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This page explains how to travel by train from Cologne or Düsseldorf to other key European cities, and how to buy tickets the cheapest way.  Information current for 2022.

Before you buy your tickets...

Take a moment to read these tips for buying European train tickets.  It answers the usual questions, "Do I need to book in advance or can I just buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and that old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or just buy a €35 point-to-point ticket online?".  Click here to understand how far ahead you can buy train tickets.

European train travel FAQ...

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to other German towns & cities...

• Trains link Cologne & Dusseldorf with cities all over Germany...

  Cologne to Berlin every hour in 4h22 from €27.90

  Cologne to Munich every hour in 4h32 from €27.90

  Cologne to Frankfurt every hour or better in 1h15 from €18.90

  Cologne to Hamburg every hour in 4h05 from €18.90

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

• With only one or two minor exceptions, German trains are never reservation compulsory so you can always just turn up, buy a ticket and get on the next train without a reservation.  However, there are cheap advance-purchase Sparpreis fares from €18.90, €27.90, €39.90 etc. for long-distance journeys if you pre-book and commit to a specific train, so buy in advance if you want to save money.  Booking now opens up to 6 months ahead, though bookings for dates after the mid-December timetable change may not open until mid-October.

• Use the official German Railways (Deutsche Bahn) website www.bahn.de to buy tickets for all German long-distance daytime trains.

  A seat reservation is usually optional, for a small extra charge (free when buying a 1st class ticket).  You just print your own ticket or can show the ticket on your smartphone or laptop.  Alternatively, tickets can be sent anywhere worldwide for a small fee.  I recommend registering when prompted, rather than booking as a guest, so you can always log in and check or re-print all your bookings.  Tickets for regional trains can be bought at the station, no reservation necessary, one fixed price.

• In addition, new private operator Flixtrain is now competing with DB with a limited lo-cost train service from Cologne to Dusseldorf, Osnabruck, Hamburg & Berlin, see www.flixtrain.com.

• See the train travel in Germany page for a beginner's guide to train travel in Germany, including how to buy tickets online or by phone and an explanation of the Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket and Lander tickets.  To visit Neuschwanstein castle see here.

• Take the scenic route to Frankfurt, Munich & southern Germany!

  The fast ICE trains from Cologne to Frankfurt & Munich use the Cologne-Frankfurt high-speed line.  If you don't mind taking an extra 45 minutes, you can still take the old classic curvaceous route all along the Rhine Valley, past river boats, castles, vineyards and the legendary Lorelei Rock.  When using www.bahn.de to book to Frankfurt or Sothern Germany, simply click Stopover and enter Koblenz.  Any trains routed via Koblenz will go along the Rhine Valley route.  See the Rails Down the Rhine page for more information, photos & video.

Cologne to Berlin by ICE...

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to London & UK...

Option 1, by Eurostar...

• Travel from Cologne to Brussels by Thalys or ICE, then take a Eurostar to London, see the London to Germany page for more information.

Option 2, by ferry from Hoek van Holland - a useful alternative, cheaper than Eurostar at short notice...

• Step 1, travel from Cologne to Utrecht by ICE train from €18.90 booked at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

• Step 2, travel from Utrecht to London by Stena Line Rail & Sail either by day or overnight in a cosy cabin on the ferry.

  You travel from Utrecht to Hoek van Holland by train & metro, then by ferry from Hoek van Holland to Harwich, then by train to London Liverpool Street.  This is an integrated train & ferry service with a daytime departure leaving Hoek van Holland at 14:00 and an overnight departure leaving Hoek van Holland at 22:00 and getting you to London around 08:54 next morning. 

  See the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for schedules, fares, how to buy tickets.

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Dublin & Ireland...

Option 1, Düsseldorf or Cologne to Dublin via London & Holyhead - daily departures...

• Day 1, travel from Düsseldorf or Cologne to London, see the London-Germany page for times, fares, how to buy tickets.

• Stay overnight in London, see suggested hotels near St Pancras.

• Day 2, travel from London Euston to Dublin on the morning train & ferry service, arriving Dublin Ferryport 17:25, see details here.

  It's only a 10 minute walk between St Pancras & Euston stations.  Rail & Sail is an inexpensive, fun and interesting way to go, see an illustrated account of the journey.  By all means stop off in London for longer if you like.

Option 2, Düsseldorf or Cologne to Dublin via Paris & Cherbourg - several times a week...

• Day 1, travel from Cologne to Paris by high-speed Thalys train in 3h20 on any afternoon or early evening departure you like.

  Fares start at €35 in 2nd class or €79 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com, in €, £ or $, small booking fee, or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, more fiddly).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

• Stay overnight in Paris.

• Day 2, travel from Paris to Dublin by train & ferry, taking a morning train from Paris St Lazare to Cherbourg & an overnight ferry to Dublin as shown in the Paris to Dublin section, arriving in the morning on Day 3.

  Irish Ferries sails Cherbourg-Dublin several times a week.  Start by booking the ferry at www.irishferries.com and add a train connection using www.thetrainline.com, see the Paris to Dublin section for full details.

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Paris from €35...

• Thalys high-speed trains link Cologne Hbf with Paris Gare du Nord every few hours in 3h25.  Train is the best way to go!

Thalys trains run at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) on the high-speed line.  They're fully carpeted & air-conditioned, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi in all classes.

Since December 2017 they have 3 classes: Standard (2nd class), Comfort (1st class) & Premium (1st class with at-seat food & wine included in the fare and access to Thalys lounges in Paris & Brussels).  See more information about Thalys.

• Fares start at €35 in standard class, €72 in comfort class or €135 in premium class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.  If you buy on the day it costs over €130 full-flex in standard class, ouch!  All tickets come with a seat reservation and are only valid on the specific train you book.  The cheapest fares mean limited or no refunds or changes to travel plans.

• Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com in €, £ or $, easy to use, small booking fee.  www.thetrainline.com connects to both the French and German ticketing systems so can book through journeys from Dusseldorf to Paris, usually with a change in Cologne, although Thalys now run several Dusseldorf-Paris direct trains every day.

  You can also buy tickets at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com or www.thalys.com, in €, a little more fiddly, no booking fee, but from Dusseldorf these will only show the few direct Thalys trains, they can't book journeys involving a connecting German train as they have no connection to the German Railways ticketing system.

  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket (A4 paper, Letter size is fine) or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Strasbourg from €32.90...

• You can travel from Cologne to Strasbourg in as little as 2h54 with just 1 change, using a high-speed ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi from Cologne Hbf to Mannheim, then another ICE or a TGV Duplex to Strasbourg.

• Check times & buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.

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

  Tip:  Look for 1-change journeys with a cheap fare shown, from €32.90 upwards.

  Tip:  It's possible to travel more cheaply, with more frequent departures, using a direct Cologne-Offenburg ICE train then a regional train from Offenburg to Strasbourg (although these journeys take longer, 3h15-4h15).  The catch?  Bahn.de only shows an expensive €102 full-flex fare for these useful 1-change journeys.  The solution?  Split the booking!  First check Cologne to Strasbourg times via Offenburg using this special link to bahn.de, just enter your date of travel and you should see departures every 2 hours with 1 change.  Then use www.bahn.de to book Cologne-Offenburg on the train you want with advance-purchase Sparpreis fares from just €17.50.  Then use www.bahn.de again to buy a fixed-price full-flex ticket from Offenburg to Strasbourg for €9.90, good for any Offenburg-Strasbourg regional train that day.  Easy!

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Lyon, Marseille, Nice & other destinations in France...

Option 1, via Paris - involves changing trains & stations by taxi or metro...

• Step 1, take a high-speed Thalys train from Cologne Hbf to Paris Gare du Nord in 3h25

  Thalys trains have 3 classes, a cafe-bar, free WiFi & power sockets at all seats, see more information about Thalys.

  Fares start at €35 in 2nd class (standard) or €79 in 1st class (comfort).  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Cross Paris by taxi or metro to the relevant Paris station.  Make sure you allow at least 60 minutes between trains, more is better.

• Step 2, take a high-speed TGV Duplex from Paris Gare de Lyon to Nice in 5h45, Lyon in 2h, or Marseille in 3h30. Or anywhere else in France.

• Fares start at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Buy tickets from Cologne to anywhere in France at www.raileurope.com, easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee.  Booking for French trains opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

  Tip:  Click More options and enter Paris (any station) with a 1 hour stopover duration to ensure a robust connection between trains in Paris, or to create a longer stopover in Paris - if heading to Avignon, Marseille, Montpellier, Cannes or Nice, how about lunch between trains at the amazing Train Bleu restaurant inside the Gare de Lyon?

  Alternatively, you can book from Cologne to Paris, then from Paris to any destination in France at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, a bit more fiddly, but no fee).

Option 2, to Lyon, Avignon, Aix en Provence & Marseille using the once-a-day direct TGV from Germany - easiest & usually cheapest...

• Step 1, travel from Düsseldorf or Cologne to Mannheim by ICE train, leaving Düsseldorf 11:27 or Cologne Hbf 11:55, arriving Mannheim 13:23.

• Step 2, travel from Mannheim to France by TGV Duplex, leaving Mannheim at 14:39 to Lyon Part Dieu, Avignon, Aix en Provence & Marseille St Charles arriving 21:49.

  This double-deck TGV 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.

• Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Option 3, changing in Brussels & by-passing Paris...

• You can avoid having to cross Paris by taking a Thalys or ICE from Cologne Hbf to Brussels Midi then using a direct TGV from Brussels Midi to Lyon, Avignon, Marseille, Cannes Nice, Nîmes, Montpelier, Perpignan.  These Brussels-France direct TGVs by-pass central Paris using the high-speed line via Aéroport CDG and Marne La Vallée (for Disneyland Paris).  Just be aware that there are fewer departures this way, and I often find fares more expensive compared to going via Paris where cheaper fares are more plentiful.

• To check prices and buy tickets for this option, first go to either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com and book from Brussels Midi to your chosen French destination, looking carefully for a direct train from Brussels by-passing Paris. Add to your basket.

  Now add a Thalys or ICE train from Cologne Hbf to Brussels Midi again using www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, allowing at least 30-45 minutes in Brussels.  Add to your basket and check out.

Option 4, Cologne to Toulon, Cannes, Antibes & Nice, using the Paris-Nice overnight train...

• Step 1, travel from Cologne to Paris by Thalys train, leaving Cologne Hbf at 12:42 and arriving Paris Gare du Nord at 16:09.

  Thalys trains travel at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) with a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more information about Thalys.  Times may vary, check times for your date online.

• Cross Paris from the Gare du Nord to the Gare d'Austerlitz by taxi or metro.  Alllow at least 90 minutes between trains when catching a sleeper.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to the Côte d'Azur by Intercité de Nuit overnight train, leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 21:20 every day, arriving Toulon 07:13, St Raphael (for St Tropez) 08:13, Cannes 08:38, Antibes 08:50 & Nice Ville 09:08.

  The Intercité de Nuit overnight train has 1st class 4-berth couchettes, 2nd class 6-berth couchettes & reclining seats.  You can book a 1st class 4-berth compartment for sole occupancy by 1, 2 or 3 people if you like.  See more information about Intercités de Nuit overnight trains.

  Tip:  Have dinner at the celebrated Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon before strolling across the bridge over the Seine to the Gare d'Austerlitz in good time for your sleeper south?

• How much does it cost?

  Cologne to Paris starts at €35 in 2nd class or €79 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Paris to the South of France starts at €19 in a reclining seat, €29 in a 2nd class couchette or €59 in a 1st class couchette.

• How to buy tickets...

  Book at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee.

  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

  Tip:  To make sure you have at least 90 minutes between trains in Paris, I'd book Cologne to Paris, add to basket, then Paris to Nice, add to basket & check out.  Otherwise by default the system allows as little as 40 minutes between trains in Paris which I consider too tight, especially when catching a sleeper you don't want to miss.

  Tip:  To book a whole 4-berth couchette compartment for 1, 2 or 3 people, see the instructions on the Intercités de Nuit page.

  You can also book at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, a little more fiddly).

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Cologne or Dusseldorf to Brussels, Bruges, Ghent or Antwerp from €19.90...

• A high-speed Thalys or ICE train links Cologne Hbf with Brussels Midi every hour or so in just 1h50.

  Fares start at €18.90 in 2nd class or €49.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Change at Brussels Midi for regular Belgian InterCity train to Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp or anywhere else in Belgium.

• Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com as these can book tickets from Cologne or Dusseldorf to Brussels or anywhere in Belgium via both Thalys & ICE.

  Both sites are easy to use, in €, £ or $, international cards no problem, small booking fee.  You print your own ticket on A4 paper (US Letter size is fine) or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.  Booking for Thalys opens up to 4 months ahead, for ICE up to 6 months ahead.

• The German Railways website www.bahn.de can book tickets from anywhere in Germany to Brussels, Bruges or anywhere in Belgium, but only using their own ICE trains between Cologne and Brussels.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  Easy to use, no booking fee, and it allows exact seat choice from a seating plan on ICEs.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

• The Thalys website www.thalys.com can book from Cologne (or only on their handful of daily direct trains, from Dusseldorf) to Brussels, but only on their own Thalys trains, not ICE.

• Tip:  Tickets from Germany to Bruges or any other Belgian station beyond Brussels are valid on any Belgian domestic departure leaving Brussels that day, no reservation required, even if they are for a specific ICE between Germany and Brussels.  So don't obsess about your connection time in Brussels, it only takes a few minutes to step off the ICE and walk to another platform for the onward Belgian train, but if there's a delay and you miss the train the booking system told you to take, there's another leaving in half an hour, so no worries!  In fact, how about lunch in Brussels' Grande Place between trains?  I recommend Aux Armes de Bruxelles (auxarmesdebruxelles.com) for classic Belgian moules-frites.

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Amsterdam from €19.90...

• Superb ICE trains link Cologne Hbf & Dusseldorf with Amsterdam Centraal roughly every two hours, Cologne-Amsterdam takes 2h47.

• The ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  They also call at Arnhem (for the Airborne Museum) & Utrecht.

• Fares start at €18.90 in 2nd class or €49.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Buy tickets from any station in Germany to Amsterdam or any station in the Netherlands at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can always log in and check or re-print all your bookings.  See suggested hotels in Amsterdam.

An ICE3M at Amsterdam Centraal.  More information about ICE trains...

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

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

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Cologne or Dusseldorf to Luxembourg from €19.90...

• You can travel from Cologne or Dusseldorf to Luxembourg by train from just €18.90 in 2nd class or €49.90 in 1st class.

  The journey from Koblenz to Luxembourg is a very pleasant run along the Moselle valley.

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  In the search results, look for journeys by train involving just one change at Koblenz.  Avoid any journeys including bus as this is indeed just a bus. 

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Basel, Zurich, Geneva & Switzerland from €39.90...

Option 1, Düsseldorf & Cologne to Basel & Zurich by Nightjet sleeper train - the time-effective option...

• New from the timetable change on 12 December 2021, a Nightjet sleeper train leaves Düsseldorf at 23:20 & Cologne Hbf at 23:53 every evening arriving Basel SBB at 06:45 & Zurich HB at 08:05.

