A German ICE train.  More about ICEs.

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       Click here for journeys starting in another city

       Click here for Cologne Hbf station information

1st class passengers can use the 1st class DB lounges at Cologne & Düsseldorf

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.  Train information is current for 2019.

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 4h21 from €29.90

  Cologne to Munich every hour in 4h28 from €29.90

  Cologne to Frankfurt every hour or better in 1h15 from €19.90

  Cologne to Hamburg every hour in 4h01 from €19.90

• 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 for €19, €29, €39 etc. for long-distance journeys if you pre-book a specific train, so buy in advance if you want to save money.  Booking usually opens 92 days ahead, though bookings for dates after the mid-December timetable change don't usually 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, and the Nightjet sleeper train from Dusseldorf & Cologne to Munich.  A seat reservation is usually optional, for a small extra charge.  You just print your own ticket or can simply show the ticket on your smartphone or laptop screen.  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 (formerly HKX) is now competing with DB between Cologne, Dusseldorf, Osnabruck &and Hamburg, 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 Add intermediate stops 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.

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to London from €59.90, www.b-europe.com...

• See the London to Germany page for train times & information.

• There are two options, Thalys from Cologne to Brussels then Eurostar to London, or the German-run ICE from Cologne to Brussels then Eurostar to London. 

  The Belgian Railways website www.b-europe.com is the best one to use as it can book both options, will also book through tickets starting in Dusseldorf, and issues print-at-home tickets.

  The German Railways website www.bahn.de can sell Sparpreis London tickets from Cologne to London from €59.90 in 2nd class or €109.90 in 1st class, but only on their own ICE trains between Cologne & Brussels, and only using a small quota on Eurostar which sometimes runs out.  You print out your own ticket.

  The Eurostar website www.eurostar.com can sell special cheap through fares between Cologne & London, which only it can sell, so worth checking.  These commit you to a specific Brussels-London Eurostar, but provide an open add-on ticket for any DB ICE you like between Cologne & Brussels in the 24 hours before departure from Brussels.

• Alternatively, you can of course book each train separately, booking the Eurostar at www.eurostar.com from £39, then booking the Cologne to Brussels train at either www.bahn.de from €19 if it's an ICE, or at www.b-europe.com if it's a Thalys.  If you split the booking in this way, remember to allow for the 30-minute check-in for Eurostar in Brussels.

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Paris from €35, www.b-europe.com...

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

• From December 2017, Thalys trains have 3 classes: Standard (2nd class), Comfort (1st class) & Premium (1st class with at-seat food & drink included in the fare and access to Thalys lounges in Paris & Brussels).  Thalys trains have a cafe-bar, free WiFi and power sockets at all seats in all classes.  See the Thalys page for more information.

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

• Fares work like air fares, so book ahead for the cheapest prices.  Booking usually opens 120 days ahead.  Thalys tickets always include a seat reservation on a specific train.

• You can book at www.b-europe.com & print your own ticket.  www.b-europe.com can also book through tickets from Dusseldorf to Paris, usually with a change in Cologne, but Thalys now run several Dusseldorf-Paris direct trains every day.

• You can also book at www.thalys.com, of course, but from Dusseldorf this will only show the direct trains as it can't book journeys involving a connecting train.

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

Option 1, changing in Paris...

• Take a high-speed Thalys train from Cologne Hbf to Paris Gare du Nord in just 3h25 from €35 in 2nd class (standard) or €79 in 1st class (comfort).  Thalys trains have 3 classes, a cafe-bar, free WiFi & power sockets at all seats, see the Thalys guide.

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

  Then take a high-speed TGV Duplex from Paris Gare de Lyon to Nice in 5h36 from €25, or Paris to Lyon in 2h from €20, or Paris to Marseille in 3h30 from €25, or Paris to any other French destination.

• First book from Cologne to Paris at www.b-europe.com, then book from Paris to any destination in France at either www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu.  You print your own ticket, all these sites happily accept credit cards from all countries.

• Alternatively, you can book from Cologne to anywhere in France as one easy booking using www.loco2.com.  This accepts all international credit cards and usually gives print-at-home tickets so can be used by anyone from any country. 

  Tip:  You can use the More options feature to specify 1 hour between trains in Paris, or to create a longer stopover in Paris if you like - 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?

Option 2, changing in Brussels & by-passing Paris...

• You can avoid having to cross Paris by taking a Thalys or ICE 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 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.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu and book from Brussels Midi to your chosen French destination, looking carefully for a direct train from Brussels by-passing Paris

  If you use www.loco2.com it can help to click More options and enter Lille Europe to force it to find the direct Paris-avoiding trains via Lille. 

  Using www.trainline.eu you can click via and enter Lille.

  Now add a connecting Thalys or ICE train from Cologne Hbf to Brussels Midi using www.b-europe.com, allowing (I'd say) at least 30-45 minutes in Brussels.

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Cologne or Dusseldorf to Brussels, Bruges, Ghent or Antwerp from €19...

• A high-speed Thalys or ICE train links Cologne Hbf with Brussels Midi every hour or two in 1h50 from €19 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class.

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

• The best place to buy tickets is www.b-europe.com (Belgian Railways) because this can book tickets from Cologne or Dusseldorf to Brussels, Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp or anywhere else in Belgium via both Thalys & ICE.  You can print your ticket on A4 paper (US Letter size is fine) or after booking you can download the SNCB Europe app and load the e-ticket into it to show on your smartphone.

• 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, not journeys involving Thalys.  You print your own ticket or can simply show it on your smartphone or laptop screen.

• Meanwhile, www.thalys.com can book from Cologne (or on their handful of daily direct trains only, from Dusseldorf) to Brussels or any Belgian station, but only on their own Thalys trains, not ICE.  So www.b-europe.com is the best site to use!

• Travel tip:  Tickets from Germany to Bruges or any other Belgian station beyond Brussels are valid on any Belgian domestic train leaving Brussels that day, no reservation required, even if they are for a specific Thalys or 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 Thalys or 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 will be another leaving in half an hour's time.  So no worries.  In fact, how about lunch in Brussels' Grande Place between trains?

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Amsterdam from €19.90...

• Superb direct ICE trains link Cologne Hbf & Dusseldorf with Amsterdam Centraal roughly every two hours.

• Cologne-Amsterdam takes just 2h47, with fares from €19.90 in 2nd class or €49.90 in 1st class.

• These trains also call at Arnhem (for the Airborne Museum) & Utrecht.

• Check times & buy tickets from any station in Germany to Amsterdam or any station in the Netherlands at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  You print your own ticket or you simply show it on your smartphone or laptop screen.  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.

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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 €19.90 in 2nd class or €49.90 in 1st class.

• Check times & buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, you print your own ticket.

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

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

Option 1, by daytime trains...

• Superb German ICE trains link Cologne Hbf with Basel SBB every two hours in 3h52, some going direct to Zurich in 5h05.

• Change in Basel or Zurich for onward Swiss trains to destinations all over Switzerland.

• The German Railways website www.bahn.de can book tickets from Cologne to almost anywhere in Switzerland from €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  You print your own ticket or can simply show it on your smartphone or laptop screen.

  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!

