• Stay overnight in London, see suggested hotels near St Pancras.  It's a 10 minute walk from London St Pancras to London Euston.

• Day 2, travel from London Euston to Dublin on the morning train & ferry service, arriving Dublin Ferryport 17:25, see the London-Dublin page for times, fares & how to buy tickets.  Rail & Sail is an inexpensive, fun and interesting way to go, see an illustrated account of the journey.

Option 1, Düsseldorf & Cologne to Basel & Zurich by Nightjet sleeper train - the time-effective overnight 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 06:20 & 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.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Book this train at www.raileurope.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 or can show it on your phone.

The sleeping-car on the (Amsterdam-)Cologne-Zurich sleeper train.  More information about Nightjets.  Watch the video.

Single sleeper, washbasin behind door on right. Larger photo.		Breakfast next morning.  Larger photo.

4 or 6 berth couchettes, bedding supplied.  Larger photo.		Couchette car from Amsterdam arrived at Basel.

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.

Step 2, Innsbruck to Venice by Austrian EuroCity train.  This is a EuroCity train at Innsbruck.  More photos & information about these EuroCity trains.

2nd class seats, some in open-plan saloons like this, some in 6-seat compartments.		1st class leather seats.  You'll also find seats in classic 6-seat compartments..

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 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. 

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

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Venice by Austrian EuroCity train leaving Munich Hbf at 11:32 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.  See the Brenner Pass scenery video here.

  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 laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

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.

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

Step 2, Munich to Venice by Austrian EuroCity train.  This is a EuroCity train at Munich Hbf.  More photos & information about these EuroCity trains.

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...

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

• See details here.

Back to top

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...

• 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 13:24 or Cologne Hbf at 13:55 and arriving at Munich Hbf at 18:26.

  Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 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 show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  Tip:  Why not book 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 20:09 with a portion arriving Verona Porta Nuova 05:51, Milan Rogoredo 07:42, Genoa Piazza Principe 09:38 & La Spezia 11:10, another portion arriving Bologna Centrale 05:15, Florence SMN 06:18 & Rome Termini 09:10.

  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.  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 and you print your own ticket.

  Update:  Due to trackwork, from 10 June to 9 September 2023 & on certain weekends the Nightjet sleeper to Florence & Rome will terminate at Bologna Centrale.  During this time you will need to buy a separate onward ticket by Italian high-speed train from Bologna to Florence or Rome.

• 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 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.

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

Step 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.  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 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.  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 simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

  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 a EuroCity train at Innsbruck.

2nd class seats, some in open-plan saloons like this, some in 6-seat compartments.		1st class leather seats.  You'll also find seats in classic 6-seat compartments..

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 08:55, pick up the 15:03 from Basel SBB arriving Milan Centrale 19:50.

  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, so book ahead.

• 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.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both in €, £ or $, small booking fee).  Using www.thetrainline.com or 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 phone.

  Then book a ticket from Basel SBB to Milan, Florence, Rome or Naples leaving at either www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both 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 simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

  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.

Step 1, Cologne to Basel 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.

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

Step 2, by EuroCity train from Basel to Milan through the Alps...  This is a Milan-Basel EuroCity train at Milan Centrale.  More information about Switzerland-Milan trains.

1st class seats.  Larger photo.		Restaurant car.  Larger photo.

Lunch in the restaurant car...		2nd class.  Larger photo.  360 degree photo.

You'll pass a lake or two.  This is Lake Maggiore, seen from the dining-car of a northbound Milan to Basel train over an excellent lunch of salmon tagliatelle & excellent (but expensive!) Swiss red wine.

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. 

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

• Day 2, travel from Munich to 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, 11:32 & 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, extended to Rimini from late May to early September.

• 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, so book ahead.

• 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 phone.  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 simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

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.

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

Step 2, Munich to Verona, Bologna or Venice by Austrian EuroCity train.  This is a EuroCity train at Munich Hbf.  More photos & information about these EuroCity trains.