  This comfortable Nightjet train has an air-conditioned sleeping-car with 1 & 2 berth compartments with washbasin.  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.

• Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

• Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices, more fiddly).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

Option 2, by high-speed train - the daytime option...

• High-speed ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi link Cologne Hbf with Basel SBB every 2 hours in 3h52, some going on to Zurich in 5h05.  Change in Basel or Zurich for onward Swiss trains to destinations all over Switzerland.

• Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de which can book from Cologne to any station in Switzerland.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  If you buy a through ticket at www.bahn.de from Germany direct to Swiss destinations such as Zermatt, Wengen or St Moritz this includes the onward Swiss domestic train and it's a lot cheaper than buying a separate full-price Swiss domestic ticket from Basel.

Option 3, by classic train along the Rhine Valley - the scenic option...

• If you don't mind taking an extra 50 minutes, there are a couple of morning EuroCity trains (marked EC in the bahn.de search results) which take the old classic curvaceous route all along the Rhine Valley, past river boats, castles, vineyards and the legendary Lorelei Rock.  It's well worth the extra time, make sure you sit on the left hand side of the train for the best river views.  See the Rails Down the Rhine page for more information, photos & video.

  There's an 08:53 from Cologne direct to Basel, Bern & Interlaken (train EC7).

  There's a 10:53 from Cologne to Basel & Zurich (train EC9)

• Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de which can book from Cologne to almost any station in Switzerland.  To get this scenic route, click Stopover and enter Koblenz Hbf, leaving stopover duration zero.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  If you buy a through ticket at www.bahn.de from Germany direct to Swiss destinations such as Zermatt, Wengen or St Moritz this includes the onward Swiss domestic train and it's a lot cheaper than buying a separate full-price Swiss domestic ticket from Basel.

• Tip:  Panorama car on train EC9...  You will thank me for this!  Train EC9 from Cologne to Basel & Zurich conveys a wonderful Swiss 1st class panorama car, see photos here.  Speeding along the Rhine in this is a real treat, yet all you need to sit in it is a 1st class ticket.  To make sure you get a seat in it, add a free seat reservation when you book, using the select seat link to pick a seat in car 263, see the advice on the Rails Down the Rhine page.

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Cologne to Venice from €60...

Option 1, by ICE train to Munich, then Austrian Nightjet sleeper train from Munich to Venice - the most time-effective option!

• Step 1, travel from Düsseldorf or Cologne to Munich by ICE train leaving Cologne Hbf at 17:55 and arriving at Munich Hbf at 22:26.

  Times sometimes vary, just make sure you allow at least 50 minutes between trains in Munich.  ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more information about ICEs.

  Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this train at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.

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

  Tip:  I suggest taking the earlier 15:55 ICE and having dinner in Munich, for local Bavarian food and a beer or two I recommend the Augustiner Keller (www.augustinerkeller.de) at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf, see walking map.

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Venice by Nightjet sleeper train leaving Munich Hbf at 23:20 and arriving Venice Santa Lucia at 08:34.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There 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.

  Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

Option 2, by Nightjet sleeper train to Innsbruck & scenic daytime train to Venice - time-effective and great scenery next day.

• Step 1, travel to Innsbruck by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Düsseldorf 21:43 or Cologne Hbf 22:16 arriving Innsbruck Hbf 09:14.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There 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.

  Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a little more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

• Step 2, travel from Innsbruck to Italy by Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 11:24 & arriving Verona Porta Nuova at 14:58 & Bologna at 16:19.  Change at Verona for Venice Santa Lucia.

  The train travels through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the photos & information on the Brenner Pass page.  An Austrian restaurant car is available for lunch as the mountains glide by, treat yourself.  See the Brenner Pass scenery video here.

  If you'd like a morning in Innsbruck, a later train leaves Innsbruck Hbf at 13:24 and goes direct to Venice Santa Lucia, arriving 18:25.  However, I wouldn't book the 09:24 from Innsbruck to Verona, as the connection with the sleeper is too tight.

  Fares from Innsbruck to Verona, Bologna or Venice start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  You can check times & prices from Innsbruck to anywhere in Italy at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.

  Tip:  If going from Innsbruck to Venice on the 11:24 departure, before running an enquiry at www.raileurope.com, click More options and enter Verona Porta Nuova as a via station with a stopover duration of 45 minutes.  This ensures a robust connection and it ensure Raileurope.com correctly splits the booking at Verona.

Step 1, Düsseldorf or Cologne to Innsbruck by Nightjet.  Above, the Nightjet arrived at Innsbruck Hbf.

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.

Couchette car...		6-berth couchettes.		4-berth couchettes.

Option 3, by day trains via the Brenner Pass with overnight stop in Munich - if you prefer day trains & a hotel to sleepers...

• Day 1, travel from Düsseldorf or Cologne to Munich in 4h31 on any ICE train you like, with restaurant, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  You can leave Cologne Hbf as late as 17:55 arriving Munich Hbf at 22:26, but I'd take an earlier train and spend a pleasant evening in Munich.  For a dinner of local Bavarian food and a beer or two I recommend the Augustiner Keller (www.augustinerkeller.de) at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf, see walking map.

• Stay overnight in Munich.  The Sofitel Munich Beyerpost, Eden Hotel Wolff, InterCity Hotel or (budget) the Pension Locarno, are all right next to the station with good or great reviews.

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Venice by Austrian EuroCity train leaving Munich Hbf at 11:34 and arriving at Venice Santa Lucia at 18:25.

  The train travels through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the photos & information on the Brenner Pass page.  An Austrian restaurant car is available for lunch as the mountains glide by, treat yourself.  See the Brenner Pass scenery video here.

  The train has an elegant restaurant car so treat yourself to lunch and a beer as the mountains roll past, looking forward to Venice where you'll see gondolas and vaporettos on the Grand Canal the moment you walk out of the station.

  Alternatively you can take the earlier 07:34 EuroCity train which is direct to Venice at weekends arriving 14:25, but on weekdays you must change at Verona.  Or you can take the 09:34 EuroCity train from Munich with a change in Verona on all days, arriving Venice at 16:42.

• How much does it cost?

  Cologne or Düsseldorf to Venice starts at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets...

  Book from Düsseldorf or Cologne to Venice at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, but click Stopover and enter Munich Hbf in the via box with (say) 12:00 in the hh:mm stopover box.  I've set up this bahn.de link with the necessary parameters for you.

  Look carefully in the search results to find a journey that suits, carefully adjusting the departure time and stopover duration to get the timings you want either side of Munich.  A little trial and error is sometimes needed!

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your smartphone or laptop.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Option 4, via Zurich & the Bernina Express through the Swiss Alps - the ultimate scenic route... 

• See details here.

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Cologne to Florence, Rome, Milan, Verona or anywhere else Italy from €39.90...

Option 1, using the Nightjet sleeper train from Munich to Milan, Bologna, Florence & Rome - the most time-effective option...

Important:  Due to trackwork, the Munich-Florence/Rome/Milan Nightjet won't run during the month of July 2022.

• Step 1, travel from Düsseldorf or Cologne to Munich by ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. leaving Düsseldorf at 13:27 or Cologne Hbf at 13:55 and arriving at Munich Hbf at 18:27.

  Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this train at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  By all means catch an earlier train and have dinner in Munich, for local Bavarian food & a beer or two I recommend the Augustiner Keller (www.augustinerkeller.de) at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf, see walking map.

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Italy by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Munich Hbf at 20:10 & arriving Bologna Centrale 05:15, Florence SMN 06:32, Rome Termini 09:10.  Another portion goes to Milan Porta Garibaldi arriving 08:10.

  Each portion of this comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There 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.

  Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

• Step 3, onward trains from Rome to Naples, Rome to Sicily or Milan to Genoa (for example) can be booked separately at either www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, recognises English place-names) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, the small booking fee will be refunded if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (more fiddly to use, requires Italian language place names, read this advice on using it first).

Step 2, Munich to Florence or Rome by Nightjet sleeper train, seen here boarding at platform 11 at Munich Hbf.  More information about Nightjet trains.

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

6-berth couchettes...		4-berth couchettes...		Couchette car on the Nightjet train...

Option 2, by Nightjet sleeper train to Innsbruck & scenic daytime train to Venice - time-effective and great scenery next day.

• Step 1, travel to Innsbruck by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Düsseldorf at 21:43 or Cologne Hbf at 22:16 arriving Innsbruck Hbf 09:14.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There 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.

  Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

• Step 2, travel from Innsbruck to Italy by EuroCity train, leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 11:24 & arriving Verona Porta Nuova 14:58 & Bologna 16:20.

  The train travels through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the photos & information on the Brenner Pass page.  An Austrian restaurant car is available for lunch as the mountains glide by, treat yourself.  See the Brenner Pass scenery video here.

  Change at Bologna for a high-speed Frecciarossa train to Florence, Rome or Naples.  Incidentally, I wouldn't book the 09:24 from Innsbruck to Verona, as the connection with the sleeper is much too tight.

  Fares from Innsbruck Verona or Bologna start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Onward fares from Bologna to Florence or Rome start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.

  Book from Innsbruck to Florence, Rome, Naples or anywhere in Italy at either www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com as these connect to both the Austrian and Italian ticketing systems so you can book this as one transaction all in one place.  You print your own ticket for the Austrian train and the Italian high-speed trains are ticketless, you just quote the reference on board.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead for the German/Austrian EuroCity train, but only 4 months ahead for any onward Italian train.

  Tip:  Before running an enquiry at www.raileurope.com, click More options and enter either Bologna Centrale (if going to Florence, Rome or Naples on the 11:24) or Verona Porta Nuova (if using an earlier or later departure) as a via station with a stopover duration of 45 minutes.  This ensures a robust connection and it ensures Raileurope.com correctly splits the booking at Bologna or Verona.

Step 1, Cologne to Innsbruck by Nightjet sleeper train.  Above, a Comfortline sleeping-car on the Nightjet train at Innsbruck.  More information about Nightjet trains.

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

6-berth couchettes...		4-berth couchettes...		Couchette car on the Nightjet train...

Step 2, Innsbruck to Verona, Bologna or Venice by Austrian EuroCity train.  This is the restaurant car on a EuroCity from Innsbruck arrived at Verona.  You don't need to book a table, just go along and sit down.  Dining on the move as the scenery glides by is one of the pleasures of travelling on trains like this...

Second class seats, mostly in 6-seat compartments with side-corridor like this, but some cars are open-plan saloons...				First class leather seats.  On a few trains you'll find 6-seat compartments too....

Mountains on the Brenner route...

Vineyards, mountains and castles south of Brenner as the train heads for Trento & Verona...

Watch out for hilltop fortresses...  See the Brenner Pass scenery video here.

Option 2, by daytime trains through the Swiss Alps - Cologne to Italy in a single day with great Alpine scenery!

• Step 1, travel from Cologne Hbf to Basel SBB by ICE train in 3h52 with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Step 2, travel from Basel SBB to Milan Centrale by EuroCity train through the Swiss Alps in 4h12.

  The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & fee WiFi.  It's a lovely ride across Switzerland through the Alps past various lakes.  The magnificent Milan Centrale is a landmark in its own right.

• Step 3, travel from Milan Centrale to Florence SMN in 1h39, Rome Termini in 2h55 or Venice Santa Lucia in 2h35 by Frecciarossa high-speed train.  The Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• For example...

  Leave Cologne Hbf at 06:55, pick up the 12:28 from Basel SBB arriving Milan Centrale 16:40 & getting to Florence, Rome or Naples by evening.

  Leave Cologne Hbf at 12:55, pick up the 17:28 from Basel SBB arriving Milan Centrale 21:40.

• How much does it cost?

  Cologne or Dusseldorf to Basel starts at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

  Basel to Milan starts at €29 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class. 

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

• How to buy tickets...

  First book the 06:55 or 12:55 ICE trains from Cologne to Basel SBB using www.bahn.de (in €, no booking fee) or www.raileurope.com (in €, £ or $, small booking fee).  Using www.raileurope.com means you can buy all your tickets together in one place.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

  Then book a ticket from Basel SBB to Milan, Florence, Rome or Naples leaving at either www.raileurope.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (requires Italian place names, in €, see advice on using it).  It's ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on board the train.

  Always make sure you allow plenty of time between trains in Basel, in case of delay, I'd suggest at least 45 minutes.  In Milan, just accept the connection time the system offers you as you are on the through ticket so are entitled to take a later train in the event of any delay.

Option 3, by day trains via the Brenner Pass with overnight stop in Munich - if you prefer day trains, scenery & a hotel to sleepers...

• Day 1, travel from Cologne to Munich in 4h31 on any ICE train you like, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  You can leave Cologne Hbf as late as 17:55 arriving Munich Hbf at 22:26, but by all means take an earlier train and have dinner in Munich.  For local Bavarian food and a beer or two I recommend the Augustiner Keller (www.augustinerkeller.de) at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf, see walking map.

• Stay overnight in Munich.  The Sofitel Munich Beyerpost, Eden Hotel Wolff, InterCity Hotel or (budget) the Pension Locarno are all next to the station with good or great reviews.

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Verona or Bologna by Austrian EuroCity train thorough the Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass scenery video here.  Trains leave Munich Hbf for Verona Porta Nuova at 07:34, 09:34, 11:34 & every 2 hours, taking a leisurely 5h24.  The 07:34 goes through to Bologna Centrale on Mondays-Fridays and the 09:34 goes through to Bologna Centrale every day, Munich-Bologna in 6h45.  All these trains have an elegant restaurant car, treat yourself to lunch with wine as the mountains roll by.

• Day 2, travel from Verona or Bologna to anywhere you like in Italy by high-speed train.  If you leave Munich at 07:34 Mondays-Fridays or 09:34 any day of the week, you change trains in Bologna, which usually works out cheaper and offers a wider range of connections (especially to Florence SMN, as most of the direct trains from Verona to Florence only serve Florence Campo di Marte station on the edge of the city centre).  Otherwise you change in Verona.

• How much does it cost?

  Cologne to Bologna starts at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. 

  Bologna to Florence starts at €19.90, Bologna to Rome at €19.90.

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

• How to buy tickets...

  Step 1, book from Cologne to Verona at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, clicking Stopover and entering Munich Hbf in the via box and (say) 12:00 in the hh:mm stopover box to build in the overnight stop.  Look carefully in the search results to find a journey that suits you, adjusting departure time and stopover duration to get the trains you want - a little trial and error is sometimes needed.  I've set up this link to bahn.de with the necessary parameters for you.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  Step 2, now buy onward tickets from Verona to Florence, Rome, Milan or Naples separately at either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, the small booking fee will be refunded if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (more fiddly to use, requires Italian language place names, read this advice on using it first).  I recommend allowing at least 45 minutes to change in Verona in case of any delay if you buy separate tickets.  It's ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on the train.

Option 3, via Zurich & the Bernina Express through the Swiss Alps - the ultimate scenic route... 

• This takes longer and must be split over 2 days, but it's fabulous and well worth the extra time.  It involves the most spectacular Alpine panoramic scenic train of them all, the famous narrow-gauge Bernina Express.  And I'll show you how to do it really cheaply...