• Top tip, take the scenic route!   See the Rails Down the Rhine page for more information, photos & video.

  The fast ICE trains use the Cologne-Frankfurt high-speed line.  If you don't mind taking an extra 45 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.  There's an 08:53 from Cologne direct to Basel, Bern & Interlaken, and a 10:53 direct from Cologne to Basel & Zurich.  Well worth the extra time!  Make sure you sit on the left hand side of the train for the best river views.

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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 Cologne or Düsseldorf to Munich by superb ICE train leaving Cologne Hbf around 17:55 and arriving at Munich Hbf around 22:26.  ICE trains have a bistro-restaurant, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the ICE information page.

  Fares from €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.

  I suggest taking an earlier ICE  and have dinner in Munich - for local Bavarian food and a beer or two try www.augustinerkeller.de at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf.

• Step 2, travel by Nightjet sleeper train leaving Munich Hbf at 23:20 and arriving Venice Santa Lucia at 08:24.

  Fares start at €59 with a couchette in 6-berth, €69 with a couchette in 4-berth, €99 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139 in a single-bed sleeper.  Deluxe sleepers with shower & toilet are also available.  The sleeper & couchette fare includes a light breakfast served in your compartment, see the Nightjet information page.

• You can book from Cologne to Venice as one transaction at www.bahn.de, you print your own ticket.  Booking normally opens 92 days in advance, sometimes now up to 180 days.  To have longer between trains in Munich, simply (a) adjust the departure time, and (b) click Add intermediate stops, enter Munich with a stopover duration of say 2 or 3 hours.

  Alternatively, you can simply book Cologne to Munich at www.bahn.de then book the Munich-Venice Nightjet train at www.trainline.eu, also with print-at-home tickets.

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

• Step 1, take the excellent Austrian Nightjet sleeper train leaving Düsseldorf at 20:54 or Cologne Hbf at 21:21 and arriving Innsbruck at 09:14. 

  Fares start at €59 with a couchette in 6-berth, €69 with a couchette in 4-berth, €99 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139 in a single-bed sleeper.  Deluxe sleepers with shower & toilet also available.  The sleeper & couchette fare includes a light breakfast.

  Book this train at www.bahn.de, booking normally opens 92 days in advance, sometimes now up to 180 days, and you simply print your own ticket.  You can also book this train www.trainline.eu, also with print-at-home tickets, and as this links to the Austrian ticketing system it can sometimes be cheaper, so worth checking.

• Step 2, take a comfortable Austrian EuroCity train through the scenic Brenner Pass to Verona & Italy, leaving Innsbruck at 11:24 and arriving Verona Porta Nuova at 14:58 & Bologna at 16:20.  A restaurant car is available for lunch.  Change at Verona for Venice.  See the Brenner Pass scenery video here.

  If you'd like a morning in Innsbruck, a later train leaves at 13:24 running via Verona direct to Venice, arriving 18:10.

  Incidentally, I wouldn't book the 09:24 from Innsbruck to Verona, as the connection with the sleeper is too tight.

  Fares for this train start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.

  You can check times & prices from Innsbruck to anywhere in Italy at www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu.

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.  You can leave Cologne Hbf as late as 17:55 arriving Munich Hbf at 22:26, but by all means take an earlier train for a pleasant evening in Munich.

• 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 try www.augustinerkeller.de at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf.

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Venice by Austrian EuroCity train thorough the Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass scenery video here.  It leaves Munich Hbf at 11:34 and arrives at Venice Santa Lucia on the banks of the Grand Canal at 18:10.  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 13:56.  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 16:40.

• Fares from Cologne or Düsseldorf to Venice start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class, depending how early you book and how popular that train, day or date is.

• To buy tickets, book from Cologne to Venice at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, but click Add intermediate stops and enter Munich in the via box and (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 Munich stopover duration as necessary to get the timings you want either side of Munich.

  You print your own ticket or can simply show it on your smartphone or laptop screen.

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, via the Austrian Nightjet sleeper train from Munich to Milan, Bologna, Florence & Rome - the most time-effective option...

• Step 1, travel from Cologne or Düsseldorf to Munich by superb ICE train from €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class, leaving Cologne Hbf around 13:55 and arriving at Munich Hbf around 18:27.   Book this train at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.

  You've time for dinner in Munich, for local Bavarian food & a beer or two try www.augustinerkeller.de at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf.  By all means book an earlier train to have more time in Munich.

• Step 2, travel by Nightjet sleeper train leaving Munich Hbf at 20:10 & arriving Florence SMN at 06:19 & Rome Termini at 09:22.  A portion for Milan arrives Milan Centrale at 09:12.

  Fares start at €59 with a couchette in 6-berth, €69 with a couchette in 4-berth, €99 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139 in a single-bed sleeper.  Deluxe sleepers with shower & toilet are also available.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.

  Book this at www.bahn.de, you simply print your own ticket.  You can also book this train at www.trainline.eu, also with print-your-own tickets, and as this links to the Austrian ticketing system it can sometimes be cheaper - it's worth checking both sites.

• If you're heading to Naples or anywhere south of Rome, buy a ticket from Rome to your Italian destination at www.trainline.eu (easy to use, no booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easiest to use, they'll refund the small booking fee if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or the Italian Railways website www.trenitalia.com (requires Italian place names, see advice here).

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

• Step 1, take the excellent Austrian Nightjet sleeper train leaving Düsseldorf at 20:54 or Cologne Hbf at 21:21 and arriving Innsbruck at 09:14. 

  Fares start at €59 with a couchette in 6-berth, €69 with couchette in 4-berth, €99 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139 in a single-bed sleeper.  Deluxe sleepers with shower & toilet also available.  The sleeper & couchette fare includes a light breakfast.

  Book this train at www.bahn.de, booking normally opens up to 180 days ahead and you simply print your own ticket.  You can also book this train at www.trainline.eu, also with print-your-own tickets.  As this links to the Austrian system it can sometimes be cheaper, so it's worth checking both sites.

• Step 2, travel from Innsbruck to Verona & Italy by comfortable Austrian EuroCity train through the scenic Brenner Pass, leaving Innsbruck at 11:24 and arriving Verona Porta Nuova at 14:58 & Bologna at 16:20.  A restaurant car is available for lunch.  Change at Bologna for a high-speed Frecciarossa train to Florence, Rome or Naples.  See the Brenner Pass scenery video here.  Incidentally, I wouldn't book the 09:24 from Innsbruck to Verona, as the connection with the sleeper is far too tight.

  Fares from Innsbruck Verona or Bologna (or, on the direct train, Venice) start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.

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

  The easy way to book from Innsbruck to Florence, Rome, Naples or anywhere in Italy is to use www.trainline.eu or www.loco2.com as this connects to both the German 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.

  Important tip:  Before running an enquiry at www.loco2.com, you must click More options and enter either Bologna Centrale (if going to Florence, Rome or Naples on the 11:24) or Verona (any station) (if going to Venice on the 11:24) as a via station with a stopover duration of 45 minutes.  This ensures a robust connection and it ensure Loco2 correctly splits the booking at Bologna or Verona.

