The Dragon Bridge, Ljubljana.  Ljubljana is a wonderful city, easy to reach from the UK without flying, by train...

London to Ljubljana by train...

It's easy, safe & comfortable to travel from the UK to Slovenia by train.  Take a morning Eurostar to Paris & TGV to Stuttgart or Zurich, then snooze your way to Ljubljana by overnight sleeper train - waking up to some great scenery!  Or travel from London to Munich by Eurostar & high-speed TGV, stay overnight in a hotel, then take a scenic ride through the mountains of Austria next morning, arriving in Ljubljana after lunch.  This page explains the routes, train times, fares & how to buy tickets.

  London to Lake Bled & Ljubljana

  London to Koper

  Useful country information: currency, dial code...

  Hotels in Ljubljana & Slovenia

On other pages

  Trains from Slovenia to other European cities

  Trains to Slovenia from other European cities

  Venice & Trieste to/from Ljubljana by train

  Venice & Trieste to/from Lake Bled by train

  General information about European train travel

  Starting from other UK towns & cities

  Taking your bike    Taking a dog    Luggage

  Holidays to Slovenia & Croatia by train not plane

  Travel insurance, mobile data, VPN & other tips

Route map:  UK to Slovenia by train

Useful country information

London to Lake Bled & Ljubljana

  Option 1, London-Paris by morning Eurostar, Paris-Stuttgart by TGV, Stuttgart-Ljubljana overnight by sleeper train - fastest & most time-effective.

  Option 2, London-Paris by morning Eurostar, Paris-Zurich by TGV-Lyria, Zurich-Ljubljana overnight by sleeper train - also fast & time-effective.

  Option 3, London-Paris by morning Eurostar, Paris-Munich by TGV, overnight hotel, a scenic Munich-Ljubljana ride next day - if you prefer daytime trains + hotel.

  Option 4, London-Paris by morning Eurostar, Paris-Milan by TGV, overnight hotel, train to Venice, Trieste & Ljubljana next day - the Italian route...

  Option 5, afternoon Eurostar, Nightjet sleeper to Austria, morning in Salzburg or Vienna, afternoon EuroCity train to Ljubljana - well worth considering.

  Option 6, London-Amsterdam via the Harwich-Hoek van Holland ferry, train to Munich, sleeper to Ljubljana - the ferry alternative!

Option 1, Eurostar to Paris, TGV to Stuttgart, sleeper to Ljubljana

This is the fastest & most time-effective option, London to Ljubljana in comfort in less than 24 hours.  You'll experience two of Europe's best high-speed trains, Eurostar and France's famous TGV, then an excellent Croatian sleeper train either in an economical couchette or a private sleeper.

London ► Bled & Ljubljana

• Step 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 10:22 on Mondays-Fridays & Sundays arriving Paris Gare du Nord at 13:57.  On any day of the week you can leave London St Pancras at 09:24 arriving Paris Gare du Nord at 12:57.

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

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Stuttgart by TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de l'Est at 15:55 Monday-Friday & Sunday arriving Stuttgart Hbf 19:04.  On Saturdays, leave Paris Gare de l'Est at 13:55 arriving Stuttgart Hbf 17:04.

  The 320 km/h double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number >60 is upper deck.  Times may vary, so check for your date at www.bahn.de.

• Step 3, travel from Stuttgart to Slovenia by sleeper train Lisinski, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 20:29 & arriving Lesce-Bled 07:22 & Ljubljana 08:09.

  The Lisinski has an excellent air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car (1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin), a modern air-conditioned Croatian couchette car (4 & 6 berth compartments) and ordinary seats.  Watch the Croatian sleeper video.  There's no catering car, so take a picnic and a bottle of wine...

Ljubljana & Bled ► London

• Step 1, travel from Slovenia to Stuttgart by sleeper train Lisinski, leaving Ljubljana at 22:08 or Lesce-Bled at 22:49, arriving Stuttgart Hbf 08:37.

  The Lisinski has an excellent air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car (1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin), a modern air-conditioned Croatian couchette car (4 & 6 berth compartments) and ordinary seats.  Watch the Croatian sleeper video.

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

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

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

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

How much does it cost?

Each train is ticketed separately, so add up the price for each leg of the journey.

How to buy tickets

• Step 1, book from London to Stuttgart at www.thetrainline.com.  Who are Thetrainline.com?

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

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead for Eurostar, up to 4 months ahead for Paris-Stuttgart, but usually 90 days ahead for Stuttgart-Ljubljana, see more information about when train bookings open.  I recommend waiting until onward trains have opened for booking and times are confirmed before buying a non-refundable Eurostar ticket, unless you're prepared to take a calculated risk.

  Tip:  Click via/avoid and enter Paris as a via station to limit the search to routes via Paris. 