2nd class seats, some in open-plan saloons like this, some in 6-seat compartments.		1st class leather seats.  You'll also find seats in classic 6-seat compartments.

Mountains on the Brenner route...

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 16:55, 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 phone.  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.

Bernina Express 1st class seats...		the Bernina Express uses panoramic carriages...

The Bernina Express descends from the Bernina Pass...

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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 08:44 arriving Paris Gare du Nord around 12:05.

  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, so book ahead.

  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 14:56 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 21:25.

  This impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number >60 is upper deck.

  It's a scenic ride, the train passes Beziers cathedral, flamingos on the lakes between Montpelier & Narbonne, the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks before Perpignan, with great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, see more photos & information about the journey.

  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...  The Hotel Barcelo Sants is the top choice here, it's part of Barcelona Sants station so easy to use when arriving & departing by train, with great reviews & good feedback from Seat61 users.  See other suggested hotels near the station.

• 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 or www.thetrainline.com.

  For Cordoba & Seville:  Take the direct AVE-S112 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:35 arriving Cordoba 13:22 & Seville Santa Justa at 14:10.  Or spend the morning in Barcelona and take the 15:15 AVE S112 high-speed train to Cordoba & Seville.

  For Malaga:  Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE-S112 high-speed train and change at Cordoba onto a high-speed AVE/Avant train arriving Malaga Maria Zambrano at 14:56.  Or spend the morning in Barcelona and take the direct 15:15 AVE S112 high-speed train to Malaga.

  For Granada:  A direct AVE S112 high-speed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 08:35 arriving Granada at 15:00.

  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 or www.thetrainline.com, these connect 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 phone.  You can pay in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem.  There's a small booking fee.

  Booking for Thalys & the TGV usually opens 4 months ahead, for the AVE 60 days ahead, but this varies.  First book from Cologne to Barcelona.  In the search results, look for an option with just 1 change.

  Tip:  Using www.raileurope.com, 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.

• 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, www.thetrainline.com (both 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 16:44 arriving Paris Gare du Nord around 20:05.

  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, so book ahead.

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

• Stay overnight in Paris.  The Mercure Paris Gare De Lyon is part of the Gare de Lyon station complex, ideal for an early train next morning.  See other suggested hotels near the Gare du Nord & Gare de Lyon.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 09:42 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 16:34.

  From 8 July to 3 September 2023 there's also an earlier TGV, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon 06:56, arriving Barcelona Sants at 13:25.

  This impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number >60 is upper deck.

  It's a scenic ride, the train passes Beziers cathedral, flamingos on the lakes between Montpelier & Narbonne, the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks before Perpignan, with great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, see more photos & information about the journey.

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

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

  A high-speed AVE leaves Barcelona Sants at 18:25, arriving Madrid Atocha 20:55, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  A fast EuroMed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 18:15 arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 21:02 & Alicante 23:14.

  For Granada, Seville, Cordoba & Malaga, stay in Barcelona overnight, I recommend the Hotel Barcelo Sants inside the station.  Next morning a direct high-speed AVE train leaves Barcelona Sants at 08:35 for Granada, Cordoba & Seville Santa Justa, change Cordoba for Malaga Maria Zambrano.

• 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.

  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).

Step 1, Cologne to Paris by Thalys, seen arrived at Paris Nord.  See 360º photos inside Thalys.  More info about Thalys.

1st class (Comfort & Premium) seats, 2+1 across the car...		2nd class (Standard) seats, 2+2 across.  Larger photo.

Step 2, Paris to  Barcelona by TGV Duplex, a 320 km/h (199 mph) double-decker.  Watch TGV Duplex video.

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

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

Mt Canigou & the Pyrenees...  One of the highest peaks in the mighty Pyrenees, the 2,784m (9,137 feet) high Mt Canigou dominates the skyline on the right all the way from Perpignan to Girona, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canigou.  More photos of what to see on the Paris-Barcelona train journey.