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

• Step 1, take a fast & comfortable ICE train from Cologne Hbf to Basel SBB in 3h52, from €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

• Step 2, take an ETR610 EuroCity train through the Swiss Alps from Basel SBB to Milan's magnificent Centrale station in 4h06 from €29 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class.

• Step 3, take a high-speed Frecciarossa train from Milan to Florence in 1h39 from €19.90, to Rome or Naples from €29.90, or to Venice in 2h35 from €19.90.

• If you leave Cologne at 06:55 you can pick up the 12:31 from Basel, reaching Milan late afternoon and getting you to Florence, Rome or Naples by early or mid evening.  If you leave Cologne around 12:55 you can pick up the 17:31 from Basel to Milan.  It's a lovely ride across Switzerland through the Alps!

• How to buy tickets...

  First book the 06:55 or 12:55 ICE trains from Cologne to Basel SBB using www.bahn.de or www.loco2.com.  You print your own ticket or can simply show it on your smartphone or laptop screen.

  Then book a ticket from Basel SBB to Milan, Florence, Rome or Naples leaving at either www.loco2.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $) or www.trenitalia.com (requires Italian place names, in €, see advice on using it).  Whichever site you use 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 around 4h31 on any ICE train you like.  You can leave Cologne Hbf as late as 17:55 arriving Munich Hbf at 22:26.

• 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 try www.augustinerkeller.de at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf.

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Verona by Austrian EuroCity train thorough the Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass scenery video here.  Trains leave Munich Hbf every 2 hours or so at 07:34, 09:34 or 11:34 taking a leisurely 5h24, and all have an elegant restaurant car so treat yourself to lunch with wine as the mountains roll by...

• Day 2, now take an onward Italian train to anywhere you like in Italy.  Verona to Florence takes just 2h35, Verona to Rome as little as 2h50 if you choose a direct train.

• Cologne to Verona starts at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Verona to Florence starts at €19.90, Verona to Rome at €29.90, but sometimes you'll find you buy through tickets from Cologne to Florence, Rome or Naples from €39.90.

• To buy tickets, first book from Cologne to Verona at the German railways website www.bahn.de, clicking Add intermediate stops and entering Munich in the via box and (say) 12:00 in the hh:mm stopover box.  Look carefully in the search results to find a journey that suits, adjusting the Munich stopover time as necessary.  I've set up that bahn link with the necessary parameters for you.

• In fact, it's worth seeing if www.bahn.de will show fares & sell through tickets to Florence, Rome or Naples, rather than just booking to Verona.  Often it will, and this will be cheaper than buying a separate onward ticket as below.

• If you don't see any through tickets at bahn.de, book Cologne to Verona as shown above then 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, no booking fee, 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.

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 train from Cologne to Zurich in as little as 4h47 from €39.

  You can leave Cologne Hbf as late as 16:55, but by all means leave earlier and have a pleasant evening in Zurich.

  Book this at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.

• Stay overnight in Zurich.  For something special, consider the wonderful Hotel Schweizerhof located right next to Zurich station.  One of my favourite hotels, they'll even send a uniformed commissionaire to meet you at the station and carry your bags across the road.  For something cheaper but also near the station with great reviews, try the Hotel du Théatre or Hotel St Gotthard.  If you're on a budget you can book inexpensive private rooms in a one-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station using www.hostelworld.com.  Alternatively, you could stop overnight in the pleasant town of Chur instead.

• Day 2, travel from Zurich to Chur early morning, then by the fabulous Bernina Express from Chur to Tirano and by afternoon connecting regional train to Milan Centrale.  You can reach Venice or Florence or Rome that evening.  See the Bernina Express page for full details of times, prices and how to buy tickets.

  If you follow my advice here you can book Zurich to Tirano in advance from just €29.90.  Tirano to Milan is €12 bought on the day at the station.

• Onward tickets from Milan Centrale to Florence, Rome, Naples or Venice can be booked at www.italiarail.com (in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.thello.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 Spain by high-speed train, in a single day...

• Step 1, take a direct high-speed Thalys train leaving Cologne Hbf around 08:44 & arriving Paris Gare du Nord around 12:05, from €35 in 2nd class (standard) or €79 in 1st class (comfort).  Thalys trains have 3 classes, a cafe-bar, free WiFi & power sockets at all seats, see the Thalys guide.

• 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 impressive 200mph double-deck TGV Duplex from €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 14:07 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 20:34.  It's a scenic and very comfortable journey, see here for the sights to see from the train on the way.

• Step 3, stay overnight in Barcelona (see suggested hotels near Barcelona Sants station) and book onward high-speed trains next morning from Barcelona to Madrid, Seville, Malaga, Alicante etc.  You'll find cheap Promo and Promo+ fares if you book in advance, to Madrid from around €35 and to Seville or Malaga from around €45.  You'll find a direct AVE-S112 high-speed train from Barcelona to Cordoba, Seville & Malaga leaving at 08:30 arriving at lunchtime, or why not explore Barcelona and take the 15:50 AVE S112 high-speed train to Cordoba, Seville & Malaga arriving in the evening?

• How to buy tickets...

  The easiest way to book from Cologne to Spain is using www.loco2.com as it can book tickets from Cologne to Barcelona all in one go as one easy transaction with print-at-home or collect-at-station tickets for both trains.  It also connects to Spanish Railways (Renfe) to sell cheap onward tickets within Spain.  You can choose to pay in either € or £, you can use it wherever you live as all overseas credit cards are accepted and there's no booking fee.

  Booking for Thalys & the TGV usually opens 120 days ahead, for the AVE 60-90 days ahead. 

  First book from Cologne to Barcelona.  In the search results, look for an option with just 1 change.

  If you want to stopover a few hours for lunch in Paris, click More options and enter Paris, with a duration of however many hours you want.  In fact, I'd click More options and enter Paris anyway, with zero duration, as it'll then show separate prices either side of Paris and 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 journey to your basket then book Barcelona to your chosen Spanish destination for the following day, add this to you basket and check out, paying for both tickets together.

  Travel tip: I recommend an upstairs seat on the TGV Duplex for the best views.  Loco2 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 at www.b-europe.com or www.thalys.com in euros with print-at-home tickets, then the Paris-Barcelona TGV at www.trainline.eu also in euros with print-at-home or collect-at-station tickets, then onward trains within Spain at www.renfe.com (see advice on using it here) or (if you have any problems at the payment stage) alternative sites www.loco2.com (in €, £ or $, no fee) or www.petrabax.com (in US$, with a small mark-up).

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

• Step 1, take a direct high-speed Thalys train leaving Cologne Hbf around 18:43 and arriving Paris Gare du Nord around 22:05, from €35 in 2nd class (standard) or €79 in 1st class (comfort).  Thalys trains have 3 classes, a cafe-bar, free WiFi & power sockets at all seats, see the Thalys guide.  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 200mph double-deck TGV Duplex from €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 10:07 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 16:34.  Click here for the sights to see from the train on the way.

  From early June to late August there's an earlier TGV if you like, leaving Paris at 07:15 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 13:34.  .

