 To buy train tickets from Florence to other Italian cities, use www.italiarail.com or Italian Railways' own website www.trenitalia.com. |
This page explains how to travel by train from Florence to other cities all over Europe, and how to buy tickets the cheapest way. Train information is current for 2020.
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...
Which station in Florence? See map...
The main central station 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...
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Most trains in Italy are operated by Trenitalia = Italian State railways. All Trenitalia long-distance trains have airline-style pricing with a seat reservation automatically included with every ticket, 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 dynamic airline-style pricing, so tickets will be much cheaper if booked in advance with a cheap Economy or Super-Economy advance-purchase fare, specified train only, limited or no refunds or changes to travel plans. 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. So pre-book if possible.
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.
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Buy Italian train tickets online at either Raileurope.co.uk, www.italiarail.com or Italian Railways' own site www.trenitalia.com.
All 3 sites sell the same tickets, all offer ticketless travel for Italian intercity & high-speed trains, you simply quote your booking reference on board the train.
Booking for high-speed trains opens 120 days 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. Raileurope.co.uk is easy to use, it's written in plain English, it can be used in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies.
2. Italiarail.com is also easy to use, it's in plain English, it can be used in €, £, $ & Aus$. They charge a €3.50 booking fee but they'll refund this if you email seat61@italiarail.com afterwards. A key advantage is that it can be cheaper than Trenitalia.com for 2 or more people travelling together as explained here.
3. Trenitalia.com is fairly easy to use but you need to use Italian-language place names and it has a few quirks especially if booking a sleeper so see this advice on using it. There's no booking fee.
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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...
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Nobody flies...
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.
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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.
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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 are dynamic like air fares, so book early for the cheapest rates. On Trenitalia, Super-economy & Economy fares = advance-purchase, 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. Trains are all-reserved, tickets are for a specific train and come with a reserved seat. But there are always places available on the day, if you're happy paying the most expensive Base fare. It's a similar situation on Italo.
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How to buy tickets...
Buy Trenitalia tickets at either Raileurope.co.uk, www.italiarail.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 Raileurope.co.uk with no mark-up or fee.
Whichever operator or website you choose, it's ticketless, you simply quote the reference (or show the booking printout) to the conductor on board the train.
Florence to Pisa...
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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.
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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.
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Tip: Pisa Centrale is 25 minutes walk from the famous Leaning Tower, but a few 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.
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Check train times at Raileurope.co.uk, 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.
Florence to Siena...
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Regional trains link Florence SMN with Siena every hour, journey time 1h28, fare around €9.30 each way.
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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.
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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.
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Check train times at Raileurope.co.uk, 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.
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A regional train from Florence to Siena, arrived at Siena. This train is of a type called Minuetto... |
Florence to Lucca...
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Regional trains link Florence SMN with Lucca once or twice per hour, journey time between 1h19 and 1h45, fare around €7.80 each way.
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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.
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Check train times at Raileurope.co.uk, 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.
Florence to Pompeii, Sorrento, Amalfi...
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Take a mainline train from Florence SMN to Naples Centrale, booked at either at www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.
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Then hop on the little local Circumvesuviana Railway from Naples Centrale to 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.
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For Amalfi, you can also book a train to Salerno then a bus to Amalfi.
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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...
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You can travel from Florence to Palermo, Catania or Siracuse by train in a single day, indeed there are two departures per day, early morning and 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.
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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.
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Buy tickets at either Raileurope.co.uk, www.italiarail.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 quote your booking reference on board the train. Booking opens 120 days 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. Raileurope.co.uk is easy to use, it's written in plain English, it can be used in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies.
2. Italiarail.com is also easy to use, it's in plain English, it can be used in €, £, $ & Aus$. They charge a €3.50 booking fee but they'll refund this if you email seat61@italiarail.com afterwards. A key advantage is that it can be cheaper than Trenitalia.com for 2 or more people travelling together as explained here.
3. Trenitalia.com is fairly easy to use but you need to use Italian-language place names and it has a few quirks so see this advice on using it. There's no booking fee.
Option 2, by high-speed train to Rome then overnight sleeper. The time-effective option...
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Step 1, take an early-evening Frecciarossa high-speed train from Florence SMN to Rome Termini in as little as 1h19.
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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. See more information & photos of Italian domestic sleeper trains.
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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.
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Buy tickets at either Raileurope.co.uk 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...
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For full details of train travel between Rome & London in either direction see the London to Italy page.
Option 1, by Eurostar & TGV...
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A Florence to London daytime journey can easily be booked at Raileurope.co.uk like this...
Step 1, book an evening train from Florence SMN to Turin Porta Susa at Raileurope.co.uk and add this to your basket. You'll need to stay overnight in Turin, the Hotel Torino Porta Susa or Hotel Diplomatic or Al Porta Susa B&B are all next to Turin Porta Susa station with good or great reviews.
Step 2, still on Raileurope.co.uk, now book a morning TGV from Turin Porta Susa to Paris Gare de Lyon from just €29 in 2nd class or €44 in 1st class and add to your basket.
Step 3, still on Raileurope.co.uk, book a Eurostar train from Paris Gare du Nord to London St Pancras from just £44, allowing at least 90 minutes or more to change trains and stations in Paris, including the necessary 30 minute Eurostar check-in. Add this to your basket and check out.
The Italian Florence-Turin train is ticketless, you just quote your booking number on board. For the other trains you simply print your own ticket.
Or you can book Florence to Paris by Frecciarossa & TGV on day 1, and Paris to London on the morning of day 2, which works just as well.
Option 2, using the Thello sleeper train...
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Travel from Florence SMN to Milan Centrale on an evening Frecciarossa high-speed train in 1h40 from €19.90 2nd class or €39.90 1st class
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Travel overnight from Milan Centrale to Paris Gare de Lyon by Thello sleeper train from €35 with a couchette or from €95 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper, see the Thello sleeper train guide. Allow at least 3 hours in Paris between trains, preferably more, perhaps have lunch in Paris.
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Travel from Paris Gare du Nord to London St Pancras by Eurostar in 2h20 from £44.
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Book from Florence to Paris using either Raileurope.co.uk, www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com, then use either Raileurope.co.uk or www.eurostar.com to book a Eurostar train from Paris to London, allowing at least 90 minutes or more to change trains and stations in Paris (this includes the 30 minute Eurostar check-in).
Florence to Paris from €49...
Option 1, Florence to Paris in just an afternoon & evening, by high-speed train from €49 - the fastest & cheapest option...
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Step 1, travel from Florence to Turin by high-speed Frecciarossa train, leaving Florence SMN at 12:10 and arriving Turin Porta Susa 15:08.
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Step 2, travel from Turin to Paris by high-speed TGV leaving Turin Porta Susa at 16:11 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 22:32.
It's a scenic & relaxing run, at slow speed through the mountains then a high-speed dash to Paris at up to 186mph, see the Paris-Milan TGV video guide showing the scenery and the train. For detailed train times, fares & other information see the Paris-Milan by TGV page.
Bring a good book and a bottle of wine, and make it a relaxing afternoon with your feet up, although some scenery will be in darkness in winter, so consider option 2 below.
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How about an afternoon in Turin? Turin is a wonderful place, I reckon it's one of Italy's most under-rated cities even if you're not a fan of the 1969 Michael Caine film The Italian Job... I highly recommend taking an earlier Frecciarossa or Italo train and having lunch in Turin and an afternoon exploring the city. This also breaks up the trip nicely...
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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.
Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.
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How to buy tickets. Booking usually opens 120 days ahead.
The easiest way to buy Florence to Paris tickets is using Raileurope.co.uk as you can book your tickets in one place in plain English.
Raileurope.co.uk can book Florence to Paris as one transaction because it connects to the French SNCF and Italian Trenitalia ticketing systems to sell the Frecciarossa ticket & the TGV ticket together at the cheapest prices with a print-at-home or show-on-mobile ticket for the TGV and ticketless for the Frecciarossa - you just quote the booking reference on board. You can use Raileurope.co.uk wherever you live as it accepts international credit cards, you can pay in €, £ or $. A small booking fee applies.
Booking tips: Go to Raileurope.co.uk and book from Florence SMN (Florence Santa Maria Novella is the main central station) to Paris (any station) as one journey, with desired departure time set to 14:00. If you want to leave earlier and spend some time in Turin simply set 08:00 as departure time and click More options, entering Turin Porta Susa and setting stopover time to (say) 6 hours. In the search results, look for an option shown with just 1 change.
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Alternatively, you can book each train separately, although it doesn't make the fare any cheaper....
Step 1, book the Frecciarossa train from Florence to Turin at either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises familiar English-language place names and they'll refund the €3.50 booking fee if you email seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference) or www.trenitalia.com (you'll need to use Italian place names). Both sites charge the same price and both allow ticketless travel - you just quote the booking reference on board the train.
Step 2, book the TGV from Turin to Paris at en.oui.sncf. No booking fee, it issues print-at-home tickets. You can no longer buy tickets for the Milan-Turin-Paris TGVs at the Trenitalia website or at Italian stations as since 2011 these trains have been operated entirely by French railways on an 'open access' basis with no Trenitalia involvement.
Option 2, to see the scenery in daylight, use high-speed trains from €49 with an overnight stop in wonderful Turin - the option I'd recommend!
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Day 1, travel from Florence SMN to Turin Porta Susa by any afternoon or evening train you like.
