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

• How to buy tickets...  

  Booking usually opens 120 days ahead.

  The easy way to buy Florence to Paris tickets is using the excellent www.loco2.com.  Loco2 can book Florence to Paris by daytime trains as one simple transaction as it connects to both the French SNCF ticketing system and the Italian Trenitalia system & NTV's system to sell both the Frecciarossa or Italo ticket and the TGV ticket together in the same place at the cheapest prices with a print-at-home ticket for the TGV and ticketless for the Frecciarossa - you just quote the booking reference on board the train.  You can use www.loco2.com wherever you live in the world as it accepts all international credit cards.

  Booking tips:  Go to www.loco2.com 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 6 hours.  In the search results, look for an option shown with just 1 change.

• Alternatively, you can book each train separately, although it doesn't usually make it 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.

Option 2, to see the scenery in daylight, use high-speed trains from €48 with an overnight stop in wonderful Turin - the option I'd recommend!

• Day 1, travel from Florence SMN to Turin Porta Susa by any afternoon or evening train you like, either one of NTV's Italo high-speed trains or one of Trenitalia's Frecciarossa high-speed trains - these are two competing operators, take whichever you like the look of.  You can leave Florence as late as 19:45 arriving Turin 22:30, but personally I'd take an earlier train as Turin is well worth a longer stop.  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.

• Stay overnight in Turin.  I suggest the excellent Turin Palace Hotel in the centre right next to Turin's main Porta Nuova terminus where the trains from Florence terminate - they call briefly at Turin Porta Susa but end their journey at Turin's main Porta Nuova station.  Next morning it's a 7 minute taxi ride or 20 minute walk to Porta Susa station where the TGV departs.  Or try the small Al Porta Susa B&B right next to Porta Susa station.

• Day 2, travel from Turin to Paris by TGV, taking either the 07:39 TGV from Turin Porta Susa to Paris Gare de Lyon arriving 13:19, or have a leisurely breakfast and take the 10:11 TGV from Turin Porta Susa arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 16:11.  Or spend the day in Turin and take the afternoon TGV leaving Turin Porta Susa at 16:11 arriving in Paris around 22:31.

  Whichever train you go for, 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.

• 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 by TGV starts at €29 in 2nd class or €46 in 1st class.

• How to buy tickets...   Booking usually opens 120 days ahead. 

  The easy way to buy Florence to Paris tickets is using the excellent www.loco2.com, as it connects to both the French SNCF ticketing system and the Italian Trenitalia system to sell both the Frecciarossa ticket and the TGV ticket together in the same place at the cheapest prices with a print-at-home ticket for the TGV and ticketless for the Frecciarossa - you just quote the booking reference on board the train.  You can use www.loco2.com wherever you live in the world as it accepts all international credit cards.

  Booking tips:  Go to www.loco2.com and book from Florence SMN (Florence Santa Maria Novella is the main central station) to Turin Porta Susa, selecting any suitable direct train with 0 changes, adding this to your basket.  Then book from Turin (any station) to Paris (any station).  In the search results, look for the direct TGVs with 0 changes.  Add this to your basket and check out.

• Alternatively, you can book each train separately, like this, although it doesn't usually make it 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.

Step 1, travel from Florence SMN to Turin Porta Susa by Frecciarossa ETR500 high-speed train...		Business class, all seats with power sockets, complimentary coffee, juice or prosecco included.

Premium class (= premium 2nd class) on a AV ETR500 Frecciarossa train.  All seats have power sockets for laptops & mobiles.		All trains have a cafe-bar, some have a restaurant car.  A 3-course lunch costs around €32, ½ bottle of wine €9, credit cards accepted.

Step 2, travel from Turin to Paris by high-speed TGV...  Above left, the cafe-bar serving drinks, snacks & hot dishes  Above right, the TGV at Paris Gare de Lyon.

A table for four in 2nd class on the TGV to Paris...		1st class seats on the Turin-Paris TGV...

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.

...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...

• 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 20:00, although I'd recommend taking the earlier 18:00 or 19:00 and having dinner in Milan. 

  The station's bistro shuts at 21:30, so try the excellent inexpensive Italian restaurant Noblesse Oblige just 5 min walk outside the station, book a table at www.ristorantenoblesseoblige.com.

• Step 2, take the Thello sleeper train leaving Milan Centrale at 23:05 every night and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 09:55 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.

• Fares for the sleeper train start at €35 with a couchette in a 6-berth compartment, €55 with a couchette in a 4-berth compartment, €95 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €115 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.

• You can book from Florence to Paris as one transaction at 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 at www.thello.com.  Make sure the system gives you at least an hour between trains in Milan, just in case of any delay as you can't afford to miss a sleeper train!

