 A German ICE train... |
This page explains how to travel by train from Frankfurt to other cities all over Europe, and how to buy tickets the cheapest way. Information current for 2023.
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
Frankfurt to other destinations in Germany
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Frankfurt am Main Hauptbahnhof is the main station right in the city centre. See station guide
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Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen is the airport station, also served by many mainline trains.
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int.bahn.de will book trains from Frankfurt to anywhere in Germany.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, except when the mid-December timetable change gets in the way. More information about when train booking opens.
With just a handful of exceptions, German domestic trains are never reservation compulsory so you can always just turn up, buy a ticket and get on the next train without a reservation - although you will usually have to pay the more expensive Flexpreis on the day of travel.
However, if you pre-book there are cheap advance-purchase Sparpreis (savings) fares for 19.90, 29.90, 39.90 etc. for long-distance journeys, so buy in advance if you want to save money.
A seat reservation is usually optional for a small extra charge, around 4.50 per seat, usually free if you're buying a 1st class ticket - if you don't want one you can sit in any unreserved seat. You can choose your seat from a seating plan when booking a German IC or ICE train.
You print your own tickets (on A4 paper but U.S. Letter size is fine) or you can show it on your laptop or phone. Tickets can also be sent to any address worldwide for a small fee.
I recommend registering when prompted, rather than booking as a guest, so you can always log in and check or re-print all your bookings.
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About train travel in Germany: See the train travel in Germany page for a beginner's guide to train travel in Germany, including how to buy tickets online or by phone and an explanation of the Deutschland Ticket, Schφnes-Wochenende-Ticket and Lander tickets.
Frankfurt to Berlin
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Regular fast trains run by DB: ICE trains run by Deutsche Bahn (DB, German Railways) link Frankfurt am Main Hbf with Berlin Hbf every hour or better, journey time as little as 3h53 city centre to city centre with no check-in time to add, typical journey time 4h35. These trains have 1st & 2nd class, restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 17.90 in 2nd class or 26.90 in 1st class, fares vary like air fares to book ahead.
Book at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.
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Lo-cost trains run by Flixtrain: In addition, lo-cost operator Flixtrain run two trains per day from Frankfurt Sud to Berlin Hbf, journey time just over 4 hours. Frankfurt Sud is on the edge of the city centre, easily reached by frequent S-Bahn local train from Frankfurt am Main Hbf.
Flixtrains have one class of seating with power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. There's no catering.
Fares start at 9.99 and vary like air fares. If you need to travel at short notice, Flixtrain can be a lot cheaper than using DB.
Book at www.flixtrain.com and a journey time of just over 4 hours.
Frankfurt to London & UK
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See the London to Germany page for train times, fares, tickets and more information.
Frankfurt to Dublin & Ireland
Option 1, Frankfurt to Dublin via London & Holyhead - daily departures
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Day 1, travel from Frankfurt to London St Pancras by ICE & Eurostar, see the London-Germany page for times, fares, how to buy tickets.
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Stay overnight in London, see suggested hotels near St Pancras. It's a 10 minute walk from London St Pancras to London Euston.
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Day 2, travel from London Euston to Dublin on the morning train & ferry service, arriving Dublin Ferryport 17:25, see the London-Dublin page for times, fares & how to buy tickets. Rail & Sail is an inexpensive, fun and interesting way to go, see an illustrated account of the journey.
Option 2, Frankfurt to Dublin via Paris & Cherbourg - several times a week
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Day 1, travel from Frankfurt to Paris by high-speed train on any afternoon or early evening departure you like, as shown below.
Fares start at 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.
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Stay overnight in Paris, see suggested hotels near Paris stations.
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Day 2, travel from Paris to Dublin by train & ferry, taking a morning train from Paris St Lazare to Cherbourg & an overnight ferry to Dublin as shown in the Paris to Dublin section, arriving in the morning on Day 3.
Irish Ferries sails Cherbourg-Dublin several times a week. Start by booking the ferry at www.irishferries.com and add a train connection using www.thetrainline.com, see the Paris to Dublin section for full details.
Frankfurt to Paris from 39.90
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Superb German ICE3 trains and the occasional French TGV Duplex link Frankfurt (Main) Hbf with Paris Gare de l'Est in just 3h45 city centre to city centre several times a day. Faster than flying!
ICE3 trains have a restaurant car, TGV Duplex have a cafe-bar, both types have power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. These trains travel at up to 320 km/h (199 mph) on the TGV-Est high-speed line between Strasbourg & Paris. See the Paris-Frankfurt ICE video here.
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Fares start at 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets from Frankfurt or anywhere in Germany to Paris at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Tip: Use the Direct services only toggle to see just the direct Frankfurt-Paris trains.
I recommend registering when prompted, rather than booking as a guest, so you can always log in and check or re-print all your bookings.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.
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You can also buy tickets at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com, but read this advice:
If you're just going Frankfurt-Paris, check both sites!
I've seen int.bahn.de want 44.90 non-refundable for Frankfurt-Paris when www.sncf-connect.com wanted only 39 for exactly the same train, refundable less 15 up to 3 days before departure. And www.sncf-connect.com would let me hold the ticket at that price without payment for a week while I finished my planning. So I bought from www.sncf-connect.com! Also, www.sncf-connect.com normally lets you choose an exact seat from a plan when travelling 1st class on a TGV train to or from Germany, a feature not available when using int.bahn.de.
If you have kids, it's better to use int.bahn.de.