• Day 1, take an afternoon or evening ICE train from Cologne to Zurich in as little as 4h47.

  You can leave Cologne Hbf at 16:54, change at Basel SBB, arriving Zurich HB 22:00, by all means leave earlier & spend an evening in Zurich.

• Stay overnight in Zurich.  For something really special, the 5-star Hotel Schweizerhof is one of my favourite hotels anywhere, just across the road from the station.  They'll even send a uniformed commissionaire to meet you & carry your bags from the train.  For something cheaper, also next to the station with great reviews, try the 4-star Hotel St Gotthard or the excellent 3-star Hotel St. Josef, 7 minutes walk from the station, see walking map.  If you're on a tight budget you can book private rooms in a one-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station at www.hostelworld.com.  Alternatively, you could stop overnight in the pleasant town of Chur instead.

• Day 2, travel from Zurich to Chur on the 07:07 InterCity train, from Chur to Tirano on the fabulous Bernina Express, then from Tirano to Milan Centrale by connecting Italian regional train.  You can reach Venice or Florence or Rome that evening.  See the Bernina Express page for full details of the Zurich-Chur-Tirano-Milan schedule.

• How much does it cost?

  Düsseldorf or Cologne to Tirano starts at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  If you want to travel in the panorama carriages of the famous Bernina Express you must pay a modest reservation fee, details here.

  Tirano to Milan by regional train costs €12, fixed-price.

  Milan to Florence or Venice starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets...

  Step 1, book from Düsseldorf or Cologne to Tirano using the German Railways website www.bahn.de, use this special link I have set up.

  To get the overnight stop in Zurich, you click Stopover and enter Zurich HB and a suitable stopover duration, say 12h30 - the special link does that for you, just enter passenger numbers and your date of travel.

  In the search results, look for an option marked ICE, IC, D with arrival in Tirano at 12:49.  If you click show details the timings from Chur onwards should match those shown on the Bernina Express page.  Adjust the departure time & stopover duration to get an earlier or later train between Cologne and Zurich, some trial & error may be required!

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.  But see my booking tip below...

  Step 2, if you want to travel in the panorama cars of the Bernina Express, make the necessary reservation following the instructions on the Bernina Express page.  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  You can travel in the Allegra unit that hauls the Bernina Express without any reservation if you like.

  Strep 3, buy the Tirano-Milan regional ticket on the day at the station, from the Italian station's cafe if the ticket office is closed or from the RhB station ticket office.  Or online at www.thetrainline.com.

  Step 4, buy an onward tickets from Milan Centrale to Florence, Rome, Naples or Venice at either www.thetrainline.com (in €, £, $ or Au$), www.italiarail.com (in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €).  You simply pay online and quote your booking reference (PNR) on board.  If you use ItaliaRail (which can also book the Milan-Florence/Rome/Naples connection), they'll refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR.

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Barcelona & Spain from €74...

Option 1, Cologne to Barcelona by high-speed train in a single day.  Overnight in Barcelona.  Onwards to Malaga, Seville, Alicante & so on next morning.

• Step 1, travel from Cologne to Paris by high-speed Thalys train, leaving Cologne Hbf at 08:43 arriving Paris Gare du Nord around 12:10.

  Thalys trains have 3 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the Thalys guide.

  Fares start at €35 in 2nd class or €72 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Cross Paris to the Gare de Lyon and perhaps have lunch at the celebrated Train Bleu restaurant inside the Gare de Lyon.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 15:12 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 21:54.

  This afternoon Paris-Barcelona TGV should run all year round, but due to covid-19 it will only run from 14 June to 30 September 2022.

  The 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Book an upper deck seat for the best views, it's a scenic and comfortable journey, click here for the sights to see on the way.

  Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.  Again, fares vary like air fares, so book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Stay overnight in Barcelona.  Suggested hotels close to Barcelona Sants station with good or great reviews include the Hotel Barcelo Sants (4-star, great reviews, directly above Barcelona Sants station itself, recommended), AC Hotel Sants by Marriott (4-star, just 50m from the station), Hotel Catalonia Roma (3-star), Hostal Baler (2-star), Hotel Transit (1-star), Meeting Point Hostel (inexpensive private rooms & dorm beds).

• Step 3, travel from Barcelona Sants to your Spanish destination next morning...

  For Madrid:  AVE-S103 high-speed trains link Barcelona Sants with Madrid Atocha every hour or two in as little as 2h30 from €35, check times at www.raileurope.com.

  For Cordoba & Seville:  Take the direct AVE-S112 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:30 arriving Cordoba 13:11 & Seville Santa Justa at 14:04.  Fares start at €45.  Alternatively, why not spend the morning in Barcelona and take the later 15:45 AVE, arriving in the evening?

  For Malaga:  Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:30 by AVE-S112 high-speed train and change at Cordoba onto a high-speed AVE/Avant train arriving Malaga Maria Zambrano at 14:56.  Alternatively, spend a morning in Barcelona and take the direct 15:45 AVE S112 high-speed train to Malaga.

  For Granada:  A direct AVE S112 high-speed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 08:30 arriving Granada at 14:52.

  For Valencia & Alicante:  EuroMed trains link Barcelona with Valencia & Alicante regularly through the day, for example one leaves Barcelona Sants at 08:15 Mondays-Fridays arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 10:55 & Alicante 12:45 or at 10:15 every day arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 12:55 & Alicante 14:48.  Fares from €23.

  For Santiago de Compostela, A Coruna & Vigo, there's a morning Alvia train to Galicia, see details here.

• How to buy tickets...

  Buy tickets from Cologne to Spain at www.raileurope.com, this connects to both the French and Spanish ticketing systems so you can buy all three tickets together in one place.  You can book from Cologne to Barcelona as one transaction and print your own tickets or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.  You can pay in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem.  There's a small booking fee.

  Booking for Thalys & the TGV usually opens 120 days ahead, for the AVE 60 days ahead.  First book from Cologne to Barcelona.  In the search results, look for an option with just 1 change.

  Tip:  Click More options and enter Paris with 1 hour duration, more if you fancy lunch in Paris.  This ensures at least an hour between trains and it'll also then show separate prices either side of Paris so you can upgrade to 1st class if it's cheap to do so on one leg or the other, without having to upgrade throughout.

  If you are heading for Madrid, Malaga, Seville, Cordoba, Valencia or Alicante, add the Cologne-Barcelona ticket to your basket, then book from Barcelona to your chosen Spanish destination for the following day, add this to you basket and check out.

  Travel tip: I recommend an upstairs seat on the TGV Duplex for the best views.  Raileurope.com shows you your seat number before you confirm & pay, and any seat number over 60 is on the upper deck.  If you don't get an upper deck seat, simply leave it in your basket & try again until you get an upstairs seat, then delete the tickets you don't want from your basket.

• Alternatively, you can book each train separately, although this takes more effort and is unlikely to make it materially cheaper:  Book the Cologne-Paris Thalys and the Paris-Barcelona TGV at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com in € with print-at-home or mobile tickets, then onward trains within Spain at www.renfe.com, very fiddly to use and may reject some overseas payment cards, see advice on using it here, I'd stick with much or easier-to-use www.raileurope.com (in €, £ or $, small fee) or www.petrabax.com (in US$, small mark-up).

Option 2, Cologne to Spain by high-speed train with overnight stop in Paris...

• Step 1, travel from Cologne to Paris by high-speed Thalys train leaving Cologne Hbf at 16:43 arriving Paris Gare du Nord around 20:14.

  Thalys trains have 3 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the guide to Thalys trains.  A  later departure at 18:43 is normally available but may be affected by Covid-19 service reductions, check online.

  Fares start at €35 in 2nd class (standard) or €79 in 1st class (comfort).  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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

• Stay overnight in Paris, see suggested hotels near the Gare du Nord or Gare Lyon.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 10:14 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 16:54. 

  The 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Book an upper deck seat for the best views.  It's a scenic and comfortable journey, click here for the sights to see on the way.

  Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Step 3, travel from Barcelona to Madrid, Valencia, Alicante and so on by high-speed train.

  Same-day connections to Madrid, Valencia & Alicante are possible off the 10:14 departure from Paris.  However, a same-day connection to Cordoba, Malaga or Seville is not possible, you'll need to stay the night then take the 08:30 AVE-S112 high-speed train next morning.

• How to buy tickets...

  Buy tickets from Cologne to Spain at www.raileurope.com, this connects to both the French and Spanish ticketing systems so you can buy all three tickets together in one place.  Booking for Thalys & the TGV opens up to 6 months ahead, for the AVE 60 days ahead though this varies.  You can pay in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem.  There's a small booking fee.

  First book from Cologne to Paris, looking for a direct train.  Add this to your basket.

  Then book from Paris to Barcelona for the following day and add that to your basket.  If going to Madrid, Valencia or Alicante where a same-day connection is possible, you can book from Paris to there as one booking.  Otherwise, book an onward ticket from Barcelona into Spain separately, add to basket & check out.

  Travel tip: I recommend an upstairs seat on the TGV Duplex for the best views.  Raileurope.com shows you your seat number before you confirm & pay, and any seat number over 60 is on the upper deck.  If you don't get an upper deck seat, simply leave it in your basket & try again until you get an upstairs seat, then delete the tickets you don't want from your basket.

  Alternatively, you can book each train separately, although this takes more effort and is unlikely to make it materially cheaper:  Book the Cologne-Paris Thalys and the Paris-Barcelona TGV at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com in € with print-at-home or mobile tickets, then onward trains within Spain at www.renfe.com, very fiddly to use and may reject some overseas payment cards, see advice on using it here, I'd stick with much or easier-to-use www.raileurope.com (in €, £ or $, small fee) or www.petrabax.com (in US$, small mark-up).

Option 3, Cologne to Paris by Thalys, a French sleeper train to the Spanish border, then onward Spanish trains...

• Step 1, travel to Paris by Thalys, leaving Dusseldorf Hbf at 16:02 or Cologne Hbf at 16:43, arriving Paris Gare du Nord around 20:10. 

  Thalys trains have 3 classes, a cafe-bar, free WiFi & power sockets at all seats, see more information about Thalys.  By all means take an earlier train to allow time for a leisurely dinner in Paris.

  Fares start at €35 in 2nd class or €79 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, there's a small booking fee, but these are easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, they sell tickets for multiple operators so you can keep all (or most) of your European train bookings together in one place.  About Raileurope.  About Thetrainline.  Alternatively, you can buy tickets at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com.

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

• Step 2, travel overnight from Paris to Latour de Carol in the heart of the Pyrenees or to Portbou on the Spanish border by French sleeper train, leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 21:14.  Then take a local train from Latour or Portbou to Barcelona Sants arriving around 14:00.

  See the Paris to Barcelona by sleeper train page for full details, prices, tips & how to buy tickets.

• Step 3, travel from Barcelona to other Spanish destinations next morning...

  For Madrid:  AVE-S103 high-speed trains link Barcelona Sants with Madrid Atocha every hour or two in as little as 2h30 from €35.

  For Cordoba & Seville:  Take the direct AVE-S112 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 15:45 arriving Cordoba & Seville Santa Justa in the evening.  Fares start at around €45.

  For Valencia & Alicante:  A EuroMed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 16:10 arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla at 18:50 and Alicante at 20:37.  Fares start from €23.

  Check Spanish train times & buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, in €, see my advice before using it).  I'd allow at least 1 hour between trains in Barcelona.

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to San Sebastian...

• Step 1, travel from Cologne Hbf to Paris Gare du Nord by high-speed Thalys train in 3h30.

  Thalys trains have 3 classes, a cafe-bar, free WiFi & power sockets at all seats, see more information about Thalys.

  Fares start at €35 in 2nd class or €79 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Cross Paris by metro or taxi from Paris Nord to Paris Gare Montparnasse.  Allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris, ideally more..

• Step 2, travel from Paris Gare Montparnasse to Hendaye on the Spanish border by high-speed double-deck TGV Duplex Océane in around 4h40.

  The impressive double-deck TGV Duplex Océane 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.  Hendaye is on the French side of the Spanish border.

  Fares start at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Step 3, transfer from Hendaye to San Sebastian by Euskotren metro, every 30 minutes, journey time 37 minutes...

  Simply walk out of Hendaye station and turn right, the little Euskotren station is in a corner of the main station forecourt.  Buy a ticket for €2.75 at the Euskotren station from the machines or staffed counter and hop on the next half-hourly Euskotren metro from Hendaye to San Sebastian Amara station, journey time 37 minutes.  See the Paris to San Sebastian page for more information, photos & tips.

• For example:

  Leave Cologne Hbf at 06:44 Mondays-Saturdays, change in Paris, arriving Hendaye 16:47.

  Leave Cologne Hbf at 08:43 Saturdays, change in Paris, arriving Hendaye 18:47.

  Leave Cologne Hbf at 08:43 Mondays-Fridays & Sundays, change in Paris, arriving Hendaye 20:47.

• How to buy tickets...

  Book from Cologne or Düsseldorf to Hendaye at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, more fiddly, no fee).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your smartphone.

  Tip:  If you use www.raileurope.com you can click More options and enter Paris (any station) as a via station with a 1 hour stopover duration, to ensure a robust connection.

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Ibiza & Mallorca...

• Step 1, travel from Cologne to Barcelona as shown above.

  You can leave Cologne in the early evening of Day 1, stay overnight in Paris, reaching Barcelona in the afternoon on Day 2, and Ibiza or Palma in time for breakfast on Day 3.

  In Barcelona, it's a 3.8km 46-minute walk from Barcelona Sants to the Acciona and Balearia ferry terminal at the foot of La Rambla, near the Columbus monument, see walking map.  Or use a taxi or the metro, nearest metro station Drassanes.

• Step 2, sail overnight from Barcelona to Ibiza or Palma de Mallorca by ferry.

  Ibiza:  Acciona Trasmediterranea operate an overnight ferry from Barcelona to Ibiza on most nights of the week sailing at or around 22:00, arriving 07:00.  Times and dates vary, check times and buy tickets at the Direct Ferries website or www.trasmediterranea.es.  Check-in for the ferry closes 30 minutes before sailing time.  You can pre-print your boarding pass to save time at the terminal.

  Mallorca:  There are two overnight ferries from Barcelona to Palma de Mallorca, both with restaurants, bars & cosy en suite cabins, both usually sailing from Barcelona around around 22:00 and arriving in Palma around 07:00.  One ferry is run by Acciona Trasmediterranea (www.trasmediterranea.es, the other run by Balearia (www.balearia.com).  You can check times & buy tickets at the Direct Ferries website.

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Cologne or Dusseldorf to Lisbon, Porto & Portugal...

Option 1, to Lisbon via Barcelona & Madrid...

• Step 1, travel from Cologne to Paris by Thalys, leaving Cologne Hbf at 16:43 and arriving Paris Gare du Nord around 20:10.

  By all means take an earlier train and have an evening or afternoon in Paris.  Thalys trains have 3 classes, a cafe-bar, free WiFi & power sockets at all seats, see more information about Thalys.