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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 4 km 46-minute walk from Barcelona Sants station to the Trasmed and Balearia ferry terminal at the foot of La Rambla, near the Columbus monument, see walking map.  A taxi costs around €20 & takes 13 minutes or take metro line L3 from Barcelona Sants to Drassane metro station (see www.tmb.cat), from where the Balearia terminal is 7 minutes walk, the Trasmed terminal is 9 minutes walk.  Map of Barcelona showing station and Trasmed/Balearia ferry terminals.

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

  Ibiza:  Trasmed 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.trasmed.com.  Check-in for the ferry closes 30 minutes before sailing time.  You can pre-print your boarding pass to save time at the terminal.  Balearia also operate an overnight ferry to Ibiza on most nights of the week, sailing times vary but it typically sails at 22:00, arriving in Ibiza town (Ibiza Ciudad) at 06:00.  Check times and buy tickets at the Direct Ferries website or www.balearia.com.

  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 Trasmed (www.trasmed.com), 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...

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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 08:44 and arriving Paris Gare du Nord 12:05.

  High-speed Thalys trains travel at up to 300km/h, with 3 classes, 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).

  Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead.  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 19:26.

  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).

  Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead.  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.

Paris to Toulouse by TGV Duplex.  This is a TGV Duplex at Paris Montparnasse... Click the images below for larger photos...

TGV Océane cafe-bar, upper deck car 4 (or 14)		TGV Océane 2nd class...

TGV Océane 1st class.  An innovation on TGV Océane, all 1st class seats (except the end ones) rotate to face direction of travel, or can be rotated to make a face-to-face group of 2 or 4 seats.  The drop-down tables open to reveal USB & 2-pin power sockets.

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 12:42 and arriving Paris Gare du Nord 16:05.

  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.

  A later 16:44 is possible arriving Paris 20:05, but with less wiggle room.  I recommend the earlier train when connecting with a sleeper.

  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 21:14 arriving Toulouse Matabiau at 05:54.

  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.

  Tip:  On arrival in Toulouse, I recommend the breakfast buffet at the nearby Pullman Hotel!

  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 €36 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.  Photo courtesy of Philip Dyer-Perry.

1st class 4-berth couchettes, as recently refurbished.  Courtesy of @Bristol_Phil.  Photo in 2nd class courtesy Dan Chester.		2nd class 6-berth couchettes		Chilling in the corridor...  Courtesy Dan Chester.

Upper berths, showing compartment lighting & temperature controls.  You can see the normal lock & security deadlock on the door.  Courtesy of Dan Chester.		Each couchette comes with a pillow, lightweight sleeping bag, bottled water, amenity kit with ear plugs & eye mask, reading light & power outlet.

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:

  Düsseldorf depart 05:27, Cologne Hbf depart 05:53, Vienna Hbf arrive 14:47.

  Cologne Hbf depart 07:53, Vienna Hbf arrive 16:47.

  Düsseldorf depart 09:27, Cologne Hbf depart 09:53, Vienna Hbf arrive 18:47.

  Düsseldorf depart 11:27, Cologne Hbf depart 11:53, Vienna Hbf arrive 20:47.

  Cologne Hbf depart 13:53, Vienna Hbf arrive 23:05.

  These are all superb German ICE-T trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Note that not all of these trains run all year, see which ones run on your date of travel.

  it's a chill-out day with a good book and meals in the restaurant car with a weissbier or two.  All these trains 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, so book ahead.

• 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 Düsseldorf 07:48 & 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 phone.  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.

An ICE-T at Vienna Hbf.  These superb 7-car ICE-T trains run direct from Cologne to Vienna twice a day.

Table for two in 1st class, my favourite configuration.  There are also tables for four in both classes.		Restaurant:  In 1st class you can choose to be served at your seat.  I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier!

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

You'll glimpse the Inn and Danube rivers from the Frankfurt-Vienna ICE...

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 07:44, Vienna Meidling 09:05 & Vienna Hbf 09:14, with a portion for Innsbruck Hbf arriving 09:14.  For Salzburg, change at Wels onto a railjet train arriving Salzburg Hbf at 08:49.