You could take one of NTV's Italo high-speed trains or one of Trenitalia's Frecciarossa high-speed trains, two competing operators, take whichever you like the look of. You can leave Florence as late as 20:10 arriving Turin 23:08, 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.
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Stay overnight in Turin. The Hotel Torino Porta Susa or Hotel Diplomatic or Al Porta Susa B&B are all next to Turin Porta Susa station with good or great reviews.
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Day 2, travel from Turin to Paris by TGV, leaving Turin Porta Susa at 07:39 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 13:19.
Or have a leisurely breakfast and leave Turin Porta Susa at 10:11 arriving Paris Gare de Lyon 16:11.
Or spend the day in Turin and leave Turin Porta Susa at 16:11 arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 22:31.
Whichever train you choose, take a good book and enjoy a scenic ride through the mountains, see the Paris-Milan TGV video guide showing both the train itself and the scenery. For detailed train times, fares, photos, tips and video, see the Paris-Milan by TGV page.
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How much does it cost?
Florence to Turin by Frecciarossa 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.
Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.
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How to buy tickets... Booking usually opens 120 days ahead.
The easiest way to buy Florence to Paris tickets is using Raileurope.co.uk as you can book your tickets in one place in plain English.
Raileurope.co.uk connects to the French SNCF and Italian Trenitalia ticketing systems to sell the Frecciarossa ticket & the TGV ticket as one transaction at the cheapest prices with a print-at-home or show-on-mobile ticket for the TGV and ticketless for the Frecciarossa - you just quote the booking reference on board. You can use Raileurope.co.uk wherever you live as it accepts international credit cards, you can pay in €, £ or $. A small booking fee applies.
Booking tips: Go to Raileurope.co.uk and book from Florence SMN (SMN = Florence Santa Maria Novella, the main central station) to Turin Porta Susa, selecting any suitable direct train with 0 changes, and add this to your basket. Then book from Turin Porta Susa to Paris (any station) for the following day. In the search results, look for the direct TGVs with 0 changes. Add this to your basket and check out.
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Alternatively, you can book each train separately, like this, although it doesn't usually make the fares any cheaper....
Step 1, book the Frecciarossa train from Florence to Turin at either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises familiar English-language place names and they'll refund the €3.50 booking fee if you email seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference) or www.trenitalia.com (you'll need to use Italian place names). Both sites charge the same price and both allow ticketless travel - you just quote the booking reference on board the train.
Step 2, book the TGV from Turin to Paris at www.trainline.eu. This can be used by anyone from any country with international credit cards accepted, no booking fee, and you can specify forward-facing seats & other seating options, and it issues print-at-home tickets. Recommended! For the record, you can also book at www.raileurope.com (US & Canadian residents, in US$, no seating options and booking fee added) or www.raileurope-world.com (residents of Australia, Canada, Asia, Africa, South America, no seating options, booking fee added). You can no longer buy tickets for the Milan-Turin-Paris TGVs at the Trenitalia website or at Italian stations as since December 2011 these trains have been operated entirely by French railways on an 'open access' basis with no Trenitalia involvement.
Florence to Turin by Frecciarossa...
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A Frecciarossa 1000 at Milan Centrale. More information on Frecciarossas & explanation of the 4 classes. |
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Standard class seats, 2+2 across width. Larger photo. |
Executive class, 1+1 across width. Larger photo. |
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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. |
Turin to Paris by high-speed TGV...
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A Milan-Turin-Paris TGV at Paris Gare de Lyon. There's no check-in, just be on board at departure time... |
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Turin to Paris by high-speed TGV... Above left, the cafe-bar serving drinks, snacks & hot dishes Above right, the cheese platter from the cafe-bar. Larger bar photo. |
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A table for four in 2nd class on the TGV to Paris. 360 degree photo. |
1st class seats on the Turin-Paris TGV. 360 degree photo. |
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Take a good book, a bottle o' red, and enjoy the scenery from Italy to Paris with your feet up. These are mountains in France... Watch the Paris-Milan TGV video guide. |
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...And these are mountains in Italy. Scenery between Oulx and Turin, courtesy of www.discoverbyrail.com. |
Option 3, by high-speed train from Florence to Milan then Thello sleeper train from Milan to Paris - the most time-effective option...
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Step 1, take a high-speed Frecciarossa train from Florence SMN to Milan Centrale in 1h40. they leave every hour or better, from just €19.90. You can leave Florence as late as 19:55, although I'd recommend taking the earlier 17:55 or 18:55 and having dinner in Milan.
The station's bistro shuts at 21:30, but I can personally recommend the excellent inexpensive Italian restaurant Noblesse Oblige just 5 min walk outside the station, book a table at www.ristorantenoblesseoblige.com.
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Step 2, take the Thello sleeper train leaving Milan Centrale at 23:10 every night and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 09:37 next morning. It's a time-effective way to travel, although not the best-run sleeper train there is, see the Man in Seat 61's opinion of Thello. it has 1, 2 & 3 bed sleepers with washbasin, 6-berth & 4-berth couchettes and a restaurant car. Realistic expectations are key to enjoying your trip on Thello, see the video guide here. See the Thello sleeper train page for the Rome-Milan-Paris timetable, photos, information.
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Fares...
Florence to Milan starts at €19.90 in standard class or €29.90 in business class.
Milan to Paris by Thello sleeper train starts at €29 with a couchette in a 6-berth compartment, €45 with a couchette in a 4-berth compartment, €85 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €170 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself. Book early for the cheapest prices.
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To buy tickets...
You can book from Florence to Paris as one transaction at either Raileurope.co.uk (easy to use, in plain English, in €, £ or $, small booking fee), www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, small booking fee will be refunded if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference) or at www.thello.com.
But personally I'd book in two stages: First book the sleeper train from Milan to Paris looking for the direct overnight train with 0 changes in the search results, and add that to your basket. Then book a connecting Frecciarossa train from Florence SMN to Milan Centrale making sure you allow at least an hour between trains in Milan just in case of any delay - you can't afford to miss a sleeper train! In fact if it were me I'd take an earlier train from Florence and have a couple of hours for dinner in Milan.
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A sleeping-car on the Thello sleeper train to Venice boarding at Paris Gare de Lyon. More Thello info here. |
Sleeper with beds folded away. Larger photo. 360. |
2-bed sleeper. Larger photo. 360 degree photo. |
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4 or 6 berth couchette compartment. Much more comfortable with just 4 people. Larger photo. 360 degree photo. |
A couchette car on the Thello train from Paris to Venice, at Paris Gare de Lyon. More Thello info here. |
Option 4, Florence to Paris via the Bernina Express & Swiss Alps from €96 - much slower, but the ultimate Alpine scenic experience...
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This journey is longer and costs a bit more, but it will be a highlight of your whole trip. If time isn't pressing and you want the ultimate train ride through the Alps, this option is fabulous - If you need convincing, watch the video!
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Day 1, travel from Florence to Milan by Frecciarossa high-speed train leaving Florence SMN at 07:55 arriving Milan Centrale 09:50.
Travel from Milan to Tirano by regional train, leaving Milan Centrale at 10:20 running along the shores of Lake Como to Tirano, arriving 12:52.
Then travel from Tirano through the Alps to Chur on the absolutely fabulous Bernina Express narrow-gauge panoramic train and take a Swiss intercity train to Zurich. You leave Tirano at 14:25 and arrive Zurich HB at 19:53.
It's a long day, but worth it - by all means travel from Florence to Milan the previous evening or afternoon, to break it up. See the Bernina Express page for full details & how to buy tickets.
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Stay overnight in Zurich. For something special, book the wonderful Hotel Schweizerhof located right next to Zurich HB. One of my favourite hotels, they'll even send a uniformed commissionaire to meet you at the station and carry your bags across the road. For something cheaper but also near the station with great reviews, try the Hotel du Théatre or Hotel St Gotthard. If you're on a budget you can book inexpensive private rooms in a one-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station using www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 2, take a TGV-Lyria high-speed train from Zurich HB to Paris Gare de Lyon in just 4h05 from €29 booked at Raileurope.co.uk or www.trainline.eu (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or at www.tgv-lyria.com (in €, no booking fee). If you take the 07:34 from Zurich you can be in central Paris at 11:38. Or the 09:34 arrives Paris at 13:38. Your call! TGV-Lyria trains have three classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats, see the TGV-Lyria page for photos & information.
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Bernina Express 1st class seats... |
the Bernina Express uses panoramic carriages... |
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The Bernina Express descends from the Bernina Pass... |
Florence to Nice from €34, Florence to Cannes, Monte Carlo, Marseille, Avignon...
Option 1: Using new Thello train from Milan direct to Nice, Cannes, Marseille - the best option, if the timings suit you...
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You can leave Florence SMN at 07:55 by high-speed Frecciarossa train, make one simple change at Milan's magnificent Centrale station onto a daily Thello train leaving Milan Centrale at 11:10 and arriving Nice Ville at 15:53, Antibes 16:13, Cannes 16:26 & Marseille St Charles at 18:31. This comfortable air-conditioned Thello train has a cafe counter and all seats have power sockets.
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Or you can leave Florence SMN at 11:55 by high-speed Frecciarossa train and make one simple change at Milan Centrale into a direct Thello train leaving Milan Centrale at 15:10 and arriving Nice Ville at 19:51. Local trains then link Nice with Antibes & Cannes.