• Step 3, now take an onward high-speed train from Barcelona to Madrid, Valencia, Alicante and so on.  Same-day connections to Madrid, Valencia & Alicante are possible off both the 07:15 and 10:07 departures from Paris.  If you take the 07:15 from Paris (summer only) you can connect with a direct AVE-S112 high-speed train leaving Barcelona at 15:50 arriving Malaga, Cordoba & Seville in the evening.  If you take the 10:07 TGV from Paris (all year) a same-day connection to Cordoba, Malaga or Seville is not possible, so you'll need to stay the night then there's an 08:30 AVE-S112 high-speed train next morning.

• How to buy tickets:  The easiest way to buy tickets is using www.loco2.com, just as described for option 1 above, but in this case you'd obviously book Cologne to Paris on day 1, add to basket, then book Paris to Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga, Seville, Alicante etc on day 2, add to basket and check out, paying for everything as one transaction.

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

• Step 1, take an early morning high-speed Thalys train from Cologne Hbf to Paris Gare du Nord in 3h30.  Book this train at www.b-europe.com from €35.  Change stations in Paris.

• Step 2, leave Paris Gare Montparnasse at 12:52 by high-speed double-decker TGV Duplex for Hendaye on the Spanish border, arriving 17:31.  Fares start from €25.  A cafe-bar is available on board, there are power sockets at all seats and this train usually has free WiFi.

  Check times and buy tickets at www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu - both sites can be used by anyone from any country, no booking fee, and you print your own ticket.

• Step 3, take the overnight Sud Express trainhotel sleeper train leaving Hendaye at 18:35 and arriving Lisbon Oriente at 07:20 & Lisbon Santa Apolonia at 07:30 next morning.

  Fares start at €37 with bed in 4-bed sleeper, €132 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper, or €148 with a bed in a 2-bed gran clase sleeper with shower & toilet.  See photos & information about the Sud Express.

  Book this at www.loco2.com.  Booking for this train only opens 60 days ahead, sometimes less than this, although sometimes more, so give it a try but be aware that this is often the limiting factor.  If you have any trouble booking it from Hendaye to Lisbon, book it Irun to Lisbon instead.

• For Porto, book a connecting ticket from Lisbon Santa Apolonia to Porto Campanhã at the Portuguese Railways website www.cp.pt, which is the only site that can book Portuguese trains.  Alfa Pendular 125mph tilting trains or slightly slower InterCity trains leave regularly.

• For the Algarve, change at Lisbon Oriente for a train to Faro or Albufeira, book this at www.cp.pt.

• See the London to Portugal page for full details of the Paris-Lisbon journey with photos, simply disregard the London to Paris bit.  If necessary, travel from Cologne to Paris the night before and stop over in Paris.

On board the Sud Express from Hendaye to Lisbon:  See more photos & information...

The Sud Express, about to leave Irun on the Franco-Spanish frontier, bound for Lisbon...  Courtesy of Ron Baker.  See panorama photo...		Gran Clase sleeper, in evening mode with the seats folded out...		....return from the bar to find the attendant has made up the beds...		Gran Clase private toilet & shower...

The trainhotel's café-bar serves drinks & food.  Grab a barstool early, it gets crowded later on!		4-berth tourist class sleepers (Turista Cama) are cosy & inexpensive...  They convert from beds to seats as shown.  See panorama photo of 4-berth tourist class sleeper.

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Cologne or Dusseldorf to Andorra...

• It's easy to reach Andorra, by comfortable train across France to a little station not far from the Spanish border called l'Hospitalet.  A connecting bus then leaves from right outside the station to take you to the capital of the principality of Andorra.

• Step 1, take high-speed Thalys train from Cologne Hbf to Paris Gare du Nord in 3h20 from €35, booked at www.b-europe.com.

• Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi.

• Step 2, take the overnight Intercité de Nuit couchette train from Paris Gare d'Austerlitz to l'Hospitalet pres l'Andorre from €35 including a couchette, booked at www.trainline.eu.  Then take the connecting bus from the station to Andorra La Vella as described in detail on the London to Andorra page - just disregard the London-Paris part.  A daytime TGV option may also be available, as shown on that page.

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

Option 1, by comfortable daytime trains...

• For Vienna & Linz:  Top-quality ICE trains with restaurant car link Düsseldorf & Cologne with Linz & Vienna twice a day, leaving Cologne Hbf at 05:53 (arriving Vienna Hbf 14:45) & 09:53 (arriving Vienna Hbf 18:45), 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 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 Lorelei Rock of legend.  The river scenery will be on the left hand side.  See the Rhine Valley scenery video here.

  Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

• For Salzburg, Bischofshofen, St Johann, Klagenfurt:  A direct EuroCity train with bistro-restaurant links Düsseldorf & Cologne with Salzburg, Bischofshofen, St Johan & Klagenfurt every day, leaving Cologne Hbf at 08:18 and arriving Salzburg around 15:59, with fares from €39.

  This train also takes the scenic Rhine Valley route south of 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's a daily direct EuroCity train leaving Cologne at 09:18 to St Anton & Innsbruck, arriving Innsbruck around 19:05.

  This train also takes the scenic Rhine Valley route south of Koblenz.  Make sure you sit on the left hand side of the train as the river boats, castles, vineyards and legendary Lorelei Rock pass by.

• 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 simply show it on your smartphone or laptop screen

  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...

• For Vienna & Innsbruck:  Take the Austrian Nightjet sleeper train from Dusseldorf & Cologne to Linz & Vienna with another portion direct to Innsbruck, leaving Dusseldorf at 20:54 & Cologne Hbf at 21:21 and arriving at Vienna Hbf at 08:27 or Innsbruck at 09:14.

  Prices from €59 with a couchette in 6-berth, €69 with a couchette in 4-berth, €99 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139 in a single-bed sleeper.  Deluxe sleepers with shower & toilet are also available.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.

  You can buy tickets for this train at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  You print your own ticket.  You can also buy tickets at www.trainline.eu also with print-at-home tickets, and as this links to the Austrian ticketing system fares can sometimes be cheaper - it's worth checking both sites.

• For Salzburg:  Take the Austrian Nightjet sleeper train from Dusseldorf or Cologne to Wels leaving Cologne at 21:21 and arriving Wels at 06:17, and change there for Salzburg arriving around 07:48.  Book from Cologne or Dusseldorf to Salzburg as one journey at www.bahn.de and look for a late night departure with 1 change marked NJ,RJ.

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

• You can travel from Cologne to Copenhagen in a single day (9h10) with 1 easy change in Hamburg from €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class booked online at German Railways www.bahn.de.  You print your own ticket.  For example:

  -  Cologne Hbf depart 08:09, change Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen at 18:26.

  -  Cologne Hbf depart 12:09, change Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen at 22:26.

  Tip:  In the search results, look for options with 1 change, not 2 or 3. 

  Tip:  I recommend changing Duration of transfer from standard to At least 30 minutes, the times above include longer than standard transfer times.  This gives a far more robust connection in Hamburg.

• The journey involves a train ferry between Puttgarden & Rødby, where the EuroCity train is shunted onto a ship, one of the few places in Europe where this still happens.  It's an interesting experience in its own right - you must leave the train and go upstairs into the ship's passenger accommodation during the 50-minute crossing.  See photos, tips & information for the Hamburg to Copenhagen journey.

