Trains from Florence to other European cities

The best trains in Italy: A Eurostar Italia ETR500 power car

To buy train tickets from Florence to other Italian cities, use www.italiarail.com or Italian Railways' own website www.trenitalia.com.

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See Florence SMN station information

This page explains how to travel by train from Florence to other cities all over Europe, and how to buy tickets the cheapest way. Information current for 2022.

Before you buy your tickets...

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

European train travel FAQ...

An introduction to European train travel	Senior fares (over 60)	Guide to Eurail passes (overseas visitors)
Important tips for buying European train tickets	Youth fares (under 26)	Guide to Interrail passes (for Europeans)
How to check European train times	Child fares & child age limits	Couchettes & sleepers on night trains
Do I need to book in advance?	Luggage on European trains	Train seat numbering plans
How far ahead can I book?	Luggage storage at stations	Wheelchairs & special needs
Can I stop off on the way?	Taking a bike by train	Real-time service updates
Should I travel 1st or 2nd class?	Taking a car by train	Hotels & accommodation
How long to allow for connections?	Taking dogs & pets by train	Changing stations in Paris by metro or taxi
How early to arrive at the station?	Maps of the European rail network	What to do when things go wrong...

Which station in Florence? See map...

The main station in the city centre is Firenze Santa Maria Novella, usually abbreviated to SMN. It's a terminus, with easy level access between street, concourse and all platforms so no problem with luggage. To save reversing in the SMN terminus, some trains by-pass Florence SMN calling at Firenze Campo di Marte which is a taxi ride away, just on the edge of the city centre. In the text below Florence means Firenze SMN unless it says otherwise. A third station, Firenze Rifredi, is also not as central as SMN. See map of Florence showing stations. See Florence Santa Maria Novella station information.

Florence to other Italian towns & cities from €9.90, www.italiarail.com

Most trains in Italy are operated by Trenitalia, the trading name for Italian State Railways.
Tickets for all Trenitalia long-distance trains come with a seat reservation automatically included, so yes, in theory trains can sell out although although there are so many trains & seats it's easy to buy tickets at the station on the day if you like, the real issue is price.
Trenitalia has airline-style pricing, so it's significantly cheaper to book in advance. Cheap Economy or Super-Economy advance-purchase fares are for the specified train only, limited or no refunds or changes to travel plans. Pre-book if you can.
If you buy on the day the Base fare applies, which is flexible and can be changed to another departure up to 60 minutes after the departure of the train you originally booked.
Local, suburban and regional trains don't require reservations and have one fixed price called Ordinaria which you can pay at the station on the day and just hop on the next train, remembering to validate the ticket. There is no need to pre-book regional trains and no advantage in doing so other than saving a few minutes at the station.

Buy Italian train tickets at www.raileurope.com, www.thetrainline.com, www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.
They all sell the same tickets, all offer ticketless travel for intercity & high-speed trains, you print out your booking or show it on your phone.
Booking for high-speed trains usually opens 4 months ahead, but not when the mid-December timetable change is imminent when the booking horizon shrinks to less than this with some trains loaded before others.
1. www.italiarail.com is easy to use, in €, £, $ & Aus$. They charge a €3.50 booking fee but they'll refund this if you email seat61@italiarail.com after you book. It can be cheaper than Trenitalia.com for 2 or more people travelling together as explained here. Allows seat choice from a seat map.
2. www.thetrainline.com is also easy to use, in €, £, $, small booking fee. Can also book trains in other countries. More about Thetrainline.

3. www.raileurope.com is easy to use, in €, £ & $, small booking fee. Can also book trains in other countries. More about Raileurope.

4. www.trenitalia.com is Italian Railways' own site, it's fairly easy to use but requires Italian-language place names and has a few quirks, especially when booking sleepers, so see this advice on using it.
For more information, including how to reach places such as Sorrento, Pompeii, Capri, Amalfi see the Train travel in Italy page.

Florence to Rome, Naples, Milan, Turin & Venice...

Nobody flies any more...
Florence to Rome takes as little as 1h32 by hourly Frecciargento or Frecciarossa high-speed train, city centre to city centre with zero check-in and a departure once or twice an hour. Florence to Venice takes just 2h05, again with trains once or twice an hour. Florence to Naples takes as little as 2h29.

A choice of operator...

On the premier Naples-Rome-Florence-Milan-Turin & Rome-Florence-Venice routes you have a choice of operator: State-owned Trenitalia or privately-owned Italo. Both are excellent, indeed red-hot competition has driven quality up & fares down, see my advice on which operator to take.

Trenitalia uses Frecciarossa 500s & Frecciarossa 1000s on the Naples-Rome-Florence-Milan-Turin route and a mixture of Frecciargento, Frecciarossa 500 & Frecciarossa 1000 on the Rome-Florence-Venice route. Italo operates a train every hour or so, using its original AGV trains on the Naples-Rome-Florence-Milan-Turin route and mostly its new EVO trains on the Naples-Rome-Florence-Venice route, see the Italo page for more details. I can recommend all of these trains!

Both operators use Florence's main station, Firenze Santa Maria Novella = Florence SMN.
How much does it cost?

Florence to Rome or Venice starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.

Florence to Naples starts at €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.

Prices vary like air fares, so book ahead for the cheapest prices.
Super-economy & Economy = advance-purchase fares with limited or no refunds or changes to travel plans.
Base = what you pay at the station on the day, refundable, changeable up to an hour after departure.
All tickets are for a specific train and come with a reserved seat. But there are almost always places available on the day, if you're happy paying the most expensive Base fare. These are Trenitalia's fare types, but it's a similar story on Italo.

How to buy tickets...

Buy Trenitalia tickets at either www.italiarail.com, www.thetrainline.com, www.raileurope.com or Italian Railways' own site www.trenitalia.com, all linking to Trenitalia's ticketing system so all essentially the same price, see the section above to understand the differences.

Buy Italo tickets direct from Italo at www.italotreno.it. You can also book them at www.raileurope.com with no mark-up or fee.

Whichever operator or website you choose, it's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

Florence to Pisa...

Regional trains link Florence SMN with Pisa, one Regional Veloce (Regional Express) every hour taking between 49 & 60 minutes then at least one regular Regionale every hour taking between 1h11 & 1h21. The fare is around €8.70 each way.
No reservation is necessary or even possible, tickets for regional trains have a fixed price and unlimited availability so you can turn up, buy a ticket & hop on the next train. All these regional trains are 2nd class only, they have toilets and plenty of room for luggage, most are now modern and air-conditioned.

Tip: Visiting the Leaning Tower? Pisa Centrale is 25 minutes walk from the famous Leaning Tower, but some trains go beyond Pisa Centrale to Pisa San Rossore which is 12 minutes walk from the Leaning Tower, see advice for visiting the leaning tower of Pisa.
Check train times at www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com, but you can just buy regional train tickets at the station from the staffed ticket office or from the self-service machines, there is no advantage in buying in advance other than saving time at the station.

Tip: If you buy a ticket for a regional train at the station they give you an open ticket, so you need to validate it before you board the train in the little green validator machines, see the photo here. Once validated, tickets are good for any train in the next 4 hours.

Tip: If you buy a ticket for a regional train online it comes pre-validated for 4 hours starting from the time of the train you buy it for, no changes, no refunds - so if you miss that train, or change your mind and want a later one, you can simply hop on any train leaving up to 4 hours after the train you originally selected.

See advice on train travel in Italy.

Florence to Siena...

Regional trains link Florence SMN with Siena every hour, journey time 1h28, fare around €9.50 each way.
No reservation is necessary or even possible, tickets for regional trains have a fixed price and unlimited availability so you can turn up, buy a ticket & hop on the next train. All these regional trains are 2nd class only, they have toilets and plenty of room for luggage, most are now modern and air-conditioned.

In Siena, the station is at the foot of the hill and it used to be a steep trek up to the old town. However, there's now a series of modern escalators and moving walkways that ferry you almost painlessly to the top of the hill, from where it's just a minute or two's walk to the Porta Camollia at the entrance to the old town. From the Porta Camollia it's a pleasant 15 minute stroll to the famous Pizza del Campo.
Check train times at www.raileurope.com, www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com, but you can just buy regional train tickets at the station from the staffed ticket office or from the self-service machines, there is no advantage in buying in advance other than saving time at the station.

Tip: If you buy a ticket for a regional train at the station they give you an open ticket, so you need to validate it before you board the train in the little green validator machines, see the photo here. Once validated, tickets are good for any train in the next 4 hours.

Tip: If you buy a ticket for a regional train online it comes pre-validated for 4 hours starting from the time of the train you buy it for, no changes, no refunds - so if you miss that train, or change your mind and want a later one, you can simply hop on any train leaving up to 4 hours after the train you originally selected.

See advice on train travel in Italy.

A regional train from Florence to Siena, arrived at Siena. This train is of a type called Minuetto...

Florence to Lucca...

Regional trains link Florence SMN with Lucca once or twice per hour, journey time between 1h19 and 1h45, fare around €7.90 each way.
No reservation is necessary or even possible, tickets for regional trains have a fixed price and unlimited availability so you can turn up, buy a ticket & hop on the next train. All these regional trains are 2nd class only, they have toilets and plenty of room for luggage, most are now modern and air-conditioned.

Check train times at www.raileurope.com, www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com, but you can just buy regional train tickets at the station from the staffed ticket office or from the self-service machines, there is no advantage in buying in advance other than saving time at the station.

Tip: If you buy a ticket for a regional train at the station they give you an open ticket, so you need to validate it before you board the train in the little green validator machines, see the photo here. Once validated, tickets are good for any train in the next 4 hours.

Tip: If you buy a ticket for a regional train online it comes pre-validated for 4 hours starting from the time of the train you buy it for, no changes, no refunds - so if you miss that train, or change your mind and want a later one, you can simply hop on any train leaving up to 4 hours after the train you originally selected.

See advice on train travel in Italy.

Florence to Pompeii, Sorrento, Amalfi...

Take a mainline train from Florence SMN to Naples Centrale, booked at either at www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.
Then hop on the little local Circumvesuviana Railway from Naples Centrale to Herculaneum (Ercolano), Pompeii Scavi & Sorrento, with onward buses to Positano, Praiano & Amalfi. The Circumvesuviana station in Naples is underneath the main Naples Centrale, and you just buy a ticket at the station, see the day trip to Pompeii page for full details. There are also ferries from Naples or Sorrento to Capri.
For Amalfi, you can also book a train to Salerno then a bus to Amalfi.
How to reach Pompeii. How to reach Sorrento. How to reach Capri. How to reach Amalfi, Positano & Praiano.

Florence to Palermo, Catania, Siracuse & Sicily...

Option 1, by daytime train. Florence to Sicily in a single day, an epic ride...

You can travel from Florence to Palermo, Catania or Siracuse by train in a day, with two departures every day, early morning & mid-morning.

You take a Frecciarossa high-speed train from Florence SMN to Rome Termini or Naples Centrale, then the afternoon InterCity train from Rome Termini & Naples Centrale to Sicily.

The journey takes you along the coast past cliffs and beaches to the toe of Italy, then the Naples-Palermo/Catania/Siracuse train gets shunted onto a ferry to cross the Straits of Messina, a unique experience, have your camera ready. There's no catering car on the InterCity train, so bring your own picnic and bottle of wine or beer.

Fares start at just €39.80 in 2nd class or €59.80 in 1st class. Book ahead for Trenitalia's cheap Super-Economy and Economy prices.
Buy tickets at either www.italiarail.com, www.thetrainline.com, www.raileurope.com or Italian Railways' own site www.trenitalia.com
Tip: I'd allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Rome or Naples, if necessary book each train separately.
All 3 sites sell the same tickets, all offer ticketless travel for Italian intercity & high-speed trains, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead except when the mid-June & mid-December timetable changes are imminent when the booking horizon shrinks to less than this with some trains loaded before others.
1. www.raileurope.com is easy to use, in plain English, in €, £ or $, small booking fee.

2. www.italiarail.com is also easy to use, in plain English, in €, £, $ & Aus$. They charge a €3.50 booking fee but they'll refund this if you email seat61@italiarail.com afterwards. It can be cheaper than Trenitalia.com for 2 or more people travelling together as explained here.
3. www.trenitalia.com is fairly easy to use but it uses Italian-language place names and has a few quirks so see this advice on using it.

Option 2, by high-speed train to Rome then overnight sleeper. The time-effective option...

Step 1, take an early-evening Frecciarossa high-speed train from Florence SMN to Rome Termini in as little as 1h19.
Step 2, take one of the two direct sleeper trains from Rome to Palermo, Catania or Siracuse, one usually leaving Rome Termini around 21:05 weekdays or 21:31 weekends, the other around 23:00.

In the morning these sleeper trains are shunted onto a ferry to cross the Straits of Messina, a unique experience, have your camera ready. They arrive in Sicily in the morning.

The sleeper trains have Comfort couchettes with 4-berth compartments, ideal for families. They also have sleeping-cars with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin. The couchettes convert to seats for daytime use, the sleepers convert to a private sitting room with sofa. There's no restaurant car (although morning tea or coffee is provided), so bring your own picnic and bottle of wine or beer. One of the trains normally has an Excelsior sleeper with a few deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower. See more information & photos of Italian domestic sleeper trains.

Florence to Rome starts at €19.90, then Rome to Sicily starts at €39.90 including a Comfort couchette or from €79.90 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper. Book ahead for Trenitalia's cheap Super-Economy and Economy prices.
Buy tickets at either www.raileurope.com or www.italiarail.com. If you'd like longer in Rome between trains (perhaps plan to have dinner there, or an afternoon wander) book each train separately, it makes no difference to the price.

Florence to London from €105...

For travel between Florence & London in either direction see the London to Italy page.

Florence to Paris from €48.90...

See the Florence to Paris by train page.

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Florence to Lyon from €54.90...