• Personally I'd take the 18:00 or 19:00 train from Florence and have dinner in Milan.  So I'd first use www.italiarail.com to book the sleeper train from Milan to Paris, then I would use www.italiarail.com again to book a suitable train from Florence SMN to Milan Centrale, picking one which got into Milan Centrale at two or three hours before the sleeper train left.

• You can also book this journey at www.loco2.com, at the same prices also with ticketless travel - you just quote your booking reference on board each train.

A sleeping-car on the Thello sleeper train from Milan to Paris...		1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper, beds folded away, sofa folded out.		The same sleeper with beds folded out.  More Thello info here.

Couchettes...  This is a 4 or 6 berth compartment.  It's a lot more comfy with just 4 people.		A couchette car on the overnight Thello train, seen 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...

• 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, I highly recommend this option.

• Day 1, travel on the 07:30 Monday-Saturday Frecciarossa high-speed train from Florence SMN to Milan, then the 10:20 Italian regional train along the shores of Lake Como to Tirano, then the absolutely fabulous Bernina Express narrow-gauge panoramic train through the Alps to Chur, then by Swiss train to Zurich, arriving around 20:00.  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.  On Sundays there's no train sufficiently early, so travel from Florence to Milan on Saturday and stay overnight.

  See the Bernina Express page for full details of this journey & how to buy tickets.   Watch the video.

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

• Day 2, take a TGV-Lyria high-speed train from Zurich to Paris in just 4h05 from €25 booked at www.trainline.eu.  If you take the 07:34 you can be in central Paris at 11:38.  Or the 09:34 arrives Paris at 13:38.  Your call!  TGV-Lyria trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats, and first class fares include snacks & drinks served at your seat, see the TGV-Lyria page for photos & information.

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

The Bernina Express descends from the Bernina Pass...

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Florence to 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...

• You can leave Florence SMN at 09:00 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 15:51.  This Thello train uses comfortable air-conditioned Frecciabianca carriages with a cafe-bar counter, see the photos below.  Change in Nice for onward French trains to Antibes, Cannes, St Raphael & Marseille.

• Or you can leave Florence SMN at 12:00 by high-speed Frecciarossa train and make one simple change at Milan Centrale into a new daily direct Thello train, leaving Milan Centrale at 15:10 and arriving Nice Ville at 20:04.  It extends to Cannes at 20:34, and Marseille St Charles at 22:42 every day until 30 September 2016, then on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays.

• 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!

• 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.

• 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 www.loco2.com rather than ItaliaRail or Trenitalia, as Loco2 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.

The Milan-Nice-Cannes-Marseille Thello train at Milan...  It uses comfortable air-conditioned Frecciabianca carriages.		1st class seats on Thello.  All seats have power sockets.  Plenty of luggage room on racks & between seat backs...

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.

Option 2:  Using Italian trains to Ventimiglia, and a French local train - a useful option if the Thello timings don't suit you...

• 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.

• There are various possible daily departures... 

  For example, you could leave Florence around 08:05, change at Pisa & Genoa, arriving Ventimiglia at 13:07, then hop on the 13:20 local train getting you to Nice by around 14:10. 

  Or you could leave Florence around 10:28, changing at Pisa & Genoa, arriving Ventimiglia at 17:31, a local train would get you to Nice by around 18:40. 

  Or you could leave Florence around 13:28, change at Pisa & Genoa, arriving Ventimiglia at 20:07, then a local train would get you to Nice by around 21:10. 

  Or you could leave Florence around 15:00, change at Pisa & Genoa, arriving Ventimiglia at 21:07, then a local train would get you to Nice by around 22:10. 

  These are just examples, simply go online and check for your date of travel following the how to buy tickets advice below.

• 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 €7.50 or so, bought at the station on the day.

• 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 www.bahn.de.

  It's not essential, but if you want to pre-buy your Ventimiglia-Nice ticket simply to save time at the ticket office and to save a euro (as it's only €6 if bought online, €7.50 bought at the station) you can do this at https://paca.shop.ter-sncf.mobi.  Just buy a ticket from  'Vintimille' (the French name for Ventimiglia) to 'Nice Ville' and select 'plein tariff' (= full fare with no railcard reductions).  You get a pdf-format ticket which you can print or show to the conductor on your laptop or smartphone.  The site won't give train times, a ticket bought online for a specific date is valid on any Ventimiglia-Nice train that day.  You'll still need to look up train times at www.bahn.de!

  Step 3, if you want an onward train from Nice to Marseille, Avignon, Perpignan and so on, pre-book this at either www.loco2.com 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.

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 €64...

Option 1, by daytime TGV & Thalys with overnight stop in Paris...