  Tip:  You can book from London to Stuttgart all in one go if you like, but for more control over the connection in Paris, I'd book London-Paris first, add to basket, then book Paris-Stuttgart and add to basket, ensuring at least an hour between trains.  That way you can allow a more robust connection than the system would give you, and you can see if earlier Eurostars have cheaper prices.

  Tip:  If you are making a round trip, London-Paris return fares are significantly cheaper than two one-ways so it's cheaper to book this as a return.  All other trains are one-way ticketed so it makes no difference how you book, and it can be easier to book one way at a time!

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

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

• Step 2, book the sleeper train from Stuttgart to Ljubljana at www.thetrainline.com.

  Use the journey planner to bring up the direct Stuttgart-Ljubljana sleeper train marked EN with 0 changes.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

• Alternatively, you can book London to Paris at www.eurostar.com, then Paris to Stuttgart at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, then Stuttgart to Ljubljana by sleeper at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.  This is more work on multiple websites, the prices should be the same, but no booking fees.

How to buy tickets by phone

• If you'd prefer to book all your tickets together by phone, just call International Rail on 0844 248 248 3, lines open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday, small booking fee.

• Alternatively, you can call Deutsche Bahn's English-speaking telesales line on 00 49 (0)30 311 68 29 04 (lines open 08:30-20:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturday & Sunday UK time, 1.5% fee for phone bookings).

Have your trip arranged as a package

• Railbookers are a train travel specialist who can put together a UK-Slovenia trip for you as a package, including rail travel, hotels & transfers.  You'll find a range of suggested tours & holidays on their website which can be varied or customised to your requirements.  As you're booking a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens to one part of the itinerary such as a strike or delay.

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

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

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

    Australia call 1300 971 526, see website

    New Zealand call 0800 000 554, see website

• Byway (Byway.travel) is a UK-based eco-holiday firm with a 5-star TrustPilot rating.  If you're nervous about booking train travel yourself, book a one-way or return UK-Slovenia train trip through Byway as a package, including hotels and starting from any British station you like.  Byway includes package protection, a 100% Covid refund guarantee, free disruption and re-planning and on-demand WhatsApp support while you're away.  They can build a trip to your requirements if you email them or use this contact form.  When you book, please say you heard about them from Seat 61.

What's the journey like?

1. London to Paris by Eurostar...

Eurostar trains link London & Paris in 2h20, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in at London St Pancras (45-minute minimum in Paris, Brussels & Amsterdam) as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More information about Eurostar including check-in procedure.  St Pancras station guide.  Gare du Nord station guide.

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

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

2. Paris to Stuttgart by TGV Duplex...   See the video guide

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

TGV Duplex at Paris Est. These impressive 320 km/h double-deck trains link Paris with Stuttgart & Munich...

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

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

3. Stuttgart to Ljubljana on the sleeper train Lisinski...  Watch the video

This modern Croatian sleeper train is a pleasure to travel on, whether in the privacy of your own sleeper or in economical couchettes.  The air-conditioned sleeping-car has 10 compartments with washbasin, each of which can be used as 1, 2 or 3 berth, with toilets at the end of the corridor.  Compartments convert to a private sitting room for evening or morning use.  A light breakfast with tea or coffee is included in the sleeper fare.  The couchette car is also modern & air-conditioned with 4 & 6 bunk compartments, ideal for families.  Couchettes convert from bunks to seats for evening or morning use.

Above, the air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car to Ljubljana & Zagreb at Munich Hbf.  The Croatian couchette car is the next vehicle to the right.  See the Croatian sleeper video.

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

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Option 2, London to Ljubljana using the sleeper from Zurich

This is also fast and time-effective.  It's very similar to option 1, but instead of TGV Paris-Stuttgart and Croatian sleeper train Stuttgart-Ljubljana, you taka a TGV-Lyria to Zurich and Croatian sleeper train Zurich-Ljubljana.  There are two minor disadvantages compared to option 1:  First, departure from London is a little earlier in the morning with an identical arrival time in Ljubljana.  Second, you need to cross Paris by taxi or metro from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de Lyon, whereas in option 1 it's just a 7 minute walk from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de l'Est next door. 

London ► Lake Bled & Ljubljana

• Step 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 07:01 Mondays-Fridays arriving Paris Gare du Nord 10:17, at 06:31 on Saturdays arriving Paris Gare du Nord 09:47, or at 08:01 on Sundays arriving Paris Gare du Nord 11:20.

  There's also an 07:55 Eurostar on Mondays-Saturdays, but I'd play safe and book an earlier Eurostar when available.

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

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

  The 320 km/h double-deck TGV-Lyria has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about TGV-Lyria.

  In Zurich, there's time for dinner while waiting for the sleeper, I recommend steak-frites and a beer at the Brasserie Federal inside Zurich HB, see other restaurant suggestions.

• Step 3, travel from Zurich to Ljubljana by comfortable Croatian sleeper train, leaving Zurich HB at 20:40 & arriving Lesce-Bled at 07:21 & Ljubljana at 08:09.