  Fares start at €35 in 2nd class or €79 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (more fiddly, in €, but no fee).   Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can choose a mobile ticket.

  Using raileurope or thetrainline allows you to book your tickets in one place as they connect to both the SNCF & Renfe ticketing systems.

  Change stations from Paris Nord to Paris Gare de Lyon by metro or taxi.

• Stay overnight in Paris, see suggested hotels near the Gare du Nord & Gare de Lyon.

• Day 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by 320 km/h TGV Duplex leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 10:14 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 16:54.

  This double-deck TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's a comfortable & scenic journey, see an account of the sights to see from the train on the way.

  Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.  Fares work like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.

• Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Madrid by AVE high-speed train, leaving Barcelona Sants at 18:25 and arriving Madrid Atocha at 20:55.

  The AVE has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More information about trains from Barcelona to Madrid.

  Fares start at €38 in Standard class or €45 in Comfort class.  Fares work like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.  Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but this varies.

• Stay overnight in Madrid.  The classic Hotel Mediodia is across the road from Atocha with good reviews, or try the NH Hotel Madrid Atocha or Only YOU Hotel Atocha, also across the road from the station.

• Day 3, travel from Madrid to Lisbon by daytime trains as shown on the Madrid to Lisbon page.

Option 2, via San Sebastian, Vigo & Porto - slightly slower, can be cheaper...

• Day 1, travel from Cologne to Paris by Thalys, leaving Cologne Hbf at 08:43 and arriving Paris Gare du Nord around 12:10.

  Thalys trains have 3 classes, a cafe-bar, free WiFi & power sockets at all seats, see more information about Thalys.

  Fares start at €35 in 2nd class or €79 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (more fiddly, in €, but no fee).   Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

  Using raileurope or thetrainline allows you to book your tickets in one place as they connect to both the SNCF & Renfe ticketing systems.

  Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi.  Always allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris, but the longer the better.

• Day 1, travel from Paris to Hendaye by TGV Duplex Océane, leaving Paris Gare Montparnasse at 16:11 (not Saturdays) arriving Hendaye 20:47.

  On Saturdays, you leave Paris at 14:06 arriving Hendaye 18:47.

  The impressive double-deck TGV Duplex Océane 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.  Hendaye is on the French side of the Spanish border.

  Fares start at €25 each way in 2nd class, €40 each way in 1st class.  The price varies, book ahead for the cheaper prices.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

• Day 1, at Hendaye walk out of the station and turn right, walk across the forecourt to the Euskotren station (www.euskotren.eus).  Buy a ticket and hop on the half-hourly local train to San Sebastian.  Hendaye to San Sebastian Amara station takes 37 minutes - Amara (Euskotren) station is 10 minutes walk from the Renfe station.

• Stay overnight in San Sebastian.  The Pension Regil is close to the old town with great reviews, 10 minutes walk from the Renfe station, 7 minutes walk from the Amara Euskotren station.  If you want something in the old town itself, try the Pension Garibai or Pension Alameda.  If you want to push the boat out, San Sebastian's most venerable hotel (which I can recommend personally, having stayed there) is the Hotel de Londres y Inglaterra, on the sea front.

• Day 2, travel across Spain from San Sebastian to Vigo on one of these two possible departures:

  Morning departure, every day:  Travel from San Sebastian (Renfe station) to Madrid by Alvia train, leaving San Sebastian at 08:57 and arriving Madrid Chamartin at 14:28.  Then travel from Madrid to Vigo by Alvia train, leaving Madrid Chamartin at 16:00 and arriving Vigo Urzaiz at 20:12.  The comfortable high-speed Alvia trains have a cafe-bar, standard & comfort class.  Vigo Urzaiz station is a 1.1 km 15-minute walk from Vigo Guixar station, see walking map.

  Afternoon departure, Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays only:  Spend the morning in San Sebastian.  An Intercity train leaves San Sebastian (Renfe station) at 12:13 arriving Vitoria/Gasteiz at 13:58.  This is a guaranteed connection into the Barcelona-Galicia Alvia train which leaves Vitoria/Gasteiz at 14:16 on Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays arriving Vigo Guixar at 23:12.

  Tip:  There's a lovely relaxed cafe-bar at San Sebastian Renfe station, accessible from the forecourt or the near-side platform, just north of the main station building, ideal for a cafe con leche before your train.

  San Sebastian to Vigo starts at €23 each way.  The price varies, book ahead for the cheaper prices.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.  Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but this varies.

  Tip:  If using the daily departure with a change in Madrid, you might need to treat San Sebastian-Madrid & Madrid-Vigo as separate bookings.

• Stay overnight in Vigo. The NH Collection Vigo hotel & cheaper Hotel Atlantico Vigo are both near the station with great reviews.

• Day 3, travel from Vigo to Porto by air-conditioned regional train, leaving Vigo at 08:58 arriving Porto Campanhã at 10:20.  If you'd like to spend some time in Vigo, there's a later train leaving Vigo at 19:56 arriving Porto 21:18.

  The fare is €14.80, fixed price.

  This can also be booked at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.  Booking normally opens 60 days ahead, but this can vary.

• Day 3, take any suitable onward train from Porto to Lisbon, for example the 11:40 Alfa Pendular arriving Lisbon Santa Apolonia at 14:30.  Fares start at €15.  Book this at the Portuguese Railways website www.cp.pt (in €) or at Omio.com (in €, £ or $).

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Cologne or Dusseldorf to Andorra...

Option 1, Cologne to Andorra in a day...

• Step 1, travel from Cologne to Paris by Thalys train, leaving Cologne Hbf at 08:43 and arriving Paris Gare du Nord around 12:10.

  High-speed Thalys trains travel at up to 300km/h, with 3 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the Thalys guide.

  Fares start from €35 in 2nd class (standard) or €72 in 1st class (comfort).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (more fiddly, in €, but no fee).   You print your own ticket or can choose a mobile ticket.

  Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi.  Always allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris, but the longer the better.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Toulouse by high-speed TGV, leaving Paris Montparnasse at 15:11 arriving Toulouse Matabiau 19:23.

  Fares start at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (more fiddly, in €, but no fee).   You print your own ticket or can choose a mobile ticket.

  Have dinner in Toulouse...

• Step 3, travel from Toulouse Matabiau to Andorra la Vella by bus, taking 4 hours, fare €33.

  There are 3 services every day run by Andbus, check times at www.andorrabybus.com.  I'd allow at least an hour between train and bus in Toulouse, just in case of delay.  There's normally a bus leaving Toulouse Matabiau at 20:00 arriving Andorra at midnight.

  The buses leave from bus stand 15 inside the Gare Routière (bus station) immediately outside Toulouse Matabiau station.  Simply walk out of the station onto the forecourt and look to your right.  The bus station is the modern building with the glass-and-blue-framework upper section, see the photos below.

  Book the bus ticket at www.andorrabybus.com.

Take a high-speed TGV from Paris Montparnasse to Toulouse, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.		1st class on TGV Atlantique, showing semi-compartments.  Courtesy Rafal Tomasik.

2nd class seats on the TGV.  Most are unidirectional, some are in bays of 4 like this.  See 360° photo		The café-bar car, serving drinks, snacks & microwaved hot dishes.  See a typical menu here...

Travel from Toulouse to Andorra by bus, seen at bus stand 15.  The bus station is right next to the rail station.		Bus station in Toulouse Matabiau forecourt.  Photos courtesy of Andrew McIntyre.

Option 2, using the Paris-Toulouse-l'Hospitalet overnight train...

• Step 1, travel from Cologne to Paris by Thalys train, leaving Cologne Hbf at 16:43 and arriving Paris Gare du Nord around 20:10.

  High-speed Thalys trains travel at up to 300km/h, they have 3 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the Thalys guide.

  Fares start at €35 in 2nd class (standard) or €72 in 1st class (comfort).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (more fiddly, in €, but no fee).   You print your own ticket or can choose a mobile ticket.

  Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi.  Always allow at least 90 minutes between trains in Paris when catching a sleeper you don't want to miss.  Indeed, I recommend booking an earlier Thalys and having dinner at the Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon before strolling across the bridge over the River Seine to the Gare d'Austerlitz.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Toulouse by Intercité de Nuit, leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 21:45 arriving Toulouse Matabiau at 07:05.

  The Intercité de Nuit has 1st class 4-berth couchettes, 2nd class 6-berth couchettes & 2nd class reclining seats.

  Fares start at €35 in a 2nd class couchette or €65 in a 1st class couchette.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  The Paris-Toulouse night train should run daily all year, but has an annoying habit of opening late for booking, less than the expected 4 months ahead, so don't be too impatient.

  Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, more fiddly, no fee).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can choose a mobile ticket.

• Step 3, travel from Toulouse to Andorra by bus.

  A bus run by Andbus (www.andorrabybus.com) typically leaves Toulouse at 11:00, arriving Andorra la Vella bus station at 15:00.  Check current times at www.andorrabybus.com, I'd allow at least an hour between train and bus in Toulouse in case of delay.

  The bus leaves from bus stand 15 inside the Gare Routière (bus station) immediately outside Toulouse Matabiau station.  Simply walk out of the station onto the forecourt and look to your right.  The bus station is the modern building with the glass-and-blue-framework upper section, see the photos below.

  Book the bus at www.andorrabybus.com.  The fare is around €33 one-way.

Paris to Toulouse or l'Hospitalet by Intercité de Nuit, seen here at Paris Gare d'Austerlitz:  More information about Intercité de Nuit trains.  Watch the video.

Couchette with sleeping-bag & mineral water		2nd class 6-berth couchettes...		1st class 4-berth couchettes...

Road transport to Andorra...  This is a Toulouse to Andorra bus at Toulouse bus stand 15.		The bus station in Toulouse Matabiau forecourt.  Photo courtesy of Andrew McIntyre.

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck & Austria from €39.90...

Option 1, by comfortable daytime trains...

• For Vienna & Linz...

  High-quality ICE-T trains link Düsseldorf & Cologne with Linz & Vienna twice a day:

  Cologne Hbf depart 05:53, Vienna Hbf arrive 14:45.

  Cologne Hbf depart 09:53, Vienna Hbf arrive 18:45.

  It's a chill-out day with a good book and meals in the restaurant car accompanied by a decent weissbier. 

  These trains are superb German ICEs with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, and they take the scenic Rhine Valley route between Koblenz & Mainz - which just happens to be one of the most scenic main lines in Germany, twisting along the river past mountains, castles, vineyards and river boats and of course the famous legendary Lorelei Rock.  Sit on the left hand side of the train for the river scenery.  See the Rhine Valley scenery video here.

  Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• For Salzburg, Bischofshofen, St Johann, Klagenfurt...

  A direct EuroCity train with bistro car links Düsseldorf & Cologne with Salzburg, Bischofshofen, St Johan & Klagenfurt every day, leaving Cologne Hbf at 08:17 and arriving Salzburg Hbf at 15:59, with fares from €29.90.

  This train also takes the scenic Rhine Valley route via Koblenz, make sure you sit on the left hand side of the train as the river boats, castles, vineyards and legendary Lorelei Rock roll past.

• For Innsbruck & St Anton there are various departures with 1 or 2 changes, check times at www.bahn.de.

• To buy tickets or check train times from anywhere in Germany to anywhere in Austria use the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  I recommend registering when prompted, rather than booking as a guest, so you can always log in and check or re-print all your bookings.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  Top tip:  Check Austrian Railways www.oebb.at as well, as although fares also start from €29 I've often seen significantly cheaper fares on oebb.at than bahn.de on the same date & train.  You also get a print-at-home ticket.

Option 2, by Nightjet sleeper train - the safe, comfortable, time-effective option that saves a hotel bill...

• A comfortable Nightjet sleeper train leaves Dusseldorf 21:43 & Cologne Hbf 22:16, arriving Wels 07:14, Linz 07:46, Vienna Meidling 09:11 & Vienna Hbf 09:19, with a portion for Innsbruck Hbf arriving 09:14.  For Salzburg, change at Wels onto a railjet train arriving Salzburg Hbf at 08:48.

  Each portion of this comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There 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.

• Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

• Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

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Cologne & Düsseldorf to Copenhagen, Odense & Denmark from €39.90...

• You can travel from Cologne to Copenhagen in a single day with 1 easy change in Hamburg, for example:

  Leave Cologne Hbf at 08:11 or Düsseldorf 08:32 by Intercity train, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 17:33.

  Leave Cologne Hbf at 12:11 by ICE train, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 21:33.

  The Hamburg to Copenhagen trains also call at Kolding (for Legoland) and Odense.

  Take a good book, sit back and enjoy the ride.  You travel from Cologne to Hamburg by either Intercity train with bistro car or ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Copenhagen to Hamburg is by Danish IC3 Intercity train with free WiFi whilst in Denmark, there's no catering car so bring your own food & drink.  See more information about the Hamburg to Copenhagen journey.

  From 18 June to 21 August 2022 an increased Hamburg-Copenhagen timetable operates, giving slightly different departures:

  Leave Cologne Hbf at 08:11, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 17:33.

  Leave Cologne Hbf at 10:11, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 19:33.

  Leave Cologne Hbf at 14:11, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 23:33.

• Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Book at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  Tip:  In the search results, look for options with 1 change, not 2 or 3.  Adjust the Duration of transfer feature if you'd like longer connections, or the Add intermediates stops feature if you'd like a stopover in Hamburg.

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Cologne & Düsseldorf to Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö...

Option 1, Cologne or Düsseldorf to Stockholm using the Hamburg-Stockholm sleeper train, starting 1 September 2022 - the time-effective option...

• Step 1, travel from to Hamburg by ICE train, leaving Cologne Hbf at 16:11 or Düsseldorf at 16:34, arriving Hamburg Altona 20:29.

  The ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Always allow at least an hour when connecting with a sleeper train you don't want to miss.  Have dinner in Hamburg.

  Fares start at €18.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

• Step 2, travel from Hamburg to Stockholm by sleeper train, leaving Hamburg Altona at 21:55 & arriving Stockholm Central 09:55 next morning.

  This train starts running from 1 September 2022.  Procured by the Swedish government and run by Swedish Railways SJ, the train has sleeping-cars with compact 1 & 2 berth compartments with washbasin, several 1, 2 or 3 bed deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower, couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  The sleeping-cars are former Austrian Railways AB32s, refurbished.

  Fares start at €44.90 with a couchette in 6-berth, €69.90 with a couchette in 4-berth, €79.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €164.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.  All prices per person per bed, fares vary like air fares so book ahead.

  Book tickets at either www.sj.se or (as this is a Nightjet partner route) Austrian Railways www.oebb.at.

  Booking opens several months ahead, you print your own ticket or can show it on your smartphone.

Standard sleeper, set up as a single, shown in both night & daytime modes whilst the AB32 sleeping-car was in service with ÖBB.  AB32s have 13 narrow standard compartments.  Above right, an artist's impression of the new livery, courtesy of SJ.

Deluxe sleeper, taken whilst the AB32 sleeping-car was in service with ÖBB.  AB32s have just 2 deluxe compartments.

Option 2, Cologne or Düsseldorf to Stockholm, Gothenburg & Malmö in a single day...