• Step 1, use either www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu to book the afternoon TGV from Turin to Paris, leaving Turin Porta Susa at 16:11 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 22:31 (22:37 on Saturdays).  Fares start at just €29 in 2nd class or €44 in 1st class.  You print your own ticket.

• Step 2, working backwards, now use either www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com to book a suitable morning connecting train from Florence SMN to Turin choosing any train you like as long as it arrives at Turin Porta Susa at least 45 minutes before the TGV leaves.  Florence to Turin only takes 2h45 with fares from €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.

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

• Step 3, use www.b-europe.com to book a Thalys high-speed train from Paris Gare du Nord to Brussels Midi the next morning in 1h22 from €29 in 2nd class or €79 in 1st class.  Thalys trains all have a cafe-bar, WiFi and power sockets at all seats, and the first class fare includes food & drink served at your seat, see the Thalys information page.

Option 2, by daytime TGV & Thalys with overnight stop in Turin...

• Step 1, use either www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com to book any afternoon or evening train you like from Florence SMN to Turin Porta Susa or Turin Porta Nuova.  Florence to Turin only takes 2h45.

• Stay overnight in Turin.  I suggest the excellent Turin Palace Hotel in the centre right next to Porta Nuova station.  It's a 7 minute taxi ride, 3-stop €1.50 metro ride or 20 minute walk from Porta Susa where the TGV to Paris leaves.

• Step 2, use either www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu to book from Turin Porta Susa to Brussels Midi leaving on one of the two morning TGVs at either 07:39 or 10:11.  You can book as one journey, which will involves a Turin-Paris TGV from €29 taking 5h40, you change trains & stations in Paris, then take a Thalys train from Paris to Brussels in around 1h22 also from €29.  You'll get print-at-home e-tickets.

Option 3, using the Florence-Munich Nightjet sleeper train - an easy & time-effective option with no need to cross Paris... 

• Step 1, travel from Florence to Munich on the excellent Austrian Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Florence SMN at 21:49, arriving Munich at 08:19. 

  Fares from €59 with a couchette in 6-berth, €69 with a couchette in 4-berth, €99 per person in a cosy 2-bed sleeper or €139 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 the German Railways site www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.  You can also book at Austrian Railways www.oebb.at.

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Brussels by luxurious ICE train & Thalys from €29+€19, leaving Munich at 10:55, change in Frankfurt, arriving Brussels Midi at 17:35.

  Book this at the Belgian Railways website www.b-europe.com or the German Railways site www.bahn.de, and print your own ticket.

2-berth regular sleeper with washstand...		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.

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...

• Day 1, travel from Florence to Munich from €39 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.

  Check times and buy tickets as one journey at www.bahn.de - this has always worked previously, but if you see no fares simply switch to booking at www.loco2.com, clicking More options and entering Verona in the via box. You print your own tickets.

  You can leave Florence SMN as late as 14:00 arriving Munich at 22:21, but by all means take an earlier train for an evening in Munich.

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

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Brussels by luxurious ICE train & Thalys from €29+€19, leaving Munich at 07:55, change in Frankfurt & Cologne, arriving Brussels Midi at 14:32.  Do not risk an earlier connection, just in case of delay.

  Book this at the Belgian Railways website www.b-europe.com (as that can book German trains and Thalys) and print your own ticket.  Alternatively, you might get a better price at the German Railways site www.bahn.de, but with much fiddling of times using the add intermediate stops feature and a suitable stopover time to get a German ICE train for all sectors.

Option 5, by high-speed train Florence to Milan, Thello sleeper train to Paris & high-speed Thalys train to Brussels... 

• Step 1, book the 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.

• 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.

• Step 3, now book a high-speed Thalys train from Paris Gare du Nord to Brussels 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. 

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Florence to Amsterdam from €64...

Option 1, Florence to Amsterdam using the Florence-Munich Nightjet sleeper train - an easy and time-effective option... 

• Step 1, travel from Florence to Munich on the excellent Austrian Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Florence SMN at 21:49, arriving Munich at 08:19. 

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

• Book this at the German Railways site www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Amsterdam by luxurious ICE train from €39, leaving Munich at 09:55, one easy change in Frankfurt, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 17:58. 

  Book this at the German Railways site www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.

2-berth regular sleeper with washstand...		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.

Austrian couchette car or liegewagen...		6-berth couchettes...		4-berth couchettes...

Option 2, Florence to Amsterdam by day trains with overnight stop in Zurich - if you prefer day trains to sleepers...

• Day 1, travel from Florence to Milan by high-speed Frecciarossa train in 1h40 from €19.90 then from Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train through the Alps in 3h26 from €9 upwards.  It's a lovely ride through the Alps. 