  This train has an excellent modern air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, see the Croatian sleeper video here, and an air-conditioned Croatian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments.  There's no catering car, so take a picnic and a bottle of wine with you!

Ljubljana & Lake Bled ► London

• Step 1, take the comfortable sleeper train leaving Ljubljana at 22:08 or Lesce-Bled at 22:49 arriving Zurich HB 09:20.

  It has a Croatian couchette car (4 & 6 berth) and an excellent modern air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, see the Croatian sleeper video here.  There's no restaurant car, so have dinner before boarding your sleeper.

• Step 2, travel from Zurich to Paris by TGV-Lyria, leaving Zurich HB at 11:34 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 15:38.

  The 320 km/h double-deck TGV-Lyria has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more about TGV-Lyria.

• Step 3, travel from Paris to London by Eurostar, leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 18:13 on Mondays-Fridays & Sundays arriving London St Pancras at 19:30, or at 19:03 on Saturdays arriving at 20:39.

How much does it cost?

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

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

• Zurich to Ljubljana by sleeper train starts at €59 with couchette in 6-berth, €69 with couchette in 4-berth, €109 with bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €159 in a single-bed sleeper.

• These prices vary like air fares, rising as the cheaper tickets are sold & departure approaches, so book ahead.

How to buy tickets

• You can book each of these trains in one place in plain English using www.thetrainline.com.

• Booking opens up to 6 months ahead for Eurostar, up to 4 months ahead for TGV-Lyria, up to 6 months ahead for the sleeper.  However, I'd wait until all 3 trains are open for booking before committing to a non-refundable Eurostar ticket. More about when booking opens.

• If you're returning you should book Eurostar as a round trip, because Eurostar return fares are significantly cheaper than two one-ways.  The other trains are one-way-ticketed so a return is simply two one ways.  So I'd book London to Paris & back, add to basket, Paris to Zurich one-way, add to basket, Zurich to Ljubljana one-way add to basket, then do Ljubljana to Zurich, Zurich to Paris, and check out.

• You print your own tickets.

• Alternatively, London-Paris & Paris-Zurich can also be booked at www.raileurope.com (in €, £ or $, small booking fee).  The Zurich-Ljubljana sleeper can also be booked at the Austrian Railways site www.oebb.at (a bit more fiddly, same fares), also with print your own ticketing.

What's the journey like?

1. London to Paris by Eurostar...

Eurostar trains link London & Paris in 2h20, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in at London St Pancras (45-minute minimum in Paris, Brussels & Amsterdam) as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More information about Eurostar including check-in procedure.  St Pancras station guide.  Gare du Nord station guide.

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

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

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

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

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

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

3. Zurich to Ljubljana by Croatian sleeper train...

The Zurich-Ljubljana-Zagreb sleeper train boards at Zurich HB as the sun sets on a summer day.  That's the Croatian couchette car on the right, the Croatian sleeping-car on the left.

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

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Option 3, London to Ljubljana with overnight stop in Munich...

If you prefer daytime trains with an overnight hotel stop to sleepers, this is the option for you.  Travel from London to Munich by train on day 1, stay overnight in a comfortable hotel near Munich Hbf, then take a lovely scenic ride from Munich through the mountains of Austria into rural Slovenia next day.

London ► Lake Bled & Ljubljana

• Day 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 10:22 on Mondays-Fridays & Sundays arriving Paris Gare du Nord at 13:57.  On Saturdays, leave London St Pancras at 12:24 arriving Paris Gare du Nord at 15:57.

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

• Day 1, travel from Paris to Munich by TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de l'Est at 15:55 Mondays-Fridays & Sundays arriving Munich Hbf 21:36.  On Saturdays leave Paris Gare de l'Est at 17:55 by TGV Duplex and arrive Munich Hbf 23:29. 

  The 320 km/h double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number >60 is upper deck.  Times may vary, so check for your date at www.bahn.de.

  An earlier departure from London to Munich is possible on Saturdays, leaving London 09:24 arriving 19:13, with changes in Paris & Stuttgart.

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Bled or Ljubljana, leaving Munich Hbf at 08:16 by smart Austrian railjet train.  You need to make a simple cross-platform change onto a comfortable air-conditioned Slovenian & Croatian train at Villach on the Austrian/Slovenian border (arrive 12:43, depart 12:53) and you arrive in Lesce-Bled at 13:51 and Ljubljana at 14:31.

  A restaurant car is available on the Austrian railjet train serving drinks, snacks and affordable meals - in 1st & business class food orders are taken and served at your seat.  The scenery through southeast Germany, Austria & Slovenia is stunning, with views of snow capped mountains, lush meadows & winding rivers, see the photos above.

  If you're going to Bled, Lesce-Bled station is 3.8 km from Bled town centre.  Air-conditioned buses link the bus stop outside Lesce Bled station with Bled town every 20-35 minutes, journey time 9 minutes, fare around €1.30.  You can check times at arriva.si, Lesce ŽP = Lesce-Bled railway station.