  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.  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 and you print your own ticket.

Düsseldorf or Cologne to Vienna by Nightjet...  Above, the Nightjet to Vienna & Innsbruck is 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 the Brussels-Vienna Nightjet...

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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 17:34.

  Leave Cologne Hbf at 12:11 by ICE train, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 21:34.

  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 17 June to 20 August 2023 an increased Hamburg-Copenhagen timetable operates, giving slightly different departures:

  Leave Cologne Hbf at 08:11, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 17:34.

  Leave Cologne Hbf at 10:11, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 19:34.

  Leave Cologne Hbf at 14:11, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 23:34.

• 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 phone.  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 Stopover feature if you'd like a stopover in Hamburg.

Step 1, Cologne to Hamburg by Intercity train.  More information about these Intercity trains.

Lunch in the bistro car...		2nd class seats...

Step 2, Hamburg to Copenhagen by Intercity train.  This is the late afternoon Hamburg-Copenhagen IC3 leaving platform 5 at Hamburg Hbf on a busy summer day.  The yellow stripe above the windows indicates first class, located at one end of both 3-car units.  More information about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.

Boarding a Danish IC3 train at Hamburg Hbf...		1st class seats on an IC3 train.  Larger photo.

2nd class seats on a IC3 train.  Larger photo.		An IC3 train to Copenhagen at 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 15:10 or Düsseldorf at 15:34, arriving Hamburg Altona 19:30.

  The ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Later departures are possible, but I recommend an hour or two between trains in Hamburg when catching a sleeper train you don't want to miss.

  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 phone.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

  Have dinner in Hamburg, see suggested restaurants near Hamburg Altona.

• Step 2, travel from Hamburg to Stockholm by sleeper train, leaving Hamburg Altona at 21:19 & arriving Stockholm Central 09:55 next morning.

  From 1 April to 1 October 2023 this train will instead leave from Hamburg Hbf at 22:01, arriving Stockholm Central 09:55 next morning.

  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 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  The sleeping-cars are former Austrian Railways AB32s, refurbished.  More information about the Hamburg-Stockholm sleeper train.

  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 the Swedish Railways website www.sj.se.

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

The inaugural Hamburg to Stockholm SJ EuroNight train at Hamburg Altona, 1 September 2022.  The author rode this first departure...		6-berth couchettes. Larger photo.

Couchettes in day mode, en route to Stockholm.  Larger photo.		The inaugural train from Hamburg to Stockholm calls at Padborg, just after entering Denmark.

Typical Swedish scenery on the morning run into Stockholm...

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 08:11, change at Hamburg Hbf & Copenhagen arriving Stockholm Central at 23:39.

  You travel by comfortable ICE train with restaurant car & free WiFi to Hamburg, Danish intercity train to Copenhagen, then either a 200 km/h Swedish X2000 high-speed train from Copenhagen to Stockholm with bistro & free WiFi 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.

  Tip:  Book from Cologne or Düsseldorf to Malmo, Gothenburg or Stockholm as one transaction.  Before running the enquiry, click Stopover and add 2 stops, Hamburg Hbf and Copenhagen.  Then click Types of transport and change admit changes to direct connections for Cologne-Hamburg, Hamburg-Copenhagen and Copenhagen-Stockholm (or Copenhagen to Goteborg or Malmö).  That ensures a sensible journey with just 2 changes - if you don't do that you get a journey with an earlier arrival time, but with far too many changes and too-tight connections.

  Don't worry about connections by the way, you'll be using a through ticket so will be legally entitled to travel onwards by later trains (and if necessary, a hotel) if a delay means a missed connection, under the CIV international conditions of carriage.

  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  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 maybe 12 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 phone.  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.

Step 1, Cologne to Hamburg by Intercity train.  More information about these Intercity trains.

Lunch in the bistro car...		2nd class seats...

Step 2, Hamburg to Copenhagen by Intercity train seen here at Copenhagen.  More about Hamburg to Copenhagen trains.