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

Sadly, the Cologne-Copenhagen City Night Line sleeper was discontinued in November 2014.  But here are the daytime options...

• Cologne to Copenhagen in a single day!  It's possible to travel from Cologne to Stockholm, Gothenburg or Malmo in a single day, by comfortable InterCity (IC) train to Hamburg, EuroCity (EC) train to Copenhagen via the fascinating Puttgarden-Rødby train ferry, then a smart 125mph X2000 high-speed train from Copenhagen to Stockholm or Öresund Link train to Malmo & Gothenburg.

• Go to www.bahn.de and book from Cologne to Malmo, Gothenburg or Stockholm as one through journey from €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  See what journey options it gives you.  Don't worry about any tight connections you see, 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.

• Or break up the journey with an 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 €39.90, like this:  Go to www.bahn.de and run the enquiry with 'Hamburg' in the 'via' box and perhaps 11:00 (11 hours) in the hh:mm stopover box.  Adjust the departure time and stopover period until you get trains which suit you on both legs.  Suggested hotels in Hamburg next to Hamburg Hbf with good reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski.

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Cologne & Düsseldorf to Oslo & Norway...

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

• See the details above.

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

• Day 1, travel from Cologne or Dusseldorf to Kiel on a very early morning train around 06:00 from €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

  Check times & buy tickets at the German Railways site www.bahn.de.  You print your own ticket.

• 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 online at the seat61 Ferry Shop or www.colorline.com.  You print your own ticket.

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Cologne & Düsseldorf to Helsinki & Finland...

• For Finland, you'll find ferries the best bet from Travemünde or Rostock in Germany to Helsinki, see www.finnlines.com.

• You can then easily add a train connection from Cologne to Travemünde or Rostock at www.bahn.de.  Make sure you allow 2-3 hours between train and ferry, allowing for any delay and for the ferry check-in.

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Prague from €39.90...

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

• Take a high-speed ICE train from Cologne Hbf to Berlin Hbf in 4h21, then a comfortable EuroCity train with restaurant car from Berlin Hbf to Prague Hlavni in 4h27.  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.

• The German Railways website www.bahn.de sells tickets from Cologne or Dusseldorf to Prague from just €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class if you pre-book.  However, there's a problem.  It tries to put you on the ugly railway-run motorway bus from Nuremberg or Munich to Prague, which of course you don't want.  To avoid having to travel by bus, click Add intermediate stops and put Dresden in the via box to find options by comfortable, civilised train throughout.  I've set up the links to www.bahn.de in this section with that via Dresden option already included.

  In the search results, look for journeys with 1 change in Berlin.  You print your own ticket or can simply show it on your smartphone or laptop screen.

• How about a few hours stopover in Berlin?   At www.bahn.de simply add another intermediate stop, this time at Berlin, entering a stopover duration, say 4 hours, and selecting an early morning departure time from Cologne.  It'll then give you a ticket from Cologne to Prague from €39 with a 4-5 hour stopover between trains.  Bargain!  Berlin Hbf is only a 10 minute walk from the Reichstag and a 15 minute walk from the Brandenburg Gate and the end of Unter den Linden.

• 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 4h21.  Trains leave every hour, you can usually leave Cologne as late as 18:48 arriving Berlin around 23:06, but by all means book an earlier train and have an evening in Berlin.

• Stay overnight in Berlin.  The 3-star Meininger Hotel is ideal as it's right next to Berlin Hbf and a 10-minute walk from the Reichstag or a 15-minute walk from the Brandenburg Gate, it's inexpensive and gets good reviews.  If you want to push the boat out, try the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is right next to the Brandenburg Gate, 15 min walk from the station.  More hotels in Berlin.  If you're on a tight budget, see www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2, travel from Berlin to Prague in just 4h27 on any train you like.  The 06:59 EuroCity train from Berlin Hbf will get you to Prague Hlavni at 11:26 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 a later train, they leave every two hours.

• Fares from Cologne to Prague start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class, even with the overnight stop included...

• To buy tickets, use www.bahn.de like this:  Set up the journey planner for Cologne or Dusseldorf to Prague, but click Add intermediate stops and enter Berlin Hbf and a stopover duration of (say) 8 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.

Option 3, the cheapest option via Nuremburg & Cheb - from just €21 - or €30 in 1st class!

• You don't get much control over the trains or route, it involves 3 changes, but it's true.  You can go from Cologne to Prague in relaxed comfort by train from as little as €21.

• The trick is to use the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz to book Cologne to Prague, but you must click More options then Travel via and enter Cheb in the via box.

• You'll see fares from as little as €21 (about 580 Czech Koruna) via a route with 3 changes at Frankfurt, Nuremberg & Cheb.  You print your own ticket.  Treat yourself to first class from €40, about 1076 Koruna.

• There's nothing cut-rate about the trains:  You take top-quality high-speed ICE trains from Cologne to Frankfurt & Frankfurt to Nuremberg with bistro-restaurant car, then a swish air-conditioned regional train from Nuremberg to Cheb and from Cheb to Prague.

• 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 from 11 December 2016.

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Bratislava from €39.90...

Option 1, by daytime train... 

• You can book daytime trains from Cologne or Dusseldorf to Bratislava (an all-day ride with 1 or 2 changes) from just €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class at German Railways www.bahn.de - you'll need to specify a departure around 07:30 to see these options.

Option 2, by sleeper train...

• Step 1, take the excellent Austrian Nightjet sleeper train leaving Dusseldorf at 20:54 or Cologne Hbf at 21:21 & arriving Vienna Hbf at 08:27 next morning.

  Fares start at €59 with a couchette in 6-berth, €69 with a couchette in 4-berth, €99 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €139 in a single-bed sleeper.  Deluxe sleepers with shower & toilet are also available.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.

  Book this train at www.bahn.de.  Booking normally opens 92 days ahead but may now open as far as 180 days ahead, and you print your own ticket.  You can also buy tickets at www.trainline.eu and as this connects to the Austrian ticketing system fares can sometimes be cheaper - it's worth checking both sites.

• Step 2, on arrival in Vienna simply catch the next hourly regional train from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna.  You can buy a ticket for this train at the station for around €10.50, no reservation is necessary of possible, just buy a ticket and hop on the next train.  You can check times & prices at www.trainline.eu.

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Budapest from €39.90...

Option 1, by sleeper train via Munich - the most time-effective option...

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

  Tip:  By all means take an earlier train and have an evening in Munich, they leave every hour.  In Munich, for local Bavarian food and a beer or two before boarding the sleeper try www.augustinerkeller.de at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf.

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Budapest overnight on the comfortable Hungarian sleeper Kalman Imre leaving Munich Hbf at 23:20 and arriving Budapest Keleti at 09:19, with 1, 2 & 3 bed sleepers with washbasin, and 4 & 6 berth couchettes.  Watch the Hungarian sleeping-car video.

• Fares for the whole Cologne to Budapest trip start at €49 with couchette or €79 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €139 in a single-bed sleeper.

• To buy tickets, go to the German Railways site www.bahn.de and book from Cologne to Budapest with departure time set to 17:00.  In the search results you'll find a journey leaving around 17:55 with 1 change, marked ICE, EN arriving Budapest at 09:19.  You print your own tickets.