Ljubljana & Lake Bled  ► London

• Day 1, travel from Ljubljana or Bled to Munich, leaving Ljubljana at 15:27 or Lesce-Bled at 16:15 on a comfortable air-conditioned Slovenian & Croatian train.  You need to make a simple cross-platform change at Villach on the Austrian/Slovenian border (arrive 17:07, depart 17:16) onto a smart Austrian railjet train which arrives at Munich Hbf at 21:41.  In summer when it's light you can enjoy the lovely mountain scenery over dinner in the railjet's restaurant car.

  Alternatively, you can take the earlier direct EuroCity train leaving Ljubljana at 09:22 or Lesce-Bled at 10:03, arriving Munich Hbf at 15:41.  This is a classic Austrian train with 6-seater compartments in both 1st & 2nd class, and it's direct with no need to change trains at Villach.  Take your own provisions as there's no restaurant or buffet car until the Austrian frontier, reached around 10:58.  This direct train is the better option, especially in winter when you'll see all the fabulous scenery along the Sava river and through the mountains of Austria in daylight.

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

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

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

  The 320 km/h double-deck TGV Duplex has a café-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Watch the sun rise over Bavaria and the morning mists clear, see the Munich-Paris TGV video.  I recommend an upstairs seat for the best views, any seat number >60 is upper deck.

  If you'd prefer a leisurely breakfast & later departure from Munich there are various later options, see the London to Germany page.

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

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

How much does it cost?

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

• Paris to Munich by TGV starts at €39.90 each way in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

• Munich to Ljubljana starts at €27.90 each way in 2nd class, €46.90 in 1st class.

• All these prices vary like air fares, rising as the cheaper tickets are sold and departure date approaches, so book as early as the booking horizon allows.

How to buy tickets

• Step 1, book your London to Paris ticket at www.eurostar.com.

  Booking opens up to 180 days ahead, but I recommend waiting until onward trains are open for booking so their times can be confirmed, before buying a non-refundable Eurostar ticket.  More information about when bookings open.

  If you're returning, London to Paris should be booked as a round trip because Eurostar return fares are significantly less than two one-ways.  All onward trains beyond Paris are one-way ticketed so a return is simply two one ways and you might find it easier to book one way at a time. 

  You print your own tickets or can load them into the Eurostar app to show on your phone.

• Step 2, book your Paris-Munich ticket at the German Railways website www.bahn.de. 

  Booking opens up to 120 days ahead.  Look for the direct TGV with 0 changes, or if it's not running on your date, for a journey with just 1 change.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Step 3, now use this special link to www.bahn.de to book your trains from Munich to Ljubljana.

  It will show if any cheap Sparpreis fares are available.  Tickets can be sent to any address worldwide for a small fee or in some cases printed out yourself.

  Tip:  If for any reason the German Railways website says No special fares available and shows only expensive full-flex fares, go to the Austrian Railways site www.oebb.at and book a cheap fare from Salzburg to Zagreb on the same train - Munich-Zagreb trains leave Salzburg about 1h55 after leaving Munich, and ÖBB's cheap fares are called sparschiene.  Now use www.oebb.at again to add a Munich-Salzburg ticket on that same train.  Use those two tickets in combination.

How to buy tickets by phone

• It's better to book online, as you avoid phone booking fees and can see for yourself which departures have the cheapest fares.  But if you want to book by phone, call Deutsche Bahn's English-speaking telesales line on 00 49 (0)30 311 68 29 04 (lines open 08:30-20:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturday & Sunday UK time, 1.5% fee for phone bookings).  Other agencies selling European tickets by phone.

Let Railbookers arrange it for you

• Railbookers are a train travel specialist who can put together a tour or holiday for you as a package, including train travel, hotels & transfers.  On their website you'll find a range of suggested tours & holidays which can be varied or customised to your requirements.  As you're booking a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens to one part of the itinerary such as a strike or delay.

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

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

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

    Australia call 1300 971 526, see website

    New Zealand call 0800 000 554, see website

What's the journey like?

1. London to Paris by Eurostar...

Eurostar trains link London & Paris in 2h20, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in at London St Pancras (45-minute minimum in Paris, Brussels & Amsterdam) as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More information about Eurostar including check-in procedure.  St Pancras station guide.  Gare du Nord station guide.

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

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

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

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

TGV Duplex at Paris Est. These impressive 320 km/h double-deck trains link Paris with Stuttgart & Munich...

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

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

3. Munich to Ljubljana by train...

This is actually two trains, a smart modern Austrian railjet train with restaurant car from Munich to Villach on the Austrian/Slovenian border, then a comfortable air-conditioned Slovenian & Croatian train from Villach to Ljubljana and Zagreb.  The scenery along this route is superb, taking you from the Bavaria through the Austrian Alps, into Slovenia and along the Sava river to Croatia.  Sit back with a glass of red, catch up on your reading and enjoy the views...