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The Thello trains run along the coast between Genoa and Nice, an enjoyable & scenic ride. Thello is a subsidiary of Trenitalia, their trains enter France as 'open access' trains under EU open competition laws. Tickets for Thello are not sold by French Railways!
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How much does it cost?
Florence to Milan starts at €19.90, then Milan to Nice starts at €15. Milan to Marseille on the direct train starts at €30. It's cheapest to pre-book, if you buy on the day higher fares apply. If you have to change at Nice onto a connecting French train, you'll need a separate ticket for the French train.
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How to buy tickets...
You can book from Florence to Nice or (on the direct Thello train) Florence to Cannes, St Raphael, Toulon or Marseille all in one go at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, small booking fee will be refunded if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (sometimes more fiddly to use, requires Italian language place names, no booking fee, read this advice on using it first). Look for a cheap super-economy or economy fare. It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board the train.
If your journey involves a change in Nice onto an onward French train, I'd suggest using Raileurope.co.uk rather than ItaliaRail or Trenitalia, as Raileurope.co.uk has a direct connection to both French & Italian ticketing systems so you can book journeys involving both Italian and French trains all in one place. It also offers ticketless travel on Italian trains & Thello, and print-at-home or collect-at-station tickets for most French trains.
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The Milan-Nice-Cannes-Marseille Thello train at Milan... See more photos & information about these Thello trains. |
1st class seats on Thello. All seats have power sockets. Plenty of luggage room on racks & between seat backs... |
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2nd class seats on the Thello train. All seats have power sockets, with plenty of luggage space on racks and between seat backs. |
The small cafe-bar counter on the Milan to Nice & Marseille Thello train serving tea, coffee, wine, beer, soft drinks and snacks. |
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Views from the train, along the Ligurian coast between Milan and Nice. Photos courtesy of Lucas Martin. |
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Option 2: Using Italian trains to Ventimiglia, and a French local train - a useful option if the Thello timings don't suit you...
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If option 1 using the new Thello train doesn't suit, no problem... Simply take the hourly regional train from Florence SMN to Pisa Centrale, a Frecciabianca or InterCity train from Pisa Centrale to Genoa Piazza Principe, then a regional or InterCity train along the scenic coastline of the Italian Riviera to Ventimiglia on the French border. Local trains then run from Ventimiglia to Monte Carlo, Nice & Cannes every 30 minutes or so throughout the day, journey time 48 minutes from Ventimiglia to Nice. Change in Nice for trains to Marseille, Avignon and beyond. Take a picnic, bottle of wine and a good book and enjoy the journey.
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There are various possible daily departures...
Leave Florence at 07:28, change Pisa & Genoa, arrive Ventimiglia at 12:58, hop on the 13:20 local train arriving Nice around 14:24.
Leave Florence at 09:53, change at La Spezia and Genoa, arriving Ventimiglia at 18:03, a local train gets you to Nice at around 19:54.
Leave Florence at 13:28, change at Pisa & Genoa, arrive Ventimiglia at 20:03, then local train to Nice arriving around 21:25.
These are just examples, simply go online and check for your date of travel following the how to buy tickets advice below.
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How much does it cost?
Florence to Ventimiglia starts at just €26 in 2nd class or from €46 in 1st class if pre-booked with a Super-economy or Economy advance-purchase fare. Ventimiglia to Nice costs just €8 or so, bought at the station on the day.
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How to buy tickets... The trick is to only book to Ventimiglia!!
Step 1, book from Florence SMN to Ventimiglia (you can book this all in one go) using either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, small booking fee will be refunded if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (sometimes more fiddly to use, requires Italian language place names, no booking fee, read this advice on using it first). Look for a cheap super-economy or economy fare. It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board the train.
Step 2, you can't pre-book the Ventimiglia to Nice, Cannes or Monte Carlo local train, and you don't need to, you can simply turn up at Ventimiglia and buy a ticket at the station, no reservation necessary or possible, and hop on the next train. Easy! If you want to check train times from Ventimiglia to Monte Carlo, Nice or Cannes just do this using Raileurope.co.uk.
Step 3, if you want an onward train from Nice to Marseille, Avignon, Perpignan and so on, pre-book this at either Raileurope.co.uk or www.trainline.eu with print-at-home or collect-at-station tickets, and cheap fares from €15 if you pre-book. Just make sure you allow plenty of time to connect in Ventimiglia and in Nice in case of any delay, as your ticket from Nice onwards will only be valid on the specific train you book.
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Italian InterCity trains link Milan & Genoa with Ventimiglia on the French/Italian border. Most cars are of the traditional side-corridor type with 6-seater compartments (pictured above). |
Double-decker regional trains like this link Ventimiglia with Monte Carlo, Nice & Cannes every 30 minutes. |
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Florence to Brussels & Bruges from €79...
Option 1, by high-speed train with an overnight stop in Paris...
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Step 1, travel from Florence to Turin by high-speed Frecciarossa train, leaving Florence SMN at 12:10 arriving Turin Porta Susa 15:08.
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Step 2, travel from Turin to Paris by high-speed TGV leaving Turin Porta Susa at 16:11 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 22:32.
It's a scenic & relaxing run, at slow speed through the mountains then a high-speed dash to Paris at up to 186mph, see the Paris-Milan TGV video guide showing the scenery and the train. Bring a good book and a bottle of wine, and make it a relaxing afternoon with your feet up. For detailed train times, fares & other information see the Paris-Milan by TGV page.
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Stay overnight in Paris, see suggested hotels near the Gare du Nord or Gare de Lyon. How to change trains & stations in Paris
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Step 3, travel from Paris Gare du Nord to Brussels Midi in 1h22 next morning on any train you like. Thalys trains have 3 classes, a cafe-bar, WiFi and power sockets at all seats, see the Thalys information page.
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How much does it cost?
Florence-Turin starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.
Turin-Paris starts at €29 in 2nd class or €44 in 1st class.
Paris-Brussels starts at €29.
Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.
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How to buy tickets...
Buy tickets for each of these trains at Raileurope.co.uk, adding each ticket to your basket, then check out. Raileurope.co.uk connects to the Italian & French booking systems so you can easily book all these trains in the same place, in €, £ or $. You'll get a print-at-home or show-on-mobile ticket for TGV & Thalys, it's ticketless for the Frecciarossa, just quote the booking reference on board. A small booking fee applies.
Alternatively, you can book the Italian train at Trenitalia.com, the French TGV at oui.sncf and the Thalys at www.thalys.com, with no fee.
Option 2, by high-speed train with an overnight stop in Turin...
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Step 1, travel from Florence SMN to Turin Porta Susa on any afternoon or evening train you like.
You could take one of NTV's Italo high-speed trains or one of Trenitalia's Frecciarossa high-speed trains, two competing operators, take whichever you like the look of. You can leave Florence as late as 20:10 arriving Turin 23:08, 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.
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Stay overnight in Turin. The Hotel Torino Porta Susa or Hotel Diplomatic or Al Porta Susa B&B are all next to Turin Porta Susa station with good or great reviews.
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Step 2, travel from Turin to Paris by TGV, leaving Turin Porta Susa at 07:39 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 13:19.
Or have a leisurely breakfast and leave Turin Porta Susa at 10:11 arriving Paris Gare de Lyon 16:11.
Take a good book and enjoy a scenic ride through the mountains, see the Paris-Milan TGV video guide showing both the train itself and the scenery. For detailed train times, fares, photos, tips and video, see the Paris-Milan by TGV page. Change trains & stations in Paris.
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Step 3, travel from Paris to Brussels by Thalys high-speed train, leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 15:25 arriving Brussels Midi at 16:45 if you left Turin at 07:39, or leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 17:55 and arriving Brussels Midi at 19:17 if you left Turin at 10:11. Times may vary, so check online. Always allow at least 60 minutes to cross Paris, here I have allowed more than that.
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How much does it cost?
Florence-Turin starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.
Turin-Paris starts at €29 in 2nd class or €44 in 1st class.
Paris-Brussels starts at €29.
Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.
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How to buy tickets...
Buy tickets for each of these trains at Raileurope.co.uk, adding each ticket to your basket, then check out. Raileurope.co.uk connects to the Italian & French booking systems so you can easily book all these trains in the same place, in €, £ or $. You'll get a print-at-home or show-on-mobile ticket for TGV & Thalys, it's ticketless for the Frecciarossa, just quote the booking reference on board. A small booking fee applies.
Alternatively, you can book the Italian train at Trenitalia.com, the French TGV at oui.sncf and the Thalys at www.thalys.com, with no fee.
Option 3, using the Florence-Munich Nightjet sleeper train - an easy & time-effective option with no need to cross Paris...
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Step 1, travel from Florence to Munich by excellent Austrian Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Florence SMN at 21:55, arriving Munich Hbf 08:19.
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, deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower are also available. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.
Book this at www.trainline.eu (in various currencies, overseas payment cards no problem) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at. Bookings can open up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
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Step 2, travel from Munich to Brussels by luxurious ICE train & Thalys from €29+€19, leaving Munich Hbf at 10:51, change in Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi at 17:35.
Book this at the German Railways site www.bahn.de and print your own ticket or load it into the DB Navigator app & show on your smartphone.
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2-berth regular sleeper with washstand. Larger photo. |
The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper... |
A Comfortline sleeping-car, as now used on the Austrian Nightjet train from Florence to Munich. More information about Nightjets. |
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Austrian couchette car or liegewagen... |
6-berth couchettes... |
4-berth couchettes... |
Option 4, by day trains with overnight stop in Munich - if you prefer day trains to sleepers, also avoids crossing Paris...