  Check times and buy tickets as one journey at either www.loco2.com or www.trenitalia.com.

  You can leave Florence SMN as late as 16:00 arriving Zurich 22:28, but by all means take an earlier train for an evening in Zurich.

• Stay overnight in Zurich.  For something special, look no further than the superb five-star Hotel Schweizerhof, just across the road from Zurich station - 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.

• Day 2, travel from Zurich to Amsterdam by superb ICE train with one easy change in Frankfurt, leaving Zurich at 08:00 and arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 17:57 - or by all means choose an earlier or later departure. 

  You can check times and buy tickets as one transaction at www.loco2.com, or you can book direct with German Railways at www.bahn.de but now you need to book Zurich-Frankfurt and Frankfurt-Amsterdam as two separate bookings.

Option 3, Florence to Amsterdam by day trains with overnight stop in Munich - Another option if you prefer day trains to sleepers...

• Day 1, travel from Florence to Munich from €39 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.

  Check times and buy tickets as one journey at www.bahn.de - this has always worked previously, but if you see no fares simply switch to booking at www.loco2.com, clicking More options and entering Verona in the via box. You print your own tickets..

  You can leave Florence SMN as late as 14:00 arriving Munich at 22:21, but by all means take an earlier train for an evening in Munich.

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

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Amsterdam by superb ICE train with one easy change in Frankfurt, leaving Munich at 07:55 and arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 15:57 - or by all means choose an earlier or later departure. 

  You can check times and buy tickets as one transaction at www.bahn.de.

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...

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 from Verona to Innsbruck...

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

Option 4, Florence to Amsterdam via Paris - if you want to stop off in Paris... 

• 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.

• Step 1, book a high-speed Frecciarossa train from Florence to Turin in 2h45 from €29 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).

• 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 www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu.  See the Paris-Turin TGV page for timetable, fares, photos & video.  It's a nice scenic run!

• 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.

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Florence to Geneva, Zurich, Luzern, Basel & Switzerland from €28...

Option 1, by high-speed train from Florence to Milan, then EuroCity train from Milan to Brig, Geneva, Bern, Basel, Zurich, Lucerne...

• Regular EuroCity trains link Milan with Geneva, Montreux, Brig, Lugano & Zurich plus one or two daily direct trains from Milan to Bern, Lucerne, Spiez and Basel.  Look out for great scenery on the routes from Italy into Switzerland, past lakes and mountains.

• 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.

• Fares from Milan to major Swiss cities by direct train start at €9 upwards in 2nd class or €49 upwards in 1st class if you book well in advance.

• How to buy tickets, if using a direct EuroCity train from Italy to a major Swiss city, with no Swiss domestic train involved...

  You can buy tickets from Florence to any of these Swiss cities as one easy transaction at either www.loco2.com (easy to use, prices in € or £, recognises English place names, no added fees or mark-up) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, choice of paying in €, $ or £, recognises English place names, the small 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.

• 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 www.loco2.com 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 www.loco2.com 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 www.loco2.com 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 www.loco2.com 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.

ETR610 EuroCity train, now used on all Milan-Switzerland routes.		2nd class seats on the stylish ETR610 EuroCity train...

Restaurant car on an ETR160...		Lunch!

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

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

This is Lake Leman, seen from a Geneva-Milan EuroCity train on a wintry day.

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...

• 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.  See video of a Milan to Zurich journey via the wonderful Bernina route here.

• 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.

• Step 2, take a local train from Milan Centrale to Tirano.  These run every 2 hours throughout the day, fare around €11, 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.

• 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 €39...  Normal Swiss fares are expensive, so see my instructions for buying a cheap advance-purchase ticket from Tirano to Chur or Zurich here.

• 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.

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Florence to Barcelona, Madrid & Spain...

By daytime trains with overnight stop in Marseille...

• Day 1, travel from Florence to Marseille, using the 13:00 Frecciarossa high-speed train from Florence SMN to Milan Centrale from €19.90 then the 15:10 Thello train from Milan Centrale to Marseille from €30, arriving Marseille St Charles at 22:31.

  The 15:10 Thello train from Milan to Marseille runs on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays all year round, and runs on every day of the week from early April to mid-September plus some other dates.

  On days when it doesn't run, meaning Monday-Thursday until April and from mid-September onwards, you'll need to leave Florence SMN at 09:00, change in Milan onto the earlier 11:10 Thello train to Nice, then change in Nice for a French train along the scenic Cote d'Azur to Marseille, arriving around 19:35.  On the plus side, you now have more of an evening in Marseille...

  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

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

• Day 2, travel from Marseille to Barcelona & Madrid by direct AVE high-speed train, leaving Marseille St Charles at 08:05 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 12:38 and Madrid Atocha at 15:45.  Fares for this leg start at €49 in 2nd class or €89 in 1st class.