  To allow longer in Munich for dinner or an evening wander, simply select an earlier departure time from Cologne, and click Add intermediate stops, enter Munich and a stopover duration of however many hours you want.

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

• The German railways website, www.bahn.de can book tickets from Cologne or Dusseldorf to Budapest by daytime trains from €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

  If you select an early departure from Cologne or Dusseldorf you'll see a number of possible daytime journeys taking from around 11h54 with just 1 or 2 changes of train.

  Booking opens up to 180 days ahead and in most cases you print your own ticket.  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.

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

• Step 1, travel from Dusseldorf or Cologne to Vienna overnight by excellent Austrian Nightjet sleeper train.  It leaves Dusseldorf at 20:54 & Cologne Hbf at 21:21 and arrives Vienna Hbf at 08:27.  Fares from €59 with couchette in 6-berth, €69 with couchette in 4-berth, €99 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper or €139 in a single-bed sleeper.  Deluxe sleepers with shower & toilet are also available.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. 

• Book this train at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.  You can also buy tickets at www.trainline.eu, this links to the Austrian ticketing system so can sometimes be cheaper.  It's worth checking both sites!

• Step 2, take a smart modern railjet train from Vienna to Budapest, leaving Vienna Hbf at 09:42 and arriving at Budapest Keleti at 12:19.  Fares start at €19 in 2nd class or €29 in 1st class.  Book this train at www.trainline.eu (easiest to use, overseas payment cards no problem) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices but more fiddly).  You print your own ticket.

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Bucharest from €99...

• Step 1, travel from Dusseldorf or Cologne to Vienna by excellent Nightjet sleeper train leaving Düsseldorf at 20:54 or Cologne Hbf at 21:21 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 08:27.  This has a comfortable sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, 1, 2 & 3 bed deluxe compartments with shower & toilet, and 4 & 6 berth couchettes. 

  Fares start at €59 with a couchette in 6-berth, €69 with a couchette in 4-berth, €99 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper, €139 in a single-bed sleeper.

  Book this train at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.  You can also book this train at www.trainline.eu and it's worth checking prices on both sites.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest by smart Austrian railjet train.  There's one from Vienna Hbf around 09:42 arriving Budapest Keleti at 12:19.  Enjoy an afternoon in Budapest.

  Fares start at €19 in 2nd class or €29 in 1st class.

  Book this train at www.trainline.eu (easiest) or www.oebb.at (same prices, a bit more fiddly) and print your own ticket.

• Step 3, travel from Budapest to Brasov & Bucharest overnight by EuroNight sleeper train Ister leaving Budapest at 19:10 and arriving Brasov at 09:30 & Bucharest Gara de Nord at 12:30 next day.  This comfortable train has 4 & 6 berth couchettes and a modern air-conditioned sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, also deluxe sleepers with 1 or 2 beds and shower/toilet. 

  Fares start at €39 with a couchette in 6-berth, €49 with couchette in 4-berth, or €69 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper.

  Book this train at the Hungarian railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, clicking EN for English top left.  You collect your tickets from the yellow ticket machines at Budapest Keleti station.

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Ljubljana & Zagreb from €39.90...

Option 1, by daytime train...

• If you leave Cologne around 06:20 you can travel from Cologne to Ljubljana or Zagreb in a single day from €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class by ICE train to Frankfurt then EuroCity train to Ljubljana & Zagreb - a chill-out day with some truly wonderful scenery through the mountains of Austria and along the River Sava between Ljubljana and Zagreb.

• To buy tickets, use German Railways website www.bahn.de to book from anywhere in Germany to Ljubljana or Zagreb.  Avoid anything in the search results marked bus as this is indeed just a bus, not a train.  The trains are usually marked ICE, IC or EC.  You simply print your own ticket.

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

• Day 1, travel from Cologne to Munich in 4h31 on any ICE train you like from €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.  You can leave Cologne Hbf as late as 17:55 arriving Munich Hbf around 22:26.  Book this at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.

• 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 try www.augustinerkeller.de at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf.

• Step 2, now leave Munich Hbf at 08:17 by air-conditioned Austrian railjet train, there's a quick and simple cross-platform change at Villach onto a waiting Slovenian and Croatian EuroCity train Sava, arriving Ljubljana around 14:35 and Zagreb around 17:10.  The scenery is wonderful through the mountains of Austria and along the River Sava from Ljubljana to Zagreb.  Book this at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.

  If you'd like a morning in Munich, there's a later 12:17 direct EuroCity train direct to Ljubljana and Zagreb, which can also be booked at www.bahn.de.

  Booking 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, overnight by time-effective sleeper train....

• Step 1, travel from Cologne to Munich by comfortable direct ICE train, leaving Cologne Hbf at 17:55 and arriving Munich Hbf around 22:26.  Buy a Cologne to Munich ticket from €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class at www.bahn.de, but make sure you allow at least 60 minutes to change in Munich in case of any delay.

  Travel tip:  By all means take an earlier train and have an evening in Munich, they leave every hour.  In Munich, for local Bavarian food and a beer or two before boarding the sleeper try www.augustinerkeller.de at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf.

• Step 2, take the comfortable Croatian sleeper train Lisinski which leaves Munich Hbf at 23:20 and arrives in Zagreb at 08:35 next morning.  It has a modern Croatian air-conditioned 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 with a couchette in 6-berth, €59 with a couchette in 4-berth, €89 in a 2-bed sleeper with washbasin or €129 in a single-bed sleeper with washbasin.

  Book this sleeper online at the German Railways website www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.  Alternatively, tickets can also be booked at www.trainline.eu, also with print-your-own tickets, and as this sources prices from the Austrian Railways system it can sometimes be cheaper.

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

Option 1, daytime train - sleeper - daytime train...

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

  Travel tip:  By all means take an earlier train and have an evening in Munich, they leave every hour.  In Munich, for local Bavarian food and a beer or two before boarding the sleeper try www.augustinerkeller.de at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf.

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Budapest overnight on the comfortable Hungarian sleeper Kalman Imre leaving Munich Hbf at 23:20 and arriving Budapest Keleti at 09:19, with 1, 2 & 3 bed sleepers with washbasin, and 4 & 6 berth couchettes.  Fares start at €39 with couchette or €69 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper.  Watch the Hungarian sleeping-car video.

• To buy tickets from Cologne or Dusseldorf to Budapest, go to www.bahn.de and book from Cologne to Budapest with departure time set to 17:00.  In the search results you'll find a journey leaving around 17:55 with 1 change, marked ICE, EN arriving Budapest at 09:19.  Tickets need to be sent to you, but will be sent to any address worldwide for a small fee.

  To allow longer in Munich for dinner or an evening wander, simple click Add intermediate stops, enter Munich and a stopover duration of however many hours you want.

• Step 3, now travel from Budapest to Belgrade by EuroCity train Avala, leaving Budapest Keleti station around 11:57 and arriving in Belgrade Centar station at 20:42.  The fare is just €15 - a permanently available unlimited special offer - if bought at Budapest station on the day or bought online at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice on how to use mavcsoport.hu & how you collect your tickets.