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Day 1, travel from Florence to Munich using an Italian high-speed train to Bologna or Verona then an Austrian EuroCity train with restaurant car for dinner through the scenic Brenner pass to Munich Hbf.
You can leave Florence SMN as late as 14:20, change at Bologna Centrale, arriving Munich Hbf at 22:27, but by all means take an earlier train and spend a pleasant evening in Munich.
Florence to Bologna or Verona starts at €19.90, Bologna or Verona to Munich starts at €39.90.
Book from Florence SMN to Munich at Raileurope.co.uk, but (this is important) click More options, enter Verona (any station) as a via station and a stopover duration of 45 minutes. Look for journeys with just 1 change. Now re-run the enquiry with Bologna (any station) as a via station also with 45 minutes stopover selected to see if this gives a cheaper or quicker 1-change journey, once or twice per day it does.
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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.
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Day 2, travel from Munich to Brussels by ICE train, leaving Munich Hbf at 08:48, change in Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi at 15:35. ICE trains have a bistro-restaurant, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, Thalys have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at from €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.
Book this at the German Railways site www.bahn.de and print your own ticket or load it into the DB Navigator app & show on your smartphone.
Option 5, by high-speed train Florence to Milan, Thello sleeper train to Paris & high-speed Thalys train to Brussels...
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Step 1, book the 23:10 Thello sleeper train from Milan Centrale to Paris Gare de Lyon at either www.italiarail.com or www.thello.com, looking for a Smart or Go fare from just €35 including a couchette or €145 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper, see the Thello sleeper train page for fares, train times and details of couchettes and sleepers on board, also for my opinion of Thello.
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Step 2, now add a ticket from Florence to Milan by high-speed Frecciarossa train in 1h40 from €19.90 using either www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com. Allow at least 60 minutes to change trains in Milan. If you use www.italiarail.com they'll refund their small booking fee if you email your PNR to seat61@italiarail.com.
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Step 3, now book a high-speed Thalys train from Paris Gare du Nord to Brussels Midi at www.b-europe.com, this journey takes just 1 hour 22 minutes from €29. Allow at least 90 minutes to change trains and stations in Paris, to allow for any delay to the sleeper.
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 Frecciarossa high-speed
train, leaving
Florence SMN at
07:55 every day arriving
Milan Centrale at
09:50. Fares from €29.90 in standard or €39.90 in business. Book this
at
Raileurope.co.uk
or
www.trainline.eu, it's
ticketless you just quote the reference on board.
Step 2, travel from Milan to Frankfurt by ETR610 EuroCity train leaving Milan Centrale at 11:20 and arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 18:59.
This train runs every day (but won't run on Mondays-Fridays from 6 Jan to 30 March 2020). It's a lovely ride through the Alps past Lake Maggiore and via the famous Simplon & Lötschberg route. The train has a restaurant car and power sockets at all seats. 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, though the transit takes just 20 minutes.
Step 3, travel from Frankfurt to Amsterdam by ICE3 high-speed train with bistro-restaurant & power sockets at all seats, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 19:29 and arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 23:28. This train runs daily except Saturdays and a few other dates.
Fares from Milan to Amsterdam start at €59.90 in 2nd class or €119.90 in 1st class.
Book from Milan to Amsterdam as one journey at the German Railways website www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.
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An ETR610 at Milan Centrale, as used on the direct Milan-Frankfurt EuroCity train. More information about ETR610 trains. |
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Table for 4 in 2nd class, ideal for families... |
1st class seats on the ETR610 EuroCity train... |
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Lake Maggiore, seen over lunch in the restaurant car... |
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The restaurant car on an ETR610... |
Dinner in the diner... |
Option 2, Florence to Amsterdam using the Florence-Munich Nightjet sleeper train - an easy and time-effective option...
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Step 1, travel from Florence to Munich by excellent Austrian Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Florence SMN at 21:55, arriving Munich Hbf 08:19.
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. Deluxe sleepers with en suite toilet & shower are also available, and there's a shower for standard sleeper passengers at the end of the corridor. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment, see the Nightjet sleeper information page.
Book this at www.trainline.eu (in various currencies, overseas payment cards no problem) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at. Bookings can open up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
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Step 2, travel from Munich to Amsterdam by luxurious ICE train, leaving Munich Hbf at 09:51 with one easy change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 17:28. These ICE trains have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.
Book this at the German Railways site www.bahn.de and print your own ticket or load it into the DB Navigator app & show on your smartphone.
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2-berth regular sleeper with washstand. Larger photo. |
The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper... |
A Comfortline sleeping-car, as now used on the Austrian Nightjet train from Florence to Munich. More information about Nightjets. |
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Austrian couchette car or liegewagen... |
6-berth couchettes... |
4-berth couchettes... |
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An ICE3 at Amsterdam Centraal platform 2... |
ICE3 2nd class seats. Larger photo. |
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ICE3 1st class, with leather seats. Larger photo. |
ICE3 bistro car. See sample menu. |
Option 3, Florence to Amsterdam by day trains with overnight stop in Zurich - if you prefer day trains to sleepers...
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Day 1, travel from Florence to Milan by high-speed Frecciarossa train in 1h40 from €19.90 then from Milan to Zurich by ETR610 EuroCity train through the Alps in 3h25 from €29 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class. It's a lovely ride along Lake Maggiore and through the Alps, see the Milan to Zurich scenery video here.
Check times and buy tickets as one journey at either Raileurope.co.uk (in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or www.trenitalia.com.
You can leave Florence SMN as late as 16:55 arriving Zurich HB 22:50, but by all means take an earlier train for an evening in Zurich.
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Stay overnight in Zurich. For something special, look no further than the superb five-star Hotel Schweizerhof, just across the road from Zurich HB - they'll even send a uniformed commissionaire to meet you at the station and carry your bags from the train. For something cheaper but also near the station with great reviews, try the Hotel du Théatre or Hotel St Gotthard. If you're on a tight budget you can book inexpensive private rooms in a one-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station using www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 2, travel from Zurich to Amsterdam by superb ICE train with one easy change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, leaving Zurich HB at 08:00 and arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 17:28 - but by all means choose an earlier or later departure. ICE trains have a bistro-restaurant, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
You can check times and buy tickets as one transaction at Raileurope.co.uk (in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies), or you can book direct with German Railways at www.bahn.de (in €, no booking fee)
Option 4, Florence to Amsterdam by day trains with overnight stop in Munich - Another option if you prefer day trains to sleepers...
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Day 1, travel from Florence to Munich from €39.90 using an Italian high-speed train to Bologna or Verona then an Austrian EuroCity train with restaurant car for dinner through the scenic Brenner pass to Munich Hbf.
You can leave Florence SMN as late as 14:20, change at Bologna Centrale, arriving Munich Hbf at 22:27, but by all means take an earlier train and spend a pleasant evening in Munich.
Florence to Bologna or Verona starts at €19.90, Bologna or Verona to Munich starts at €39.90.
Book from Florence SMN to Munich at Raileurope.co.uk, but (this is important) click More options, enter Verona (any station) as a via station and a stopover duration of 45 minutes. Look for journeys with just 1 change. Now re-run the enquiry with Bologna (any station) as a via station also with 45 minutes stopover selected to see if this gives a cheaper or quicker 1-change journey, once or twice per day it does.
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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.
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Day 2, travel from Munich to Amsterdam by superb ICE train with one easy change, leaving Munich Hbf at 07:52 and arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 15:28 - but by all means choose an earlier or later departure. ICE trains have a bistro-restaurant, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
You can check times and buy tickets as one transaction at www.bahn.de.
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The restaurant car on a EuroCity to Munich, seen at Verona. You don't need to book a table, just go along and sit down. Dining on the move as the scenery glides by is one of the pleasures of travelling on trains like this. More photos & information about these Austrian EuroCity trains. |
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Second class seats, mostly in 6-seat compartments with side-corridor like this, but some cars are open-plan saloons... |
First class leather seats. On a few trains you'll find 6-seat compartments too.... |
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Watch out for hilltop fortresses... |
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Vineyards, mountains and castles south of Brenner as the train heads from Verona to Innsbruck... |
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Mountains on the Brenner route... See the Brenner Pass scenery video here... |
Option 5, Florence to Amsterdam via Paris - if you want to stop off in Paris...
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You need to split this journey over 2 days with a comfortable overnight hotel stop in either Turin or Paris. It's your decision where you stop off, and for how long.
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Step 1, book a high-speed Frecciarossa train from Florence to Turin in 2h45 from €29.90 at either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, the small booking fee will be refunded if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (more fiddly to use, requires Italian language place names, no booking fee, read this advice on using it first).
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Step 2, book one of the three daily direct TGV trains from Turin to Paris Gare de Lyon in around 5h40 from €29 using either Raileurope.co.uk or www.trainline.eu (both sites easy to use, in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or en.oui.sncf (in €, a bit more fiddly but no booking fee). See the Paris-Turin TGV page for timetable, fares, photos & video. It's a nice scenic run!
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Step 3, allowing at least 60 minutes to cross Paris by metro or taxi book a high-speed Thalys train from Paris Gare du Nord to Amsterdam Centraal in 3h20 from €35 at either www.b-europe.com or www.thalys.com.
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). With the daytime trains increasingly fast, there are no longer any sleeper trains between Italy & Switzerland.