• Day 2 afternoon, change in Barcelona for Spanish high-speed trains to Valencia, Alicante, Cordoba, Malaga or Seville.

• To buy tickets the easy way, simply go to www.loco2.com.  Book Florence to Marseille on day 1 and add it to your basket.  Then book Marseille to Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Alicante, Seville, Malaga or wherever for day 2 as one booking, add it to your basket and check out.  www.loco2.com 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.

• Alternatively, you can book each leg separately like this...

  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 the small booking fee to seat61 users 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.

  If your journey from Florence to Marseille involves a change in Nice, you'll need to use www.italiarail.com/www.trenitalia.com to book Milan to Nice then www.trainline.eu to book Nice-Marseille.

  Step 2, book from Marseille to Barcelona or Madrid at www.trainline.eu (in euros).  You print your own ticket.

  Step 3, book any onward trains within Spain at www.renfe.com (see this advice on using it) or (if you have any problems) www.loco2.com.  You print your own tickets.

Milan to Marseille by Thello train...

The Milan-Marseille Thello train at Milan Centrale...  It uses comfortable air-conditioned Frecciabianca carriages.		1st class seats on Thello.  All seats have power sockets.  Plenty of luggage room on racks & between seat backs...

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.

View from the train between Nice & Marseille...

Marseille to Barcelona & Madrid by AVE high-speed train...

A Spanish S100 AVE train at Barcelona Sants...		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

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

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...

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Florence to Lisbon & Portugal...

• 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.

• 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.

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

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.

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Florence to Munich & Germany from €39...

Option 1, Florence to Munich by direct Nightjet sleeper train and onwards to anywhere in Germany - the time-effective option...

• There is a direct Austrian Nightjet sleeper train leaving Florence SMN at 21:49 every night and arriving Munich at 08:19 next morning with onward connections by daytime ICE train to destinations all over Germany.

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

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.  It can book tickets from Florence to anywhere in Germany using a combination of these sleeper trains and onward daytime connections.

2-berth regular sleeper with washstand...		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.

Austrian couchette car or liegewagen...		6-berth couchettes...		4-berth couchettes...

Option 2, Florence to Munich & anywhere in Germany by daytime trains in a single day via the Brenner Pass - the scenic daytime option...

• Take a high-speed train from Florence to Verona in 1h30, then a comfortable Austrian EuroCity train with restaurant car from Verona to Munich via the Brenner Pass in around 5h10, see the Brenner Pass 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.

• Florence to Munich or anywhere in Germany starts at €39 in 2nd class or €69 in 1st class.

• To buy tickets, first try booking direct from Florence SMN to your chosen German destination at www.bahn.de.  You print your own ticket.

  If through fares appear, that's great. If you see no fares simply switch to booking at www.loco2.com, clicking More options and entering Verona in the via box. You print your own tickets.  Loco2 connects to both Trenitalia and DB German Railways, so can source both tickets as one transaction.

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...

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...

Option 3, Florence to anywhere in Germany by daytime trains with overnight stop in Munich...

• Day 1, take a high-speed train from Florence to Verona in 1h30, then a comfortable Austrian EuroCity train with restaurant car from Verona to Munich via the scenic Brenner Pass in around 5h10, see the Brenner Pass video here.

  You can leave Florence SMN as late as 14:00, arriving Munich Hbf at 22:21, but by all means travel earlier and have a pleasant evening in Munich.

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

• Day 2, take comfortable ICE or IC trains from Munich to anywhere in Germany.

• Florence to anywhere in Germany starts at €39 in 2nd class or €69 in 1st class.

• To buy tickets, first try booking direct from Florence SMN to your chosen German destination using this special link to www.bahn.de which I have set up including an intermediate stop in Munich.  You print your own ticket.  For an earlier departure from Florence or longer stopover in Munich, simply adjust the departure time from Florence and/or click Add Intermediate stops and adjust the stopover duration in Munich.  Not rocket science, but a bit of trial and error is sometimes needed!

• If through fares appear, that's great.  This will be the cheapest option, with all trains on one ticket.  If for any reason no through fares appear, simply split the booking like this:  First book from Verona Porta Nuova to any German destination using the German Railways website www.bahn.de, with an intermediate stop of (say) 9 hours in Munich added.  Then book a suitable connecting train from Florence SMN to Verona Porta Nuova at either www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com, making sure you allow at least 40 minutes to change at Verona in case of any delay (on a through ticket, less time than this is fine).

Option 4, Italy to Germany by daytime trains via Zurich & the Gotthard Pass.  Another scenic option...