Step 1, travel from Florence to Milan by high-speed Frecciarossa, leaving Florence SMN at 12:55 and arriving Milan Centrale at 14:50.

The 300 km/h Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Step 2, travel from Milan to Lyon by high-speed Frecciarossa 1000, leaving Milan Centrale at 15:53 arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 20:12.
The Frecciarossa 1000 has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. After an initial dash on the Milan-Turin high-speed line the train slows right down for a scenic meander through the Alps into France.

How much does it cost?

Florence to Milan starts at €19.90 in standard (2nd class) or €29.90 in business (1st class).

Milan to Lyon starts at €25 in standard (2nd class), €32 in business (1st class) or €149 in executive (premium 1st).

How to buy tickets...

Buy tickets at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, whichever you prefer, both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

Milan to Lyon by Frecciarossa: A Frecciarossa 1000 at Milan Centrale. Interior photos courtesy of Nicholas Brooke.

Standard class, with seats arranged 2+2 across the car width. Larger photo.

Premium class, identical to Standard but in leather. Sold as Standard on this route. Larger photo.

Business class seats 1+2 across car width, with tables for 2, tables for 4 & complimentary prosecco. Larger photo.

In business class you can order a simple meal at your seat, around €18...

Executive class at one end of the train. Larger photo.

The Executive class meeting room. Larger photo.

Take a good book, a bottle o' red, and enjoy the scenery from Milan to Lyon with your feet up. These are mountains in Italy, between Turin and Lyon, courtesy of www.discoverbyrail.com.

And these are mountains in France...

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Florence to Nice, Cannes, Monte Carlo...

There are several departures from Florence to Nice & the Côte d'Azur every day, See the Italy to Nice page for details.

Take a high-speed Frecciarossa train from Florence SMN to the magnificent Milan Centrale in 1h55, an Intercity train from Milan to Ventimiglia on the French border in 3h45, then a TER local train from Ventimiglia to Menton, Monte Carlo, Nice, Antibes & Cannes.
It's a lovely journey along the Ligurian coast between Genoa & Ventimiglia, along the scenic Côte d'Azur between Ventimiglia, Nice & Cannes.

Fares start at around €48 in 2nd class or €65 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

See the Italy to Nice page for full details with schedules, fares, photos, tips & how to buy tickets.

Step 1, take a high-speed Frecciarossa from Florence to Milan in 1h55 at up to 300 km/h (186 mph). This is a Frecciarossa 1000 at Milan Centrale. More information about Frecciarossas & explanation of the 4 classes.

Standard class, 2+2 across width. Larger photo.

Executive class, 1+1 across width. Larger photo

Business class seats 1+2 across car width, with tables for 2 and tables for 4 and complimentary prosecco. Larger photo.

In business class you can order a meal at your seat, around €18. More information about Frecciarossas.

Step 2, take an Intercity train from Milan to Ventimiglia. Above, an Intercity train at Milan Centrale...

2nd class. Larger photo.

1st class. Larger photo.

Step 3, take a TER local train from Ventimiglia to Monaco, Nice & Cannes. Ventimiglia to Nice takes an hour along the coast. Here, a TER rolls into Juan les Pins station, between Nice & Cannes.

Coastal scenery from the upper deck of the TER from Ventimiglia to Nice & Cannes...

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Florence to Brussels & Bruges from €57.80...

Option 1, Florence to Brussels using the Florence-Munich Nightjet sleeper - a comfortable & time-effective option...

Step 1, travel from Florence to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Florence SMN at 22:47, arriving Munich Hbf 09:20.

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 (in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.

Step 2, travel from Munich to Brussels by ICE train, leaving Munich Hbf at 10:28, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi at 17:35. ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

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

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

Step 1, Florence to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train. More information about Nightjets.

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.

Nightjet couchette car...

6-berth couchettes...

4-berth couchettes...

Step 2, Munich to Brussels by ICE with one easy change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf. ICEs have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Above, an ICE3M at Brussels Midi. More information about ICE.

2nd class seats on an ICE3M. Larger photo.

1st class seats on an ICE3M. Larger photo.

Proper china, metal cutlery. I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier! See current month's menu.

Restaurant car: This is the small 12-seat restaurant area on an ICE3M. Larger photo.

Option 2, Florence to Brussels with an overnight stop in Lyon - easy & time-effective...

Day 1, travel from Florence to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Florence SMN at 12:55 and arriving Milan Centrale at 14:50.
High-speed Frecciarossa trains have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More information about Frecciarossas.

Day 1, travel from Milan to Lyon by Frecciarossa, leaving Milan Centrale at 15:53 and arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 20:12.
The Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It's a scenic & relaxing run, at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) on the high-speed line from Milan to Turin, then a slow meander on the classic line through the alps to Lyon. Bring a good book and bottle of wine, and make it a relaxing afternoon with your feet up, although some scenery will be in darkness depending on the time of year. More information, photos & tips about the Milan-Lyon-Paris Frecciarossa.

Stay overnight in Lyon, The Ibis Budget Lyon Centre - Gare Part Dieu is affordable & right next to Lyon Part Dieu station with good reviews, the Radisson Blu Hotel, Lyon also gets great reviews and is just a few minutes walk away.

Day 2, travel from Lyon to Brussels by direct TGV, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi:

On Mondays to Saturdays you can leave Lyon Part Dieu at 05:50 arriving Brussels Midi at 09:43.

Or on any day of the week you can leave Lyon Part Dieu at 08:27 arriving Brussels Midi at 12:11

How much does it cost?
Florence to Milan starts at €19.90 in standard class, €29.90 in business class or €119.90 in executive class.
Milan to Lyon starts at €25 in standard class, €32 in business class or €149 in executive class.
Lyon to Brussels starts at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

How to buy tickets...
Buy tickets for each of these trains at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (whichever you prefer). Book each train individually, adding it to your basket, then check out.

www.raileurope.com and www.thetrainline.com connect to both the Italian and French booking systems so you can book all these trains in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. There's a small booking fee.

The Italian trains are ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. For the TGV, you print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.

How to buy tickets, advanced...
Alternatively, you can book each train separately, more work, more fiddly, same fares, but saves the booking fee. First book the Italian trains at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, $ or £, seat choice from a seat map, they'll refund their small booking fee to seat61 users if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com afterwards) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly, requires Italian-language place names, see advice on using it), then book the Lyon-Brussels TGV at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com.

Milan to Lyon by Frecciarossa: A Frecciarossa 1000 at Milan Centrale. Interior photos courtesy of Nicholas Brooke.

Standard class, with seats arranged 2+2 across the car width. Larger photo.

Premium class, identical to Standard but in leather. Sold as Standard on this route. Larger photo.

Business class seats 1+2 across car width, with tables for 2, tables for 4 & complimentary prosecco. Larger photo.

In business class you can order a simple meal at your seat, around €18...

Executive class at one end of the train. Larger photo.

The Executive class meeting room. Larger photo.

Take a good book, a bottle o' red, and enjoy the scenery from Milan to Lyon with your feet up. These are mountains in Italy, between Turin and Lyon, courtesy of www.discoverbyrail.com.

And these are mountains in France...

Option 3, Florence to Brussels with an overnight stop in Turin...

Day 1, travel from Florence SMN to Turin Porta Susa on any afternoon or evening train you like.
You can leave Florence as late as 18:55 arriving Turin 21:49, but I'd take an earlier train as Turin is well worth a stopover. It's possibly one of Italy's most under-rated cities, even if you're not a fan of the 1969 Michael Caine film The Italian Job.
You can take an Italo high-speed train or a Trenitalia Frecciarossa, two competing operators, choose whichever you like the look of.

Stay overnight in Turin. The Hotel Torino Porta Susa or Hotel Diplomatic, Best Quality Hotel Dock Milano or Al Porta Susa B&B are all next to Turin Porta Susa station with good or great reviews.

Day 2, travel from Turin to Paris by TGV, leaving Turin Porta Susa at 07:39 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 13:13.
The TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It's a comfortable & scenic journey, at low speed through the Alps, then a final dash along the high-speed line to Paris, see the video here. Bring a good book and a bottle of wine, and make it a relaxing afternoon with your feet up. More information about these Paris-Milan TGVs.
Change trains & stations in Paris by taxi or metro.

Day 2, travel from Paris to Brussels by Thalys, leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 14:25 and arriving Brussels Midi at 15:47.
High-speed Thalys trains have 3 classes, a cafe-bar, WiFi and power sockets at all seats. More information about Thalys. Make sure you allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris, ideally more.

How much does it cost?
Florence to Turin starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.
Turin to Paris starts at €29 in 2nd class or €44 in 1st class.
Paris to Brussels starts at €29 in 2nd class or €55 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

How to buy tickets...
Buy tickets at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, whichever you like best.
These connect to both the Trenitalia, Italo & SNCF ticketing systems so you can book all your tickets together in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. There's a small booking fee.
First book Florence SMN to Turin Porta Susa and add to basket. Then book Turin Porta to Brussels Midi for the following day, add to basket & check out.

Tip: Before running the Turin to Brussels enquiry at www.raileurope.com, click More options and enter Paris (any station) as a via point with a stopover duration of at least 1 hour to ensure a robust connection. If you don't do this, the system allows cross-Paris connections as tight as 40 minutes, which I consider too tight.

The Italian train is ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. For the two French trains, you print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.

How to buy tickets, advanced...
Alternatively, you can book each train separately, more effort, more fiddly, same fares, but no booking fee. First book the Italian train at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, $ or £, they'll refund the €3.50 booking fee to seat61 users if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com afterwards) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly, requires Italian-language place names, see advice on using it), then book the TGV & Thalys at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com.

Option 4, Florence to Brussels by day trains with overnight stop in Munich - avoids crossing Paris...

Day 1, travel from Florence to Munich, leaving Florence SMN at 14:20, changing at Bologna Centrale and arriving Munich Hbf at 22:27.
Or take an earlier train and spend a pleasant evening in Munich - you'll find earlier departures arriving Munich at 16:26, 18:27 or 20:26, for example - check times at www.raileurope.com.
You take an Italian high-speed Frecciarossa to Bologna (or on some departures, Verona) with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then a comfortable Austrian EuroCity train through the scenic Brenner pass to Munich Hbf. The journey is worth doing in daylight.
Florence to Bologna or Verona starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.
Bologna or Verona to Munich starts at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book from Florence SMN to Munich Hbf at www.raileurope.com, but (this is important) click More options, enter Bologna Centrale as a via station and a stopover duration of 45 minutes. Look for journeys with just 1 change. Now re-run the enquiry with Verona Porta Nuova as a via station also with 45 minutes stopover selected to see if this gives a cheaper or quicker 1-change journey, which it will be on some departures.
Booking normally opens 4 months ahead for Italian trains, which are ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead for the Austrian EuroCity trains, you print your own ticket or can show them on your laptop or smartphone.

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

Day 2, travel from Munich to Brussels by ICE train, leaving Munich Hbf at 08:27, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi at 15:35.

ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Exact times may vary, earlier or later departures are also available.

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

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

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Florence to Amsterdam from €64...

Option 1, Florence to Amsterdam in a single day - daily except Saturdays...
Incredibly, it's now possible to get from Florence to Amsterdam in a single day using top-quality high-speed trains, with some wonderful views of Italian & Swiss lakes. It's a long day, however, so consider using a sleeper (option 2) or breaking up the journey with an overnight stop at Zurich or Munich (options 3 & 4). But here's how to cross Europe in comfort by train in a single day...

Step 1, travel from Florence to Milan by high-speed Frecciarossa, leaving Florence SMN at 08:55 every day arriving Milan Centrale at 10:50.
The Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Step 2, travel from Milan to Frankfurt by ETR610 EuroCity train leaving Milan Centrale at 11:20 and arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 18:44.

The ETR610 EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
It's a lovely ride through the Alps past Lake Maggiore and via the famous Simplon & Lötschberg route. Treat yourself to lunch as the lakes & mountains glide by. You'll also pass through the world's longest rail tunnel, the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the transit takes just 20 minutes.

Step 3, travel from Frankfurt to Amsterdam by ICE3, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 19:28 and arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 23:28.

This train runs daily except Saturdays and a few other dates. ICE3 trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

How much does it cost?

Florence to Milan starts at €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.
Milan to Amsterdam start at €59.90 in 2nd class or €119.90 in 1st class.

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

How to buy tickets...
Step 1, book the train from Florence to Milan at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. it's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.
Step 2, book from Milan to Amsterdam at the German Railways website www.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time. See suggested hotels in Amsterdam.

The Milan-Frankfurt train at Frankfurt Hbf. There's a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Photo courtesy of @Nordkommission.

2nd class on a Trenitalia ETR610...

1st class on a Trenitalia ETR610.

Lake Maggiore, seen over lunch in the restaurant car...

Option 2, Florence to Amsterdam using the Zurich-Amsterdam Nightjet sleeper - scenic & time-effective...

Step 1, travel from Florence to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Florence SMN at 12:55 and arriving Milan Centrale at 14:50.
High-speed Frecciarossa trains have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More information about Frecciarossas.
Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class. Fares work like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.
Book from Milan to Zurich to at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee). Booking usually opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.
Tip: A later departure is possible with a 20-minute connection in Zurich, but as you're catching a sleeper I'd play safe and allow at least an hour between trains in Milan. The magnificent Milan Centrale is an attraction in its own right, go & find Mussolini!

Step 2, travel from Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train through the Alps, leaving Milan Centrale at 16:10 arriving Zurich HB at 19:27.
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 including Lake Lugano, see the Milan to Zurich video. Have your camera ready!

On arrival in Zurich you've time for dinner, I recommend steak-frites and a beer or two at the Brasserie Federal on the main concourse.

Fares start at €29 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class. Fares work like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

Book from Milan to Zurich to at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee). Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

Step 3, travel from Zurich to Amsterdam by Nightjet sleeper train. From the timetable change on 13 December 2021, a Nightjet sleeper train will leave Zurich HB 21:59 every evening, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 09:14.
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. Watch the Amsterdam-Switzerland sleeper 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 sleeper train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Dutch Railways international site www.nsinternational.nl.(in €, no fee). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.