• It's possible to travel from Cologne to Stockholm, Gothenburg or Malmo in a single day.  You'll usually find two services per day, but see what journey options www.bahn.de gives you as times may vary:

  Leave Cologne Hbf at 03:59, change at Hamburg Hbf & Copenhagen arriving Stockholm 19:37;

  Leave Cologne Hbf at 08:11, change at Hamburg Hbf & Copenhagen arriving Stockholm 23:41

  You travel by comfortable InterCity (IC) train with bistro car to Hamburg, Danish intercity train to Copenhagen, then either a 200 km/h Swedish X2000 high-speed train from Copenhagen to Stockholm or a comfortable Öresund train from Copenhagen to Malmo & Gothenburg.  You cross from Denmark to Sweden on the impressive Öresund fixed link.

  Fares start at €56.90 in 2nd class or €79.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.

  Book from Cologne or Düsseldorf to Malmo, Gothenburg or Stockholm as one transaction.  Don't worry about connections, you will be using a through ticket so will be entitled to travel onwards by later trains (and if necessary, a hotel) if a delay means a connection is missed, under the CIV international conditions of carriage.

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

Option 3, Cologne or Düsseldorf to Stockholm, Gothenburg & Malmö with overnight stop in Hamburg...

• It can be easier and sometimes more time-effective to break up the journey with an overnight hotel stop in Hamburg.  That way you can leave Cologne in the late afternoon or early evening, and travel from Hamburg to Sweden next day.  You can still benefit from the same cheap fares from €59.90.

• To book, go to www.bahn.de and click Stopover.  Enter Hamburg Hbf in the via box and perhaps 11 hours in the hh:mm stopover box.  Adjust the departure time and stopover period until you get trains which suit you either side of Hamburg.

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

• Suggested hotels in Hamburg across the road from Hamburg Hbf with good reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof (the one I'd pick), Hotel Atlantic Kempinski.

Option 4, Cologne or Düsseldorf to Gothenburg using Stena Line's Kiel-Gothenburg overnight ferry...

• Step 1, travel from Cologne or Düsseldorf to Kiel by train, leaving late morning.

  The journey takes around 5h25, you'll typically find a train leaving Cologne Hbf around 11:00 or Düsseldorf around 11:30 with 1 easy change at Hamburg Hbf.  However, you should book the ferry first and confirm ferry times, then book a train that arrives at Kiel Hbf around 2 hours before the ferry sails.

  Book the train at the German Railways site www.bahn.de.

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

  In Kiel, the ferry terminal is 750m from the station, a 9-minute walk, see walking map.

• Step 2, sail overnight from Kiel to Gothenburg by Stena Line ferry.

  The ferry normally sails at 18:45 and arrives around 09:15, but times may vary so check online.

  The ferry is a floating hotel with restaurants & bars, all passengers travel in a cosy private cabin with en suite toilet & shower.  You can add dinner & breakfast to your ticket when you book.

  Fares vary, you might pay €39 per passenger as basic fare plus €75-€89 per cabin for a private 1 or 2 bed room.

  Book the ferry at www.stenaline.com and print your own ticket or show it on your phone.

  In Gothenburg, the ferry terminal is a short taxi ride (or 4.3 km 53-minute walk) from Goteborg Central station, see walking map.

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Cologne & Düsseldorf to Oslo & Norway...

Option 1, via Hamburg & Copenhagen - by train all the way...

• Day 1, travel from Cologne to Copenhagen by train as shown above.

• Stay overnight in Copenhagen.  Hotels near the station with good reviews include the Nimb Hotel (5-star luxe), Radisson Blu Royal Hotel (5-star), Axel Guldsmeden (4-star), Andersen Boutique Hotel, First Hotel Mayfair (3-star), Hotel Ansgar (3-star), City Hotel Nebo (2-star).

• Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Oslo, leaving Copenhagen at 09:27, change at Gothenburg Central, arriving Oslo Sentral 17:51.

  Earlier & later departures are available, see the Copenhagen-Oslo timetable & how to buy tickets here.

  Alternatively, spend a morning in Copenhagen, and after lunch take the DFDS overnight ferry to Oslo with a comfortable private cabin with shower & toilet, arriving Oslo at 09:15 on day 3, as also shown here.  This is remarkably affordable, and saves a hotel bill.  Book the ferry at www.dfds.co.uk.

Option 2, Cologne & Dusseldorf to Oslo via the Kiel-Oslo Color Line cruise ferry - the most luxurious way to Oslo...

• Day 1, travel from Cologne or Dusseldorf to Kiel on a very early morning train, for example leaving Cologne Hbf at 06:12.

  Fares start at €18.90 in 2nd class or €49.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

• In Kiel it's just a 5-6 minute walk from Kiel Hbf to the Color Line ferry terminal, but allow several hours between trains and ferry for the ferry check-in and in case of any delay.

• Day 1, sail from Kiel to Oslo by luxurious overnight Color Line ferry, with a full range of en suite cabins, suites, bars, restaurants and lounges.  The m/v Magic or m/v Fantasy normally sails at 14:00 arriving Oslo at 10:00 next morning (day 2).

  Check times & buy tickets using the Direct Ferries website or www.colorline.com.  You print your own ticket.

  Make sure you're on deck next morning as the ship sails through spectacular scenery up Oslo Fjord.  The ship docks at the modern Color Line terminal about 2 km from the city centre.  Color Line provide transfer buses to Oslo Sentral station costing 55 krone, or there are plenty of taxis.  If you have little luggage it's possible to walk.  See map of Oslo showing ferry terminal.

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Cologne & Düsseldorf to Helsinki & Finland...

Option 1, by direct ferry from Germany to Helsinki - the easiest option...

Finnlines sail from Travemünde in Germany to Helsinki every day, boarding from 22:30 to 24:00 and arriving Helsinki Vuosaari ferry terminal at 09:00 2 nights later.  First go to www.finnlines.com to check sailing dates, times & to book the ferry.  Then travel as follows:

• Step 1, travel from Cologne to Lübeck Travemünde Skandinavienkai Terminal.

  Take an InterCity or ICE train from Cologne Hbf to Hamburg Hbf, then take a local train from Hamburg Hbf to Lübeck, these run every 30 minutes during the day, hourly in the evening, journey time 42-43 minutes.

  At Lübeck, leave the station and follow the signs to the ZOB bus station.  Lübeck is a good place for dinner with plenty of bars & restaurants in the old town 5 minutes walk from the bus station.

  Now take a bus from Lübeck bus station to Travemünde Skandinavienkai Terminal (this is not the same stop as Travemünde Skandinavienkai), the bus ride takes 28 minutes, the last bus goes around 21:00.

  You can check journey times from Cologne to Travemünde Skandinavienkai Terminal at the German Railways website, just use this link to bahn.de as it has the bus times in its database as well as the trains, or you can find bus information at www.xn--sv-lbeck-95a.de.

• Step 2, sail from Travemünde to Helsinki with Finnlines.

  At the terminal, walk into the unassuming building next to the bus stop for check in.  You're looking for a large building marked HafenHaus and with a green neon Check in sign by the front door.  After check-in, you go downstairs to a large waiting hall, with a bar/cafe open until 10pm, toilets and a large supermarket open until 01:30 selling alcohol and chocolate.

  Check-in normally opens at 21:00 and the ship boards from 22:30 to 24:00, foot passengers are driven onto the car deck in a minibus.  The ship sails at 03:00 arriving at Helsinki Vuosaari ferry terminal outside Helsinki at 09:00 the following day (2 nights from Hamburg).

  The ship may not be quite as glamorous as some other cruise ferries on the Baltic, but it has all the essentials:  Comfortable cabins with private shower & toilet and free internet access (but not WiFi, so bring a network cable), restaurant, shop, bar, sundeck, and (naturally, being Finnish) a sauna.  It's a very civilised way to travel.

• Step 3, transfer from the Vuosaari ferry terminal to central Helsinki.  Helsinki's new Hansa Ferry Terminal in the Vuosaari Harbour is 16 km east of central Helsinki.  There is a bus connection (bus 90B) between Vuosaari harbour and Vuosaari metro station.  Take the metro from Vuosaari into central Helsinki, journey time 25 minutes.  Map of Helsinki showing Vuosaari.

Option 2, travel to Stockholm and take a ferry from there...

• Step 1, travel from Cologne to Stockholm by train using any of the options shown in the Berlin to Sweden section.

• Step 2, travel from Stockholm to Helsinki either by direct overnight cruise ferry, or by daytime or overnight ferry to Turku and connecting train to Helsinki as shown on the Trains & ferries from Stockholm page.

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Prague from €29.90...

Option 1, by daytime train - the leisurely same-day option...

• Take a high-speed ICE2 train from Düsseldorf or Cologne Hbf to Berlin Hbf in 4h22, then a comfortable EuroCity train with restaurant car from Berlin Hbf to Prague Hlavni in 4h19.  For example:

  Leave Cologne Hbf 06:17, change at Berlin Hbf, arrive Prague Hlavni 15:35.

  Leave Cologne Hbf 07:48, change at Berlin Hbf, arrive Prague Hlavni 17:35.

  Leave Cologne Hbf 09:48, change at Berlin Hbf, arrive Prague Hlavni 19:35.

  Leave Cologne Hbf 11:48, change at Berlin Hbf, arrive Prague Hlavni 21:35.

  It's a leisurely journey with a good book and a glass of wine, with great scenery along the Elbe River between Dresden and Prague, see the scenery photos & video here.

• Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  Tip:  It's a good idea to click Stopover and enter Berlin Hbf as a via station, then it'll just show this route via Berlin with high-quality trains, look for easy options with just 1 change.  See suggested hotels in Prague.

  Tip:  Stopover in Berlin?   You normally seem to get an hour between trains in Berlin, which is enough to nip out to see the Reichstag 10 minutes walk from Berlin Hbf or the Brandenburg gate, 5 minutes walk further on.  But you can build in a longer stopover if you want, either a few hours or an overnight stop.  Simply click Stopover and enter Berlin Hbf then enter a suitable stopover duration.  For a few hours stop, select an early departure time from Cologne or Düsseldorf.

• This is the easiest and most scenic daytime option, with the chance for a stopover in Berlin, but for sheer cheapness, see option 3 below...

Option 2, by daytime trains with overnight stop in Berlin from €39 - a time-effective option with an evening in Berlin...

• Day 1, take a comfortable high-speed ICE train from Cologne Hbf to Berlin Hbf in 4h22...

  Trains leave every hour, you can usually leave Cologne as late as 19:27 arriving Berlin at 00:10, but by all means book an earlier train and spend a pleasant evening in Berlin.

• Stay overnight in Berlin.  The 3-star InterCity Hotel (my favourite) or Meininger Hotel are right next to Berlin Hbf, a 10-minute walk from the Reichstag or 15 minutes from the Brandenburg Gate, relatively inexpensive with good reviews.  The Steigenberger Hotel is more upmarket, also right next to the station with great reviews.  If you want to push the boat out, the famous & historic Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate.  If you're on a tight budget, the cheaper Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or see www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2, travel from Berlin to Prague by EuroCity train in just 4h19 on any train you like...

  The 07:16 EuroCity train from Berlin Hbf will get you to Prague Hlavni at 11:35 with breakfast in the restaurant car as you glide along the scenic Elbe river valley - or have a leisurely breakfast at your hotel and take the 09:16, they leave every two hours, see the timetable here.

• Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class, with overnight stop included.  Fares vary like air fares so book ahead.

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de like this:

  Enter Cologne or Dusseldorf to Prague, then click Stopover and enter Berlin Hbf and a stopover duration of (say) 10 hours.  In fact, I've set up this special link to bahn.de for you with the necessary parameters, just enter your date of travel and adjust the departure time from Cologne and stopover duration in Berlin to get the trains you want on both days.  In the search results, look for journeys with just 1 change marked ICE,EC.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.

Option 3, the cheapest option via Nuremburg & Cheb...

• It involves 3 changes, but you can potentially go from Cologne to Prague in comfort by train from as little as €21.

• The trick is to book from Cologne to Prague at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz, but before running the enquiry, click More options then Travel via and enter Cheb in the via box.  I'd also click Connection parameters and limit changes to 2.  Booking normally opens 90 days ahead.

  You'll see fares from as little as €21 (about 580 Czech Koruna) via a route with 3 changes at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, Nuremberg & Cheb.  You print your own ticket.  Treat yourself to first class from €39, about 1076 Koruna.  For example:

  Cologne Hbf depart 05:53, Prague Hlavni arrive 15:21.

  Cologne Hbf depart 07:53, Prague Hlavni arrive 17:21.

  Cologne Hbf depart 09:53, Prague Hlavni arrive 19:21.

• There's nothing cut-rate about the trains:  You take top-quality high-speed ICE trains from Cologne to Nuremberg with restaurant car & free WiFi, then a swish German air-conditioned regional train from Nuremberg to Cheb and a comfy air-conditioned Czech express train from Cheb to Prague with refreshment trolley and free WiFi.  See more photos, video guide, information & tips on travel to Prague via Cheb.

• It's an incredible price, unusually low, but genuine enough.  Too out of kilter for such low fares to survive long?  Who knows, but great while it's available. If you book this way, feedback would be appreciated!

The City Night Line sleeper train from Cologne to Prague was discontinued in December 2016.

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Cesky Krumlov & other Czech destinations...

• You can book from Cologne or Düsseldorf to almost anywhere in the Czech Republic using the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

  Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  

  Tip:  It's an all-day ride from Cologne or Düsseldorf to the Czech Republic, so select a morning departure time to do it all in one day.

  Tip:  You might prefer breaking up a long journey with an overnight stop, perhaps Nuremberg, if your route goes that way.  To get an overnight stop, click Stopover and enter Nuremberg, with a suitable stopover duration, say 11 hours, or up to 48 hours.

  Tip:  Also check times & prices using the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz.

• For Cesky Krumlov (a lovely town, and the second most-visited place in the Czech Republic, see the Cesky Krumlov page) you need to book to Ceske Budejovice, not Cesky Krumlov, because the branch line between Ceske Budejovice and Cesky Krumlov is run by private operator GWTR and German Railways cannot ticket that part.

  So book from Cologne or Düsseldorf to Ceske Budejovice at www.bahn.de from €37.90, then buy the local ticket from Ceske Budejovice to Cesky Krumlov either at the station in Ceske Budejovice from the distinctive green and orange ticket kiosk in the main hall, or on board the train using the self-service ticket machines, contactless cards accepted.  You can check train times from Ceske Budejovice to Cesky Krumlov at www.gwtr.cz.

• For Karlovy Vary or Plzen, book at www.bahn.de, looking for 3-change options via Frankfurt, Nuremberg & Cheb from €37.90.

• For Brno, book Cologne or Düsseldorf to Brno at www.bahn.de.  It tends to route you via Vienna, as this is slightly quicker.  By all means click Stopover and enter Prague, this can be cheaper.  By adding a stopover duration of a suitable number of hours, you can have an overnight stop there.