Option 1, by high-speed train from Florence to Milan, then EuroCity train from Milan to Brig, Geneva, Bern, Basel, Zurich, Lucerne...
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High-speed Frecciarossa trains link Florence SMN with Milan Centrale in 1h40. Regular ETR610 EuroCity trains then link Milan Centrale with Geneva, Montreux, Brig, Lugano & Zurich HB plus one or two daily direct trains from Milan Centrale to Bern, Lucerne, Spiez and Basel. 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.
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Fares from Florence to Milan start at €19.90 in 2nd (standard) class or €29.90 in 1st (business) class with a super-economy ticket.
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Fares from Milan to major Swiss cities by direct train start at €29 upwards in 2nd class or €49 upwards in 1st class if you book well in advance.
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How to buy tickets, if using a direct EuroCity train from Italy to a major Swiss city, without any Swiss domestic train...
You can buy tickets from Florence to any of these Swiss cities as one easy transaction at either Raileurope.co.uk (easy to use, prices in €, £ or $, recognises English place names, a small booking fee applies) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, choice of paying in €, $ or £, recognises English place names, their €3.50 booking fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (more fiddly to use, requires Italian language place names, no booking fee, read this advice on using it first). All these sites connect to Trenitalia's ticketing system with the same prices, give or take exchange rates. It's now all ticketless, you simply quote the booking reference on board each train.
Although you can book from anywhere in Italy to these Swiss cities as one transaction, you may prefer to split the booking, first looking for a direct Milan-Switzerland train from €9, then booking a suitable Florence-Milan connecting train from €19.90, allowing at least 45 minutes to change in Milan in case of any delay.
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How to buy tickets if your journey involves a Swiss domestic element, e.g. Florence to Zermatt, Interlaken, Wengen, Lauterbrunnen & so on...
OK, here's the problem. www.italiarail.com & www.trenitalia.com can book the direct EuroCity trains from Milan to key Swiss cities, but they can't book journeys which involve a change of train within Switzerland onto a Swiss domestic train, because Italian Railways cannot sell tickets for the Swiss domestic part of the journey. And although Raileurope.co.uk can book such journeys, it doesn't connect directly to the Swiss system so can't do print-at-home Swiss domestic tickets, conventional tickets have to be posted and will only be posted to UK addresses.
Now here's the solution. Use the journey planner at www.bahn.de to find a suitable journey, note where the change is within Switzerland.
First use Raileurope.co.uk or www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com to book from anywhere in Italy to that interchange point.
Then use the Swiss Railways website www.sbb.ch to buy a print-at-home ticket for the Swiss domestic journey from the interchange point to your final destination. Or you can buy at the station as there's one fixed price and no reservations necessary for Swiss domestic trains, but buying a print-at-home ticket in advance saves time so you can hop on the next available connection.
So for Florence to Interlaken, Wengen, Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald, you'd book from Florence to Spiez at Raileurope.co.uk or www.italiarail.com using a direct Milan-Spiez train, then buy a separate ticket from Spiez to Interlaken Ost, Wengen, Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald either in person at Spiez station or online at www.sbb.ch with print-at-home tickets.
For Florence to Zermatt, you'd book Florence to Brig at Raileurope.co.uk or www.italiarail.com, then Brig to Zermatt at the station or online at www.sbb.ch with print-at-home tickets.
For the record, Swiss Railways, www.sbb.ch can book from Italy to anywhere in Switzerland as one transaction with print-at-home tickets, but it cannot access the cheaper economy & super-economy fares for Trenitalia trains south of Milan, it will always charge you the most expensive base fare for the Italian domestic leg. So for journeys from Venice to Switzerland I'd recommend booking as above, and not with sbb.ch.
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An ETR610 EuroCity train at Milan Centrale, about to leave for Switzerland. More information about ETR610 trains. |
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Table for 4 in 2nd class, ideal for families... |
1st class seats on the ETR610 EuroCity train... |
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Restaurant car on an ETR160... |
Lunch! |
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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... |
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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. |
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This is Lake Lugano, seen from a Milan-Zurich EuroCity train... |
Option 2, Florence to St Moritz, Chur, Zurich via the Bernina route. This route may be much slower and a little more fiddly to book, but it's an amazing experience, arguably the best train ride of them all through the Swiss Alps...
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This is a slow local route, with part of the journey on the fabulous narrow-gauge Bernina Railway. But it's one of the most scenic routes in the Alps, or anywhere for that matter. Watch the video: Milan to Zurich via the wonderfully scenic Bernina route.
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Step 1, take an early high-speed train from Florence to Milan, arriving any time before 09:40. Pre-book this at either www.italiarail.com & www.trenitalia.com.
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Step 2, take a local train from Milan Centrale to Tirano. These 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. At Tirano, the Italian railways station is right next to the Rhätische Bahn one on the same town square. 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.
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Step 3, now take one of the regular Rhätische Bahn trains from Tirano to St Moritz & Chur. This is the fabulous Bernina route over the Bernina Pass. You can check times & prices from Tirano to St Moritz, Chur or Zurich at the main 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 www.rhb.ch and the seat61 Bernina Express page.
How to buy a cheap ticket from Tirano to Zurich from €29.90... Normal Swiss fares are expensive, so see my instructions for buying a cheap advance-purchase ticket from Tirano to Chur or Zurich here.
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Step 4, 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.sbb.ch.
Florence to Barcelona, Madrid & Spain from €89...
Option 1, by daytime trains with overnight stop in Marseille...
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Day 1, travel from Florence to Marseille, using the 07:55 Frecciarossa high-speed train from Florence SMN to Milan Centrale from €19.90 followed by the 11:10 Thello train from Milan Centrale to Marseille St Charles from €30, arriving at 18:31.
This is a very pleasant journey with fabulous coastal scenery through Genoa, San Remo, Nice & Cannes. By all means take an earlier train and stop off in Nice or spend an afternoon in Marseille, a great city to visit.
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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.
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Day 2, travel from Marseille to Barcelona & Madrid by direct AVE-S100 high-speed train, leaving Marseille St Charles at 08:02 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 12:34 and Madrid Atocha at 15:41. Fares for this leg start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.
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Day 2 afternoon, change in Barcelona for Spanish high-speed trains to Valencia, Alicante. Change in Madrid for Cordoba, Malaga or Seville.
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To buy tickets the easy way...
Go to Raileurope.co.uk, 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. Raileurope.co.uk connects directly to the Italian, French and Spanish rail ticketing systems, so you can buy all these tickets at the cheapest prices all in one place. All international credit cards are accepted. Tickets within Spain & for the Barcelona-Marseille train will be print-at-home, the Florence-Marseille trains are ticketless, you just quote your booking reference to the conductor on board. A small booking fee applies.
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Alternatively, you can book each leg separately like this, although the fares are unlikely to be any cheaper...
Step 1, book from Florence SMN to Marseille St Charles 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 just quote your booking reference to the conductor on board the train.
Step 2, book from Marseille to Barcelona or Madrid at en.oui.sncf (in €, no booking fee). You print your own ticket.
Step 3, book any onward trains within Spain at Raileurope.co.uk (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or Spanish Railways own site www.renfe.com (in €, can be fiddly to use so see this advice on using it, but no fee). You print your own tickets.
Milan to Marseille by Thello train...
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The Thello train from Milan to Marseille at Milan Centrale. See more photos & information about these Thello trains... |
1st class seats on Thello. All seats have power sockets. Plenty of luggage room on racks & between seat backs... |
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2nd class seats on the Thello train. All seats have power sockets, with plenty of luggage space on racks and between seat backs. |
The small cafe-bar counter on the Milan to Nice & Marseille Thello train serving tea, coffee, wine, beer, soft drinks and snacks. |
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View from the train between Nice & Marseille... |
Marseille to Barcelona & Madrid by AVE high-speed train...
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A Spanish S100 AVE train at Barcelona Sants. See more photos & information about these AVE-S100 high-speed trains. |
2nd class seats, all with power sockets. Luggage goes on the racks at the car ends or above the seats. Panorama photo of 2nd class |
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Cafe-bar on an S100 AVE serving tea, coffee, beer, wine, soft drinks, snacks & hot dishes... |
1st class seats on an S100 AVE. Panorama photo of 1st class |
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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 2, by daytime trains with overnight stop in Geneva...
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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.
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Step 1, travel from Florence SMN to Milan Centrale by Frecciarossa high-speed train & from 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 Milan Centrale, to arrive Geneva at 23:29. Fares start at just €19.90 for Florence-Milan plus €29 upwards for Milan-Geneva.
Book from Florence to Geneva as one transaction at Raileurope.co.uk (in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (in €, £ or $, the small fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com). However, booking at Raileurope.co.uk means all your ticket to be booked together in one place.
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Stay the night in Geneva, and spend next morning exploring this lakeside city. Suggested hotels with good reviews near the station include Hotel Cornavin Geneve, 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.
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Step 2, travel from Geneva to Barcelona by TGV. Usually you'll find a TER regional train leaving Geneva at 11:30, change trains at Lyon Part Dieu (arrive 13:25, depart 14:28) onto a direct AVE-S100 high-speed train arriving Barcelona Sants at 19:33. Fares start at around €69 in 2nd class.
Buy tickets at Raileurope.co.uk or www.trainline.eu (both sites easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee applies) or en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly to use, but no fee). You usually print your own ticket.