Steps 1 & 2, travel from Florence to Milan by high-speed train & Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train. Above, a Milan-Zurich EuroCity is seen at Bellinzona. The train passes through the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world's longest rail tunnel, though the transit takes just 20 minutes.

Giruno, 1st class. Larger photo.

Restaurant car with bar counter. Larger photo.

Giruno 2nd class. Larger photo

Level boarding. Note the destination screen in the door.

Lake Lugano, seen from the Milan-Zurich EuroCity train on the Gotthard route.

Step 3, Zurich to Amsterdam by Nightjet sleeper train. More information about Nightjets. Watch the sleeper video.

Single-bed sleeper with washbasin. Larger photo.

Breakfast next morning. Larger photo.

4 or 6 berth couchette compartment. Larger photo.

Couchette car...

Option 3, Florence to Amsterdam using the Florence-Munich Nightjet sleeper train - a comfortable and time-effective option...

Step 1, travel from Florence to Munich by excellent Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Florence SMN at 22:47, arriving Munich Hbf 09:20.

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 the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.

Step 2, travel from Munich to Amsterdam by ICE, leaving Munich Hbf at 12:27, change Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 20:28.

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

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

Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.
Tip: Before running the enquiry, change Duration of transfer from standard to at least 45 minutes. You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or smartphone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time. See suggested hotels in Amsterdam.

Step 1, Florence to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train. More information about Nightjets.

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.

Nightjet couchette car...

6-berth couchettes...

4-berth couchettes...

Step 2, Munich to Amsterdam by ICE with one easy change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf. ICEs have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Above, an ICE3M at Amsterdam Centraal. More information about ICE.

2nd class seats on an ICE3M. Larger photo.

1st class seats on an ICE3M. Larger photo.

Proper china, metal cutlery. I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier! See current month's menu.

Restaurant car: This is the small 12-seat restaurant area on an ICE3M. Larger photo.

Option 4, Florence to Amsterdam with overnight stop in Zurich - if you prefer day trains & a hotel to sleepers...

Day 1, travel from Florence to Milan by high-speed Frecciarossa train in 1h40 then from Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train in 3h17. It's a lovely ride along Lake Lugano and through the Alps, see the Milan to Zurich video here.
You can leave Florence SMN as late as 16:55 arriving Zurich HB 22:27, but by all means take an earlier train for an evening in Zurich.
Florence to Milan starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.
Milan to Zurich starts at €29 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Check times and buy tickets as one journey at either www.raileurope.com (in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly, requires Italian-language place names). Booking for the EuroCity trains normally opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

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.

Day 2, travel from Zurich to Amsterdam by ICE, leaving Zurich HB 07:59, changing at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 17:29
By all means book an earlier or later ICE, they leave every 2 hours. ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
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 www.raileurope.com (in €, £ or $, small booking fee), or book direct with German Railways at www.bahn.de (in €, no booking fee). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Option 5, Florence to Amsterdam with overnight stop in Munich - Another option if you prefer day trains to sleepers...

Day 1, travel from Florence to Munich, leaving Florence SMN at 14:20, changing at Bologna Centrale and arriving Munich Hbf at 22:27.
Or take an earlier train and spend a pleasant evening in Munich - you'll find earlier departures arriving Munich at 16:26, 18:27 or 20:26, for example - just check times at www.raileurope.com.
You take an Italian high-speed Frecciarossa to Bologna (or on some departures, Verona P. Nuova) with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then a comfortable Austrian EuroCity train through the scenic Brenner pass to Munich Hbf. The journey is worth doing in daylight.
Florence to Bologna or Verona starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Bologna or Verona to Munich starts at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book from Florence SMN to Munich Hbf at www.raileurope.com, but (this is important) click More options, enter Bologna Centrale as a via station and a stopover duration of 45 minutes. Look for journeys with just 1 change. Now re-run the enquiry with Verona Porta Nuova as a via station also with 45 minutes stopover selected to see if this gives a cheaper or quicker 1-change journey, which it will be on some departures.
Booking normally opens 120 days ahead for Italian trains, which are ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead for the Austrian EuroCity trains, you print your own ticket or can show them on your laptop or smartphone.

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

Day 2, travel from Munich to Amsterdam by ICE, leaving Munich Hbf 07:47, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 15:29.
By all means choose an earlier or later departure. ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

A EuroCity train at Munich Hbf. More photos & information about these Austrian 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.

Watch out for hilltop fortresses...

Vineyards, mountains and castles south of Brenner as the train heads from Verona to Innsbruck...

Mountains on the Brenner route... See the Brenner Pass scenery video here...

Option 6, Florence to Amsterdam with an overnight stop in Paris...

Day 1, travel from Florence to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Florence SMN at 12:55 and arriving Milan Centrale at 14:50.
High-speed Frecciarossa trains have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More information about Frecciarossas.

Day 1, travel from Milan to Paris by Frecciarossa, leaving Milan Centrale at 15:53 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 22:25.
The Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It's a scenic & relaxing run, at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) on the high-speed line from Milan to Turin, then a slow meander on the classic line through the alps, then another high-speed dash on the French high-speed line to Paris. Bring a good book and bottle of wine, and make it a relaxing afternoon with your feet up, although some scenery will be in darkness depending on the time of year. For more information, photos & tips, see the Paris-Milan by train page.
Change trains & stations in Paris by taxi or metro.

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

Day 2, travel from Paris to Amsterdam in 3h18 next morning on any train you like.
For example, the 07:25 from Paris Gare du Nord arrives Amsterdam Centraal at 10:44, but by all means book a later train, they leave every hour or so. Thalys trains have 3 classes, a cafe-bar, WiFi and power sockets at all seats, see more information about Thalys.

How much does it cost?
Florence to Milan starts at €19.90 in standard class or €29.90 in business class.
Milan to Paris starts at €29 in standard class, €36 in business class or €165 in executive class.
Paris to Amsterdam starts at €35 in 2nd class or €79 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

How to buy tickets...
Buy tickets for each of these trains at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (whichever you prefer). Book each train individually, adding it to your basket, then check out.

www.raileurope.com and www.thetrainline.com connect to both the Italian and French booking systems so you can book all these trains in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. There's a small booking fee.

The Italian trains are ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. For the Thalys, you print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.

How to buy tickets, advanced...
Alternatively, you can book each train separately, more work, more fiddly, same fares, but saves the booking fee. First book the Italian trains at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, $ or £, seat choice from a seat map, they'll refund their small booking fee to seat61 users if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com afterwards) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly, requires Italian-language place names, see advice on using it), then book the Thalys train at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com.

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Florence to Luxembourg...

Option 1, Florence to Luxembourg using the Florence-Munich Nightjet sleeper train...

Step 1, travel from Florence to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Florence SMN at 22:47 every night and arriving Munich Hbf at 09:20.
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 the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, a bit more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.

Step 2, travel from Munich to Luxembourg, leaving Munich Hbf at 10:28 by ICE train, change at Mannheim, Saarbrucken & Trier, arriving Luxembourg at 17:24.
ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at €32.90 in 2nd class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book from Munich to Luxembourg at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, allowing at least 1 hour between trains in Munich. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone. Tip: To avoid buses and get an all-train journey, click Stopover and enter Igel as a via station. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Florence to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train. More information about Nightjets.

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.

Nightjet couchette car...

6-berth couchettes...

4-berth couchettes...

Option 2, Florence to Luxembourg with overnight stop in Zurich...

Day 1, travel from Florence to Milan by Frecciarossa & Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train as shown in the Florence to Switzerland section below.

You can leave Florence SMN as late as 16:55 arriving Zurich HB 22:27, but an earlier train will give you more of an evening in Zurich.

Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

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.

Day 2, travel from Zurich to Luxembourg, leaving Zurich HB at 07:59, changing at Mannheim & Koblenz, arriving Luxembourg at 17:24.
Or have a leisurely breakfast and take the easiest departure with just 1 change, leaving Zurich HB at 10:59 by direct EuroCity train EC8 to Koblenz, time for coffee in Koblenz, then the 17:06 from Koblenz direct to Luxembourg arriving 19:24.
These are all comfortable air-conditioned trains and they all head along the scenic Rhine Valley route between Mainz and Koblenz past vineyards, castles, river boats & the legendary Lorelei Rock - see the Rails Down the Rhine page - then along the pretty Moselle river to Trier. The whole journey is made on a through ticket, so no worries about connections, they normally go like clockwork. There are earlier or later departures, too, just check online.
Tip: EuroCity train EC8 has a Swiss 1st class panorama car, to book it, see the advice on the Rails Down the Rhine page.
Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book from Munich to Luxembourg at the German Railways website www.bahn.de & print your own ticket or show it on your smartphone.
Tip: To get an all-train journey and avoid journeys with a bus, click Stopover and enter Igel as a via station.

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Florence to Geneva, Zurich, Luzern, Basel & Switzerland from €49...

Choose between fast, comfortable & scenic (option 1, using mainline trains) and slow, comfortable, fabulous world-class highlight-of-your-trip scenic (option 2, via the Bernina Express).

Option 1, Florence to Switzerland by high-speed train...

Step 1, travel from Florence SMN to Milan Centrale by Frecciarossa with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi in just 1h40.

Step 2, travel from Milan Centrale to Switzerland by fast EuroCity train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
There are hourly EuroCity trains from Milan Centrale to Lugano & Zurich (3h17). There are regular EuroCity trains from Milan Centrale to Brig, Montreux, Lausanne & Geneva (4h00). There are several daily EuroCity trains from Milan Centrale to Bern, Lucerne, Spiez and Basel.
The Milan-Zurich EuroCity trains use the new Gotthard Base Tunnel, the longest rail tunnel in the world. Look out for great scenery on the routes from Italy into Switzerland, past lakes and mountains. Watch the video: Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train.

Step 3, take a Swiss connecting train if necessary, for example from Brig to Zermatt or from Spiez to Interlaken.

How much does it cost?
Florence to Milan start at €19.90 in 2nd (standard) class or €29.90 in 1st (business) class.

Milan to major Swiss cities by direct train start at €29 upwards in 2nd class or €49 upwards in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

How to buy tickets, the easy way...

Buy tickets from Florence to anywhere in Switzerland at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. Both are easy to use, in €, £ or $ (www.thetrainline.com can also sell in CHF), overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee.

www.thetrainline.com connects to both the Italian and Swiss ticketing systems. www.raileurope.com connects to the Italian system and can sell full-flex Swiss tickets through an arrangement with French Railways. That means both sites can sell from Venice to anywhere in Switzerland, at least in principle. Each handles the data slightly differently, so I'd check both sites.

Booking for Italian trains & the EuroCity trains opens 120 days ahead. However, booking for Swiss domestic trains only opens 60 days ahead.

Italian high-speed trains & the EuroCity trains are ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. Swiss domestic tickets can be printed out or a mobile ticket can be shown on your smartphone.

How to buy tickets, advanced...
Now for the science bit. Trenitalia's ticketing system can sell tickets for the international EuroCity trains between Italy & Switzerland, and obviously for its own trains within Italy, but cannot access SBB's ticketing system so cannot sell any journey involving a Swiss domestic train.

Meanwhile, the Swiss ticketing system can sell Swiss domestic tickets & tickets for the international EuroCity trains to Italy which it jointly runs with Trenitalia, but it cannot access Trenitalia's ticketing system so cannot sell Trenitalia's cheap fares within Italy.

Step 1, run an enquiry on the all-Europe online timetable provided by German Railways at www.bahn.de. Look for a suitable journey, ideally with as few changes as possible. Note down the trains you want, identifying the Italian train, the EuroCity train and any Swiss domestic train.

For example, say you ran an enquiry from Florence to Zermatt. You'd pick a journey that suits you: A high-speed Frecciarossa from Florence to Milan, a EuroCity (EC) train from Milan to Brig, then a Swiss train from Brig to Zermatt. Then you'd split the booking like this:

Step 2, book the Italian train and EuroCity train using the Italian ticketing system at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, $ or £, they'll refund the €3.50 booking fee to seat61 users if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly, requires Italian-language place names, see advice on using it).

In our example, you'd book from Florence to Brig. Booking opens 90 days ahead. Italian high-speed trains and the EuroCity are ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

Step 3, now add a Swiss domestic ticket separately using either www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in CHF, €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Swiss Federal Railways site www.sbb.ch (in €, no fee). Regular Swiss tickets are fixed-price, cannot sell out, and are good for any train that day, so this bit isn't as crucial. You could buy at the station on the day if you like!

In our example, you'd book from Brig to Zermatt. Booking opens 60 days ahead (if necessary, wait to book this bit). You print your own ticket.

A EuroCity train at Milan Centrale, about to leave for Switzerland. More information about these EuroCity trains.

1st class seats. Larger photo.

Restaurant car. Larger photo.

Lunch in the restaurant car...

2nd class. Larger photo. 360 degree photo.

This is Lake Maggiore, seen from the restaurant car of the 11:25 Milan to Basel EuroCity train over an excellent lunch of salmon tagliatelle & excellent Swiss red wine...

Sion castle, as seen from a Milan to Geneva train. This route train passes through the famous Simplon Tunnel, opened in 1906, on the very route used by the celebrated Simplon Orient Express of Agatha Christie fame.

This is Lake Lugano, seen from a Milan-Zurich EuroCity train...

Option 2, Florence to St Moritz, Chur & Zurich via the scenic narrow-gauge Bernina route...

This is much slower and a little more effort to book, but it's arguably the best Swiss Alpine train ride of them all, an amazing experience. Watch the video: Milan to Zurich via the wonderfully scenic Bernina route.

Step 1, travel from Florence to Milan on a Frecciarossa train arriving before 09:45.
Book this at either www.italiarail.com or www.thetrainline.com or www.trenitalia.com.