  IMPORTANT UPDATE:  From 1 February 2019 until December another section of the Budapest to Belgrade route is being rebuilt for 200km/h operation which will eventually reduce journey time to 3½ hours.  Just one train  per day will link Budapest with Belgrade during this period, the Ivo Andric leaving Budapest Keleti at 11:57 arriving Belgrade Centar at 20:42, 2nd class only.  You may be asked to switch trains in Kelebia & Novi Sad.  Important:  See further details & read latest updates about this engineering work.

• Step 4 if you're heading for Sofia, spend the night in Belgrade - I recommend the historic Hotel Moskva - and take the daytime train to Sofia next day.  From 14 June to 16 September 2019 there's a direct train called the Balkan which leaves Belgrade Topcider station at 09:12 arriving Sofia Central Station at 20:30.  2nd class only, bring your own picnic and bottle of wine as there's no catering.  At other times of year you leave Belgrade Centar station at 06:10, change at Nis & Dimitrovgrad arriving Sofia at 19:00.  Buy this ticket at the station for €20.60, there are always places available, even on the day.  It cannot be booked online, and there's no need.

• Step 4 if you're heading for Montenegro, spend the night in Belgrade - I recommend the historic Hotel Moskva - and take either the daytime train or sleeper train to Montenegro next day.  A daytime and overnight train run from Belgrade Topcider station to Podgorica and Bar over one of the most scenic lines in Europe, for times, fares & photos see the Belgrade to Montenegro page.  Change at Podgorica for a bus to Budva or Kotor.

Option 2, by daytime trains with overnight stop in Budapest...

• Day 1, travel from Cologne to Budapest from €39.90 with one easy change in Munich.  Check times & prices and buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  You'll need to leave Cologne Hbf around 07:55 arriving around 20:19, but various departures are available.

• Stay overnight in Budapest.

• Day 2, now travel from Budapest to Belgrade by EuroCity train Ivo Andric, leaving Budapest Keleti station at 07:57 and arriving in Belgrade Centar station at 16:42 - or take the later 11:57 Avala if you prefer arriving 20:42.  The fare is just €15 - a permanently available unlimited special offer - if bought at Budapest station on the day or bought online at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice on how to use mavcsoport.hu & how you collect your tickets.

  IMPORTANT UPDATE:  From 1 February 2019 until December another section of the Budapest to Belgrade route is being rebuilt for 200km/h operation which will eventually reduce journey time to 3½ hours.  Just one train  per day will link Budapest with Belgrade during this period, the Ivo Andric leaving Budapest Keleti at 11:57 arriving Belgrade Centar at 20:42, 2nd class only.  You may be asked to switch trains in Kelebia & Novi Sad.  Important:  See further details & read latest updates about this engineering work.

• If you're heading for Sofia, spend the night in Belgrade - I recommend the historic Hotel Moskva - and take the daytime train to Sofia next day.  From 14 June to 16 September 2019 there's a direct train called the Balkan which leaves Belgrade Topcider station at 09:12 arriving Sofia Central Station at 20:30.  2nd class only, bring your own picnic and bottle of wine as there's no catering.  At other times of year you leave Belgrade Centar station at 06:10, change at Nis & Dimitrovgrad arriving Sofia at 19:00.  Buy this ticket at the station for €20.60, there are always places available, even on the day.  It cannot be booked online, and there's no need.

• If you're heading for Montenegro, spend the night in Belgrade - I recommend the historic Hotel Moskva - and take either the daytime train or sleeper train to Montenegro next day.  A daytime and overnight train run from Belgrade Topcider station to Podgorica and Bar over one of the most scenic lines in Europe, for times, fares & photos see the Belgrade to Montenegro page.  Change at Podgorica for a bus to Budva or Kotor.

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Warsaw, Krakow & Poland from €39.90...

Option 1, to Warsaw by daytime trains a single day - the leisurely daytime option...

• Step 1, travel from Cologne Hbf to Berlin Hbf by high-speed ICE train with restaurant car in 4h21.

• Step 2, travel from Berlin Hbf to Warsaw Centralna by comfortable EuroCity train with bistro car in around 6h.

• Fares start at just €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class, buy tickets at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.

• 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 few hours stopover is a worthwhile experience.  To programme in a stopover using www.bahn.de simply click Add intermediate stops and enter Berlin plus the number of hours stopover you want - in fact, I have set up the special link for you with a 4-hour stopover incorporated.

Option 2, to Krakow using the Berlin-Krakow sleeping-car - why not spend a few hours in Berlin?

• Step 1, travel from Cologne or Düsseldorf to Berlin by ICE train with restaurant car.  Trains leave every hour or two, you could leave Cologne Hbf at 12:48 and arriving Berlin Hbf 17:27, but by all means book an earlier train to have more time in Berlin, there are left luggage lockers available and Berlin Hbf is just 10-15 min walk from the Reichstag & Brandenburg Gate, so even a few hours stopover is a worthwhile experience.

  fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.

• Step 2, travel from Berlin to Krakow by sleeping-car, leaving Berlin Hbf at 18:40, arriving Krakow Glowny (main station) at 05:32 next morning.

  This train has two seats cars and a safe & comfortable Polish sleeping-car bound for Krakow & Przemysl.  The sleeping-car has 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin plus two deluxe compartments with 1 or 2 berths & en suite toilet & shower.  There are no couchettes on this train and no restaurant car, so bring a picnic & bottle of wine along, or have an early dinner in Berlin.

  Prices start at €39 with a bed in a 3-berth, €54 with a bed in a 2-berth or €79 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.

• To buy tickets, ideally book the whole journey from Cologne or Düsseldorf to Krakow at the German Railways website www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.  You'll see an option with 1 change appear in the search results twice, once marked ICE + EC (EuroCity = seats) and once marked  ICE + EN (EuroNight = sleeper).  You must select the one marked ICE+EN.  Remember you can use bahn.de's features to give a longer connection or stopover in Berlin.

  Alternatively, you can also book the Berlin-Krakow sleeper at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at and print your own ticket, then book Cologne-Berlin separately at www.bahn.de.

  If you have any problem with bahn.de or oebb.at, book by phone.  In the UK call German Railways on 08718 80 80 66.

  Tip:  It's not currently possible to book a deluxe sleeper.  PKP have found they cannot always provide their most modern type of sleeper, sometimes operating a nicely refurbished older sleeper with all regular compartments instead, so they play safe and book all compartments as standard with washbasin.  If you end up in a deluxe it's a bonus!

Option 3, to Warsaw or Krakow by daytime trains with overnight stop in Berlin - this breaks up the trip nicely, and is a time-effective way to go...

• Step 1, travel from Cologne to Berlin by high-speed ICE train with restaurant car in 4h21.  You can usually leave Cologne Hbf as late as 18:48, arriving Berlin Hbf around 23:06, but by all means take an earlier train to have an evening in Berlin.

• Stay overnight in Berlin.  The 3-star Meininger Hotel is ideal as it's right next to Berlin Hbf and a 10-minute walk from the Reichstag or a 15-minute walk from the Brandenburg Gate, it's inexpensive and gets good reviews.  If you want to push the boat out, try the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is right next to the Brandenburg Gate.  More hotels in Berlin.  If you're on a tight budget, see www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2, travel from Berlin to Warsaw on any Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity train you like.  Daily except Sundays the 06:37 from Berlin Hbf will get you to Warsaw Centralna at 12:55 with breakfast in the bistro car - or have a leisurely breakfast at your hotel and take the daily 09:37 arriving 16:15.  all means take a later train from Berlin to spend some time in Berlin.  The German capital is fascinating...