A railjet about to leave Munich Hbf...

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

First class.		Economy class.

Through the Austrian Alps...  Clinging to the mountainside high in the Austrian Alps, the train snakes along between snow-capped mountains, wonderful...		Lesce-Bled station in Slovenia, reached not long after crossing the Slovenian border.  The train follows the pretty river Sava...

The EuroCity train Sava from Villach to Ljubljana & Zagreb.  This is a Slovenian air-conditioned coach...		Comfortable seats:  Some 2nd class seats are also arranged 2+1 abreast, the same as 1st class!

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Option 4, London to Ljubljana via Venice

You can also travel from London to Ljubljana via Paris, Turin or Milan, Venice & Trieste.

• Day 1, take a morning Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord then the afternoon Frecciarossa high-speed train from Paris Gare de Lyon to Milan Centrale.  For details, see the London to Italy page.

• Stay overnight in Milan:  Affordable hotels with good or great reviews just outside Milan Centrale include the Hotel Bristol, Hotel Bernina, 43 Station Hotel, B&B Hotel Milano Central Station, Guesthouse Teodora.  Pricier more upmarket hotels include HD8 Hotel, Glam Hotel, Made to Measure Business, Starhotel Echo or Starhotel Anderson.

• Day 2, take a morning Frecciarossa high-speed train from Milan Centrale to Venice Santa Lucia.  They leave every hour or so.  Check times at www.raileurope.com.

• Day 2, now take a late afternoon regional train from Venice Santa Lucia to Trieste Centrale and the evening train to Ljubljana as shown on the Venice to Ljubljana page.

• This works in the other direction too, with the morning train from Ljubljana to Trieste and connection to Venice, onward train to Milan or Turin, overnight stop-, TGV to Paris and Eurostar to London.

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Option 5, Eurostar, Nightjet sleeper to Austria, then EuroCity train

This is slower than other options because of the time spent between trains in Vienna or Salzburg.  But with a half day at leisure in those cities and high-quality trains throughout, this is an option worth considering.  Perhaps I should show this as two options, but they're so similar I've decided to show them together:  3 times a week you can take Eurostar to Brussels, make an easy same-station change onto an excellent Austrian Nightjet sleeper train overnight to Vienna, then take a scenic afternoon EuroCity train to Ljubljana.  And 3 times a week you can take Eurostar to Paris, make an easy change involving a 7-minute 500m walk between Paris Nord & Paris Est onto an equally excellent Austrian Nightjet sleeper train to Salzburg, then take a scenic afternoon EuroCity train to Ljubljana.

London ► Ljubljana Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays

• Step 1, travel from London to Brussels by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 15:04 and arriving in Brussels Midi at 18:05.

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

• Step 2, travel from Brussels to Vienna by Nightjet, leaving Brussels Midi 19:32 on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, arriving Vienna Hbf 09:14.

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

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

  In Vienna, you've the best part of a day to enjoy the city.  Left luggage lockers are available.

  Tip:  If you have a sleeper ticket, you can use the ÖBB lounge at Vienna Hbf for an hour after arrival, with complimentary tea, coffee, snacks & free WiFi.  If you have a 1st class ticket for the onward train, you can use it for an hour or two before departure, too.

• Step 3, travel from Vienna to Ljubljana, leaving Vienna Hbf at 15:58 by EuroCity train Croatia, changing at Maribor onto a Slovenian InterCity train arriving Ljubljana at 22:08.

  The EuroCity train Croatia has comfortable air-conditioned Austrian coaches, and an Austrian restaurant car.  In summer when it's light, enjoy the wonderful scenery over dinner in the restaurant car, including a ride over the famous UNESCO-listed Semmering Railway south of Vienna, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmering_railway.

London ► Ljubljana 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 17:57.

  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 Salzburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Paris Gare de l'Est at 18:58 on Tuesdays, Fridays & Sundays, arriving Salzburg Hbf 07:26.

  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.

  You've time to enjoy Salzburg.  Left luggage lockers are available.

  Tip:  If you have a sleeper ticket, you can use the ÖBB lounge at Salzburg Hbf for an hour after arrival, with complimentary tea, coffee, snacks & free WiFi.  If you have a 1st class ticket for the onward train, you can use it for an hour or two before departure, too.

• Step 3, travel from Salzburg to Ljubljana by EuroCity train, leaving Salzburg Hbf at 14:12 & arriving Lesce-Bled 17:51 & Ljubljana 18:32.

  This comfortable EuroCity train has a restaurant car between Salzburg & Villach on the Slovenian border, reached late afternoon.  It's a spectacular journey through the mountains of Austria on the Tauern route, then into Slovenia.

Ljubljana ► London Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays

• Step 1, travel from Ljubljana to Vienna, leaving Ljubljana at 09:22 by Austrian EuroCity train and changing at Villach into an Austrian railjet train arriving Vienna Hbf at 15:42.