• High-speed trains link Florence SMN with Milan Centrale.  Regular EuroCity trains link Milan Centrale with Zurich in around 3h26 through the scenic Gotthard Pass in the Swiss Alps from just €9upwards. Then regular direct ICE trains link Zurich with cities all over Germany from €39.

• Step 1, book a ticket from Florence to Zurich using www.italiarail.com, as this will happily book both trains as one transaction.  It's ticketless, you just quote the booking reference to the conductor on board the train.  If you want a safer connection in Milan or just want to stop off there for a while, simply split the booking into Florence-Milan then Milan-Zurich.  Allow at least 60 minutes in Zurich for connections, in case of any delay.

• Step 2, now book from Zurich HB (HB=Hauptbahnhof) to anywhere in Germany at www.bahn.de.  You print your own ticket.

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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... 

• An excellent Nightjet sleeper train called the Allegro Tosca leaves Florence SMN at 21:49 every night, with a portion arriving at Salzburg at 06:15 and another portion arriving at Vienna Hbf at 08:46.

• Fares start at just €59 with couchette in 6-berth, €69 with couchette in 4-berth, €99 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper or €139 with a single-bed sleeper.  This train also has deluxe sleepers with en suite shower & toilet.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.

• Buy tickets at the Austrian Railways site www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.  Alternatively, you can also book a www.trenitalia.com, collecting tickets from the self-service machines at any main station in Italy.

2-berth regular sleeper with washstand...		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.

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...

• You can travel from Florence to Salzburg or Vienna by train in a single chill-out day from €48.  And how about lunch in Venice?

• Step 1, travel from Florence to Venice by Frecciarossa high-speed train, leaving Florence SMN at 12:30, arriving Venice S. Lucia 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 15 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia station, St Mark's Square just 25 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.

• Step 2, travel from Venice to Vienna by comfortable Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Venice S. Lucia at 15:55, 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.

  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 or €59 in 1st class at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at and 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 from €59.

  For example, if you left Florence SMN around 10:30 you'd reach Innsbruck around 16:30, Salzburg around 19:00, Vienna around 21:30.

• Step 1, take a fast Frecciarossa from Florence SMN to Bologna Centrale from €19.90.  There's usually one around 10:30.

• Step 2, take a comfortable Austrian EuroCity train with restaurant car leaving Bologna at 11:52 for Innsbruck via the scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass 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 using the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.  You print your own ticket.  It may help to click via and enter Innsbruck.

  Now add a suitable connecting train from Florence SMN to Bologna Centrale at 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.oebb.at, then add a Florence to Verona ticket at 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...

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...

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Florence to Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo & Scandinavia...

• Step 1, travel from Florence to Munich on the excellent Austrian Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Florence SMN at 21:49, arriving Munich Hbf at 08:19. 

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

  Book this at the German Railways site www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.

  If you'd prefer a daytime journey with overnight stop in Munich, simply use the Florence to Munich in a single day option above.

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Copenhagen leaving Munich Hbf at 10:22 by luxurious ICE train, making one easy change in Hamburg onto a EuroCity train (a comfortable Danish IC3 train, see the photos below) arriving in Copenhagen at 22:19.

  Treat this as a chill-out day with a good book and a glass or two of wine - there's a bistro-restaurant car for lunch.  The Hamburg to Copenhagen EuroCity train goes onto a ferry between Puttgarten & Rødby, one of the few places in Europe where trains still get shunted onto ships.  It's an interesting experience in its own right - you must leave the train and go upstairs into the ship's passenger accommodation during the 50-minute crossing, but you can leave your luggage on the train.

  If you're just going to Copenhagen, book Munich to Copenhagen from €39 in 2nd class or €69 in 1st class at the German Railways site www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.  Tip:  I recommend changing Duration of transfer from standard to at least 45 minutes.

• Step 3 if you're going to Malmo, simply take a regular Öresund train from Copenhagen to Malmö in 52 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.

• 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 4h05 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 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.

• 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.

2-berth regular sleeper with washstand...		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.

Austrian couchette car or liegewagen...		6-berth couchettes...		4-berth couchettes...

A Danish IC3 train.		2nd class seats...		Arrived at Copenhagen...

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. More info on X2000 trains

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Florence to Prague or Cesky Krumlov 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 21:49 and arriving at Vienna Hbf at 08:46 next morning.

  Fares start at just €59 with couchette in 6-berth, €69 with couchette in 4-berth, €99 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper or €139 with a single-bed sleeper.  This train also has deluxe sleepers with en suite shower & toilet.  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.