2nd class seats on an IC3 train.  Larger photo.		1st class seats on an IC3 train.  Larger photo.

Step 3, Copenhagen to Stockholm by tilting 200km/h X2000, seen at Stockholm Central.  More about X2000 trains.

1st class on an X2000.  Larger photo.		2nd class on an X2000.  Larger photo.

Bistro seating on an X2000 train. Larger photo.		Bistro on an X2000 train. Larger photo.

Crossing the impressive Öresund bridge from Denmark to Sweden...

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 phone.  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.  The friendly Astoria Hotel is a 1930s design classic right outside Copenhagen station main entrance, see photos & information here.  Other 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 17:43.

  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 by direct ICE train, leaving Cologne Hbf at 06:09 or Düsseldorf 06:33, arriving Kiel Hbf 11:23.

  Fares start at €18.90 in 2nd class or €49.90 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 phone.  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 a couple of hours between train 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.

This photo is taken from the exit of Kiel station, so you can see how close the ferry is.  It's a 5-6 minute walk across the harbour, with a street lift up to a connecting walkway which takes you to the ferry terminal. If you have reserved one of what Color Line call their "5 star suites", check in at the desk rather than the machines and you'll be directed to a special lounge to wait with free tea, coffee, juice, snacks & WiFi.  You'll also have priority boarding of the ship.  Photos courtesy of Andrew Leo.

Boarding the Color Line ferry to Oslo in Kiel...

A 5 Star Suite on the ferry...		More cruise liner than ferry!  The restaurant.

Wake up to this....

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Cologne & Düsseldorf to Helsinki & Finland...

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

• Day 1, travel from Cologne or Düsseldorf to Hamburg, taking any train you like arriving in Hamburg before about 18:00, for example leaving Cologne Hbf at 14:00 or Düsseldorf at 14:00 by ICE train, arriving Hamburg Hbf 17:53, but by all means travel earlier.

  The ICE has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Fares start at €17.90 in 2nd class or €26.90 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 show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  Tip:  You should book from Cologne or Düsseldorf to Skandinavienkai Terminal, Lübeck as one transaction as this gets you a through ticket to the ferry terminal covering the train to Hamburg, the regional train to Lübeck and the bus to the Skandinavienkai Terminal.  I have set up this link to bahn.de for you.  If you'd like time for dinner in Lübeck (see suggested restaurant here), click Stopover and enter Lübeck Hbf as a via station with a stopover duration of (say) 2 hours.

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg Hbf to Lübeck by regional train then take a bus to the Skandinavienkai ferry terminal in Travemünde.

  Sail from Travemünde to Helsinki by Finnlines ferry.  Finnlines sail from Travemünde to Helsinki every day, boarding at 23:30, sailing at 02:45 (the exact time varies) and arriving at Helsinki's Hansa Terminal in Vuosaari at 09:15 2 nights later (Day 3 from Cologne/Düsseldorf).

  For full details of the transfer, check-in arrangements & ferry crossing, see the Hamburg page.

  Book the ferry using the Direct Ferries website or at www.finnlines.com.

• Book onward trains within Finland at the Finnish Railways website www.vr.fi.

Finnlines operate the Finnstar, Finnmaid & Finnlady on the Travemünde-Helsinki route.  Photo courtesy of Hubert Bartkowiak.  Photos below courtesy of Chris Russell.

Standard cabin.  Larger photo.		Gym with a view...		Sauna...

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 12:17, 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, 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 phone.  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?   Even an hour between trains in Berlin 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 also check option 2 below which can be cheaper...

Step 1, Dusseldorf or Cologne to Berlin by ICE2.  These are 2nd class seats. Larger photo.

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

Boarding an ICE2 at Berlin Hbf...		1st class seats.  Larger photo.

Step 2, Berlin to Prague by EuroCity train, seen here boarding in Berlin...

1st class seats...		2nd class seats in a compartment car...