  The railjet has a restaurant car.  Enjoy the wonderful scenery over lunch, including a ride over the famous UNESCO-listed Semmering Railway south of Vienna, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmering_railway.  In Vienna, you've time to explore, left luggage lockers are available.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Brussels by Nightjet, leaving Vienna Hbf at 20:11 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays, arriving Brussels Midi 09:55.

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

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

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

• Step 3, travel from Brussels to London by Eurostar, leaving Brussels Midi at 12:56 arriving London St Pancras at 14:05.

Ljubljana ► London Mondays, Thursdays & Saturdays

• Step 1, travel from Ljubljana to Salzburg by comfortable EuroCity train leaving Ljubljana at 09:22 every day, arriving Salzburg Hbf at 13:48.

  This train uses comfortable and spacious air-conditioned Austrian EuroCity cars, with power sockets at all seats with a choice of sitting in an open-plan saloon car (my own preference) or in classic 6-seater compartments with side corridor.  It picks up an Austrian restaurant car in Villach at around 11:00, serving waiter-service meals, beer & wine.  Treat yourself to lunch.

  You've an afternoon to explore Salzburg, left luggage lockers are available.

• Step 2, travel from Salzburg to Paris by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Salzburg Hbf at 22:28 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.

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

  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.

• 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?

1. London to Paris or Brussels by Eurostar	From £52 one-way, £78 return 2nd class.  From £115 one-way, £199 return 1st class.  Child fares
2. Paris or Brussels to Vienna  by Nightjet sleeper train  one-way per person per bed...	In a seat	In a couchette		In the sleeping-car
		6-berth	4-berth	3-berth	2-berth	1-berth	3-berth + shower	2-berth + shower	1-berth + shower
Fares start at...	€39.90	€49.90	€59.90	€89.90	€109.90	€159.90	€99.90	€129.90	€179.90
3. Vienna or Salzburg to Ljubljana  by EuroCity train...	From €29.90 each way in 2nd class  From €49.90 each way in 1st class

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, 2 tickets in a 2-berth sleeper, 4 tickets in a 4-berth couchette & so on.

How to buy tickets

• If you buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com you can buy all your tickets together in one place, in plain English, international credit cards accepted and fares shown in multiple currencies. There's a small booking fee.  Anyone from any country can use www.thetrainline.com.

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

• Step 1, go to www.thetrainline.com and book the Eurostar from London to Paris or 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 Paris to Salzburg or Brussels to Vienna (and back, if returning) at www.thetrainline.com, looking for the direct train with 0 changes.  Add to basket and check out.

• Step 3, now book from Salzburg or Vienna to Ljubljana (and back, if returning) at www.thetrainline.com, add to basket & check out.

• Booking usually opens up to 180 days ahead, but often less than this, see more information about when bookings open.  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.

• 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 operators without any booking fees, though this means more work.  In all cases you print your own ticket, or can in some cases show it on your phone.

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

• Step 2, book the Nightjet sleeper & Salzburg/Vienna-Ljubljana train at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.

How to buy tickets by phone

• You can book the Eurostar, Thalys and Nightjet train by phone with a number of UK agencies, including Deutsche Bahn's English-speaking telesales line on 00 49 (0)30 311 68 29 04 (lines open 08:30-20:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturday & Sunday UK time, 1.5% fee for phone bookings).  Click here for a list of agencies and more information on how to book.

What's the journey like?

1. London to Paris or Brussels by Eurostar: 

Eurostar trains link London & Paris in 2h20, London & Brussels in 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.  Paris Gare du Nord station guide.  Brussels Midi station guide.  In Brussels, I recommend the Pullman Hotel bar as your VIP waiting room.

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 Salzburg or Brussels 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 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.

On 20 January 2020, the inaugural Nightjet left Brussels for Vienna, the first scheduled sleeper train to leave Brussels in 16 years.  Above, that inaugural train is seen ready to leave Brussels Midi on 20 January - naturally, the Man in Seat 61 was on board!

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 Brussels-Vienna Nightjet...

3. Salzburg or Vienna to Ljubljana... 

The EuroCity train has comfortable air-conditioned Austrian cars, some with classic 6-seat compartments, some with open-plan saloons, and an Austrian restaurant car serving snacks, drinks and meals.  Salzburg-Ljubljana is direct, Vienna-Ljubljana involves a change at Maribor.

Leaving Vienna on the Croatia...

1st class open-plan seating as used on the Croatia.  1st class seats in 6-seat compartments are also available.		2nd class compartment as used on the Croatia.  Seats in open plan cars are also available...

The elegant restaurant car.  See larger photo.		Dinner with wine on board...

The Vienna-Ljubljana route takes you over the Semmering Railway...  Shortly after calling at Vienna Neustadt, the train travels over the 41km (25 mile) Semmering Railway, opened in 1854 and now a UNESCO World Heritage site.  You'll get these great views southbound in summer when it's light in the evening, and all year round from the northbound train.  Read more about the famous Semmering Railway at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmering_railway.  Sadly, this slow, curvaceous and steep section of line will be by-passed in the mid-2020s when the new Semmering Base Tunnel opens, though this could save up to 90 minutes.