  Book this train online at Austrian Railways www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.  Alternatively, you can also book at www.trenitalia.com, collecting tickets from the self-service machines at any main station in Italy.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Prague by smart modern Czech Railjet train in 3h59 from €19 in 2nd class, €29 in 1st class or €44 in premium Business Class, leaving Vienna Hbf at 11:10 and arriving at Prague Hlavni at 15:06.  You arrive in the city centre, walking distance from the old city square.

  If you buy 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?  Trains to Prague leave every two hours, see the timetable here.  Left luggage lockers are available.

  Book this train at either www.oebb.at 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!

• 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...		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 13:00 by 186mph Frecciarossa high-speed train, making one quick and easy change at Milan's magnificent Centrale station onto a bullet-nosed EuroCity train through the Swiss Alps arriving in Zurich at 18:51.  The Milan-Zurich train takes the scenic Gotthard route, although half an hour of the journey is now in the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world's longest.

  Book from Florence SMN to Zurich using either www.loco2.com, www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.  Florence to Milan starts at €19.90 then Milan to Zurich starts at €9.  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 the steak & frites and a beer or two at the Brasserie Federal on the main station concourse.

• Step 2, now take the Zurich to Prague sleeper leaving Zurich 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 €79 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €89 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129 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.  For deluxe sleepers, select 1st class before running the enquiry.

• 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.		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.

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Florence to Bratislava & Slovakia from €64...

• Step 1, take the excellent Nightjet sleeper train from Florence SMN to Vienna Hauptbahnhof 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 Austrian Railways www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.  You can also book this train at www.trenitalia.com with ticket collection from the self-service machines at any main Italian station.

• Step 2, when you arrive at Vienna Hauptbahnhof simply buy a ticket for around €15 and hop on the next hourly local train to Bratislava, no reservation necessary or possible, journey time 1 hour 6 minutes.  You can check times using www.oebb.at.

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Florence to Budapest from €68...

• Step 1, travel from Florence to Vienna overnight on the comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train leaving Florence SMN at 21:49 and arriving at Vienna Hbf at 08:46 next morning.

  Fares start at €59 in 6-berth couchettes, €69 in 4-berth couchettes, €99 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139 in a single-bed sleeper.  Deluxe sleepers with en suite toilet & shower are also available, there's a shower for standard sleeper passengers at the end of the sleeping-car corridor.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.

  Buy tickets for this train online at Austrian Railways www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.  Alternatively, you can book at www.trenitalia.com, collecting tickets from the self-service machines at any main station in Italy.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest by smart modern Austrian Railjet train from €19 in 2nd class, €29 in 1st class or €44 in premium Business class, leaving Vienna Hbf at 09:42 and arriving at Budapest Keleti at 12:19.

  If you buy 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.oebb.at.  You print your own ticket.  Easy!

2-berth regular sleeper with washstand...		The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper...		A Comfortline sleeping-car, as now used on the 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...

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.

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Florence to Bucharest, Brasov, Sighisoara & Romania...

• 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.

• Step 2, now take the overnight EuroNight sleeper train Ister leaving Budapest around 19:10 and arriving Sighisoara at 06:56, Brasov around 09:30 & Bucharest at 12:00 next day.  This comfortable train has a restaurant car, 4 and 6 berth couchettes and a modern air-conditioned sleeping-car with 1, 2 and 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 train with fares from €49 in a 2-bed sleeper at the Hungarian railways website www.mav-start.hu, collecting your tickets from the yellow ticket machines at Budapest Keleti station.

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Florence to Ljubljana & Slovenia, Zagreb...

Option 1, by the direct route through Trieste...

• First, travel from Florence SMN to Trieste by Frecciargento train to Venice then regional train to Trieste from around €31. 

  Buy your ticket using either www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.

• Now the bad news.  There are now no trains across the Italy-Slovenia border, thanks to Trenitalia and EU policy - bring back the Iron Curtain!

• But now the good news.  There's a cheap, scenic & comfortable alternative, Trieste to Ljubljana twice daily by tram + train for just €11, or to Zagreb for around €29.  Click here to see full details and photos on the Venice to Ljubljana & Zagreb page.

The tram from Trieste to Villa Opicina on the border with Slovenia...

The Slovenian local train from Villa Opicina to Ljubljana...

Option 2, with overnight stop in Villach, Austria - a useful alternative...

• Step 1, travel from Florence to Venice by Frecciarossa high-speed train, leaving Florence SMN at 12:30, arriving Venice S. Lucia 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 15 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia station, St Mark's Square just 25 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.

• Step 2, travel from Venice to Villach in Austria near the Slovenian border by comfortable Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Villach at 19:11.  Book this from €19 at the Austrian Railways site www.oebb.at.

• Stay in Villach overnight - try the Hotel Goldenes Lamm or Hotel City, both near the station with great reviews.