  The most time-effective option from Cologne or Düsseldorf to Brno is to take the Nightjet sleeper train to Vienna overnight as shown above, allow at least an hour between trains in Vienna, then take a Vienna-Brno train booked at either www.thetrainline.com (sells both Regiojet & ÖBB/CD trains), www.oebb.at (ÖBB/CD trains only) or www.regiojet.com (Regiojet trains only).

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Bratislava & Slovakia from €39.90...

Option 1, by daytime train... 

• You can travel from Cologne or Dusseldorf to Bratislava with just one change:

  Leave Dusseldorf 05:27 or Cologne Hbf 05:53 by ICE-T train to Vienna Hbf, then by Regional Express train to Bratislava Hlavna arriving 16:23.

  Leave Dusseldorf 08:27 or Cologne Hbf 09:53 by ICE-T train to Vienna Hbf, then by Regional Express train to Bratislava Hlavna arriving 20:23.

  The high-speed ICE-T trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Treat this as a chill-out trip...

• Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Book at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket, in this case it cannot be shown on a mobile device, it must be printed out.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Option 2, by sleeper train...

• Step 1, travel from Düsseldorf or Cologne to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Dusseldorf at 21:43 or Cologne Hbf at 22:16 every day, arriving Vienna Hbf at 09:19 next morning.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet.  There 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 an ordinary seats car.  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.

  Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at (same prices, a little more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

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

• Step 2, on arrival in Vienna simply catch the next hourly Regional Express train from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna, journey time 1h07.  You can buy a ticket for this train at the station for around €10.80, no reservation is necessary of possible, just buy a ticket and hop on the next train.  You can check times & prices at www.oebb.at.  See timetable & information for these Vienna-Bratislava trains.

• Step 3 if you're going to eastern Slovakia & the Tatra mountains:  Take an express from Bratislava to Poprad Tatry & Kosice.  In this case, you'd pre-book a ticket from Vienna to Poprad Tatry & Kosice from €29.90 at either www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.  You'll find a regional train leaving Vienna at 10:16, change at Bratislava Hlavna arriving Poprad Tatry late afternoon & Kosice  early evening.

Step 1, Düsseldorf or Cologne to Vienna by Nightjet.  Above, the Nightjet about to leave Cologne Hbf.

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

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

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Budapest from €39.90...

Option 1, using the Munich-Budapest sleeper train - the most time-effective option...

• Step 1, travel from Cologne to Munich by ICE train, leaving Cologne Hbf at 17:55 and arriving Munich Hbf at 22:26.

  Check times at www.bahn.de as they can vary.  I recommend taking the earlier 15:55 train and having dinner in Munich.  For local Bavarian food and a beer or two before boarding the sleeper, I recommend the Augustiner Keller (www.augustinerkeller.de) at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf, see walking map.

  Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Budapest on the sleeper train Kalman Imre leaving Munich Hbf at 23:20 and arriving Budapest Keleti at 09:19.

  The Kalman Imre has an air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and an air-conditioned Hungarian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, see more information about this sleeper train.  In sleepers, morning tea or coffee is included.

  Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €69.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €88.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (more fiddly, same prices, in €).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

Step 2, Munich to Budapest by sleeper train.  This is the Kalman Imre boarding on platform 12 at Munich Hbf.  More information about this train.

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

Option 2, by daytime trains - the leisurely daytime option...

• You can travel from Düsseldorf or Cologne to Budapest in one leisurely day, with 1 each change, as follows:

  Leave Dusseldorf 05:27 or Cologne Hbf 05:53 by ICE-T, change at Vienna Meidling onto a railjet train, arriving Budapest Keleti at 18:19.

  Leave Dusseldorf 07:51 or Cologne Hbf 08:17 by EuroCity train, change Salzburg Hbf onto a railjet train, arriving Budapest Keleti 21:19.

  Leave Dusseldorf 09:27 or Cologne Hbf 09:53 by ICE-T, change at Vienna Hbf onto a EuroCity train, arriving Budapest Keleti at 22:19.

  The ICE-T trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  All of these trains use the scenic Rhine Valley line via Koblenz, past vineyards, river boats, castles, and the legendary Lorelei Rock, see the Rails down the Rhine page for more information.  Make sure you sit on the left hand side of the train for the river scenery.

  Tip:  If you have a 1st class ticket you can use the ÖBB 1st class lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary tea, coffee & snacks.

• Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website, www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.

  In the search results, look for options with just 1 change.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  Tip:  If you want the 05:27/05:53 departure, it's better to change at Vienna Hbf (=main station) rather than Vienna Meidling, simply click Stopover and enter Vienna Centrale as a via station, if necessary with a 20 minute stopover duration, that should do it.

Option 2, by sleeper train via Vienna - another time-effective option...

• Step 1, travel from to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Dusseldorf 21:43 & Cologne Hbf 22:16, arriving Vienna Hbf 09:19.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There 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.

  Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest by EuroCity train with restaurant car, leaving Vienna Hbf at 10:42 & arriving at Budapest Keleti at 13:19.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Bucharest & Romania from €99...

Option 1, via Vienna - the fastest & most comfortable option...

• Step 1, travel from Dusseldorf or Cologne to Vienna by ICE-T leaving Dusseldorf at 09:27 or Cologne Hbf at 09:53, arriving Vienna Hbf 18:45.

  The high-speed ICE-T train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  If you prefer, there's an earlier 05:27 from Dusseldorf, 05:53 from Cologne, arriving Vienna at 14:45.

  Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.

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

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Romania on the Dacia Express, leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:42 every day, and arriving next day in Simeria 07:36, Sighisoara 10:09, Braşov 13:26, Ploeşti 15:08 & Bucharest Nord at 15:47.

  The Dacia Express has a modern air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin and several deluxe compartments with en suite shower & toilet.  It has a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments.

  A Hungarian restaurant car is attached between Vienna and Budapest, treat yourself to dinner with wine.  A bar-bistro is then attached in the morning between Arad & Bucharest, serving drinks, snacks and breakfast.  There's wonderful almost Alpine scenery through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov and Bucharest, a real treat...

  From 12 December 2021 the Dacia Express will also convey a second portion from Vienna to Bucharest via Timişoara, also leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:42 and arriving Timişoara Nord at 05:52, Craiova 12:42 & Bucharest Nord at 16:05.  This portion has a Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments, and ordinary seats.

  From 12 December 2021 the Dacia Express will convey a portion from Vienna to Cluj Napoca, also leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:42 and arriving Cluj Napoca at 08:19.  This portion has a Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments, and ordinary seats.

  Fares start at €59 with a couchette in a 6-berth compartment, €69 with a couchette in a 4-berth compartment, €79 with a bed in a 3-berth sleeper, €99 with a bed in a 3-berth sleeper or €159 with a bed in a single-berth sleeper all to yourself.  All per person per berth.

  Book this train at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.

  In the search results, look for the direct train marked D with no changes.  You collect tickets from the ÖBB ticket machines or staffed counter in Vienna.

  You can also (as of 2022) book this train at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.  Click EN top right for English.  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  For Vienna type Wien, for Bucharest type Bucuresti.  It can book seats, couchettes or sleepers.  For Austria to Romania journeys you now print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  Tip:  Prices might be cheaper than on oebb.at, so check both sites!

Option 2, via Budapest...

• Step 1, travel to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Dusseldorf at 21:43 & Cologne Hbf at 22:16, arriving Vienna Hbf at 09:19.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There 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.

  Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a little more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest by EuroCity train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 10:42 & arriving Budapest Keleti 13:19. 

  The comfortable EuroCity train has a restaurant car, treat yourself to lunch.  Enjoy an afternoon in Budapest.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

• Step 3, travel from Budapest to Brasov & Bucharest by sleeper train Ister leaving Budapest Keleti at 19:10 and arriving Brasov at 09:23 & Bucharest Gara de Nord at 11:59 next day.

  This sleeper train Ister has an air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin and a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  There's wonderful almost Alpine scenery through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov and Bucharest, a real treat.  Ister is the ancient name for the Danube.

  Fares start at €39 with a couchette in 6-berth, €46 with a couchette in 4-berth, €69 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €84 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €162 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.  All prices per person per berth.

  Book this train at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.

  Click EN top right for English.  For Bucharest type Bucuresti.  It can book seats, couchettes or sleepers.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

  You can also normally book at the Hungarian Railways website www.mav-start.hu, see my advice on using it.  For Bucharest type Bucuresti.  You show your ticket in the MAV app on your smartphone.  However, since MAV revamped its website in 2020, it can't book couchettes or sleepers, only seats, though this should be fixed at some point.

A 1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper with washbasin.  Larger photo.		The sleeping-car (vagon de dormit) on the westbound Ister at Bucharest.  Sleepers convert from beds to private sitting rooms for day use.  Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.

The vagon cuseta (couchette car) on the westbound Ister, boarding at Bucharest.  Couchettes convert from bunks at night to seats by day.  Courtesy of @AndyBTravels, DiscoverByRail.com .		4 or 6-berth couchettes.  Larger photo.

Option 3, with overnight stop in Budapest - if you prefer daytime trains & hotel to sleepers...

• Day 1, travel from Düsseldorf or Cologne to Budapest in a day, as shown in the Cologne to Budapest section above.

• Stay overnight in Budapest.  For an inexpensive hotel with great reviews right next to Keleti Station, try the Royal Park Boutique Hotel or the inexpensive Baross City Hotel just across the road or the Elit Hotel two minutes walk away.  More hotels in Budapest.

• Day 2, travel from Budapest to Romania by comfortable air-conditioned Intercity train.  These link Budapest Keleti with Cluj, Timisoara, Craiova, Sibiu, Sinaia, Brasov & Ploesti.  It's an all-day daytime run across Transylvania, see the Trains from Budapest page for details.

  Fares start at €26.30 in 2nd class or (on trains which have 1st class) €40.50 in 1st class.

  Buy tickets at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  You show your ticket in the MAV app on your smartphone.

  You can also book at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.  Click EN top right for English.  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  For Bucharest type Bucuresti.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

The daytime train from Budapest to Bucharest has modern air-conditioned Romanian carriages.  Three cars travel all the way, additional cars are attached whilst in Hungary, and additional cars and a bar car are attached between Drobeta Turnu Severin & Bucharest.

On the left, the daytime train to Bucharest is about to leave Budapest Keleti...		Comfortable 2nd class seats on the Budapest to Bucharest train.  There are power outlets under the tables.  Larger photo.

A bar car is attached between Drobeta Turnu Severin & Bucharest.  Photos courtesy of @AndyBTravels, DiscoverByRail.com.

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Ljubljana & Zagreb from €37.90...

Option 1, by daytime train...

• You can travel from Cologne to Ljubljana or Zagreb in a single chill-out day with some truly wonderful scenery through the mountains of Austria and along the River Sava between Ljubljana and Zagreb.

  Leave Cologne Hbf 06:00 by ICE, change at Stuttgart Hbf, arrive Lesce-Bled 17:50, Ljubljana 18:31 & Zagreb at 20:46.

• Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Option 2, by daytime train with overnight stop in Munich...

• Day 1, travel from Cologne to Munich on any ICE train you like.  You can leave Cologne Hbf as late as 17:55 arriving Munich Hbf at 22:26.

  ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Stay overnight in Munich.  Try the Sofitel Munich Beyerpost, Eden Hotel Wolff, InterCity Hotel or (budget) the Pension Locarno, all these hotels are right next to the station with great reviews.  For a dinner of local Bavarian food and a beer or two I recommend 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 Slovenia or Croatia, leaving Munich Hbf at 08:17 by Austrian railjet train, making a quick & simple cross-platform change at Villach onto the waiting Slovenian & Croatian EuroCity train Sava, arriving Lesce-Bled 13:50, Ljubljana 14:32 & Zagreb 17:07.

  The scenery is wonderful through the mountains of Austria on the Tauern route and along the River Sava from Ljubljana to Zagreb.

  If you'd like a morning in Munich, there's a later 12:17 direct EuroCity train direct to Lesce-Bled, Ljubljana & Zagreb.

• How much does it cost?

  Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• How to buy tickets...

  Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.

  To get the overnight stop in Munich, click Stopover and enter Munich Hbf as a via station with a suitable stopover duration, say 10 hours.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

  Tip:  If you don't see any cheap fares from Munich to Ljubljana or Zagreb using bahn.de (for example, if it says No special fares available), try going to the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at and booking from Salzburg to Ljubljana or Zagreb on exactly the same train (these trains leave Salzburg about 1h55 after leaving Munich), then using www.oebb.at again to add a ticket from Munich to Salzburg on the same train.

Option 3, using the Munch-Ljubljana-Zagreb sleeper train - the time-effective option....

• Step 1, travel from Cologne to Munich by ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  You can usually leave Cologne Hbf at 17:55 arriving Munich Hbf 22:26.  By all means take an earlier train, just make sure you allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Munich in case of any delay.

  Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this train at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  You print your own ticket or you can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  I recommend taking the 15:55 on any date and having dinner in Munich.  For local Bavarian food and a beer or two before boarding the sleeper I recommend the Augustiner Keller (www.augustinerkeller.de) at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf, see walking map.

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Ljubljana or Zagreb by comfortable Croatian sleeper train Lisinski, leaving Munich Hbf at 23:20 and arriving Ljubljana 06:00 & Zagreb 08:32 next morning.

  The Lisinski has a modern air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car with comfortable 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, a modern Croatian air-conditioned couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats, see the photos below and the Croatian sleeper video here.

  Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €66.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €86.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

  Book this sleeper at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, easy to use,  overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways site www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly, in €, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

Step 1, Cologne to Munich by ICE.  This is an ICE3 at Cologne Hbf.  More information about ICE trains.

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

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

Step 2, Munich to Ljubljana & Zagreb by sleeper train.  Above, the air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car from Munich to Zagreb is boarding on platform 12 at Munich Hbf.  It 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 is included in the sleeper fare.  The Croatian couchette car is the next vehicle to the right, also modern & 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.

Wake up to scenery like this between Ljubljana & Zagreb, along the river Sava...

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Cologne or Dusseldorf to Belgrade, Sofia, Montenegro...

Option 1, to Belgrade & beyond using the Munich-Zagreb sleeper...

• Step 1, travel from Cologne to Munich by ICE train, leaving Cologne Hbf at 17:55 arriving Munich Hbf 22:26.

  Or leave Cologne Hbf at 15:55 arriving Munich Hbf 21:12 to allow time for dinner.  Just make sure you allow around an hour between trains in Munich in case of any delay.  ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this train at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.

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

  Tip:  For dinner in Munich with Bavarian food and a beer or two before boarding the sleeper I recommend the Augustiner Keller (www.augustinerkeller.de) at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf, see walking map.

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Ljubljana or Zagreb by sleeper train, leaving Munich Hbf at 23:20 & arriving Zagreb at 08:32.

  The sleeper train Lisinski has an air-conditioned Croatian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments and a modern air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car with comfortable 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, see the photos below and the Croatian sleeper video here.

  Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €66.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €86.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a little more fiddly, same fares).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

• Step 3, travel from Zagreb to Belgrade by train, leaving Zagreb at 11:04 and arriving Novi Beograd 18:04 & Belgrade Centar at 18:12.

  This train is still currently suspended due to Covid-19.