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Step 3, stay overnight in Barcelona (see suggested hotels near Barcelona Sants station) and book onward high-speed trains from Barcelona to Madrid, Seville, Malaga, Alicante etc, using either Raileurope.co.uk (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or Spanish railways own site www.renfe.com (in €, much more fiddly to use, but no fee) or www.petrabax.com (in $, small mark-up). You'll find a direct AVE-S112 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:30 arriving Malaga, Cordoba & Seville at lunchtime. You print your own tickets.
Florence to Lisbon & Portugal...
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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. You've an evening in Madrid.
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Day 2, take the excellent overnight sleeper train Trainhotel Lusitania overnight from Madrid to Lisbon as shown in the Madrid to Lisbon section, arriving at 07:30 on day 3.
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Change at Lisbon Oriente for trains to Porto & Faro, as shown in the Madrid to Lisbon section.
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Gran Clase sleeper, in evening mode with the seats folded out... |
...return from dinner to find the attendant has made up the beds... |
Gran Clase sleepers have a private toilet & shower... |
The trainhotel Lusitania from Madrid to Lisbon is an articulated Spanish Talgo train. Seen here at Madrid Chamartin station. |
Florence to Munich, Berlin & Germany from €39...
Option 1, Florence to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train and onwards to anywhere in Germany - the time-effective option...
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Step 1, a comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train leaves Florence SMN at 21:55 every night and arrives Munich Hbf at 08:19 next morning.
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 . Deluxe sleepers with shower & toilet are also available. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.
Book this at www.trainline.eu (in various currencies, overseas payment cards no problem) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at. Bookings can open up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
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Step 2, now book an onward train from Munich to anywhere in Germany at www.bahn.de from €19.90 upwards, allowing at least 1 hour between trains in Munich. You print your own ticket. For example, you can leave Munich Hbf at 09:54 by high-speed ICE train and arrive Berlin Hbf at 14:25.
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2-berth regular sleeper with washstand. Larger photo. |
The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper... |
A Comfortline sleeping-car, as now used on the Austrian Nightjet train from Florence to Munich. More information about Nightjets. |
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Austrian couchette car or liegewagen... |
6-berth couchettes... |
4-berth couchettes... |
Option 2, Florence to Munich & Germany via the Brenner route - a scenic daytime option...
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Take a high-speed train from Florence to Verona Porta Nuova in 1h30, then a comfortable EuroCity train with restaurant car from Verona Porta Nuova to Munich via the Brenner Pass in around 5h10, see the Brenner Pass scenery video here. The Verona-Munich EuroCity trains run every couple of hours and it's a lovely run up the Brenner with a meal in the elegant restaurant car.
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Florence to Bologna/Verona starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.
Bologna/Verona to Munich or anywhere in Germany starts at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.
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To buy tickets, book from Florence SMN to Munich or anywhere in Germany at Raileurope.co.uk, but (and this is important) click More options, enter Verona (any station) 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. Now re-run the enquiry with Bologna (any station) as a via station also with 45 minutes stopover selected to see if this gives a cheaper or quicker 1-change journey, once or twice per day it does.
Raileurope.co.uk can be used by anyone from any country, in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies. The Italian train is ticketless, you quote the reference on board. You can print out your ticket for the EuroCity train, or receive a mobile ticket to show on your smartphone.
Alternatively, 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 German train(s) from Bologna or Verona to anywhere in Germany at www.bahn.de.
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The restaurant car on a EuroCity to Munich, seen at Verona. You don't need to book a table, just go along and sit down. Dining on the move as the scenery glides by is one of the pleasures of travelling on trains like this. More photos & information about these Austrian EuroCity trains. |
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Second class seats, mostly in 6-seat compartments with side-corridor like this, but some cars are open-plan saloons... |
First class leather seats. On a few trains you'll find 6-seat compartments too.... |
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Watch out for hilltop fortresses... |
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Vineyards, mountains and castles south of Brenner as the train heads for Trento & Verona... |
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Mountains on the Brenner route... See the Brenner Pass scenery video here... |
Option 3, Florence to Frankfurt & Germany via the Gotthard route - another scenic daytime option...
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Step 1, travel from Florence to Milan by Frecciarossa high-speed train, leaving Florence SMN at 07:55 every day arriving Milan Centrale at 09:50. Fares start at €19.90 in standard class or €29.90 in business.
Book this at Raileurope.co.uk or www.trainline.eu, it's ticketless you just quote the reference on board.
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Step 2, travel from Milan to Frankfurt by ETR610 EuroCity train leaving Milan Centrale at 11:20 & arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 18:59.
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! This train runs every day (but won't run on Mondays-Fridays from 6 Jan to 30 March 2020).
Fares from Milan to Germany start at €59.90 in 2nd class or €119.90 in 1st class.
Book from Milan to anywhere in Germany at www.bahn.de or Raileurope.co.uk or www.trainline.eu, looking for the 11:20 departure. You print your own ticket.
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An ETR610 train at Milan. One train per day runs direct to Frankfurt. More information about ETR610 trains. |
2nd class seats on the ETR610 EuroCity train. Larger photo. |
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Lake Maggiore, seen over lunch in the restaurant car... |
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The restaurant car on an ETR610. Larger photo. |
Dinner in the diner... |
Option 4, Florence to anywhere in Germany by daytime trains with overnight stop in Munich...
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Day 1, travel from Florence to Munich from €39.90 using an Italian high-speed train to Bologna or Verona then an Austrian EuroCity train with restaurant car for dinner through the scenic Brenner pass to Munich Hbf.
You can leave Florence SMN as late as 14:20, change at Bologna Centrale, arriving Munich Hbf at 22:27, but by all means take an earlier train and spend a pleasant evening in Munich.
Florence to Bologna or Verona starts at €19.90, Bologna or Verona to Munich starts at €39.90.
Book from Florence SMN to Munich at Raileurope.co.uk, but (this is important) click More options, enter Verona (any station) as a via station and a stopover duration of 45 minutes. Look for journeys with just 1 change. Now re-run the enquiry with Bologna (any station) as a via station also with 45 minutes stopover selected to see if this gives a cheaper or quicker 1-change journey, once or twice per day it does.
Raileurope.co.uk can be used by anyone from any country, in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies. The Italian train is ticketless, you quote the reference on board. You can print out your ticket for the EuroCity train, or receive a mobile ticket to show on your smartphone.
Alternatively, 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 German train(s) from Bologna or Verona to anywhere in Germany at www.bahn.de.
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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.
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Day 2, take comfortable ICE or IC trains from Munich to anywhere in Germany from €19.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.
Buy tickets at bahn.de. You print your own ticket or can load it into the DB Navigator app to show on your smartphone.
Florence to Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck & Austria from €59..
Option 1, by direct Nightjet sleeper train from Florence to Salzburg or Vienna - the time-effective option...
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An excellent Nightjet sleeper train leaves Florence SMN at 21:55 every night, with a portion arriving at Salzburg at 06:15 and another portion arriving at Vienna Hbf at 08:53.
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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. Deluxe sleepers with en suite toilet & shower are also available, and there's a shower for standard sleeper passengers at the end of the corridor. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment, see the Nightjet sleeper information page.
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Book this train at www.trainline.eu (in various currencies, overseas payment cards no problem) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at. Bookings can open up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
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2-berth regular sleeper with washstand. Larger photo. |
The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper... |
A Comfortline sleeping-car, as now used on the Austrian Nightjet train from Florence to Vienna & Salzburg. More information about Nightjets. |
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Austrian couchette car or liegewagen. Couchettes are the economical option, flat bunks with rug & pillow. |
6-berth couchettes, the cheapest option... |
4-berth couchettes, ideal for families... |
Option 2, Florence to Salzburg or Vienna by daytime trains - a daytime option with lunch in Venice...
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You can travel from Florence to Salzburg or Vienna by train in a single chill-out day from €49. And how about lunch in Venice?
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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!
Book this train from €19.90 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. It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.
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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 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.
Book from Venice to Vienna or Salzburg from €29 in 2nd class, €44 in 1st class or €59 in business class (= premium 1st class, a real treat) at www.trainline.eu (quickest & easiest to use, overseas payment cards no problem) or at Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices but a bit more fiddly). You print your own ticket.
Option 3, Florence to Innsbruck,
Salzburg or Vienna via the Brenner Pass - the scenic daytime option...
You can travel from Florence to
Austria by train in a single chill-out day via the Scenic Brenner Pass. For example, if you left
Florence SMN around 10:30 you'd reach
Innsbruck Hbf around 16:30, Salzburg around 19:00,
Vienna Hbf around 21:30. Step 1, take a fast
Frecciarossa
from Florence SMN to Bologna Centrale from €19.90. There's usually one
around 10:00. Step 2, take a comfortable
Austrian EuroCity train with restaurant car leaving Bologna Centrale at 11:52 for
Innsbruck Hbf via
the scenic Brenner Pass,
see
the Brenner Pass scenery video here. Fares from Bologna to anywhere in Austria
start at €39. Treat yourself to a meal in the restaurant car as the
mountains glide by... Change in Innsbruck for trains to Salzburg, Linz &
Vienna. To buy tickets, first book the
11:52 from Bologna Centrale to Innsbruck, Salzburg, Vienna or anywhere in
Austria at
www.trainline.eu (quickest & easiest to use, overseas payment cards no
problem) or at
Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at
(same prices but a bit more fiddly). You print your own ticket. Now add a
suitable connecting train from
Florence SMN to Bologna Centrale at
www.trainline.eu (easy to use, in €, no booking fee) or
www.italiarail.com
(easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or
www.trenitalia.com (in
€),
making sure you have at least 40 minutes between trains in Bologna 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. Earlier or later departures are
possible, but with a change in Verona Porta Nuova rather than Bologna, as trains
link Verona and Innsbruck every 2 hours, only one or two a day start back in
Bologna. In this case, you'd first book Verona to Austria using
www.trainline.eu,
then add a Florence to Verona ticket at
either
www.trainline.eu or
www.italiarail.com
or
www.trenitalia.com,
again making sure you allowed at least 40 minutes between trains in Verona. The restaurant car on a EuroCity
to Munich, seen at Verona. You don't need to book a table, just go along
and sit down. Dining on the move as the scenery glides by is one of the
pleasures of travelling on trains like this.