Step 2, travel from Milan Centrale to Tirano by Trenord local train...
The 10:20 from Milan connects with the Bernina Express itself, with time for a sandwich and beer in Tirano, see the Bernina Express page.

However, these trains run every 2 hours throughout the day, fare around €12, you can check train times at www.trenord.it. No reservation is necessary or even possible, you just buy a ticket to Tirano from the self-service machines at Milan Centrale and hop on the next train.

In Tirano, the Italian Trenord station is right next to the Rhätische Bahn one on the same town square.

Step 3, travel from Tirano to St Moritz & Chur on the Rhätische Bahn...
This is the fabulous Bernina Express route over the Bernina Pass. You can check times & prices from Tirano to St Moritz, Chur or Zurich at either www.thetrainline.com or the Swiss Railways website www.sbb.ch. If you take one of the regular normal local trains, no reservation is necessary or possible, just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on. Only if you want to use the once or twice daily Bernina Express with its special all-reserved panoramic carriages do you need a seat reservation, see the Bernina Express page.

Step 4, travel from Chur to Zurich by Intercity train...
On arrival in Chur, simply cross the platform to the waiting half-hourly InterCity or InterRegional train to Zurich. Again, no reservation necessary or possible, if you're bound for Zurich simply buy a ticket to Zurich in Tirano. You can check times and fares from Tirano to Zurich at www.thetrainline.com or www.sbb.ch.

Bernina Express 1st class seats...

the Bernina Express uses panoramic carriages...

The Bernina Express descends from the Bernina Pass...

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Florence to Barcelona, Madrid & Spain from €89...

Option 1, Florence to Barcelona & Spain via Lyon - the easiest & usually cheapest option...

Day 1, travel from Florence SMN to Milan Centrale on any afternoon or evening train you like.

It takes as little as 2h23, trains leave every hour, all these trains have cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Stay overnight in Milan.
Hotels near Milan Centrale with good reviews include Made to Measure Business, 43 Station Hotel, Starhotel Echo or Starhotel Anderson.

Day 2, travel from Milan to Lyon by Frecciarossa, leaving Milan Centrale at 06:25 & arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 11:20.

This is a lovely ride at low speed snaking through the Alps, see the photos & information here. The train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, sit back and enjoy the ride.

Have lunch in Lyon, see suggested brasserie near Lyon Part Dieu.

Day 2, travel from Lyon to Barcelona by AVE-S100 high-speed train leaving Lyon Part Dieu at 14:00 & arriving Barcelona Sants 19:33.

The AVE train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. You'll pass Béziers cathedral, see flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Narbonne & Montpelier, pass the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks and get great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, see the photos, tips & information here.

Stay overnight in Barcelona....

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

Day 3, travel from Barcelona to anywhere else in Spain by high-speed train...

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

For Cordoba & Seville: Take the direct AVE-S112 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:30 arriving Cordoba 13:11 & Seville Santa Justa at 14:04. Alternatively, spend a morning in Barcelona and take the 15:45 AVE S112 high-speed train to Cordoba & Seville.

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

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

For Valencia & Alicante: EuroMed trains link Barcelona Sants 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.

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

How much does it cost?

Florence to Milan starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.

Milan to Lyon starts at €25 in standard (2nd), €32 in business (1st) or €149 in executive class (premium 1st).

Lyon to Barcelona starts at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.
Barcelona to Madrid starts at around €35. Barcelona to Seville or Malaga starts at around €45.
All these fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

How to buy tickets...

The easiest way to buy tickets is to use either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (whichever you prefer) as you can buy all the tickets together in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee. Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead. About Raileurope. About Thetrainline.

Step 1, book an afternoon or evening train from Florence to Milan Centrale for day 1 and add this to your basket.

Step 2, book the direct morning train from Milan Centrale to Lyon Part Dieu for day 2 and add to your basket.

Step 3, book the direct afternoon train from Lyon Part Dieu to Barcelona for day 2 and add to your basket.

Step 4 if going beyond Barcelona, book a train from Barcelona to your Italian destination for day 3, add to basket & check out.

The Frecciarossa is ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. For the AVE you can print your ticket or select a mobile ticket to show on your smartphone.

How to buy tickets, advanced...

You can of course book each train separately with the relevant operator, with no booking fee. This means more work and it won't necessarily make it any cheaper.

Step 1, buy tickets from Florence to Milan and from Milan to Lyon at either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in plain English, allows seat choice from a seat map, they'll refund seat61 users their booking fee if you email seat61@italiarail.com afterwards) or Trenitalia's site www.trenitalia.com, but for that you'll need to use Italian-language place names and it has a few quirks so see this advice on using it. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

Step 2, book from Lyon to Barcelona at the French Railways website, www.sncf-connect.com.

Step 3, book onward trans in Spain at www.renfe.com (in €, fiddly, see advice).

Option 2, Florence to Barcelona & Spain with overnight stop in Marseille...

Day 1, travel from Florence to Marseille, leaving Florence SMN at 06:25 by Frecciarossa high-speed train to Milan Centrale, then taking the 09:10 Intercity train from Milan Centrale to Ventimiglia, a TER local train to Nice Ville and TGV to Marseille St Charles, arriving 18:32.

This is a lovely journey with fabulous coastal scenery through Genoa, San Remo, Nice & Cannes. For full details of the Florence to Nice part of this journey, see the Italy to Nice by train page.

Stay overnight in Marseille. Inexpensive hotels with good reviews just outside Marseille St Charles station include the Ibis Marseille Centre Gare St Charles, Holiday Inn Express Marseille St Charles.

Day 2, travel from Marseille to Spain by AVE-S100, leaving Marseille St Charles at 08:02, arriving Barcelona Sants 12:34 & Madrid Atocha 15:45.
The AVE-S100 high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. You'll pass Béziers cathedral, flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Montpelier & Perpignan, the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks, and get great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, see the photos & information here.

Day 2, travel from Barcelona to other Spanish cities by high-speed train: There are regular trains from Barcelona Sants to Valencia or Alicante, there's a 15:45 direct AVE from Barcelona Sants to Cordoba, Malaga & Seville arriving in the evening, and a 15:30 Alvia train from Barcelona Sants to Pamplona & San Sebastian, arriving in the evening.

How much does it cost?
Florence to Milan starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.

Milan to Ventimiglia starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €26.90 in 1st class.

Ventimiglia to Nice by TER costs a fixed-price €8, although €7.50 or even €5 promotional fares are sometimes offered.

Nice to Marseille by TGV starts at €15.

Marseille-Barcelona starts at €25 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class. Marseille-Madrid starts at €35 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.

Barcelona to Malaga or Seville starts at around €45. Barcelona to Pamplona or San Sebastian starts at around €28.

All these fares (except for the TER) vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

How to buy tickets...
Go to www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. Book from Florence to Marseille on day 1 and add it to your basket. Then book from Marseille to Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Alicante, Seville, Malaga or wherever for day 2, add it to your basket and check out.
www.thetrainline.com & www.raileurope.com both connect to the Italian, French & Spanish rail ticketing systems, so you can buy all these tickets together in one place, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem. There's a small booking fee. If you have any problems, break the journey down into stages, if necessary booking each train separately.
Booking for Trenitalia trains, French trains & the Marseille-Spain AVE normally opens up to 4 months ahead. Booking for Spanish domestic trains opens 60 days ahead, but this varies.
Trenitalia trains are ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. For the TERs and the Barcelona-Marseille AVE train, you print your own ticket or can choose a mobile ticket to show on your smartphone. For trains in Spain, you print your own ticket.

How to buy tickets, advanced...

Alternatively, you can book each train separately like this, although it's more work and the fares should be the same, just no booking fee...

Step 1, book from Florence to Ventimiglia using either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, English place names, and they'll refund their €3.50 booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR) or Italian Railways' own site www.trenitalia.com (you'll need to use Italian language place names). It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

Step 2, book from Ventimiglia to Marseille at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, more fiddly). You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

Step 3, book from Marseille to Barcelona or Madrid for day 2 at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com. You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

Step 4, book any onward trains within Spain at the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see this advice on using it, it's a lot easier to use www.thetrainline.com). You print your own tickets.

Step 1 & 2, take a Frecciarossa from Florence to Milan and an Intercity train from Milan to Ventimiglia. Above, an Intercity train is seen at the magnificent Milan Centrale.

2nd class. Larger photo.

1st class. Larger photo.

Step 3 & 4, take a TER local train from Ventimiglia to Nice, then a TGV from Nice to Marseille. Here, a TER rolls into Juan les Pins station, between Nice & Cannes.

Coastal scenery from the upper deck of the TER from Ventimiglia to Nice & Cannes...

Step 5, travel from Marseille to Barcelona by AVE. This is an AVE-S100 at Barcelona Sants.

1st class seats on an AVE S100. 360º photo of 1st class.

Cafe-bar...

These S100 AVE trains operate the TGV/AVE services from Madrid to Marseille, Barcelona to Lyon, Toulouse. This is an AVE-S100 at Barcelona Sants.

2nd class seats on the S100 AVE, all with power sockets. Luggage goes on the racks at the car ends or above the seats. 360º photo of 2nd class More photos & info about AVE S100.

Mt Canigou & the Pyrenees... Seen from the train and one of the highest peaks in the mighty Pyrenees, the 2,784m (9,137 feet) high Mt Canigou dominates the skyline all the way from Girona to Perpignan...

Option 3, Florence to Barcelona & Spain with overnight stop in Geneva...

This is a pleasant way to go, with interesting scenery on the way and a chance to spend some time in Geneva. Leave Florence late afternoon, sleep soundly in a hotel in Geneva, spend a pleasant morning in Geneva next day, then take a TER regional train to Lyon and high-speed AVE to Barcelona arriving in the evening.

Day 1, travel from Florence SMN to Milan Centrale by Frecciarossa high-speed train then Milan Centrale to Geneva by ETR610 EuroCity train.
You can leave Florence SMN at 14:55, change at Milan Centrale, arriving Geneva at 21:21.

Or leave Florence SMN at 16:55, change at Milan Centrale, arriving Geneva at 23:54.

Fares start at €19.90 for Florence-Milan plus €29 upwards for Milan-Geneva. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book from Florence to Geneva at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee), using either of those websites means all your tickets can be booked together in one place. Or book at www.italiarail.com in €, £ or $, the small fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com. Booking normally opens 120 days ahead.

Stay overnight in Geneva. Suggested hotels with good reviews near the station include Hotel Cornavin Genève, Hotel Les Arcades, ibis Styles Geneva Gare. Hotels in Switzerland can be expensive, if you're on a budget you can book budget private rooms in a one-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station using www.hostelworld.com.

Day 2, travel from Geneva to Barcelona, leaving Geneva at 11:30 by TER regional train, change trains at Lyon Part Dieu (arrive 13:25, depart 14:28) onto the afternoon AVE-S100 high-speed train to Barcelona, arriving Barcelona Sants at 19:33.
The AVE train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. You'll pass Béziers cathedral, flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Montpelier & Perpignan, the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks, and get great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, see the photos & information here.
The Geneva-Lyon fare is a fixed-price €29.40. Lyon-Barcelona fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.

Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, more fiddly, no fee). Booking normally opens 120 days ahead. You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

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

Day 3, travel from Barcelona to other Spanish cities by high-speed train...

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

For Cordoba & Seville: Take the direct AVE-S112 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:30 arriving Cordoba 13:11 & Seville Santa Justa at 14:04. Fares start at €45. Alternatively, spend a morning in Barcelona and take the 15:45 AVE S112 high-speed train to Cordoba & Seville.

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

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

For Valencia & Alicante: EuroMed trains link Barcelona Sants 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.

Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it). Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but this can vary.

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Florence to Lisbon & Portugal...

Option 1, Florence to Lisbon via Madrid...

Day 1, travel from Florence to Marseille, stay overnight, then take the morning AVE high-speed train from Marseille to Madrid on day 2 as shown in the Florence to Madrid section above.

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

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

Change at Lisbon Oriente for trains to Porto & Faro, as shown in the Madrid to Lisbon section.

Option 2, Florence to Faro & the Algarve using a bus from Seville...

Day 1, travel from Florence to Barcelona as shown above.

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

Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Seville by AVE-S112 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:30 and arriving Seville Santa Justa at 14:04.
Fares start at around €45.
Book this at www.raileurope.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, only in €, may reject some overseas credit cards).

Day 2, travel from Seville to Faro by bus. Buses run from Seville Plaza de Armas to Faro several times daily, journey time around 3h40, fare around €16-€20.

Buses are run by Damas, Eva-Bus & Alsa amongst others, you can check times & buy tickets for various bus companies all in one place at Omio.com. You print your own ticket.

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Florence to Andorra...

Step 1, travel from Florence to Marseille as shown in the Florence to Nice & Marseille section above.
Book this at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee).

Stay overnight in Marseille. Inexpensive hotels with good reviews just outside Marseille St Charles station include the Ibis Marseille Centre Gare St Charles, Holiday Inn Express Marseille St Charles.

Step 2, travel from Marseille to Toulouse by Intercité leaving Marseille St Charles at 09:28 & arriving Toulouse Matabiau at 13:15.

Fares start at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at either www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.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). Booking for French trains opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

Step 3, travel from Toulouse Matabiau station to Andorra la Vella by bus. Andbus run several buses per day taking 4 hours, fare €33. There's a bus leaving Toulouse Matabiau station (bus stand 15) at 15:00 arriving Andorra 19:00. Check times & book the bus at www.andorrabybus.com. I'd allow at least an hour between train and bus in Toulouse, just in case of delay.

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Florence to Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin & Germany...

Option 1, Florence to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train & onwards train to Frankfurt, Hamburg, Berlin or anywhere in Germany - the time-effective option...

Step 1, travel from Florence to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Florence SMN at 22:47 every night and arriving Munich Hbf at 09:20.
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 the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.

