any Greater Anglia station, for example Norwich, Cambridge, Romford, Ilford, Ipswich.

  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.

  All passengers travel in cosy private cabins with toilet, shower & satellite TV.  Comfort & Captains class cabins are also available, and there's free WiFi.  You can board the ferry around 9pm, have a late dinner in the restaurant or Stena Plus lounge and settle into your cabin.

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

  On arrival at Hoek van Holland, the metro station is next to the ferry terminal.  Walk down the gangway into the ferry terminal, through passport control, out of the terminal and across the road to the metro station.

  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 10:24.

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

• Day 2, travel from Amsterdam to Vienna by Nightjet, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 19:00, arriving Vienna Hbf 09:17.

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

  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 10:14, arriving Bratislava Hlavna 11:10.

  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.  Important: see the update here.

Bratislava ► Harwich, Cambridge & London

• Day 1, travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional express train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 17:50, arriving Vienna Hbf 18:46.

  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.  Important: see the update here.

  Tip:  At Vienna Hbf, if you have a sleeping-car ticket you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Vienna Hbf, with complimentary tea, coffee, snacks & WiFi.

• Day 1, travel from Vienna to Amsterdam by Nightjet, leaving Vienna Hbf at 20:10, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 09:50.

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

  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, left luggage lockers are available at Amsterdam Centraal.

• Day 2, travel from Amsterdam to London overnight, see the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for full details.

  You leave Amsterdam Centraal at 18:36 by Dutch intercity train to Schiedam Centrum and change onto the 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 and sail overnight to Harwich.

  All passengers travel in cosy private cabins with toilet, shower & satellite TV.  Comfort & Captains class cabins are also available, and there's free WiFi.  You can board the ferry around 8pm, have dinner in the restaurant or Stena Plus lounge and settle into your cabin.

  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 09:42 (10:39 Sundays).

How much does it cost?

• London or any Greater Anglia station to Hoek van Holland starts at £64 per person each way, plus cabin.

  For full details of fares & cabin 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 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 €11, 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 is explained in detail on the Stena Line Rail & Sail page.  See the video.

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

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

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

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 about Nightjets.

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		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, you can of course take a train to London and travel to Slovakia as shown above, see advice on buying tickets to connect with Eurostar.  But DFDS Seaways (www.dfds.com) run an excellent overnight ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam 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 you.

  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, 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, 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, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 19:00, arriving Vienna Hbf 09:17.

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

  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.

  If you have a sleeping-car ticket, you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary tea, coffee, snacks & WiFi.

• Day 3, travel from Vienna to Bratislava by regional express train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 10:14, arriving Bratislava Hlavna 11:10.

  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.  Important: see the update here.

Bratislava ► Scotland & the North

• Day 1, travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional express train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 17:50, arriving Vienna Hbf 18:46.

  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.  Important: see the update here.

  If you have a sleeping-car ticket, you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary tea, coffee, snacks & WiFi.

• Day 1, travel from Vienna to Amsterdam by Nightjet, leaving Vienna Hbf at 20:10, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 09:50.

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

  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 Centraal 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 times, fares & how to buy tickets, 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.com (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.  Fares vary like air fares so book ahead.

• Vienna to Bratislava by regional train costs €11, the ticket is good for any train that day.

How to buy tickets

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

  There's more info on the Hull-Rotterdam page & Newcastle-Amsterdam page.

• Step 2, book the nightjet from Amsterdam to Vienna at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.  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		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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