• Step 3, travel from Villach to Ljubljana & Zagreb by direct train, leaving Villach at 06:25 and arriving Ljubljana at 08:12 and Zagreb at 10:46.  Buy this ticket at the station, likely to be around €20 to Ljubljana, €40 to Zagreb.

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Florence to Dubrovnik & Split...

• 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.

• Step 1, book an overnight ferry with comfortable en suite cabin from either Ancona to Split or 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.  Also try www.blueline-ferries.com who sail the same route.  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!

• 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.

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...

Option 1, with overnight stop in Villach, Austria - the cheapest and simplest option...

• Step 1, travel from Florence to Venice by Frecciarossa high-speed train, leaving Florence SMN at 12:30, arriving Venice S. Lucia 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 15 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia station, St Mark's Square just 25 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.

• Step 2, travel from Venice to Villach in Austria near the Slovenian border by comfortable Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Villach at 19:11.  Book this from €19 at the Austrian Railways site www.oebb.at.

• Stay in Villach overnight - try the Hotel Goldenes Lamm or Hotel City, both near the station with great reviews.

• Step 3, travel from Villach to Belgrade by direct train, leaving Villach at 06:25 and arriving Belgrade main station at 17:32.  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 you could pre-book a Villach to Zagreb advance-purchase sparschiene ticket from €29 at Austrian Railways 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 €35, or break your journey in Zagreb for a day to buy a new ticket.  Zagreb is a city well worth a stopover!

• Step 4 if you're going to Sofia, spend the night in Belgrade - I recommend the historic Hotel Moskva.  Take the daytime train called the Balkan to Sofia next day, leaving Belgrade station at 09:25 and arriving Sofia Central Station at 20:10.  Buy this ticket at the station for around €30, there are always places available, even on the day.  It cannot be booked online, and there's no need.  2nd class seats only.  There's no catering car so bring your own picnic and wine or beer.

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

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

• Step 1, book an overnight ferry with comfortable en suite cabin from Bari to Bar in Montenegro.  Montenegro Lines ceased trading in early 2017, but Croatian ferry line Jadrolinija (www.jadrolinija.hr) 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.

• 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.

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

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

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Florence to Warsaw, Krakow & Poland...

• Step 1, take the 21:49 Nightjet sleeper train from Florence to Vienna Hbf arriving 08:46, 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.

  Book this train at the Austrian Railways site www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.  Alternatively, you can also book a www.trenitalia.com, collecting tickets from the self-service machines at any main station in Italy.

• Step 2, spend a morning in Vienna, then take the EuroCity train leaving Vienna Hbf at 14:10 and arriving Warsaw Centralna at 21:01.  From €29 booked with Austrian Railways at www.oebb.at.

• 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.

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Florence to Kiev, Lviv & Ukraine...

• Day 1, travel from Florence to Budapest as shown in the Florence to Budapest section above, leaving Florence in the evening by Nightjet sleeper train and changing in Vienna onto a fast Railjet train to Budapest, arriving at lunchtime on day 2.

• Spend the afternoon & evening in Budapest and stay overnight.  For an inexpensive hotel with great reviews right next to Keleti Station, try the Royal Park Boutique Hotel.  More hotels in Budapest.

• Day 3, take the comfortable Ukrainian sleeper train Latorca leaving Budapest Nyugati station early in the morning, arriving Lviv in the evening and Kiev the following morning (day 4), as shown in the Budapest to Ukraine section.

The Budapest-Kiev train... Courtesy of Alessandro		A sleeper compartment...		...with washbasin.

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Florence to Moscow, St Petersburg & Russia...

• Step 1, take the 21:49 Nightjet sleeper train from Florence SMN arriving Vienna Hbf at 08:46, with fares from €59 with a couchette in 6-berth, €69 with a couchette in 4-berth, €99 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €139 in a single bed sleeper as shown in the Florence to Austria section above.

  Book this train at the Austrian Railways site www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.  Alternatively, you can also book a www.trenitalia.com, collecting tickets from the self-service machines at any main station in Italy.  Spend the day in Vienna.

• Step 2, then take the direct Vienna to Moscow train running several days a week, see the Vienna to Moscow section for details.  However, you will need to book Vienna to Moscow by phone.

• Alternatively, you can also travel to Warsaw as shown above, then take the 3-times-a-week sleeper train Polonez from Warsaw to Moscow, see the Warsaw to Moscow section for details.

These modern sleeping-cars run from Vienna & Warsaw to Moscow...

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Florence to Athens & Greece...

• Step 1, book a train from Florence SMN to Bari Centrale from €29 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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

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

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Florence to Istanbul & Turkey...

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

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

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Hotels in Florence & other cities

Other hotel sites worth trying...

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

Backpacker hostels...

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

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