More photos & information about these Austrian EuroCity trains. Second class
seats, mostly in 6-seat compartments with
side-corridor like this, but some cars are open-plan saloons...
First class leather seats.
On a few trains you'll find 6-seat compartments too.... 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...
Florence to Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo & Scandinavia...
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Step 1, travel from Florence to Munich by excellent Austrian Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Florence SMN at 21:55, arriving Munich Hbf 08:19.
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 if you book well in advance. Deluxe sleepers with en suite shower & toilet are also available, and there's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in regular sleepers. Breakfast is included in the fare in couchettes & sleepers, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet information page.
Book this at www.trainline.eu (in €, £ or $, overseas payment cards no problem) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at. Bookings can open up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
If you'd prefer a daytime journey with an overnight stop in Munich, use the Florence to Munich in a single day option above.
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Step 2, travel from Munich to Copenhagen leaving Munich Hbf at 10:21 by luxurious ICE train, making one easy change in Hamburg onto a comfortable Danish IC3 intercity train arriving Copenhagen at 21:33.
If you're only going as far as Copenhagen, book Munich to Copenhagen from €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class at the German Railways site www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.
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Step 3 if you're going to Malmo, simply take a regular Öresund train from Copenhagen to Malmö in 39 minutes with passport check off-train at Kastrup, these leave twice an hour. You can book through from Munich to Malmö from €39 at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.
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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 €39.90 with an overnight stop in Copenhagen programmed in using the Add intermediate stops 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.
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Step 3 for Oslo, stay overnight in Copenhagen and travel from Copenhagen to Oslo by train next day as shown here. Or spend the day in Copenhagen and take the overnight DFDS cruise ferry to Oslo as also shown here.
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2-berth regular sleeper with washstand. Larger photo. |
The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper... |
A Comfortline sleeping-car, as now used on the Austrian Nightjet train from Rome & Florence to Munich. More information about Nightjets. |
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Austrian couchette car or liegewagen... |
6-berth couchettes... |
4-berth couchettes... |
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A Danish IC3 train at Copenhagen station. IC3s now work all the Hamburg-Copenhagen trains. |
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A 125 mph X2000 train from Copenhagen to Stockholm. |
2nd class seating on the X2000. All seats have power sockets for laptops & mobiles... |
Self-service buffet car on the X2000 to Stockholm. |
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 overnight on the comfortable Austrian
Nightjet
sleeper train leaving
Florence SMN at 21:55 and arriving at
Vienna Hbf
at 08:53 next morning.
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
if you book well in advance. Deluxe
sleepers with en suite shower & toilet are also available, and there's a shower
at the end of the corridor for passengers in regular sleepers. Breakfast
is included in the fare in couchettes & sleepers, served in your compartment.
See the Nightjet
information page. Book this at
www.trainline.eu (in
€, £ or $, overseas payment cards no problem) or Austrian Railways own
site www.oebb.at. Bookings
can open up to 6
months ahead and you print your own ticket. Step 2, travel from Vienna to
Prague by smart modern
Czech Railjet
train, leaving
Vienna Hbf
at 11:10 & arriving Prague Hlavni
at 15:13. Fares start at just €14
in 2nd class, €29 in 1st class or €44 in business class (= premium 1st class).
These swish
railjet trains have a bistro-restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power
sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the
railjet train information page. Tip: With a 1st or
business class ticket you
can use the ÖBB
lounge in Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments &
free WiFi. 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.trainline.eu 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. Alternative step 2 if you're going
to Cesky Krumlov: Travel from Vienna Franz-Josefs-Bahnhof to Cesky Krumlov
in 4h26 as
explained here. 2-berth regular sleeper with
washstand.
Larger photo. The toilet & shower in a deluxe
sleeper...
Step 1, take the comfortable Austrian Nightjet train from
Florence to Vienna.
More information
about Nightjets. Austrian couchette car or
liegewagen. Couchettes are the economical option, flat
bunks with rug & pillow. 6-berth couchettes, the
cheapest option... 4-berth couchettes, ideal
for families... 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... Restaurant car...
Courtesy David Malone Economy (2nd) class...
Courtesy Cortney Lollar
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
12:55 by 186mph
Frecciarossa high-speed train,
making one quick & easy change at the magnificent
Milan Centrale station onto a
bullet-nosed ETR610
EuroCity train along Lake Maggiore and through the Swiss Alps arriving in
Zurich HB at 18:50.
The Milan-Zurich train takes the scenic Gotthard route, although 20 minutes of
the journey is now in the
Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world's longest rail tunnel.
Book from Florence SMN to
Zurich HB using
either
Raileurope.co.uk,
www.italiarail.com
or www.trenitalia.com.
Florence to Milan starts at €19.90 then Milan to Zurich starts at €29. Just
make sure you have at least an hour in Zurich to change trains in case of
any delay. It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board
each train. You've now time for dinner
in Zurich, I can
recommend steak & frites and a beer at the Brasserie Federal
on the main concourse at
Zurich HB. Step 2, now take the Zurich to
Prague sleeper leaving
Zurich HB at 21:40 every night and arriving next morning at
Ceske Budejovice at 08:51 &
Prague Hlavni at
10:57. The train has a modern Czech sleeping-car, some deluxe sleepers
have an en suite shower & toilet, there's a shower for standard sleeper
passengers at the end of the corridor. Morning tea & coffee is included in
the sleeper fare. There are no couchettes on this route. 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.
Book this sleeper online at
the Czech Railways site www.cd.cz
and print out 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. ETR610 EuroCity train as used on the Milan-Zurich route.
More
information about ETR610 trains. 2nd class seats on the stylish ETR610 EuroCity train... The restaurant car on an
ETR610... Dinner in the diner... The sleeping-car from
Zurich to Prague, ready
to leave Zurich HB. Courtesy of Shaiq Ali Khan Standard sleeper
set up as a 2-berth, with blind down & washstand open.
Each room can be used with 1, 2 or 3 beds. The same sleeper with berths folded away
& seats
folded out, washstand closed. Very similar to a deluxe, but
without the shower & toilet. Deluxe sleepers are similar to
standard ones, but 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.
Florence to Bratislava & Slovakia from €64...
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Step 1, take the excellent Nightjet sleeper train from Florence SMN to Vienna Hbf from €59 with couchette or €99 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper as shown in the Florence to Austria section above.
Book this train online at www.trainline.eu (quickest & easiest to use, overseas payment cards no problem) or at Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices but a bit more fiddly). You print your own ticket.
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Step 2, when you arrive at Vienna Hbf simply buy a ticket for around €11.20 and hop on the next hourly local train to Bratislava Hlavna, no reservation necessary or possible, journey time 1 hour 6 minutes. You can check times using www.oebb.at.
Florence to Budapest from €68...
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Step 1, travel from Florence to Vienna by comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train leaving Florence SMN at 21:55 & arriving Vienna Hbf 08:53.
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 if you book well in advance. Deluxe sleepers with en suite shower & toilet are also available, and there's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in regular sleepers. Breakfast is included in the fare in couchettes & sleepers, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet information page.
Book this at www.trainline.eu (in €, £ or $, overseas payment cards no problem) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at. Bookings can open up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
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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 in 2nd class, €29 in 1st class or €44 in business class (= premium 1st class).
These swish railjet trains have a bistro-restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the railjet train information page. Tip: With a 1st or business class ticket you can use the ÖBB lounge in Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.
Why not book book a later train & spend some time in Vienna? Trains to Budapest leave every hour or two, left luggage lockers are available.
Buy tickets for this train as a second transaction at www.trainline.eu or www.oebb.at. You print your own ticket. Easy!
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2-berth regular sleeper with washstand. Larger photo. |
The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper... |
A Comfortline sleeping-car, as used on the Austrian Nightjet train from Florence to Vienna. More information about Nightjets. |
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Austrian couchette car or liegewagen. Couchettes are the economical option, flat bunks with rug & pillow. |
6-berth couchettes, the cheapest option... |
4-berth couchettes, ideal for families... |
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Austrian Railjet train from Vienna to Budapest. This is a RailJet at Budapest Keleti... More photos, video & information about Railjets |
Business class costs €15 more than normal 1st class... |
Economy class on RailJet, comfortable open saloons with large picture windows. Some seats around tables, some unidirectional. |
Florence to Bucharest, Brasov & Romania...
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Step 1, travel from Florence to Budapest as shown in the Florence to Budapest section above, leaving Florence in the evening by sleeper train and changing in Vienna onto a fast Railjet train to Budapest, arriving at lunchtime. You've an afternoon to explore Budapest.