So civilised!  A meal in the Czech restaurant car as the Berlin-Prague express snakes along the beautiful Elbe river south of Dresden.  Most Berlin-Prague trains use Czech carriages like this, a few use Hungarian air-conditioned carriages.  See more photos, tips & info for the Berlin to Prague train ride.  Photo courtesy of Philip Dyer-Perry.

Scenery along the Elbe river between Dresden & Prague...

Option 2, the cheaper route via Nuremburg & Cheb...

• It involves 2 changes, but you can potentially go from Cologne to Prague in comfort by train from as little as €21.  For example:

  Leave Cologne Hbf 05:53, change at Nuremberg & Cheb, arrive Prague Hlavni 15:17.

  Leave Cologne Hbf 07:53, change at Nuremberg & Cheb, arrive Prague Hlavni 17:17.

  Leave Cologne Hbf 09:53, change at Nuremberg & Cheb, arrive Prague Hlavni 19:17.

  Leave  Cologne Hbf 11:53, change at Nuremberg & Cheb, arrive Prague Hlavni 21:17.

  There's nothing cut-rate about the trains:  You take a top-quality high-speed ICE train 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.

• Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 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 phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  Tip:  If you don't see any attractive prices at www.bahn.de, check prices for the same trains at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz instead.  Booking at cd.cz only opens 90 days ahead.

The easy & relaxed interchange at Cheb...  The red train on the right is the German regional train arrived from Nuremberg.  You cross to the blue Czech train on the left about to leave for Prague - although always check the departure boards as sometimes a faster train to Prague goes from an adjacent platform.

Option 3, 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 19:28 arriving Berlin at 00:14, but by all means book an earlier train and spend a pleasant evening in Berlin.

• Stay overnight in Berlin.  Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station.  If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com.  Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.

• Day 2, travel from Berlin to Prague by EuroCity train in 4h30 or so 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.

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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 phone.  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 07:27 or Cologne Hbf 07:53 by ICE-T train to Vienna Hbf, then by Regional Express train to Bratislava Hlavna arriving 18:23.

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

  Leave Dusseldorf 11:27 or Cologne Hbf 11:53 by ICE-T train to Vienna Hbf, then by Regional Express train to Bratislava Hlavna arriving 23:23.

  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, so book ahead.

• 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.

Step 1, Cologne to Vienna by ICE-T train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi...

Table for two in 1st class, my favourite configuration.  There are also tables for four in both classes.		Lunch in the restaurant.  In 1st class you can choose to be served at your seat.  I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier!

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

You'll glimpse the Inn and Danube rivers from the Frankfurt-Vienna ICE...

Step 2, Vienna to Bratislava by hourly regional express train.  More about these Vienna-Bratislava trains.

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 09:14 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.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  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.

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.  Top choice for an inexpensive stay next to Budapest Keleti is the Intercity Hotel just across the square in front of the station.  Also try the Royal Park Boutique Hotel, the inexpensive Baross City Hotel across the road or the Elit Hotel two minutes walk away. Of course, if you want to push the boat out, the luxurious Corinthia Hotel opened in 1896 was almost certainly the inspiration for the 2014 film The Grand Budapest Hotel, 20 minutes walk or 9 minutes by taxi from Keleti station.  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 phone.

  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 Dusseldorf to Belgrade, Sofia, Montenegro...

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

• Step 1, travel from Düsseldorf or Cologne to Stuttgart by ICE train leaving Cologne Hbf at 15:55 and arriving Stuttgart Hbf at 18:08.

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

  Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 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 show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

• Step 2, travel from Stuttgart to Ljubljana or Zagreb by sleeper train, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 20:29 & arriving Zagreb at 10:39.

  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.  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 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 was suspended due to Covid-19 and remains suspended in 2023.

  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.

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

Step 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 19:28.

  Leave Cologne Hbf 10:48, change Berlin Hbf, arriving Warsaw Centralna at 21:16.

  Leave Cologne Hbf 12:48, change Berlin Hbf, arriving Warsaw Centralna at 23:16.