The train snakes its way over the Semmering Railway, summiting near Semmering itself at 898m (2,946 feet) above sea level.

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Option 6:  Via the Harwich-Hoek van Holland ferry

The ferry alternative!  It's a great option if you live in East Anglia, if Eurostar fares are expensive or if you want to avoid the Channel Tunnel, for example if you suffer from claustrophobia.  I don't recommend the Dover-Calais route because of poor train/ferry connections, the Stena Line rail & sail service via Harwich & Hoek van Holland is the one to use as it has co-ordinated timetables and integrated ticketing, see the Stena Line Rail & Sail page & watch the video.

London, Cambridge & Harwich ► Ljubljana

• 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 Britannica to Hoek van Holland.

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

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

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

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Amsterdam to Stuttgart on ICE trains, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 12:38, changing at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf & arriving Stuttgart at 18:08.  The ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Day 2, travel from Stuttgart to Ljubljana on the sleeper train Lisinski, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 20:29 and arriving at Ljubljana at 08:09.

  The Lisinski has an excellent air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car (1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin), a modern air-conditioned Croatian couchette car (4 & 6 berth compartments) and ordinary seats (not recommended).  Watch the Croatian sleeper video.

Ljubljana  ► Harwich, Cambridge & London

• Day 1, travel from Ljubljana to Stuttgart on the sleeper train Lisinski, leaving Ljubljana at 22:08 and arriving in Stuttgart Hbf at 08:37.

   The Lisinski has an excellent air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car (1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin), a modern air-conditioned Croatian couchette car (4 & 6 berth compartments) and ordinary seats (not recommended).  Watch the Croatian sleeper video.

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

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

  You leave Amsterdam Centraal at 18:35 by Dutch intercity train to Schiedam Centrum and change onto the frequent metro to Hoek van Holland Haven.  At Hoek, the metro station is next to the ferry terminal.  Check in at the Stena Line desk at least 45 minutes before sailing time, then walk up the gangway onto the luxurious Stena Line superferry Stena Hollandica and sail overnight to Harwich in a cosy private cabin with shower, toilet & satellite TV.

  The ferry sails from Hoek van Holland at 22:00 and arrives at Harwich International at 06:30 next morning (day 3), UK time.

  In the morning (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).  See the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for full details.

How much does it cost?

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

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

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

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

• Stuttgart to Ljubljana by sleeper train starts at €49.90 with a couchette in 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in 4-berth, €69.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 with a bed in a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

How to buy tickets

• Step 1, buy a Stena Line Rail & Sail ticket from London to Hoek van Holland online as shown on the Stena Line Rail & Sail page.

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

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

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

Alternatively, stay in Munich & take a daytime train next day

• Instead of taking the sleeper, you can stay in a hotel in Munich and take a daytime train to Ljubljana next morning.

• Recommended hotels near Munich Hbf include the Sofitel Munich Beyerpost, 25 Hours Hotel Royal Bavarian, Hotel Excelsior, Eden Hotel Wolff, Drei Loewen, or InterCity Hotel.

• You can leave Munich Hbf at 08:16 every day, change at Villach, arriving Ljubljana 14:32, or there is a later direct train at 12:17 arriving 18:31.

• Fares start at €39.90 each way in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Book at www.bahn.de & print your own ticket.

• It works in the return direction too.  Leave Ljubljana at 09:23, arrive Munich Hbf 15:41. Stay overnight, then travel to Amsterdam as shown above.

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

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

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

Step 2, Amsterdam to Stuttgart by ICE...

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

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

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

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

Step 3, Stuttgart to Ljubljana by sleeper train...  Watch the video

This modern Croatian sleeper train is a pleasure to travel on, whether in the privacy of your own sleeper or in economical couchettes.  The sleeper used to run Munich to Ljubljana & Zagreb, but is extended to run Stuttgart-Munich-Ljubljana-Zagreb from 11 December 2022.

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

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

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Visiting Ljubljana

Ljubljana is a wonderful city to visit, you'll find tourist information at www.visitljubljana.si.  The station is just a few minutes walk from all the central hotels and you can easily walk between all the sights and places of interest.  See the Dragon Bridge, the Franciscan church, the triple bridge, and of course take the funicular railway up to the castle.  The Best Western Premier Hotel Slon and City Hotel are both good choices.  Try the traditional Slovenian dishes served in the Sokol restaurant just to the left of the town hall, one of Ljubljana's best-know eateries.  Map of Ljubljana.

You arrive at Ljubljana railway station, only a few minutes walk from the city centre and all its hotels.		The Dragon Bridge with its four dragons...		Ljubljana Castle watchtower...