• Fares start at just €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class for the whole trip if you book as explained below. 

• Buy tickets at www.bahn.de as follows:  Set up the journey planner from Cologne or Dusseldorf to Warsaw, but click Add intermediate stops and enter Berlin plus the number of hours stopover you want, say 08:00 - in fact, I have set up the special link for you with an overnight stopover incorporated, just enter the date you want.  Adjust the departure time and the Berlin stopover duration to get the trains you want, with a little trial and error.  You print your own ticket.

• For Krakow, allow an hour to change trains in Warsaw, then book a Warsaw to Krakow ticket on a comfortable Polish InterCity train at www.intercity.pl.  The new bullet-nosed EIP trains take as little as 2h18.

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Kiev & Ukraine...

• Day 1, travel from Cologne to Berlin by high-speed ICE train with restaurant car in 4h21.  You can usually leave Cologne Hbf as late as 18:48 arriving Berlin Hbf around 23:06, but by all means take an earlier train to have an evening in Berlin.

• Stay overnight in Berlin.  The 3-star Meininger Hotel is ideal as it's right next to Berlin Hbf and a 10-minute walk from the Reichstag or a 15-minute walk from the Brandenburg Gate, it's inexpensive and gets good reviews.  If you want to push the boat out, try the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is right next to the Brandenburg Gate.  More hotels in Berlin.  If you're on a tight budget, see www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2 morning, travel from Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity train leaving Berlin Hbf at 09:37 every day and arriving Warsaw Centralna at 16:15.  Fares start at €29.90, booked at www.bahn.de.

  If you take the earlier 06:37 Mondays-Saturdays arriving 12:55 you can have a few hours to explore Warsaw, see Warsaw Centralna station & city information.  Warsaw's historic old town is a 20 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.

• Day 2 evening, travel overnight from Warsaw to Kiev on the Kiev Express sleeper train leaving Warsaw Centralna at 17:09 every day and arriving Kiev at 11:05 next morning.  This train has comfortable Ukrainian 1, 2 and 3 bed sleepers with washbasin.  There's no restaurant car, so take a picnic and perhaps some wine or beer.

  The fare is 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.

  The Kiev Express cannot be booked online, so use reliable Polish agency www.polrail.com who have an online ordering system at http://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.

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

Option 1, using the Warsaw-Moscow sleeper train Polonez - 3 times a week, reduced from daily in June 2017

• Day 1, travel from Cologne or Düsseldorf to Berlin by high-speed ICE train with restaurant car from €19.90.  You can usually leave Cologne Hbf as late as 18:48, arriving Berlin around 23:06, but by all means take an earlier train to have an evening in Berlin.  Book this at the German Railways site www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.

• Stay overnight in Berlin.  The 3-star Meininger Hotel is ideal as it's right next to Berlin Hbf and a 10-minute walk from the Reichstag or a 15-minute walk from the Brandenburg Gate, it's inexpensive and gets good reviews.  If you want to push the boat out, try the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is right next to the Brandenburg Gate.  More hotels in Berlin.  If you're on a tight budget, see www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2 morning, travel from Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity train leaving Berlin Hbf at 06:37 daily except Sundays and arriving Warsaw Centralna at 12:55.  Fares start at €29.90, also booked at www.bahn.de.

  You have a few hours to explore Warsaw, see Warsaw Centralna station & city information.  Warsaw's historic old town is a 20 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.

• Day 2 early evening, take the sleeper train Polonez leaving Warsaw Centralna at 16:05 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays and arriving Moscow Belorussky station next day at 12:11 (late March to late October) or 13:11 (late October to late March).

  The Polonez is operated with Russian sleeping-cars using brand-new Austrian-built sleeping-cars with 4-berth compartments introduced in December 2014, see panorama photo inside one of these modern sleepers.  Eastbound, these 4-bed sleepers only exist on the Polish reservations system as 2nd class 4-berth, so if you want dual or single occupancy you have to buy up multiple berths in one compartment.  Westbound there's no problem, as the Russian reservations system is configured book these compartments as 1st class single, 1st class double or 2nd class 4-berth.

  A Russian restaurant car is attached between Brest (on the Polish/Belarus border) & Moscow.  Next morning, as the train passes through the small station of Borodino, look out for the plaques on the station building marked '1812' and '1942'...  Map of Moscow showing Byelorruski station.

• To book the Warsaw to Moscow sleeper, most nationalities except the USA can try en.oui.sncf, with tickets sent by regular post to most countries except the USA, but you MUST make sure Europe (other countries) remains selected top right with the EU flag showing.

  Alternatively, you can easily book the Polonez by contacting highly-recommended Polish train ticketing agency www.polrail.com (their booking system is at http://booking.polrail.com), who can arrange train tickets for international trains starting in Poland with tickets collected in Warsaw or (at extra charge) shipped to any address worldwide.

• Don't forget to arrange both your Russian visa and Belarus transit visa as the train runs via Belarus.  Read important 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 Polonez 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 in 4h21 from €19.90.  For example, the 13:48 from Cologne Hbf arrives Berlin Hbf at 18:11, but by all means take an earlier train.  Book this at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.  Transfer by frequent S-Bahn train from Berlin Hbf to Berlin Ostbahnhof.

• Step 2, travel from Berlin to Moscow by new direct Russian sleeper train, leaving Berlin Ostbahnhof at 19:24 on Mondays & Saturdays, arriving at Moscow's Belorussky station next day at either 19:50 (late March to late October) or 20:50 (late October to late March).

  This train is an articulated Spanish-built Talgo train branded Strizh (swift).  It has ordinary seats and sleeping-cars with 2nd class 4-berth compartments, 1st class 1 or 2 berth compartments with washbasin and deluxe 1 or 2 berth compartments with en suite shower & toilet.  There's also 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 train runs through a 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 works, see my advice for using rzd.ru here, 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.

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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!

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

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 & health card

Take out decent travel insurance, it's essential...

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, try Columbus Direct or use Confused.com to compare prices & policies from many different insurers.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over 65, see www.JustTravelCover.com - 10% discount with code seat61.

        If you live in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland or the EU, try Columbus Direct's other websites.

  If you live in the USA try Travel Guard USA.

Get a spare credit card, designed for travel with no currency exchange loading & low or no ATM fees...

It costs nothing to take out an extra credit card.  If you keep it in a different part of your luggage so you're not left stranded if your wallet gets stolen, this is a form of extra travel insurance in itself.  In addition, some credit cards are significantly better for overseas travel than others.  Martin Lewis's www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money explains which UK credit cards have the lowest currency exchange commission loadings when you buy something overseas, and the lowest cash withdrawal fees when you use an ATM abroad.  Taking this advice can save you quite a lot on each trip compared to using your normal high-street bank credit card!

Get a VPN for safe browsing when you travel.  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 them myself.

 

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