  This train has air-conditioned Serbian carriages with comfortable 2nd class seats, but no 1st class.  There's no catering, so bring a picnic and some beer or wine.

  The fare is around €29 bought at the station in Zagreb or paid on board the train, but tickets cannot be bought online.

• Step 4 for Sofia, stay overnight in Belgrade and take the train from Belgrade to Sofia next day (day 3), see the Belgrade to Sofia page for schedule, fares & how to buy tickets.

• Step 4 for Montenegro, transfer to Belgrade Topcider station and either take the overnight sleeper Lovcen to Podgorica and Bar arriving in the morning on day 3, or stay overnight in Belgrade and take the daytime train Tara next day.  See the Belgrade to Montenegro page for schedule, fares & how to buy tickets.

Step 1, Cologne to Munich by ICE.  This is an ICE3 at Munich Hbf.  More information about ICE trains.

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

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

Step 2, Munich to Zagreb by sleeper train.  Above, the air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car from Munich to Zagreb is boarding on platform 12 at Munich Hbf.  It 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 is included in the sleeper fare.  The Croatian couchette car is the next vehicle to the right, also modern & 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.

Wake up to scenery like this between Ljubljana & Zagreb, along the river Sava...

Step 3, Zagreb to Belgrade on the daily train.  Above, Serbian air-conditioned cars.

Option 2, Cologne or Düsseldorf to Sofia via Bucharest - currently the easiest option for Sofia...

• Day 1, travel from Düsseldorf or Cologne to Vienna overnight as shown above, using the Nightjet sleeper train.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same fares).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

• Day 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest by railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 11:40 and arriving Budapest Keleti at 14:19.

  The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  By all means take an earlier train if you'd like more time in Budapest, perhaps for lunch.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same fares).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

• Day 2, travel from Budapest to Bucharest on the sleeper train Muntenia, leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:10 and arriving Bucharest Nord at 08:06.

  The Muntenia has 4 & 6-berth couchettes and ordinary seats.  A Romanian sleeping-car is attached from Timişoara Nord (depart 22:00) to Bucharest.  There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink.

  Fares start at €40 with a couchette in 6-berth or €47 with a couchette in 4-berth.  These are limited-availability advance-purchase fares

  Book this at the Romanian Railways international website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en.  You print your own ticket.

  If you want the comfort & privacy of a proper sleeper from Timisoara to Bucharest, (1) book a 2nd class seat from Budapest to Timisoara from €17 using bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en.  You print your own ticket.  (2) Now book berths in a 1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper from Timisoara Nord to Bucharest Nord at the Romanian domestic website bilete.cfrcalatori.ro and print your own ticket.

• Day 3, travel from Bucharest to Sofia by daytime train as shown on the train from Bucharest page.  You leave Bucharest Nord at 10:55 and arrive Sofia Central at 20:10 after a pleasant day meandering across the Danube and through the river valleys of Bulgaria.  In summer it's direct, in winter you have to switch trains at Ruse.  There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink.

  The fare is around €34.

  Book this at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en.  You print your own ticket.

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Warsaw from €37.90...

Option 1, Cologne to Warsaw in a single day from €37.90 - the leisurely daytime option...

• Step 1, travel from Cologne Hbf to Berlin Hbf by high-speed ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Step 2, travel from Berlin Hbf to Warsaw Centralna by comfortable Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity train with restaurant car.

• For example:

  Leave Cologne Hbf 08:48, change Berlin Hbf, arriving Warsaw Centralna at 19:35.

  Leave Cologne Hbf 10:48, change Berlin Hbf, arriving Warsaw Centralna at 21:33.

  Leave Cologne Hbf 12:48, change Berlin Hbf, arriving Warsaw Centralna at 23:35.

• Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking to Poland normally opens 60 days ahead.

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

• Why not spend some time in Berlin between trains?  This breaks up the trip, there are left luggage lockers available and Berlin Hbf is just 10-15 min walk from the Reichstag & Brandenburg Gate, so even a couple of hours stopover is a worthwhile experience.  To build in a stopover using www.bahn.de simply click Stopover and enter Berlin Hbf plus the number of hours stopover you want - I have set up the special link for you with a 4-hour stopover added.

Option 2, Cologne to Warsaw with overnight stop in Berlin - time-effective & a chance to see Berlin...

• Day 1, travel from Cologne or Düsseldorf to Berlin on any afternoon or early evening high-speed ICE train.

  You can leave Cologne Hbf as late as 18:48 on most days, arriving Berlin Hbf around 23:04, but by all means take an earlier train and spend a pleasant evening in Berlin.  The high-speed ICE has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Stay overnight in Berlin.  The 3-star InterCity Hotel (my favourite) or Meininger Hotel are right next to Berlin Hbf, a 10-minute walk from the Reichstag or 15 minutes from the Brandenburg Gate, relatively inexpensive with good reviews.  The Steigenberger Hotel is more upmarket, also right next to the station with great reviews.  If you want to push the boat out, the famous & historic Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate.  If you're on a tight budget, the cheaper Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or see www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2, travel from Berlin to Warsaw on any Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity train you like.

  Daily except Sundays, the 05:43 from Berlin Hbf will get you to Warsaw Centralna at 11:42 with breakfast in the restaurant car.  Or have a leisurely breakfast at your hotel and take the daily 09:38 arriving 15:45.  Or take spend some time in Berlin and take a later train, the German capital is fascinating, see the timetable here...

• Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class all on one ticket.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de:  Enter Cologne or Dusseldorf to Warsaw, but click Stopover and enter Berlin Hbf and the number of hours stopover you want, say 10:00.  Adjust the departure time and the Berlin stopover duration to get the trains you want, with a little trial and error.  I have set up this link to Bahn.de for you with this included, just enter your own date of travel and the number of passengers.  Booking to Poland normally opens 60 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Step 1, Cologne or Düsseldorf to Berlin by ICE2 with power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  This is 2nd class.  Larger photo.

Restaurant car.  Larger photo.		Bar car.  Larger photo.

An ICE2 at Berlin Hbf...		1st class seats.  Larger photo.

Step 2, Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity train, seen here at Berlin Hbf...

1st class compartment...		2nd class.  Some seats are in compartments.

The restaurant car on a Berlin-Warsaw express.  You don't need to reserve a table, just go along and sit down.  A steward will take your order...  These photos courtesy of DiscoverbyRail.com.  Larger photo.

The bar...		Decent food, served on proper china...

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Wroclaw, Katowice & Krakow from €37.90...

Option 1, Cologne to Krakow by daytime trains a single day - Mondays-Saturdays only...

• Step 1, travel from Cologne to Berlin by ICE train with restaurant car & free WiFi, leaving Cologne Hbf at 04:26 & arriving Berlin Hbf 09:10.

  You've now time for breakfast in Berlin, and perhaps a wander to the Reichstag & Brandenburg Gate, 15 minutes walk from the station.

  Note that a later 06:17 departure is possible from Cologne every day of the week with a 27-minute connection in Berlin, but a 25+ minute delay would mean missing the once-a-day train to Krakow.  So I recommend sticking with the earlier train, running Mondays-Saturdays only, in spite of the early start!  However, with a through ticket you are entitled to later onward travel at no charge if there's a delay and missed connection, so you could risk it if you liked.

• Step 2, travel from Berlin to Krakow by EuroCity train Wawel with leaving Berlin Hbf at 10:39 and arriving Wroclaw 14:52, Katowice 16:57 & Krakow Glowny at 17:52.  The Wawel is comfortable & air-conditioned with restaurant car, treat yourself to lunch and a beer or two.

• Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Tip:  Click Stopover, enter Berlin Hbf with a stopover duration of 45 minutes.  This gets you the robust connection in Berlin as recommended above.  Booking to Poland normally opens 60 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Step 1, Cologne or Düsseldorf to Berlin by ICE2 with power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  This is 2nd class.  Larger photo

Restaurant car.  Larger photo.		Bar car.  Larger photo.

An ICE2 at Berlin Hbf...		1st class seats.  Larger photo.

Step 2, Berlin to Krakow by EuroCity train Wawel.  This is the Wawel on platform 11 at Berlin Hbf.

2nd class.  Some seats are in compartments.		1st class on the Wawel.

The restaurant car on a Berlin-Warsaw express.  You don't need to reserve a table, just go along and sit down.  A steward will take your order...  These photos courtesy of DiscoverbyRail.com.  Larger photo.

The bar...		Decent food, served on proper china...

Option 2, Cologne to Krakow with overnight stop in Berlin - time-effective & a chance to see Berlin...

• Day 1, travel from Cologne or Düsseldorf to Berlin on any afternoon or early evening high-speed ICE train in 4h22.

  You can leave Cologne Hbf as late as 18:48 on most days, arriving Berlin Hbf around 23:04, but by all means take an earlier train and spend a pleasant evening in Berlin.  The high-speed ICE has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Stay overnight in Berlin.  The 3-star InterCity Hotel (my favourite) or Meininger Hotel are right next to Berlin Hbf, a 10-minute walk from the Reichstag or 15 minutes from the Brandenburg Gate, relatively inexpensive with good reviews.  The Steigenberger Hotel is more upmarket, also right next to the station with great reviews.  If you want to push the boat out, the famous & historic Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate.  If you're on a tight budget, the cheaper Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or see www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2, travel from Berlin to Krakow by EuroCity train Wawel, leaving Berlin Hbf at 10:39 every day, arriving Wroclaw 14:52, Katowice at 16:57 & Krakow Glowny at 17:52.  The Wawel is comfortable & air-conditioned with restaurant car, treat yourself to lunch and a beer or two.

• Fares from Cologne or Dusseldorf to Krakow start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead. 

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de:  Enter Cologne or Dusseldorf to Warsaw or Krakow, then to get the overnight stop  click Stopover and enter Berlin Hbf and the number of hours stopover you want, say 12:00.  Adjust the departure time and the Berlin stopover duration to get the trains you want, with a little trial and error.  I have set up this link to bahn.de for you, just enter your own date of travel and the number of passengers.  Booking to Poland normally opens 60 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

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Cologne or Dusseldorf to Vilnius. Riga, Tallinn...

Option 1, Cologne or Düsseldorf to Lithuania with overnight stop & morning free in Warsaw...

• Day 1, travel from Cologne or Dusseldorf to Warsaw by ICE & EuroCity train in a day as shown in the Cologne to Warsaw section above.

  Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €56.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking normally opens 60 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

• Stay overnight in Warsaw and spend the following morning there.  The Polonia Palace Hotel is excellent, historic, relatively inexpensive for such a good hotel, and it's just across the road from the station.  For something much cheaper, but still with great reviews and near the station, try the Hotel Metropol next door to the Polonia Palace or the nearby Novotel Warsaw Centrum.  Also see the Warsaw Centralna station & city information.

• Day 2, travel from Warsaw to Kaunas & Vilnius, leaving Warsaw at lunchtime, changing at Bialystok and arriving Kaunas in Lithuania in the evening, with connections to Vilnius, see the Warsaw to Vilnius page for details.  Warsaw-Vilnius costs around €24.

• Day 3, for onward travel from Vilnius to Riga, see here.

• Day 4, for onward travel from Riga to Tallinn, see here.

Option 2, Cologne or Düsseldorf to Lithuania with overnight stop in Berlin - faster, Sundays-Fridays only, with a very early start from Berlin...

• Day 1, travel from Cologne or Düsseldorf to Berlin on any afternoon or early evening high-speed ICE train.

  You can leave Cologne Hbf as late as 18:48 on most days, arriving Berlin Hbf around 23:04, but by all means take an earlier train and spend a pleasant evening in Berlin.  The high-speed ICE has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Stay overnight in Berlin.  The 3-star InterCity Hotel (my favourite) or Meininger Hotel are right next to Berlin Hbf, a 10-minute walk from the Reichstag or 15 minutes from the Brandenburg Gate, relatively inexpensive with good reviews.  The Steigenberger Hotel is more upmarket, also right next to the station with great reviews.  If you want to push the boat out, the famous & historic Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate.  If you're on a tight budget, the cheaper Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or see www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2, travel from Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity train leaving Berlin Hbf at 05:43 Mondays-Saturdays only arriving Warsaw Centralna at 11:42.

  The Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity train is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with trolley refreshment service and a restaurant car serving drinks, snacks and meals.  Treat yourself to a cooked breakfast the restaurant car.

  Cologne or Düsseldorf to Warsaw starts at €37.90 in 2nd class or €56.90 in 1st class.

  Buy tickets from Cologne or Düsseldorf to Warsaw at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  To get the overnight stop in Berlin, click Stopover, enter Berlin Hbf and a suitable stopover duration, say 10 hours.  Adjust departure time & stopover duration to get the trains you want either side of Berlin, a little trial & error may be required.

  Tip: You may be able to buy a through ticket from Cologne or Düsseldorf to Bialystok covering both the Cologne-Berlin-Warsaw & Warsaw-Bialystok trains for almost the same price as Cologne to Warsaw.  In which case, you just need to buy a Bialystok-Kaunas/Vilnius ticket at the station in Warsaw, or on board the train.

• Day 2, travel from Warsaw to Kaunas & Vilnius, leaving Warsaw at lunchtime, changing at Bialystok and arriving Kaunas in Lithuania in the evening, with connections to Vilnius, see the Warsaw to Vilnius page for details.  Warsaw-Vilnius costs around €24.

• Day 3, for onward travel from Vilnius to Riga in Latvia, see here.

• Day 4, for onward travel from Riga to Tallinn in Estonia, see here.

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Kiev & Ukraine...

Option 1, using the Warsaw-Kiev sleeper...

• Day 1, travel from Cologne or Düsseldorf to Berlin on any afternoon or early evening high-speed ICE train.

  You can leave Cologne Hbf as late as 18:48 on most days, arriving Berlin Hbf around 23:04, but by all means take an earlier train and spend a pleasant evening in Berlin.  The high-speed ICE has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Stay overnight in Berlin.  The 3-star InterCity Hotel (my favourite) or Meininger Hotel are right next to Berlin Hbf, a 10-minute walk from the Reichstag or 15 minutes from the Brandenburg Gate, relatively inexpensive with good reviews.  The Steigenberger Hotel is more upmarket, also right next to the station with great reviews.  If you want to push the boat out, the famous & historic Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate.  If you're on a tight budget, the cheaper Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or see www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2, travel from Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity train leaving Berlin Hbf at 09:38 every day and arriving Warsaw Centralna at 15:45. 

  Tip:  If you book the earlier 05:43 departure from Berlin on Mondays-Saturdays arriving Warsaw at 11:42 you have time to explore the city, see Warsaw Centralna station & city information.  Warsaw's historic old town is a 30 minute walk from Centralna station - if you fancy a modest splurge, the celebrated Ufukiera restaurant (www.ufukiera.pl) is excellent and right on the square in the heart of Warsaw's old town.  The Palace of Culture (a wedding cake style Soviet skyscraper and distinctive Warsaw landmark, www.pkin.pl) is right next to the station and has a viewing terrace on the 30th floor.