Step 2, travel from Munich to anywhere in Germany, for example leaving Munich Hbf 10:55 by ICE train and arriving Berlin Hbf at 15:29.
Book from Munich to any German destination at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, allowing at least 1 hour between trains in Munich.
Fares start at €18.90 upwards. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

Florence to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train. More information about Nightjets.

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.

Nightjet couchette car...

6-berth couchettes...

4-berth couchettes...

Option 2, Florence to Hamburg or Berlin using the Zurich-Hamburg/Berlin sleeper...

Step 1, travel from Florence to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Florence SMN at 10:55 and arriving Milan Centrale at 12:50.

The Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

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 www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it). Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

Step 2, travel from Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train, leaving Milan Centrale at 14:10 and arriving Zurich HB at 17:50.

The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It's a lovely run through the Alps, past Italian and Swiss lakes and passing through the world's longest railway tunnel, the Gotthard Base Tunnel. Have dinner in Zurich, I can recommend the steak-frites and a beer at the Brasserie Federal on the main concourse at Zurich HB.

Fares start at €29 in 2nd class or €49 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 www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it). Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

Step 3, travel from Zurich to Germany by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Zurich HB at 19:59 & arriving Hamburg Hbf 07:54 or Berlin Hbf 07:38.

This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has portions. The Hamburg portion has two air-conditioned double-deck sleeping-cars (1 & 2 bed compartments with washbasin, 1 & 2 bed deluxe compartments with shower & toilet, plus a few 3-berth compartments with washbasin), couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments & ordinary seats. The Berlin portion has a 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. The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee in the morning, See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, 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 €, more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Switzerland & click nj.

Option 3, Florence to Munich & Germany via the Brenner route - a scenic daytime option...

Take a high-speed train from Rome to Bologna or Verona, then a comfortable Austrian EuroCity train from Bologna or Verona to Munich. The Verona-Munich EuroCity trains run every couple of hours and it's a lovely run up the Brenner, see the Brenner Pass scenery video here. For example:
Leave Florence SMN at 08:36 daily, change at Verona Porta Nuova onto the 11:01 EuroCity train, arriving Munich Hbf 16:26.

Leave Florence SMN at 10:20 daily, change at Bologna Centrale onto the 11:52 EuroCity train, arriving Munich Hbf 18:27.

Leave Florence SMN at 12:36 daily, change at Verona Porta Nuova onto the 15:01 EuroCity train, arriving Munich Hbf 20:26.

Leave Florence SMN at 14:20 Monday-Friday only, change at Bologna Centrale onto the 15:50 EuroCity train, arriving Munich Hbf 22:27.

How much does it cost?
Florence to Bologna or Verona starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.
Bologna or Verona to Munich or anywhere in Germany starts at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

How to buy tickets...
Book from Florence SMN to Munich or anywhere in Germany at www.raileurope.com, but (and this is important) click More options, enter either Verona (any station) or Bologna Centrale as a via station and a stopover duration of 45 minutes. Look for journeys with just 1 change to Munich or 2 changes if going beyond Munich.
www.raileurope.com connects to both the Italian and German ticketing systems so can source both tickets as one seamless booking. You can pay in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, there's a small booking fee. The Italian train is ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. For Austrian/German trains you can print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or smartphone.
Alternatively, you can book the Italian train at www.italiarail.com (in €, £ or $, the small fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com, then book the Austrian/German trains from Bologna or Verona to anywhere in Germany at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

A EuroCity train at Munich Hbf. More photos & information about these Austrian 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.

Watch out for hilltop fortresses...

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

Mountains on the Brenner route... See the Brenner Pass scenery video here...

Option 4, Florence to Frankfurt & Germany via the Gotthard route - another scenic daytime option...

Step 1, travel from Florence to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Florence SMN at 07:55 every day and arriving Milan Centrale 09:50.
Fares start at €19.90 in standard class or €29.90 in business. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, it's ticketless, you print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

Step 2, travel from Milan to Frankfurt by ETR610 EuroCity train leaving Milan Centrale at 11:20 & arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 18:44.
The train travels along Lake Maggiore and through the Swiss Alps via the famous Simplon & Lötschberg route. Change in Frankfurt for Cologne, Dusseldorf and so on. It's even possible to reach Hamburg or Berlin shortly after midnight!
Fares from Milan to Germany start at €59.90 in 2nd class or €119.90 in 1st class. Again, fares vary like air fares so book ahead.
Book from Milan to anywhere in Germany at www.bahn.de or www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, looking for the 11:20 departure. You print your own ticket.

An ETR610 at Milan Centrale, as used on the direct Milan-Frankfurt EuroCity train. More information about these trains.

1st class seats. Larger photo.

Restaurant car. Larger photo.

Lunch in the restaurant car...

2nd class. Larger photo. 360 degree photo.

Lake Maggiore, seen over lunch in the restaurant car...

Option 5, Florence to anywhere in Germany with overnight stop in Munich...

Day 1, travel from Florence to Munich, leaving Florence SMN at 14:20, changing at Bologna Centrale and arriving Munich Hbf at 22:27.
Or take an earlier train and spend a pleasant evening in Munich - you'll find earlier departures arriving Munich at 16:26, 18:27 or 20:26, for example - just check times at www.raileurope.com.
You take an Italian high-speed Frecciarossa to Bologna (or on some departures, Verona) with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then a comfortable Austrian EuroCity train through the scenic Brenner pass to Munich Hbf. The journey is worth doing in daylight.
Florence to Bologna or Verona starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.
Bologna or Verona to Munich starts at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book from Florence SMN to Munich Hbf at www.raileurope.com, but (this is important) click More options, enter Bologna Centrale as a via station and a stopover duration of 45 minutes. Look for journeys with just 1 change. Now re-run the enquiry with Verona Porta Nuova as a via station also with 45 minutes stopover selected to see if this gives a cheaper or quicker 1-change journey, which it will be on some departures.
Booking normally opens 120 days ahead for Italian trains, which are ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead for the Austrian EuroCity trains, you print your own ticket or can show them on your laptop or smartphone.

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

Day 2, travel from Munich to anywhere in Germany on comfortable ICE or IC trains.
Fares start at €18.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy tickets at the German Railways website bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

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Florence to Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck & Austria from €59..

Option 1, Florence to Salzburg & Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train - the time-effective option...

An excellent Nightjet sleeper train leaves Florence SMN at 22:47 every night, with a portion arriving at Salzburg Hbf at 06:49 and another portion arriving at Vienna Hbf at 08:52.
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 the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.

The Nightjet sleeper at Vienna 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 sleeper train...

Option 2, Florence to Salzburg or Vienna by daytime trains - a scenic daytime option with lunch in Venice...

You can travel from Florence to Salzburg or Vienna by train in a single chill-out day. And how about lunch in Venice?

Step 1, travel from Florence to Venice by Frecciargento high-speed train, leaving Florence SMN at 12:20, arriving Venice Santa Lucia at 14:24.
If you'd like lunch and a wander around Venice, take an earlier train from Florence, for example the 07:20, 08:20 or 09:20. The Rialto Bridge is just 20 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia, St Mark's Square just 27 minutes walk, see map of Venice showing station. There's a left luggage office at the station. Of course if you haven't been to Venice before, I'd recommend an overnight stop, not just a few hours!

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, using this means you can book all your tickets together in one place) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €). Italiarail will refund their booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com afterwards.
Booking normally opens 120 days ahead. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

Step 2, travel from Venice to Vienna by smart Austrian railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 23:35.
This train takes the wonderful UNESCO-listed Semmering route, you might see something of the landscape at least in summer when it's light until ten. The railjet train has a bistro-restaurant, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi, see the Venice to Vienna by railjet page.
For Salzburg, change in Villach arriving Salzburg Hbf around 21:48. Don't worry about the 5-minute interchange at Villach, this is a recognised connection which many people make, it's a simple cross-platform switch from platform 2 to platform 3. In any case you will have a through ticket so will be looked after if there's missed connection.
Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €44.90 in 1st class or €59 in business class (= premium 1st). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book from Venice to Vienna or Salzburg at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways web site www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly, same fares).
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.

A Venice-Vienna railjet at Venice Santa Lucia. More photos & info about Venice-Vienna railjets.

Restaurant. In 1st & business you're served at your seat.

Business class. About business class.

First class.

Economy class.

The railjet travels over the famous Semmering Railway, opened in 1854 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the Vienna to Venice by train page for more information, photos & video.

Option 3, Florence to Innsbruck, Salzburg or Vienna in a day via the Brenner Pass - another scenic daytime option...

Step 1, travel from Florence to Bologna by Frecciarossa, leaving Florence SMN at 10:36 and arriving Bologna Centrale at 11:15.
The 300 km/h (186 mph) Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Step 2, travel from Bologna to Innsbruck by Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Bologna Centrale at 11:52 & arriving Innsbruck Hbf 16:36.
This train travels through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass scenery video here.

Step 3, travel from Innsbruck to Salzburg or Vienna by railjet train, leaving Innsbruck Hbf 17:14, arriving Salzburg Hbf 19:02 & Vienna Hbf 22:05.
The railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

How much does it cost?

Rome to Bologna starts at €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class.

Bologna to anywhere in Austria 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...
First book the 11:52 from Bologna Centrale to Innsbruck, Salzburg, Vienna or anywhere in Austria using www.thetrainline.com (quickest & easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, in €, more fiddly). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Now add the connecting train from Florence SMN to Bologna Centrale at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee, using Trainline means all your bookings are together in one place), or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, or $) or www.trenitalia.com (in €), making sure you have at least 40 minutes between trains in Verona in case of any delay. If you use Italiarail they'll refund the small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference.
Booking normally opens 120 days ahead. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

A EuroCity train at Munich Hbf. More photos & information about these Austrian 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.

Watch out for hilltop fortresses...

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

Mountains on the Brenner route... See the Brenner Pass scenery video here...

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Florence to Copenhagen, Gothenburg & Stockholm...

Option 1, Florence to Copenhagen, Gothenburg & Stockholm using the Zurich-Hamburg sleeper...

Step 1, travel from Florence to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Florence SMN at 11:55 and arriving Milan Centrale at 13:50.

Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class. The Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it). It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

Step 2, travel from Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train, leaving Milan Centrale at 15:10 and arriving Zurich HB at 18:27.

The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It's a lovely run through the Alps, past Italian and Swiss lakes and passing through the world's longest railway tunnel, the Gotthard Base Tunnel. Have dinner in Zurich, I can recommend the steak-frites and a beer at the Brasserie Federal on the main concourse at Zurich HB.

Fares start at €29 in 2nd class or €49 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 www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it). Booking opens up to 90 days ahead. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

Step 3, travel from Zurich to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Zurich HB at 19:59 and arriving Hamburg Hbf at 07:54.

This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has two air-conditioned double-deck sleeping-cars (1 & 2 bed compartments with washbasin, 1 & 2 bed deluxe compartments with shower & toilet, plus a few 3-berth compartments with washbasin), couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments & ordinary seats. The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee in the morning, see the Nightjet information page.

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 €, more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Switzerland & click nj.

Step 4, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:56 & arriving Copenhagen at 13:33.
From 18 June to 21 August 2022 an altered timetable applies, you leave Hamburg Hbf at 10:53 & arrive Copenhagen at 15:33.
Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book from Hamburg to Copenhagen at the German Railways website www.bahn.de or www.raileurope.com

Step 5, travel from Copenhagen to Sweden by train...
For Stockholm, travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000 train leaving Copenhagen at 14:19 and arriving Stockholm Central at 19:37.

From 18 June to 21 August 2022 when you leave Hamburg later, leave Copenhagen at 16:19 and arrive Stockholm Central at 21:38.

For Gothenburg, travel from Copenhagen to Gothenburg by Öresund train, these leave every hour taking 3h53.

For Malmo, travel from Copenhagen to Malmo by Öresund train every 20-30 minutes taking 39 minutes.

All these trains cross the water from Denmark to Sweden over the impressive Öresund fixed link.

Fares from Hamburg to Sweden start at €56.90. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book from Hamburg to Stockholm, Gothenburg or Malmö as one transaction at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. Gothenburg is listed as Göteborg Central. If you have any problems, for example if you don't see any affordable 1st class fares, split the booking, booking Hamburg to Copenhagen at www.bahn.de and booking Copenhagen to anywhere in Sweden at either Omio.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small fee) or www.sj.se (in SEK, has been known to reject some overseas credit cards).

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

Zurich to Hamburg by Nightjet... This is a double-deck sleeping-car at Zurich HB. Courtesy of DiscoverbyRail.com.

2-berth sleeper on lower deck...

Stairs down to pair of lower compartments...

1 or 2-bed sleeper on lower deck with washbasin, viewed through window. Set up as 1-bed. Note how compact the compartment is...

Nightjet couchette car...

6-berth couchettes...

4-berth couchettes...

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.

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 2, Florence to Copenhagen, Gothenburg & Stockholm using the Florence-Munich sleeper...

Step 1, travel from Florence to Munich by excellent Austrian Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Florence SMN at 22:47, arriving Munich Hbf 09:20.

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 the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.
If you'd prefer a daytime journey with an overnight stop in Munich, use the Florence to Munich in a single day option above.

Step 2, travel from Munich to Copenhagen, leaving Munich Hbf 10:22, changing at Hamburg Hbf and arriving Copenhagen at 21:33.

From 18 June to 21 August 2022 an altered timetable applies, leave Munich Hbf 11:56, change Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen 23:33

Treat this as a chill-out day with a good book and a glass or two of wine (I can recommend DB's Spätburgunder red). You travel from Munich to Hamburg by ICE train with restaurant car for lunch, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. You travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by comfortable Danish intercity train with free WiFi whilst in Denmark, but no catering car so bring your own food & drink.