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Step 2, now take the overnight EuroNight sleeper train Ister leaving Budapest Keleti at 19:10 and arriving Brasov at 09:53 & Bucharest Nord at 12:30 next day. This comfortable train has 4 & 6 berth couchettes and a modern air-conditioned sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, also deluxe sleepers with 1 or 2 beds and shower/toilet. See the photos on the London to Romania page.
You can book the Budapest to Bucharest sleeper train with fares from €49 in a 2-bed sleeper at the Hungarian railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, collecting your tickets from the yellow ticket machines at Budapest Keleti station.
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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 see details here. These daytime trains are also bookable from €29 at www.mavcsoport.hu.
Florence to Ljubljana & Zagreb...
Option 1, by the direct route through Trieste...
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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. 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!
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Add a ticket from Florence to Venice by Frecciarossa high-speed train from €19.90 at either www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.
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Inside the ETR563. Larger photo. |
The train to Ljubljana about to leave Trieste. Courtesy of Marc Williams. |
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Scenery in Slovenia, seen from the train from Trieste to Ljubljana... |
Option 2, with overnight stop in Austria - a useful alternative...
Until 3 October 2020, to both Ljubljana & Zagreb..
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Step 1, travel from Florence to Venice by Frecciarossa high-speed train, leaving Florence SMN at 12:20, arriving Venice S. Lucia 14:34.
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!
Book this train from €19.90 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. It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.
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Step 2, travel from Venice to Villach in Austria near the Slovenian border by comfortable Austrian railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Villach at 19:11. Book this from €19 at www.trainline.eu (quickest & easiest to use, overseas payment cards no problem) or at Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices but a bit more fiddly). You print your own ticket.
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Stay in Villach overnight - try the Hotel Goldenes Lamm or Hotel City, both near the station with great reviews.
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Step 3, travel from Villach to Ljubljana & Zagreb by direct train, leaving Villach at 06:25 and arriving Lesce-Bled 07:28, Ljubljana at 08:11 and Zagreb at 10:49. Buy this ticket at the station, likely to be around €20 to Ljubljana, €40 to Zagreb.
From 4 October 2020, only to Zagreb...
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Step 1, travel from Florence to Venice by Frecciarossa high-speed train, leaving Florence SMN at 12:30, arriving Venice Santa Lucia at 14:35.
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!
Book this train from €19.90 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. It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.
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Step 2, travel from Venice to Bruck an der Mur in Austria by comfortable Austrian railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Bruck an der Mur at 21:44. Book this from €19 at either www.trainline.eu (easiest) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at. You print your own ticket.
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Stay overnight in Bruck an der Mur - try the Hotel Landskron, 14 minutes walk from the station.
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Step 3, travel from Bruck to Zagreb by train, leaving Bruck an der Mur at 06:20 and arriving Zagreb at 11:27. 2nd class only, bring your own food & drink along. Book this from €29 at either www.trainline.eu or www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.
Florence to Dubrovnik & Split...
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You can travel overland all the way from Florence to Zagreb by train as shown above, then take a train from Zagreb to Split (daytime or sleeper) then a bus Split to Dubrovnik (4 hours, many buses). But it's more time-effective to go by comfortable overnight ferry from Italy to Croatia as follows.
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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 and secure night's sleep. Make sure you're on deck with your camera ready as the ship approaches the beautiful Croatian coast!
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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. It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.
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.
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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...
Until 3 October 2020, with overnight stop in Villach, Austria - the cheapest and simplest option...
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Step 1, travel from Florence to Venice by Frecciarossa high-speed train, leaving Florence SMN at 12:30, arriving Venice Santa Lucia at 14:35.
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!
Book this train from €19.90 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. It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.
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Step 2, travel from Venice to Villach in Austria near the Slovenian border by comfortable Austrian railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Villach at 19:11. Book this from €19 at www.trainline.eu (quickest & easiest to use, overseas payment cards no problem) or at Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices but a bit more fiddly). You print your own ticket.
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Stay in Villach overnight - try the Hotel Goldenes Lamm or Hotel City, both near the station with great reviews.
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Step 3, travel from Villach to Belgrade by train, leaving Villach at 06:25, switching trains at Zagreb (arrive 10:49, depart 11:03) and arriving Belgrade Centar station at 18:07. There's lovely scenery along the River Sava between Ljubljana & Zagreb. You can buy the ticket at Villach station, fare around €97 if bought on the day, there are always places available. To reduce the cost, pre-book a Villach to Zagreb advance-purchase sparschiene ticket from €29 at either www.trainline.eu or the Austrian Railways site www.oebb.at, but you'll then need to ask the Croatian conductor to sell you an onward ticket from Zagreb to Belgrade, likely to be about €29, or break your journey in Zagreb for a day to buy a new ticket. Zagreb is a city well worth a stopover!
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Step 4 if you're going to Sofia, spend the night in Belgrade, I recommend the historic Hotel Moskva. Travel from Belgrade to Sofia by daytime train, 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.
From 4 October 2020 onwards, with overnight stop in Bruck an der Mur, Austria - the cheapest and simplest option...
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Step 1, travel from Florence to Venice by Frecciarossa high-speed train, leaving Florence SMN at 12:30, arriving Venice Santa Lucia at 14:35.
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!
Book this train from €19.90 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. It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.
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Step 2, travel from Venice to Bruck an der Mur in Austria by comfortable Austrian railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Bruck an der Mur at 21:44. Book this from €19 at either www.trainline.eu (easiest) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at. You print your own ticket.
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Stay overnight in Bruck an der Mur - try the Hotel Landskron, 14 minutes walk from the station.
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Step 3, travel from Bruck to Zagreb by train, leaving Bruck an der Mur at 06:20 and arriving Zagreb at 11:27. 2nd class only, bring your own food & drink along. Book this from €29 at either www.trainline.eu or www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.
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Step 4, travel from Zagreb to Belgrade on the daily train, leaving Zagreb at 13:04 and arrives Novi Beograd at 20:17 & Belgrade Centar at 20:25. The fare is around €29, it cannot be bought online so buy at the station or on board the train.
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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 daytime train, see the Belgrade to Sofia page for full details. From mid-June to mid-September there's a direct train called the Balkan which leaves Belgrade Topcider station at 09:12 and arrives Sofia Central Station at 20:30. 2nd class only, bring your own picnic and bottle of wine as there's no catering. At other times of year you leave Belgrade Centar station at 06:10, change at Nis & Dimitrovgrad arriving Sofia at 19:00. Buy this ticket at the station for €20.60, there are always places available, even on the day. It cannot be booked online, and there's no need.
Florence to Bar, Budva, Kotor & Montenegro...
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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!
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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) will resume shortly 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.
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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 just quote your booking reference on board.
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.
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Trains link Bar with Podgorica and indeed with Belgrade on the spectacular Bar-Belgrade Railway. Buses link Bar bus station with Budva and Kotor.
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The former Montenegro Lines ferry to Bari at Bar ferry terminal... |
Florence to Warsaw, Krakow & Poland...
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Step 1, take the 21:55 Nightjet sleeper train from Florence SMN to Vienna Hbf arriving 08:53, with fares from €59 with couchette, €99 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper or €139 in a single-bed sleeper as shown in the Florence to Austria section above.
www.trainline.eu (quickest & easiest to use, overseas payment cards no problem) or at Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices but a bit more fiddly). You print your own ticket.
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Step 2, spend a morning in Vienna, then take the EuroCity train leaving Vienna Hbf at 14:10 and arriving Warsaw Centralna at 21:24. From €29 booked with Austrian Railways at www.oebb.at.
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Or spend the day in Vienna, then take the overnight sleeper train from Vienna to Krakow & 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.
Florence to Lviv, Kiev, Moscow...
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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.
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Enjoy the best part of a day in Vienna, left luggage lockers are available.
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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 10:14 & Kiev at 17:21. 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.
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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!
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.
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The Vienna-Kiev sleeping-car at Kiev Pass. Photos courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler. |
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The Vienna-Kiev sleeper about to leave Vienna Hbf... Courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler. |
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The sleeper corridor. Courtesy Helmut Uttenthaler. |
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1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper compartment. |
Florence to Athens & Greece...
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Step 1, book a train from Florence SMN to Bari Centrale from €29.90 at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, the small booking fee will be refunded if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR) or Italian Railways site www.trenitalia.com (needs Italian language place names, no booking fee, read this advice on using it first).
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.
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Step 2, sail across the Adriatic from Bari to Corfu, Igoumenitsa or Patras in Greece aboard a luxurious cruise ferry booked at www.superfast.com. She normally sails daily except Sundays at 19:30 arriving 13:00 next day. There are a range of cabins, bars, restaurants on board, it's a lovely voyage, see the photos below.
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Step 3, from Patras it's a few hours bus ride to Athens. There's a bus/train combined timetable from Patras to Athens on www.trainose.gr but it takes a bit of finding. Buy the bus ticket when you reach Patras.
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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.
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2 or 4-berth cabin with private toilet & shower. |
Relaxing on deck... |
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At sea, passing Cephalonia & Ithaca. This is what travel to Greece should be like! |
Florence to Istanbul & Turkey...
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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.
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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.
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 020 3327 0761,
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 & other cities
Other hotel sites worth trying...
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www.tripadvisor.com is the place to find independent travellers' reviews of all the main hotels
Backpacker hostels...
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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.