  Fares from Cologne or Dusseldorf to Warsaw start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book from Cologne or Dusseldorf to Warsaw at www.bahn.de.  Booking to Poland normally opens 60 days ahead.  To build in the overnight stop, click Stopover and enter Berlin Hbf and the number of hours stopover you want, say 12:00.  Adjust the departure time and the Berlin stopover duration to get the trains you want, with a little trial and error.  I have set up this link to bahn.de for you, just enter your own date of travel and the number of passengers.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

• Day 2, travel from Warsaw to Kiev on the Kiev Express, leaving Warsaw Wschodnia at 17:48 & arriving Kiev at 11:00 next morning.

  This train has comfortable Ukrainian 1, 2 & 3 bed sleepers with washbasin.  There's no restaurant car, so take a picnic and perhaps some wine or beer.

  The fare is around €46 in a 3-bed sleeper if you manage to book via the Ukrainian Railways website.  If you have to book via Polrail it costs around €57 including a bed in a 3-berth sleeper, €66 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €110 in a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.

  To buy tickets, first see if you can book online with Ukrainian Railways at booking.uz.gov.ua/en - but please, please, please read the important notes here which explain how to book this train using that website.  If that doesn't work for you, book with reliable Polish agency Polrail at booking.polrail.com.  Tickets can be collected in Warsaw or (at extra charge) shipped to any address worldwide.  Polrail are also pretty good at arranging the return reservation back from Kiev as they have close contacts with Ukrainian Railways.

• To book onward trains from Kiev to Odessa & other places in Ukraine, see the Ukraine page.

A Ukrainian sleeping-car on the Kiev Express at Warsaw Centralna.  Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com.

1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper...		Washbasin...		Kiev Express...

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Moscow, St Petersburg & Russia...

Option 1, using the daily Warsaw-Moscow sleeper train...

• Day 1, travel from Cologne or Düsseldorf to Berlin on any afternoon or early evening high-speed ICE train.

  You can leave Cologne Hbf as late as 18:48 on most days, arriving Berlin Hbf around 23:04, but by all means take an earlier train and spend a pleasant evening in Berlin.  The high-speed ICE has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Stay overnight in Berlin.  The 3-star InterCity Hotel (my favourite) or Meininger Hotel are right next to Berlin Hbf, a 10-minute walk from the Reichstag or 15 minutes from the Brandenburg Gate, relatively inexpensive with good reviews.  The Steigenberger Hotel is more upmarket, also right next to the station with great reviews.  If you want to push the boat out, the famous & historic Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate.  If you're on a tight budget, the cheaper Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or see www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2 morning, travel from Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity train leaving Berlin Hbf at 09:38 every day and arriving Warsaw Centralna at 15:45. 

  Tip:  If you book the earlier 05:43 departure from Berlin on Mondays-Saturdays arriving Warsaw at 11:42 you have time to explore the city, see Warsaw Centralna station & city information.  Warsaw's historic old town is a 30 minute walk from Centralna station - if you fancy a modest splurge, the celebrated Ufukiera restaurant (www.ufukiera.pl) is excellent and right on the square in the heart of Warsaw's old town.  The Palace of Culture (a wedding cake style Soviet skyscraper and distinctive Warsaw landmark, www.pkin.pl) is right next to the station and has a viewing terrace on the 30th floor.

Fares from Cologne or Dusseldorf to Warsaw start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book from Cologne or Dusseldorf to Warsaw at www.bahn.de.  Booking to Poland normally opens 60 days ahead.

To build in the overnight stop, click Stopover and enter Berlin Hbf and the number of hours stopover you want, say 12:00.  Adjust the departure time and the Berlin stopover duration to get the trains you want, with a little trial and error.  I have set up this link to bahn.de for you, just enter your own date of travel and the number of passengers.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

• Day 2 evening, travel from Warsaw to Moscow by Russian sleeper train, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 19:15 daily and arriving Moscow Belorussky at 16:58 next day (day 3 from Cologne).  You can check times at the Russian Railways website www.rzd.ru.

  This train is still suspended due to Covid-19...

  This train uses impressive Austrian-built sleeping-cars with 4-berth compartments built in 2014, see photos of this type of sleeper here & see panorama photo inside one of these modern sleepers.  Each compartment can be sold as 1st class 1-berth, 1st class 2-berth or 2nd class 4-berth.  The train consist of two or three sleeping-car which start their journey in Prague.  There's a bistro car in Poland and a Russian restaurant car is attached between Brest (on the Polish/Belarus border) & Moscow.

  You can book this train by contacting reliable Polish train ticketing agency www.polrail.com - their booking system is at booking.polrail.com.  Tickets can be collected in Warsaw or (at extra charge) shipped to any address worldwide.

Alternatively, you can book with Russian Railways at www.rzd.ru although it's a little quirky and may not accept some overseas credit cards.

Don't forget to arrange both your Russian visa & Belarus transit visa as the train runs via Belarus.

IMPORTANT:  See the update about travel to Russia through Belarus.

• For St Petersburg it's best to travel via Moscow.  Moscow to St Petersburg takes as little as 3h50 by daytime Sapsan trains, or can be done an a number of traditional overnight sleepers.  See the train travel in Russia page to buy tickets within Russia.

The train from Warsaw to Moscow uses Russian air-conditioned sleeping-cars, pictured below, with compartments which can be used as 1st class 2-berth or 2nd class 4-berth (shown below right), with a shower & toilets at the end of the corridor.  See panorama photo inside one of the new Russian sleepers.

 

Option 2, using the new Berlin-Moscow Strizh (Swift) Talgo sleeper train, twice a week...

• Step 1, travel from Cologne to Berlin by ICE train, for example, leaving Cologne Hbf at 13:48 arriving Berlin Hbf at 18:10.

  By all means book an earlier train for more time in Berlin.  ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Fares start at €18.90 in 2nd class or €49.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or smartphone.

• Step 2, travel from Berlin to Moscow by direct Russian sleeper train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 20:08 on Mondays & Saturdays, arriving at Moscow Belorussky station at 21:24 next day.

  This train is still suspended due to Covid-19...

  This train is an articulated Spanish-built Talgo train branded Strizh (Russian for swift) which started running in 2016.  It has ordinary seats, 2nd class 4-berth sleepers, 1st class 1 or 2 berth sleepers with washbasin and deluxe 1 or 2 berth sleepers with en suite shower & toilet.  There's a restaurant & bistro car.  See photo of 2-berth sleeper on this train.

  Russian track gauge is 5', but most of Europe (including the UK) is 4' 8½", so at Brest on the Belarus frontier the Talgo train runs through a special gauge-changing shed and the axles automatically adjust to the new gauge.  Once in Russia, the scenery is rolling hills, birch tree forests, and villages of small wooden houses.  Approaching Moscow, you may glimpse the plaques on the station building marked '1812' and '1942' as the train passes through the small station of historic Borodino...

  You can book the Berlin-Moscow train at the Russian Railways website www.rzd.ru and print your own ticket, it's a little fiddly but usually works, or you can easily buy it online with English language after-sales service if you need it, using the Real Russia online system here.

  Don't forget to arrange both your Russian visa and Belarus transit visa as the train runs via Belarus.  See my important update about travel to Russia through Belarus.

The Strizh sleeper train from Berlin to Moscow.  It's a Spanish-built articulated Talgo train - note the relatively small size of each car, with just one axle between each pair of cars.  Photos courtesy of Jaap van Ginkel.

Standard 2-berth sleeper with washbasin, in night-time & daytime modes...				Complimentary toiletry pack...

Option 4, via Kiev avoiding Belarus and any issues crossing Belarus to reach Moscow...

• Day 1, travel from Cologne or Düsseldorf to Berlin on any afternoon or early evening high-speed ICE train.

  You can leave Cologne Hbf as late as 18:48 on most days, arriving Berlin Hbf around 23:04, but by all means take an earlier train and spend a pleasant evening in Berlin.  The high-speed ICE has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Stay overnight in Berlin.  The 3-star InterCity Hotel (my favourite) or Meininger Hotel are right next to Berlin Hbf, a 10-minute walk from the Reichstag or 15 minutes from the Brandenburg Gate, relatively inexpensive with good reviews.  The Steigenberger Hotel is more upmarket, also right next to the station with great reviews.  If you want to push the boat out, the famous & historic Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate.  If you're on a tight budget, the cheaper Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or see www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2 morning, travel from Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity train leaving Berlin Hbf at 09:38 every day and arriving Warsaw Centralna at 15:45. 

  Tip:  If you book the earlier 05:43 departure from Berlin on Mondays-Saturdays arriving Warsaw at 11:42 you'll have time to explore the city, see Warsaw Centralna station & city information.  Warsaw's historic old town is a 30 minute walk from Centralna station - if you fancy a modest splurge, the celebrated Ufukiera restaurant (www.ufukiera.pl) is excellent and right on the square in the heart of Warsaw's old town.  The Palace of Culture (a wedding cake style Soviet skyscraper and distinctive Warsaw landmark, www.pkin.pl) is right next to the station and has a viewing terrace on the 30th floor.

  Fares from Cologne or Dusseldorf to Warsaw start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book from Cologne or Dusseldorf to Warsaw at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking to Poland normally opens 60 days ahead.  To build in the overnight stop in Berlin, click Stopover and enter Berlin Hbf and the number of hours stopover you want, say 12:00.  Adjust the departure time and the Berlin stopover duration to get the trains you want, with a little trial and error.  I have set up this link to bahn.de for you, just enter your own date of travel and the number of passengers.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

• Day 2 evening, travel from Warsaw to Kiev on the Kiev Express, leaving Warsaw Wschodnia at 17:48 & arriving Kiev at 11:00 next morning.

  This train has comfortable Ukrainian 1, 2 & 3 bed sleepers with washbasin.  There's no restaurant car, so take a picnic and some wine or beer.

  The fare is around €46 in a 3-bed sleeper if you manage to book via the Ukrainian Railways website.  If you have to book via Polrail it costs around €57 including a bed in a 3-berth sleeper, €66 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €110 in a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.

  To buy tickets, first see if you can book online with Ukrainian Railways at booking.uz.gov.ua/en - but please, please, please read the important notes here which explain how to book this train using that website.  If that doesn't work for you, book with reliable Polish agency Polrail at booking.polrail.com.  Tickets can be collected in Warsaw or (at extra charge) shipped to any address worldwide.  Polrail are also pretty good at arranging the return reservation back from Kiev as they have close contacts with Ukrainian Railways.

• Day 3, take an overnight sleeper train from Kiev to Moscow.  There are several night trains and times vary by date, but there's usually one leaving Kiev at 19:36 and arriving in Moscow Kievskaya station next morning at 10:13 (day 4 from Cologne).  2-berth & 4-berth sleepers are available.  No problems have been reported by westerners travelling from Kiev to Moscow on these trains.

  These trains may be affected by Covid-19 restrictions.

  Book Warsaw-Kiev and Kiev-Moscow, contact reliable Polish ticketing agency www.polrail.com.  Tickets are collected in Warsaw.

  Alternatively, you can book Warsaw to Kiev then Kiev to Moscow at the Ukrainian Railways website booking.uz.gov.ua/en, although there are only very few berths from Warsaw to Kiev made available online, see the explanation & instructions on the London to Kiev page.  For the Kiev to Moscow booking you should book from Kyiv to Moskva Kievskaya.  You collect the Kiev-Moscow tickets at the station in Kiev.  Feedback appreciated!

• You'll still need a Russian visa, but you don't go through Belarus if you go this way.

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Cologne & Düsseldorf to Athens, Corfu & Greece...

Option 1, Cologne to Athens by train & ferry via Italy - the leisurely option with an Adriatic cruise thrown in...

• The best and most comfortable option is to pick up a ferry in Bari.  The whole scenic and relaxing journey from Cologne to Athens will take around 2 nights & 3 days, depending how the connections work out on your particular date.

• Day 1, travel from Cologne to Milan in a single day as shown above, using option 2 via Basel.  Stay overnight in Milan.

• Day 2, take the 07:35 Frecciabianca train from Milan Centrale to Bari Centrale.

• Day 2, then sail across the Adriatic from Bari to Corfu, Igoumenitsa or Patras in Greece aboard a luxurious cruise ferry booked at www.superfast.com.  She normally sails daily except Sundays at 19:30 arriving 13:00 next day (day 3).

• Day 3, Patras is a few hours bus ride from Athens.  If you hunt for it, there's a bus/train combined timetable from Patras to Athens on www.trainose.gr but it's pretty hard to find.

• The Milan to Athens part of this journey is explained in detail on the London to Greece page, just disregard the London to Milan part of the recommended journey!

2 or 4-berth cabin with private toilet & shower.		Relaxing on deck...

At sea, passing Cephalonia & Ithaca.  This is what travel to Greece should be like!

Option 2, Cologne to Athens overland by train via Munich & Belgrade - a rail adventure across the Balkans...

• You can also travel overland by train from Cologne to Athens via Belgrade & Thessaloniki.  It'll take 3 nights, with all the adventure of an epic train ride through the Balkans.

• Travel from Cologne to Munich in 4h31 by daytime ICE train from €29.90 booked at www.bahn.de.

• Pick up the London-Munich-Belgrade-Thessaloniki-Athens route in Munich, explained in detail on the London to Greece page.

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Cologne & Düsseldorf to Istanbul & Turkey...

• Travel to Munich by ICE train from €29.90 or to Vienna using the Cologne to Vienna Nightjet sleeper train from €59 with couchette.

• Then pick up the London-Istanbul route explained in detail on the London to Turkey page.  I suggest using an Interrail pass for this journey.

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Hotels in Cologne & other cities

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.

Suggested hotels near the station in Cologne...

• Hotels near to Cologne Hauptbahnhof with good reviews include the Breslauer Hof Am Dom, Hotel Domspitzen, CityClass Hotel Europa am Dom, Hilton Cologne, Excelsior Hotel Ernst am Dom.

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 most cities at rock-bottom prices.

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Travel insurance & VPN

Always take out travel insurance...

Never travel overseas without travel insurance from a reliable insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover.  It should also cover cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible limit.  An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy myself.  Here are some suggested insurers.  Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.

In the UK, reliable insurers include Columbus Direct.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over 65, see www.JustTravelCover.com - 10% discount with code seat61.

You can use Confused.com to compare prices & policies from many different insurers.

  If you live in the USA try Travel Guard USA.

A Curve card saves on foreign transaction fees...

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then charge you a currency conversion fee.  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 at time of writing.  The balance goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.

How it works:  1. Download the app for iPhone or Android.  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to most European addresses including the UK.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, just like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance onto whichever of your debit or credit cards you choose.  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 - I get some commission if you sign up to Curve, but I'm recommending it here because it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card - they'll give you £5 cashback through that link, too.

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 means your connection to the internet is encrypted & always secure, even using unsecured WiFi.  In countries such as China where access to Twitter & Facebook is restricted, a VPN gets around these restrictions.  And lastly, you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geographic restrictions which some websites apply - for example one booking site charges a booking fee to non-European visitors but none to European visitors, so if you're not located in Europe you can avoid this fee by browsing with a UK IP address using a VPN.  VPNs & why you need one explained.  ExpressVPN is a best buy and I use it 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, and I get a small commission to help support this site.

 

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