If you're only going as far as Copenhagen, book from Munich to Copenhagen from €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class at the German Railways site www.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

Step 3 if you're going to Malmo, simply take the next available Öresund train from Copenhagen to Malmö, these leave every 20-30 minutes taking 39 minutes. You can book through from Munich to Malmö from €39.90 at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.

Step 3 if you're going to Stockholm or Gothenburg, stay overnight in Copenhagen then travel to Stockholm in just 5h15 by X2000 high-speed train or to Gothenburg in 3h53 by Öresund train.
You can book tickets from Copenhagen to anywhere in Sweden at the Swedish Railways site www.sj.se, but there's a cleverer way to book if you are coming from Munich. Use this special link to bahn.de to book from Munich to Stockholm from €56.90 with an overnight stop in Copenhagen programmed in using the Stopover feature - just enter your date of travel from Munich. Adjust the intermediate stopover time as necessary to get the trains you want, or if no fares show up initially, it may take a bit of trial & error to get the trains you want. This method works to book from Munich to Gothenburg, too - you'll find bahn.de lists Gothenburg as Göteborg Central.

Florence to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train. More information about Nightjets.

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.

Nightjet couchette car...

6-berth couchettes...

4-berth couchettes...

Option 3, Florence to Copenhagen, Gothenburg & Stockholm by daytime trains with overnight stops in Munich & Copenhagen...

Day 1, travel from Florence to Munich by daytime trains via the scenic Brenner Pass as shown in Florence-Munich option 3 above.

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

Day 2, travel from Munich to Copenhagen by train, leaving Munich Hbf at 10:22, 1 easy change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen at 21:33.

From 18 June to 21 August 2022 an altered timetable applies, leave Munich Hbf 07:17, change Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen 19:33 or there's a later departure at 11:56 arriving 23:33.

Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 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 can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

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

Day 3, travel from Copenhagen to Gothenburg by hourly Öresund train in 3h53, or travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by fast X2000 train in around 5h15 with various departures to choose from, fares from around €28 upwards. Book this at Omio.com or the Swedish Railways website www.sj.se.

Tip: You may be able to save money by buying a Munich-Stockholm or Munich-Gothenburg through ticket from German Railways like this: Go to www.bahn.de, enter Munich-Stockholm or Munich-Gothenburg. Before running the enquiry, click Stopover, enter Copenhagen and a stopover duration of (say) 12 hours. It should then give you a Sparpreis fare with an overnight stop in Copenhagen, specified trains only, limited or no refunds.

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Florence to Oslo & Norway...

Option 1, Florence to Oslo via Munich & Copenhagen - by train all the way...

Day 1, travel from Florence to Munich by daytime trains via the scenic Brenner Pass as shown in Florence-Munich option 3 above.

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

Day 2, travel from Munich to Copenhagen by train, leaving Munich Hbf at 10:22, 1 easy change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen at 21:33.

From 18 June to 21 August 2022 an altered timetable applies, leave Munich Hbf 07:17, change Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen 19:33

Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 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 can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

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

Day 3, travel from Copenhagen to Oslo by train, leaving Copenhagen at 09:27, change at Gothenburg Central, arriving Oslo Sentral 17:51.

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

Alternatively, spend a morning in Copenhagen, and after lunch take the DFDS overnight ferry to Oslo with a comfortable private cabin with shower & toilet, sailing from Copenhagen at 14:15 and arriving Oslo at 09:15 on day 4, as also shown here. This is remarkably affordable, and saves a hotel bill. Book the ferry at www.dfds.co.uk.

Option 2, Florence to Oslo via the Kiel-Oslo cruise ferry - the most luxurious way to Norway...

Day 1, travel from Florence to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Florence SMN at 12:10 and arriving Milan Centrale at 13:58.

The Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

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 www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it). Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

Day 1, travel from Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train, leaving Milan Centrale at 15:10 and arriving Zurich HB at 18:27.

The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It's a lovely run through the Alps, past Italian and Swiss lakes and passing through the world's longest railway tunnel, the Gotthard Base Tunnel. Have dinner in Zurich, I can recommend the steak-frites and a beer at the Brasserie Federal on the main concourse at Zurich HB.

Fares start at €29 in 2nd class or €49 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 www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it). Booking opens up to 90 days ahead. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

Day 1, travel from Zurich to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Zurich HB at 19:59 and arriving Hamburg Hbf at 07:54.

This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has two air-conditioned double-deck sleeping-cars (1 & 2 bed compartments with washbasin, 1 & 2 bed deluxe compartments with shower & toilet, plus a few 3-berth compartments with washbasin), couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments & ordinary seats. The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee in the morning, see the Nightjet information page.

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 €, more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Switzerland & click nj.

Day 2, take a regional train from Hamburg Hbf to Kiel then the overnight Color Line cruise ferry to Oslo. The ferry sails from Kiel around 14:00, arriving in Oslo around 10:L00 on day 3 from Rome. For full details of this Hamburg to Oslo journey, see Hamburg-Oslo option 2 on the trains from Hamburg page.

Zurich to Hamburg by Nightjet... This is a double-deck sleeping-car at Zurich HB. Courtesy of DiscoverbyRail.com.

2-berth sleeper on lower deck...

Stairs down to pair of lower compartments...

1 or 2-bed sleeper on lower deck with washbasin, viewed through window. Set up as 1-bed. Note how compact the compartment is...

Nightjet couchette car...

6-berth couchettes...

4-berth couchettes...

Kiel to Oslo by cruise ferry... 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....

Option 3, using the Zurich-Hamburg sleeper & Frederikshavn-Oslo ferry - a cheaper option, more changes, slightly quicker...

Day 1-2, travel from Rome to Hamburg as shown in option 2 above.

Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Frederikshavn in the north of Denmark by train, and take the comfortable DFDS overnight ferry from Frederikshavn to Oslo. This is a cheaper option than the Color Line ferry from Kiel, although Hamburg to Frederikshavn involves 2 changes and the ferry doesn't sail until very late at night. For full details of this Hamburg to Oslo journey, see Hamburg-Oslo option 3 on the train from Hamburg page.

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Florence to Helsinki & Finland...

Option 1, Florence to Helsinki using the Finnlines ferry from Germany - the easiest option...

Day 1, travel from Florence to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Florence SMN at 22:47 and arriving Munich Hbf at 09:20.

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 (in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.

Day 2, travel from Munich to Hamburg by ICE4 train, leaving Munich Hbf at 10:22 and arriving Hamburg Hbf 15:54.

Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €56.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at the German Railways site www.bahn.de and print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or smartphone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Day 2, transfer from Hamburg Hbf to the Travemünde ferry terminal by local train+bus and sail from Travemünde to Helsinki with Finnlines, as shown in detail on the Trains from Hamburg page.

Finnlines sail from Travemünde in northern Germany to Helsinki every day, boarding from 22:30 to 24:00 and arriving Helsinki Vuosaari ferry terminal at 09:00 2 nights later (Day 4 from Florence). Check sailing dates, times & book the ferry at www.finnlines.com or use the Direct Ferries website.

Transfer from Vuosaari to central Helsinki as shown on the Trains from Hamburg page.

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

One of Finnlines 3 star class ferries to Helsinki. Courtesy of Finnlines.

Cabin on the ferry...

Option 2, Florence to Helsinki by train to Stockholm then ferry...

Step 1, travel from Florence to Stockholm as shown above.

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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Florence to Prague from €68...

Option 1, Florence to Prague overnight via Vienna - comfortable, safe, time-effective, with a chance to see Vienna on the way...

Step 1, travel from Florence to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train leaving Florence SMN at 22:47 arriving Vienna Hbf at 08:52 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 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 the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.
Tip: If you have a sleeper ticket and/or 1st class ticket for the onward train to Prague you can use the ÖBB lounge in Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.

Step 2, travel from Vienna to Prague by smart modern Czech Railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 11:10 & arriving Prague Hlavni at 15:42.
Fares start at €14.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44.90 in business class (= premium 1st). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
These swish railjet trains have a restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the railjet information page.
Why not book book a later railjet & spend some time exploring Vienna? Railjets to Prague leave every two hours, see the timetable here. Left luggage lockers are available in Vienna. In Prague, you arrive in the city centre walking distance from the old city square.
Book this train at either www.thetrainline.com or www.cd.cz - check prices on both sites as one is often cheaper than the other for the same train. You print your own ticket. Easy! You can also book at www.oebb.at. See suggested hotels in Prague.

Alternative step 2 if you're going to Cesky Krumlov: Travel from Vienna Franz-Josefs-Bahnhof to Cesky Krumlov in 4h26 as explained here.

Step 1, Florence to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train... 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 sleeper train...

Step 2, take a smart modern Railjet train from Vienna to Prague, with economy, first & business class, restaurant car, free WiFi and draught beer on tap...

Economy (2nd) class... Mainly unidirectional seating but with some tables for 4. All seats have power sockets & free WiFi. Larger photo.

First class... Mainly unidirectional, with some tables for 2 & tables for 4. Larger photo

Restaurant car for snacks, meals, beer, wine, tea & coffee. You don't need to reserve, just turn up & sit down. There's waiter-service at tables or order at the counter & take back to your seat. Larger photo.

Business class = premium 1st class. Just 6 seats at one end of the 1st class car. Same seats but very different layout from business class on Austrian railjet. Larger photo.

Option 2, Florence to Prague or Cesky Krumlov via Zurich - another comfortable, safe & time-effective option...

Step 1, travel from Florence to Zurich by train, leaving Florence SMN at 13:55, change at Milan Centrale, arriving Zurich HB at 19:27.
You travel from Florence to Milan by Frecciarossa high-speed train with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Then Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. This train takes the scenic Gotthard route past Lake Lugano in the Swiss Alps. 20 minutes of the journey is now in the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world's longest rail tunnel but you still get great views either side, see more about this journey here.
Book from Florence SMN to Zurich HB using either www.raileurope.com, www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com. Florence to Milan starts at €19.90 then Milan to Zurich starts at €29. Make sure you have at least an hour in Zurich to change trains in case of any delay. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.
You've time for dinner in Zurich, I recommend the steak-frites and a beer or two at the Brasserie Federal on the main concourse at Zurich HB.

Step 2, travel from Zurich to Prague by sleeping-car, leaving Zurich HB at 21:40 and arriving Ceske Budejovice 08:52 & Prague Hlavni 10:57.

The sleeping-car to Prague is a modern Czech Comfortline type with nine 1, 2 or 3 bed compartments with washbasin and three deluxe 1, 2 or 3 bed compartments with en suite toilet & shower. There are toilets and a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. Morning tea & coffee is included in the sleeper fare. There are no couchettes on this route. More information about the Zurich-Prague sleeper.
Fares start at €45 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €59 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €112 in a single-bed sleeper. Deluxe sleepers cost a bit more. All per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this sleeper online at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz. Booking normally opens 90 days ahead. You print your own ticket. Easy! See my tips for using cd.cz.

If you're going to Ceske Krumlov, get off the sleeper at Ceske Budejovice (its former name is Budweis, that's right, where the name of the beer comes from), have a coffee at the station then take the 10:13 express train to Ceske Krumlov arriving 10:50. In this case you'd use www.cd.cz to book Zurich to Cesky Krumlov, of course looking for the 21:40 departure with 1 change.

Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train. More information about these EuroCity trains.

Giruno, 1st class. Larger photo.

Restaurant car with bar counter. Larger photo.

Giruno 2nd class. Larger photo

Level boarding. Note the destination screen in the door.

This is Lake Lugano, seen from a Milan-Zurich EuroCity train...

Zurich to Prague by sleeping-car, seen here at Zurich HB. More information about this sleeper.

Standard sleeper set up as a 2-berth, with blind down & washstand open. Each room can be used with 1, 2 or 3 beds.

Same sleeper with berths folded away & seats out, washstand closed. Very similar to a deluxe, but without shower & toilet.

Deluxe sleepers are similar to standard ones, with a bit more floorspace & compact shower & toilet instead of washstand.

Just like a hotel, the corridor in a Comfortline sleeping-car. There's a shower at end of the corridor for standard sleeper passengers.

Option 3, Florence to Prague with overnight stop in Venice - if you prefer day trains & hotel to sleepers...

Day 1, travel from Florence SMN to Venice Santa Lucia by Frecciarossa in just 2h14 using any train you like.
You can spend a full day in Florence before taking an evening train, or take an earlier train and see something of Venice. The Rialto bridge is just 15 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia, the Piazza San Marco is just 25 minutes walk. Frecciarossas have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas cards no problem, small booking fee) or Trenitalia's website www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.

You can also try high-speed operator Italo for this journey, booked at www.italotreno.it.

Stay overnight in Venice. For a hotel that won't break the bank just 2 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia with good reviews, try the Hotel Maggior Consiglio or for a little more, the Hotel Abbazia.

Day 2, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:55 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 17:35.
The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It takes the beautifully scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route from Vienna to Graz, a real treat, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmering_railway. Treat yourself to lunch with wine as the mountains glide by. See the Venice to Vienna by train page for more information, tips, photos & video.
Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class, €44.90 in 1st class or €59.90 in business class (= premium 1st class, a real treat). Fares vary like air fares.

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

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

Day 2, travel from Vienna to Prague by swish modern Czech railjet train leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:10 and arriving Prague Hlavni at 23:43.

The excellent air-conditioned railjet train has a restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Fares start at €14.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44.90 in business class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com or the Czech Railways site www.cd.cz, whichever is cheaper. Booking opens 6 months ahead on www.thetrainline.com, 92 days ahead at www.cd.cz. You print your own ticket. See suggested hotels in Prague.

A Venice-Vienna railjet, at Venice Santa Lucia. More photos & info about Venice-Vienna railjets.

Restaurant. In 1st & business you're served at your seat.

Business class. About business class.

First class.

Economy class.

The railjet travels over the famous Semmering Railway, opened in 1854 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the Vienna to Venice by train page for more information, photos & video.

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Florence to Bratislava & Slovakia from €64...

Option 1, Florence to Bratislava using the Florence-Vienna sleeper - safe, comfortable, time-effective...