Take the funicular railway up to the castle and climb the watchtower for spectacular views over the city to the ring of mountains beyond.		The old town main square, town hall & cathedral.  The excellent Sokol restaurant is in the background.

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London to Koper

London ► Koper

• Travel from London to Ljubljana as shown above.

• Trains link Ljubljana with Koper five or six times daily, journey time 2½ hours, fare €9.  No reservation is necessary, just buy a ticket at the station and hop on.  If you arrive in Ljubljana off the EuroCity from Munich, a train leaves Ljubljana at 15:42 arriving Koper at 18:13, 2nd class only.  For other options, see www.bahn.de or potniski.sz.si.

Koper ► London

• Trains link Koper with Ljubljana five or six times daily, journey time 2½ hours, fare €9.  No reservation is necessary, just buy a ticket at the station and hop on.  You can check times at either www.bahn.de or potniski.sz.si.  Allow plenty of time for connections at Ljubljana, at least an hour.

• Travel from London to Ljubljana as shown above.

Fares & how to buy tickets

Buy tickets and check fares from London to Ljubljana as shown above.  then simply buy a Ljubljana to Koper ticket at the station when you reach Ljubljana.

...The train to Koper, at Ljubljana.  Most trains to Koper are modern, air-conditioned regional trains like this.		Inside, these modern regional trains have comfortable seats, air-conditioning and information displays...

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Ljubljana - Trieste & Venice

There's a clever way to travel between Venice, Trieste & Ljubljana that's frequent, cheap, historically interesting and very scenic, and with two Slovenian trains a day now extended one stop across the border into Italy, it's easier than ever.  For details, see the Venice to Ljubljana page.

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Lake Bled - Trieste & Venice

There's also a cunning, cheap and scenic way to travel from Venice or Trieste to Lake Bled in northern Slovenia, via Gorizia and Nova Gorica, where Italian and Slovenian railway stations are just a few kilometres apart.  For details, see this page...

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Guidebooks

You should take a good guidebook, even in the age of the internet.  I think that the Lonely Planets and the Rough Guides are easily the best for the independent traveller.  Both guides have plenty of background historical and cultural information, plus lots of practical information.  You won't regret buying one of these guides..!

Click the images to buy at Amazon

My own book, an essential handbook for train travel to Europe based on this website called "The Man in Seat 61", was published in June 2008, and is available from Amazon.co.uk with shipping worldwide.

 

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European Rail Timetable & maps

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

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

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Hotels in Ljubljana & Slovenia

Ideally, you want to stay in the heart of the old town.  With this in mind, for something inexpensive try the Hotel Emonec, excellently located in the pedestrianised area, or if you've luxury in mind, the 5-star art nouveau-style Grand Hotel Union complete with swimming pool, also in the old town.

My favourite hotel search site: www.booking.com www.booking.com is my favourite hotel booking site and I generally prefer booking my hotels all in one place here.  You can usually book with free cancellation - this allows you to confirm your accommodation at no risk before train booking opens.  It also means you can hold accommodation while you finalise your itinerary, and alter your plans as they evolve - a feature I use all the time when putting a trip together.  I never book hotels non-refundably.  I have also come to trust their review scores - you won't be disappointed with anything over 8.0. Tip:  It can pay to compare prices across multiple hotel sites:  HotelsCombined.com is a price comparison site which compares hotel prices on Booking.com, Hotels.com, Expedia, Accor, Agoda and many others.  Though if there's not much in it, I prefer keeping all my bookings together in one place at www.booking.com.

Other hotel sites worth trying...

www.tripadvisor.com is the place to find independent travellers' reviews of all the main hotels.

Backpacker hostels...

www.hostelworld.com:  If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels.  Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in Paris and most other European cities at rock-bottom prices.

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Holidays to Slovenia by train

0207 864 4600 (UK) 1-888-829-4775 (USA) 1-855-882-2910 (Canada) 1300 971 526 (Aus) 0800 000 554 (NZ)

Railbookers can custom-make a flight-free holiday to Ljubljana & Zagreb, or indeed a train-based tour of Eastern Europe, with train travel, transfers & hotels all arranged for you, for however long you like, leaving on any date you like.  If you tell them what you want, they'll advise you on the best trains, routes & hotels and sort it all out for you.  They get a lot of repeat business and a lot of recommendation by word of mouth!

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

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

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

  Australia call toll-free 1300 971 526, see website. 

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

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Travel insurance & other tips

Always take out travel insurance

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

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

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

  If you live in the USA try Travel Guard USA.

Get an eSIM with mobile data package for Europe

Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a mobile data package for Europe and stay connected.  Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM card so you don't need to buy a physical SIM, including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list.  Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data.

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

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

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

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

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  VPNs & why you need one explained

When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure.  A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi.  It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply.  See VPNs & why you need one explained.  ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription.  I get a small commission to help support this site.

Always carry an Anker powerbank

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

Touring cities & museums?  Use hill walking shoes!

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

 

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