• Fares 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.  Booking to Poland normally opens 60 days ahead.

  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  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 19:28 on most days, arriving Berlin Hbf around 00:14, 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.  Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station.  If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com.  Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.

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

  Daily except Sundays, the 05:52 from Berlin Hbf will get you to Warsaw Centralna at 11:16 with breakfast in the restaurant car.  Or have a leisurely breakfast at your hotel and take the daily 09:51 arriving 15:22.  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 phone.  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 09:15.

  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 37-minute connection in Berlin, but a 35+ 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 leaving Berlin Hbf at 10:52 every day, arriving Wroclaw 14:50, Katowice 16:58 & Krakow Glowny 18:01.  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, so book ahead.

• 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 phone.  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...  Larger photo.

Zurek soup - an excellent tasty starter.		Kotlet schabowy, 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 19:28 on most days, arriving Berlin Hbf around 00:14, 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.  Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station.  If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com.  Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.

• Day 2, travel from Berlin to Krakow by EuroCity train Wawel, leaving Berlin Hbf at 10:52 every day, arriving Wroclaw 14:50, Katowice 16:58 & Krakow Glowny 18:01.  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 phone.

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Kyiv & Ukraine...

Option 1, using the Warsaw-Kyiv 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 19:28 on most days, arriving Berlin Hbf around 00:14, 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.  Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station.  If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com.  Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.

• Day 2, travel from Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity train leaving Berlin Hbf at 09:51 every day and arriving Warsaw Centralna at 15:22. 

  Tip:  If you book the earlier 05:52 departure from Berlin on Mondays-Saturdays arriving Warsaw at 11:16 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 phone.

• Day 2, travel from Warsaw to Kyiv on the Kyiv Express, leaving Warsaw Wschodnia at 17:49 & arriving Kyiv at 13:12 next day.

  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 Kyiv as they have close contacts with Ukrainian Railways.

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

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

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

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

Option 1, using the daily Warsaw-Moscow sleeper train - suspended due to sanctions...

• 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.  Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station.  If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com.  Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.

• Day 2 morning, travel from Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity train leaving Berlin Hbf at 09:51 every day and arriving Warsaw Centralna at 15:22. 

  Tip:  If you book the earlier 05:52 departure from Berlin on Mondays-Saturdays arriving Warsaw at 11:16 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 phone.

• 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 was suspended due to Covid-19 and remains suspended due to sanctions & the war in Ukraine.

  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 Berlin-Moscow Strizh (Swift) Talgo sleeper train, twice a week, suspended due to sanctions...

• 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, so book ahead.

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

• 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 was suspended due to Covid-19 and remains suspended due to sanctions.

  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...

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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 08:05 Frecciarossa 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.hellenictrain.gr but it's pretty hard to find.

• The Milan to Athens part of this journey is is explained in detail on the Italy to Athens page.

The ferry Superfast II from Bari to Patras, boarding at Bari.  Photos courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com.

The passenger gangway, onto the ferry.		Reception desk & lounge on the ferry.

Lounge and bar on the Superfast II.		Self-service restaurant.

Private cabin with en suite toilet & shower.

The ferry passes Cephalonia & Ithaca then approaches mainland Greece.  This is what travel to Greece should be like!

The ferry approaches the new port of Patras...

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...

• Step 1, travel from Düsseldorf or Cologne to Bucharest as shown above.

  Do not risk any tight connections in Bucharest, I'd allow a minimum of 2 hours, or plan an overnight stop.

• Step 2, travel overnight from Bucharest to Istanbul as shown on the Bucharest to Istanbul page.

  Book online as shown on those pages, but you should consider using an Interrail pass for the flexibility it gives.  You'll find more info about using a pass for a journey like this on the London to Istanbul page.

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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 & 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 with Staysure.co.uk myself.  Here are some suggested insurers.  Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.

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

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

  If you live in the USA try Travel Guard USA.

Get an eSIM with mobile data package

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

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

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

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

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

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

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

Always carry an Anker powerbank

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