Step 1, travel from Florence to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train leaving Florence SMN at 22:47 arriving Vienna Hbf at 08:52 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 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 the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, a bit more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.
Tip: If you have a sleeper ticket you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.

Step 2, when you reach Vienna, simply buy a ticket for €10.80 and hop on the next hourly Regional Express train from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna, no reservation necessary or possible, journey time 1h07, see the timetable here. You can check times using www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.

Step 1, Florence to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train... 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 sleeper train.

Step 2, Vienna to Bratislava by hourly Regional Express train, seen about to leave Vienna Hbf. Behind the locomotive is a smart Slovakian air-conditioned intercity coach, whilst the rest of the train consists of more basic non-air-con Austrian City Shuttle carriages, with interiors as shown in the photo above right. Find a seat in the more comfortable Slovakian car if you can!

Option 2, Florence to Bratislava with overnight stop in Venice - if you prefer day trains & hotel to sleepers...

Day 1, travel from Florence SMN to Venice Santa Lucia by Frecciarossa in just 2h14 using any train you like.
You can spend almost a full day in Florence before taking an evening train, or take an earlier train and see something of Venice. The Rialto bridge is just 15 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia, the Piazza San Marco is just 25 minutes walk. Frecciarossas have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas cards no problem, small booking fee) or Trenitalia's website www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.

You can also try high-speed operator Italo for this journey, booked at www.italotreno.it.

Stay overnight in Venice. For a hotel that won't break the bank just 2 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia with good reviews, try the Hotel Maggior Consiglio or for a little more, the Hotel Abbazia.

Day 2, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:55 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 17:35.
The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It takes the beautifully scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route from Vienna to Graz, a real treat, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmering_railway. Treat yourself to lunch with wine as the mountains glide by. See the Venice to Vienna by train page for more information, tips, photos & video.
Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class, €44.90 in 1st class or €59.90 in business class (= premium 1st class, a real treat). Fares vary like air fares.

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

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

Day 2, when you reach Vienna, simply buy a ticket for €10.80 and hop on the next hourly regional express train from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna, no reservation necessary or possible, journey time 1h07. You can check times using www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.

Venice to Vienna by railjet, seen at Venice Santa Lucia. More photos & info about Venice-Vienna railjets.

Restaurant. In 1st & business you're served at your seat.

Business class. About business class.

First class.

Economy class.

The railjet travels over the famous Semmering Railway, opened in 1854 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the Vienna to Venice by train page for more information, photos & video.

Vienna to Bratislava by hourly Regional Express train, seen about to leave Vienna Hbf. Behind the locomotive is a smart Slovakian air-conditioned intercity coach, whilst the rest of the train consists of more basic non-air-con Austrian City Shuttle carriages, with interiors as shown in the photo above right. Find a seat in the more comfortable Slovakian car if you can!

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Florence to Budapest from €68...

Option 1, Florence to Budapest using the Florence-Vienna sleeper - safe, comfortable, time-effective...

Step 1, travel from Florence to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train leaving Florence SMN at 22:47 arriving Vienna Hbf at 08:52 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 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 the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.
Tip: If you have a sleeper ticket and/or 1st class ticket for the onward train to Budapest you can use the ÖBB lounge in Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.

Step 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest by smart modern Austrian railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 09:42 & arriving Budapest Keleti 12:19.

Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44 in business class (= premium 1st). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

These swish railjet trains have a restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the railjet information page.
Why not book book a later train & spend some time in Vienna? Trains to Budapest leave every hour, left luggage lockers are available.

Buy tickets for this train as a second transaction at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at. You print your own ticket. Easy!

Step 1, Florence to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train... 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 sleeper train...

Step 2, Vienna to Budapest by railjet, seen at Vienna Hbf. More information about railjets.

Business class. About.

Restaurant car.

First class.

Economy class.

Option 2, Florence to Budapest with overnight stop in Venice - if you prefer day trains & hotel to sleepers...

Day 1, travel from Florence SMN to Venice Santa Lucia by Frecciarossa in just 2h14 using any train you like.
You can spend almost a full day in Florence before taking an evening train, or take an earlier train and see something of Venice. The Rialto bridge is just 15 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia, the Piazza San Marco is just 25 minutes walk. Frecciarossas have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas cards no problem, small booking fee) or Trenitalia's website www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.

You can also try high-speed operator Italo for this journey, booked at www.italotreno.it.

Stay overnight in Venice. For a hotel that won't break the bank just 2 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia with good reviews, try the Hotel Maggior Consiglio or for a little more, the Hotel Abbazia.

Day 2, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:55 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 17:35.
The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It takes the beautifully scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route from Vienna to Graz, a real treat, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmering_railway. Treat yourself to lunch with wine as the mountains glide by. See the Venice to Vienna by train page for more information, tips, photos & video.
Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class, €44.90 in 1st class or €59.90 in business class (= premium 1st class, a real treat). Fares vary like air fares.

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

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

Day 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest by railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 18:42 and arriving Budapest Keleti at 21:19.

The swish air-conditioned railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44.90 in business 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. You print your own ticket.

A Venice-Vienna railjet, at Venice Santa Lucia. More photos & info about Venice-Vienna railjets.

Railjet first class, with black leather seats...

Business class. About.

The restaurant...

A railjet at the impressive modern Vienna Hbf.

Economy class...

The railjet travels over the famous Semmering Railway, opened in 1854 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the Vienna to Venice by train page for more information, photos & video.

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Florence to Bucharest, Brasov & Romania...

Step 1, travel from Florence to Budapest as shown in the Florence to Budapest section above.
You leave Florence in the evening by sleeper train and changing in Vienna onto a railjet train to Budapest, arriving at lunchtime. You've an afternoon to explore Budapest.

Step 2, take the overnight sleeper train Ister leaving Budapest Keleti at 19:10 and arriving Brasov at 09:23 & Bucharest Nord at 11:59 next day.
This comfortable train has an air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, see the photos on the London to Romania page.

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

Book this train at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro. Click EN top right for English. Booking opens up to 90 days ahead. For Bucharest type Bucuresti. It can book seats, couchettes or sleepers. You print your own ticket.
You can also book at the Hungarian Railways website www.mav-start.hu, see my advice on using it. For Bucharest type Bucuresti. You show your ticket in the MAV app on your smartphone.

Alternatively, stay overnight in Budapest - for an inexpensive hotel with great reviews right next to Keleti Station, try the Royal Park Boutique Hotel or the inexpensive Baross City Hotel just across the road or the Elit Hotel two minutes walk away. Next day, take a daytime train across Transylvania to Cluj, Timisoara, Simeria, Brasov or Bucharest as shown on the Trains from Budapest page. These daytime trains are also bookable from €26.30 at www.mavcsoport.hu.

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.

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Florence to Ljubljana & Zagreb...

Option 1, Florence to Ljubljana & Zagreb using the Florence-Austria Nightjet sleeper train - the most time-effective option.

Step 1, travel from Florence to Bruck an der Mur by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Florence SMN at 22:47 and arriving Bruck/Mur at 06:39.

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 the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, a bit more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.

Step 2, travel from Bruck an der Mur to Ljubljana by EuroCity train Emona, leaving Bruck/Mur at 09:58, and arriving Ljubljana at 14:00.

Change at Zidani Most for Zagreb, arriving 17:12.

It's an enjoyable ride with some great scenery. The Emona has air-conditioned cars and a restaurant car, treat yourself to lunch.

Fares start at €19.90. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book from Bruck/Mur to Ljubljana or Zagreb 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). You print your own ticket.

Option 2, Florence to Ljubljana & Zagreb using daytime trains on the direct route through Trieste...

Direct trains from Italy to Slovenia were restored in September 2018. Two modern air-conditioned trains now run from Trieste to Ljubljana every day, with connections from Venice - and there's now a daily Austrian EuroCity train from Trieste to Ljubljana, too.

Just €22 or so gets you from Venice to Ljubljana, any day, any date, no prior reservation necessary, it cannot sell out, just buy at the station on the day. Change in Ljubljana for Zagreb. And if you've ever wondered where prosecco comes from, you'll find out on this route!

It's possible to travel from Florence to Ljubljana in a day this way, although you'll need to stay overnight & catch a train to Zagreb next morning.

Click here for timetable & fares between Venice, Ljubljana & Zagreb, with photos & an account of the journey.

Add a ticket from Florence to Venice by Frecciarossa high-speed train from €19.90 at either www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.

Looking back from the rear of the Austrian EuroCity train as it climbs out of Trieste. Courtesy Helmut Uttenthaler.

Scenery in Slovenia on the way from Trieste to Ljubljana. More information about Venice-Trieste-Ljubljana.

Option 3, Florence to Ljubljana & Zagreb with overnight stop at Villach in Austria - a useful alternative...

Step 1, travel from Florence to Venice by Frecciarossa 1000, leaving Florence SMN at 12:20, arriving Venice Santa Lucia 14:34.
The high-speed Frecciarossa train has 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
If you'd like lunch and a wander around Venice, take an earlier train from Florence, for example the 07:30, 08:30 or 09:30. The Rialto Bridge is just 20 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia, St Mark's Square just 27 minutes walk, see map of Venice showing station. There's a left luggage office at the station. Of course if you haven't been to Venice before, I'd recommend an overnight stop, not just a few hours!

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

Book this train at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €). Italiarail will refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference. Booking normally opens 120 days ahead. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

Step 2, travel from Venice to Villach by railjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Villach at 19:11.
The smart Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Villach is in Austria, on the Slovenian border.
Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this at www.thetrainline.com (quickest & easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices, a bit more fiddly). You print your own ticket.

Stay overnight in Villach, I suggest the Hotel Goldenes Lamm or Hotel City, both near the station with great reviews.

Step 3, travel from Villach to Ljubljana & Zagreb, leaving Villach at 06:28 & arriving Lesce-Bled 07:28, Ljubljana 08:11 & Zagreb 10:43.
Enjoy the lovely scenery as the train runs along the pretty river Sava from Ljubljana to Zagreb.

Fares start at €9.90 to Ljubljana or €19.90 to Zagreb, 2nd class only. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this at www.thetrainline.com (quickest & easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices, a bit more fiddly). You print your own ticket.

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Florence to Dubrovnik & Split...

Option 1, Florence to Split & Dubrovnik via Zagreb - by train all the way...

Step 1, travel overland from Florence to Zagreb by train as shown above.

Step 2, take a train from Zagreb to Split (daytime or sleeper) then a bus Split to Dubrovnik (4 hours, lots of buses).

Option 2, Florence to Split & Dubrovnik by ferry from Ancona or Bari - more time-effective...

Step 1, book an overnight ferry with comfortable en suite cabin either from Ancona to Split or from Bari to Dubrovnik.
www.jadrolinija.hr sails on both routes several times a week, leaving 19:45-22:00 and arriving 07:00-08:00. You can choose a private cabin or cheaper berth in a shared cabin. There are also reclining seats, but I always recommend a bed in a cabin for a safe & secure night's sleep. Make sure you're on deck with your camera ready as the ship approaches the beautiful Croatian coast!

Step 2, now add a train ticket from Florence SMN to either Ancona Centrale or Bari Centrale using www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €). Italiarail will refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference. Booking normally opens 120 days ahead. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

You should choose a train which arrives in Bari or Ancona at least 3 hours before the ferry sails, to allow for transfer to the port and check-in. In Bari it's a 25 minute walk via Bari's pleasant old town to the ferry terminal, or a 10 minute taxi ride. In Ancona, take a taxi from station to ferry terminal.

Blue Line & Jadrolinija ferries in Split Harbour... Above right, a deluxe cabin on the Blue Line ferry, which comes complete with an en suite jacuzzi... Courtesy of Andrew Leo.

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Florence to Belgrade & Sofia...

Step 1, travel from Florence to Venice by Frecciarossa 1000, leaving Florence SMN at 12:20, arriving Venice Santa Lucia 14:34.
The high-speed Frecciarossa train has 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
If you'd like lunch and a wander around Venice, take an earlier train from Florence, for example the 07:30, 08:30 or 09:30. The Rialto Bridge is just 20 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia, St Mark's Square just 27 minutes walk, see map of Venice showing station. There's a left luggage office at the station. Of course if you haven't been to Venice before, I'd recommend an overnight stop, not just a few hours!

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

Book this train at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €). Italiarail will refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference. Booking normally opens 120 days ahead. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

Step 2, travel from Venice to Villach by railjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Villach at 19:11.
The smart Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Villach is in Austria, on the Slovenian border.
Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this at www.thetrainline.com (quickest & easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices, a bit more fiddly). You print your own ticket.

Stay overnight in Villach, I suggest the Hotel Goldenes Lamm or Hotel City, both near the station with great reviews.

Step 3, travel from Villach to Zagreb, leaving Villach at 06:28 & arriving Zagreb at 10:43.
Enjoy the lovely scenery as the train runs along the pretty river Sava from Ljubljana to Zagreb.

Fares start at €19.90, 2nd class only. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this at www.thetrainline.com (quickest & easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices, a bit more fiddly). You print your own ticket.

Step 4, travel from Zagreb to Belgrade by train, leaving Zagreb at 11:04 and arriving Novi Beograd 18:04 & Belgrade Centar at 18:12.
This train is still currently suspended due to Covid-19.

2nd class only, with two comfortable Serbian air-conditioned cars. There's no catering, so bring your own food & drink. This train cannot be booked online, just buy at the station or on the train for around €29.

Step 5 if you're going to Sofia, spend the night in Belgrade, I recommend the historic Hotel Moskva. Travel from Belgrade to Sofia by train next day, see the Belgrade to Sofia page for full details. Buy this ticket at the station for €20.60, there are always places available, even on the day. It cannot be booked online, and there's no need.

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Florence to Bar, Budva, Kotor & Montenegro...

This is an excellent way to reach beautiful Montenegro from Florence. Make sure you're on deck with your camera ready as the ship approaches the lovely Montenegrin coast!

Step 1, book an overnight ferry with comfortable en suite cabin from Bari to Bar in Montenegro. Montenegro Lines ceased trading in early 2017, but Croatian ferry line Jadrolinija (www.jadrolinija.hr) resumed with one sailing a week all year round, twice a week in high summer. You can choose a private cabin or cheaper berth in a shared cabin. There are also reclining seats, but I always recommend a bed in a cabin for a safe and secure night's sleep.

Step 2, now add a train ticket from Florence SMN to Bari Centrale from €29.90 using www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €). Italiarail will refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

You should choose a train which arrives in Bari at least 3 hours before the ferry sails, to allow for transfer to the port and check-in. In Bari it's a 25 minute walk via Bari's pleasant old town to the ferry terminal, or a 10 minute taxi ride.

Trains link Bar with Podgorica and indeed with Belgrade on the spectacular Bar-Belgrade Railway. Buses link Bar bus station with Budva & Kotor.

The former Montenegro Lines ferry to Bari at Bar ferry terminal...

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Florence to Warsaw, Krakow & Poland...

Option 1, Florence to Krakow & Warsaw using the Florence-Vienna sleeper...

Step 1, travel from Florence to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train leaving Florence SMN at 22:47 arriving Vienna Hbf at 08:52 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 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 the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.
Tip: If you have a sleeper ticket and/or 1st class ticket for the onward train to Budapest you can use the ÖBB lounge in Vienna Hbf for 1½ hours after arrival and before departure, with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.

Step 2, travel from Vienna to Warsaw by EuroCity train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 14:10 and arriving Warsaw Centralna at 21:28.
The train has a restaurant car, treat yourself to dinner. For Krakow, change at Katowice, arriving Krakow Glowny at 20:07.
Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at. You print your own ticket.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, but if booking Vienna to Krakow more than 30 days ahead it'll say Ticket for section only and only sell you the Vienna-Katowice train. You can buy the connecting Katowice-Krakow ticket at the station in Katowice, or online at the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl, booking for Polish domestic trains opens 30 days ahead.

Alternatively, spend the day in Vienna, then take the overnight sleeper train from Vienna to Krakow or Warsaw as shown in the Austria to Poland page, booked online at www.oebb.at from €39 with couchette or €69 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper.

Option 2, Florence to Krakow & Warsaw with overnight stop in Vienna...

Day 1, travel from Florence to Vienna in one day, either via Innsbruck or via Venice, as shown in the Florence to Vienna section above.

Stay overnight in Vienna. Hotels near the station with good reviews include the Motel One Vienna Hbf, GraetzlHotel, Hotel Schani Wien.

Day 2, travel from Vienna to Warsaw or Krakow by comfortable EuroCity train, as shown in the Vienna-Poland section on the Vienna page.

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Florence to Lviv, Kiev, Moscow...

Day 1, travel from Florence to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train as shown in the Florence to Vienna section above, leaving Florence SMN in the evening and arriving at Vienna Hbf next morning.

Day 2, enjoy the best part of the day in Vienna, left luggage lockers are available.

Day 2, travel from Vienna to Lviv or Kiev by direct Ukrainian sleeping-car. leaving Vienna Hbf at 16:42 every day and arriving next day (day 3) at Lviv at 10:26 & Kiev at 16:21. Introduced in 2017, this train has a Ukrainian sleeping-car with comfortable 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, see the photos below. At Chop on the other side of the border the through sleeping-car is jacked up to have its wheelsets changed from European standard gauge (4'8½") to Russian gauge used in Ukraine (5').
Book the train from Vienna to Lviv or Kiev online at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.

This will only book one-way or round trip starting in Vienna because tickets need to be collected from an ÖBB station in Austria. They cannot be collected in Ukraine. Booking this way you pay no fee or mark-up, just the official fare. The sleeper has become popular, it can sell out.

If you have any problems or want a one-way ticket starting in Ukraine, you can also book the Vienna-Kiev train via reliable agency www.polrail.com, with tickets posted or couriered to you for a small fee. Polrail are based in Poland so charge in zlotys, but as they have access to Ukrainian ticketing system they are good for booking this train.

Booked through oebb.at:

Vienna to Kiev costs €80.50 in a 3-berth sleeper, €90.50 in a 2-berth sleeper or €152.90 in a single sleeper.

Vienna to Lviv costs €62.10 in a 3-berth sleeper, €70.10 in a 2-berth sleeper or €119.30 in a single sleeper.
Booked through Polrail:

Vienna to Kiev costs around €138 in a 3-berth sleeper €149 in a 2-berth sleeper, or €241 in a single-berth sleeper.

Vienna to Lviv costs around €120 in a 3-berth sleeper €129 in a 2-berth sleeper, or €207 in a single-berth sleeper.

Booked at the station in Ukraine, Kiev to Vienna costs around €80, Lviv to Vienna around €60, in both cases with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper.

Day 3, take a sleeper train from Kiev to Moscow. Train 6 leaves Kiev at around 19:36 and arrives Moscow Kievskaya at around 10:09 next day (day 4 from Italy). Taking the route via Kiev avoids Belarus, so no need for a Belarus visa.
These trains were suspended due to Covid-19, and are now cancelled - and the lines blown up - due to the war in Ukraine...
The fare is around €92 with a bed in 4-berth kupé or €180 with a bed in a 2-berth spalny vagon.

You can book tickets starting in Kiev at the Ukrainian Railways site https://booking.uz.gov.ua/en/ booking from Kyiv to Moskva Kievskaya. You collect tickets at the station in Kiev. Feedback appreciated!

Change in Moscow for fast trains to St Petersburg, see the train travel in Russia page.

The Vienna-Kiev sleeping-car at Vienna Hbf.

The Vienna-Kiev sleeper about to leave Vienna Hbf... Courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.

The sleeper corridor. Courtesy Helmut Uttenthaler.

1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper compartment.

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Florence to Athens & Greece...

Step 1, book a train from Florence SMN to Bari Centrale, an enjoyable and scenic ride across the spine of Italy. Obviously, book the ferry first and work out a suitable connecting train afterwards.

Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, easy to use, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly). Italiarail will refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

In Bari it's a 10 minute taxi ride or 25 minute walk to the ferry terminal next to Bari's pleasant old town. I'd allow at least 3 hours between train and ferry in Bari, including the 2-hour ferry check-in.

Step 2, sail from Bari to Patras with Superfast Ferries. The ferry sails normally daily except Sundays at 19:30 arriving Patras at 13:00 the next day (day 3). On Sundays the ship sails at 13:30, too early to make connections from Rome but you can take a train to Bari on Saturday evening and stay overnight in Bari.
Check ferry times, dates, prices & buy tickets using the Direct Ferries website or at www.superfast.com or www.ferriesingreece.com.

The ship is modern and comfortable, with restaurants, bars, lounges and sun decks. You can book a deck place (a nice cheap option in summer if you have your own sleeping bag) or a reclining seat or a berth in various types of cabin, including luxury cabins with private shower & toilet. Strolling the decks in the morning sun as the ship cruises past the islands of Cephalonia and Ithaca is the nicest part of the trip, and it's a wonderful way to arrive in Greece.

In Patras, the ferry arrives at the new South ferry terminal a few km from the town centre. Bus number 18 links the port with the town bus station every hour on the hour, fare €1.20 or you can hop in a taxi for around €9, journey time 15-20 minutes.

Step 3, from Patras it's 3 hours to Athens by bus/train combo. There's a bus/train combined timetable from Patras to Athens on www.hellenictrain.gr but it takes a bit of finding. Buy the bus ticket when you reach Patras, it costs around €18.

The Milan to Athens part of this journey is covered in more detail on the London to Greece page, just ignore the London to Milan part of the recommended journey! You can also take ferries from Ancona or Brindisi with various companies.

2 or 4-berth cabin with private toilet & shower.

Relaxing on deck...

At sea, passing Cephalonia & Ithaca. This is what travel to Greece should be like!

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Florence to Istanbul & Turkey...

Travel from Florence to Vienna by direct overnight sleeper train as shown above and pick up the route to Istanbul via Vienna, Budapest & Bucharest shown on the London to Turkey page.

Or you can travel from Florence to Venice by train, then from Venice to Zagreb as shown here, then pick up the route via Zagreb, Belgrade and Sofia shown on the London to Turkey page.

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Railbookers custom-made tours

If you just want to buy train tickets at the cheapest price, book online as shown on this page. However, if you want someone to sort out your whole trip for you, arranging all your trains, hotels and transfers, and to look after you if anything affects your arrangements, talk to Railbookers. Railbookers can tailor-make a train trip around Europe to your own specification. Just tell them what you want and they'll advise you on the best trains, routes & hotels. They get good reports and a lot of repeat business! They now have offices in the UK, North America and Australia.

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

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

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

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

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

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Hotels in Florence

My favourite hotel search site: www.booking.com

www.booking.com is my favourite hotel booking site and I generally prefer booking my hotels all in one place here. You can usually book with free cancellation - this allows you to confirm your accommodation at no risk before train booking opens. It also means you can hold accommodation while you finalise your itinerary, and alter your plans as they evolve - a feature I use all the time when putting a trip together. I never book hotels non-refundably. I have also come to trust their review scores - you won't be disappointed with anything over 8.0.

Tip: It can pay to compare prices across multiple hotel sites: HotelsCombined.com is a price comparison site which compares hotel prices on Booking.com, Hotels.com, Expedia, Accor, Agoda and many others. Though if there's not much in it, I prefer keeping all my bookings together in one place at www.booking.com.

Other hotel sites worth trying...

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

Backpacker hostels...

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

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Standard class, with seats arranged 2+2 across the car width. Larger photo.		Premium class, identical to Standard but in leather. Sold as Standard on this route. Larger photo.


Business class seats 1+2 across car width, with tables for 2, tables for 4 & complimentary prosecco. Larger photo.		In business class you can order a simple meal at your seat, around €18...


Executive class at one end of the train. Larger photo.		The Executive class meeting room. Larger photo.


Standard class, 2+2 across width. Larger photo.		Executive class, 1+1 across width. Larger photo


Business class seats 1+2 across car width, with tables for 2 and tables for 4 and complimentary prosecco. Larger photo.		In business class you can order a meal at your seat, around €18. More information about Frecciarossas.


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.


Nightjet couchette car...		6-berth couchettes...		4-berth couchettes...


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.


2nd class on a Trenitalia ETR610...		1st class on a Trenitalia ETR610.


Giruno, 1st class. Larger photo.		Restaurant car with bar counter. Larger photo.


Giruno 2nd class. Larger photo		Level boarding. Note the destination screen in the door.


Single-bed sleeper with washbasin. Larger photo.		Breakfast next morning. Larger photo.


4 or 6 berth couchette compartment. Larger photo.		Couchette car...


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.


Vineyards, mountains and castles south of Brenner as the train heads from Verona to Innsbruck...


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


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


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

Trains between European cities

Trains from Florence . . .

Train travel UK & Ireland...

Train travel in Europe...

Train travel in Asia...

Train travel in Africa...

Train travel in America...

Train travel in Australasia

I want to go from Florence to...

Before you buy your tickets...

European train travel FAQ...

Which station in Florence? See map...

Florence to other Italian towns & cities from €9.90, www.italiarail.com

Florence to Rome, Naples, Milan, Turin & Venice...

Florence to Pisa...

Florence to Siena...

Florence to Lucca...

Florence to Pompeii, Sorrento, Amalfi...

Florence to Palermo, Catania, Siracuse & Sicily...

Florence to London from €105...

Florence to Paris from €48.90...

Florence to Lyon from €54.90...

Florence to Nice, Cannes, Monte Carlo...

Florence to Brussels & Bruges from €57.80...

Florence to Amsterdam from €64...

Florence to Luxembourg...

Florence to Geneva, Zurich, Luzern, Basel & Switzerland from €49...

Florence to Barcelona, Madrid & Spain from €89...

Florence to Lisbon & Portugal...

Florence to Andorra...

Florence to Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin & Germany...

Florence to Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck & Austria from €59..

Florence to Copenhagen, Gothenburg & Stockholm...

Florence to Oslo & Norway...

Florence to Helsinki & Finland...

Florence to Prague from €68...

Florence to Bratislava & Slovakia from €64...

Florence to Budapest from €68...

Florence to Bucharest, Brasov & Romania...

Florence to Ljubljana & Zagreb...

Florence to Dubrovnik & Split...

Florence to Belgrade & Sofia...

Florence to Bar, Budva, Kotor & Montenegro...

Florence to Warsaw, Krakow & Poland...

Florence to Lviv, Kiev, Moscow...

Florence to Athens & Greece...

Florence to Istanbul & Turkey...

Railbookers custom-made tours

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

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

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

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

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

Hotels in Florence

My favourite hotel search site: www.booking.com

Other hotel sites worth trying...

Backpacker hostels...

Train travel
UK & Ireland...

Train travel
in Europe...

Train travel
in Asia...

Train travel
in Africa...

Train travel
in America...

Train travel
in Australasia


1st class seats on an AVE S100. 360º photo of 1st class.		Cafe-bar...


These S100 AVE trains operate the TGV/AVE services from Madrid to Marseille, Barcelona to Lyon, Toulouse. This is an AVE-S100 at Barcelona Sants.		2nd class seats on the S100 AVE, all with power sockets. Luggage goes on the racks at the car ends or above the seats. 360º photo of 2nd class More photos & info about AVE S100.


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


Restaurant. In 1st & business you're served at your seat.		Business class. About business class.


2-berth sleeper on lower deck...		Stairs down to pair of lower compartments...		1 or 2-bed sleeper on lower deck with washbasin, viewed through window. Set up as 1-bed. Note how compact the compartment is...


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


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.


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


One of Finnlines 3 star class ferries to Helsinki. Courtesy of Finnlines.		Cabin on the ferry...