If you buy from the Germans, the more generous German child age limits apply, under 6 free, under 15 child rate. Furthermore, DB have a permanent offer, children under 15 go free when accompanied by a parent, grandparent or guardian using a Sparpreis advance-purchase fare. If you buy from the French, under 4s go free, under 12 get the child rate, and there's no kids-go-free deal. So if you have children, it's a no-brainer to buy from the Germans.
If you're starting somewhere else in Germany, it's better to use int.bahn.de.
The Germans sell through tickets from almost anywhere in Germany to Paris for one inclusive price, so in principle, Berlin-Paris or Nuremberg-Paris also starts from 39.90. The French charge for each train, so that same Berlin-Paris journey might be 39.90 for the direct Mannheim-Paris train + another 40 for the Berlin-Mannheim train, making it significantly more expensive than buying from DB. It's just the different way the French & German ticketing systems work!
Frankfurt to Strasbourg from 29.90
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Frankfurt to Strasbourg takes as little as 1h51 on several direct trains per day.
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The trains are either German ICE trains with restaurant car or French TGV Duplex high-speed trains with cafe-bar, both types have power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Other departures are available with 1 or 2 changes.
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Fares start at 29.90 in 2nd class or 49.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
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Tip: As well as Frankfurt-Strasbourg journeys entirely by ICE/TGV (with cheap Sparpreis fares shown), you'll see hourly Frankfurt-Strasbourg journeys using an ICE to Offenburg then a regional train (shown as SWE) to Strasbourg with a hefty 66+ price tag. Do not pay this unless you need to go immediately or are willing to pay for flexibility! This is the expensive Flexpreis, because DB cannot sell cheap advance-purchase Sparpreis fares with an SWE train included. The solution is to book a Sparpreis or Super Sparpreis from Frankfurt to Offenburg from just 17.90 using int.bahn.de, then use int.bahn.de again to buy a 10 Flexpreis for the SWE regional train from Offenburg to Strasbourg.
Frankfurt to Lyon, Avignon, Marseille, Cannes, Nice
Option 1, using the direct Frankfurt-Marseille TGV
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A TGV Duplex leaves Frankfurt (Main) Hbf every day at 13:56, arriving Lyon Part Dieu 19:56, Avignon TGV 21:09, Aix en Provence TGV 21:33 & Marseille St Charles 21:48.
The TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number >60 is upper deck.
Fares start at 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at int.bahn.de (in , no booking fee) or www.raileurope.com (in , £ or $, small booking fee). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.
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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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Next morning, take any train you like from Marseille St Charles to Cannes or Nice from 15 booked at www.raileurope.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.sncf-connect.com (in , no booking fee). You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Marseille to Nice takes just 2h35. There's wonderful scenery along the Cote d'Azur between St Raphael and Nice, past rocky headlands, bays, harbours and millionaires' villas.
Option 2, via Milan
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Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Milan by direct ETR610 EuroCity train leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 08:06 every day arriving Milan Centrale at 15:50 after a scenic ride over the Gotthard route.
Fares start at 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de (in , no booking fee) or www.raileurope.com (in , £ or $, using Raileurope means you can book all your tickets easily in one place, small booking fee). You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.
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Step 2, travel from Milan to the Ventimiglia on the French border by Intercity train, leaving Milan Centrale at 17:05 arriving Ventimiglia at 20:58.
Fares start at 19.90 in 2nd class or 26.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this journey at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, this keeps all your bookings together in one place, small booking fee). It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. You can also book at www.trenitalia.com, but you'll need to use Italian-language city names.
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Step 3, travel from Ventimiglia to Menton, Monte Carlo, Nice, Antibes or Cannes by TER local train, check times at www.thetrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com. Ventimiglia to Nice takes about 60 minutes. There's usually a late night connection on Saturdays & Sundays and on some weekdays, but on some weekdays there's no sufficiently late TER train to provide a connection off the 17:05 from Milan. Check and see.
The fare is 8, though promotional fares of 5 or 7.50 are sometimes available. 2nd class only.
Buy a ticket at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your phone. You can also book at the French Railways website, www.sncf-connect.com (in , no booking fee).
You'll find full details of the journey from Verona & Milan to Nice with photos & tips on the Nice to Italy by train page.
Frankfurt to Brussels or Bruges from 29.90
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German ICE trains link Frankfurt (Main) Hbf with Brussels Midi several times a day, taking just 3h05.
These superb ICE trains have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. They travel at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) on the Frankfurt-Cologne high-speed line.
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Fares start at 29.90 in 2nd class or 59.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Book at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Tip: If going to Brussels and not beyond, use the Direct services only toggle.
Tip: int.bahn.de can book tickets from Frankfurt to any Belgian destination including as Bruges, Antwerp or Ghent as one transaction for one inclusive price, cheaper than buying a separate Belgian domestic ticket.
Frankfurt to Amsterdam from 29.90
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German ICE trains link Frankfurt (Main) Hbf with Amsterdam Centraal several times a day, taking just 3h57.
These superb ICE trains have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. They travel at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) on the Frankfurt-Cologne high-speed line.
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Fares start at 29.90 in 2nd class or 49.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets at the German Railways site int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Tip: Use the Direct services only toggle.
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Tip: Frankfurt-Amsterdam ICE trains cross the Rhine before entering Cologne Hbf, with the impressive towers of Cologne cathedral on the left right by the station. The train will then leave the same way it came in, re-crossing the Rhine before turning north. So don't be surprised when your train changes direction at Cologne, and crosses the same Rhine bridge twice! See suggested hotels in Amsterdam.
Frankfurt to Luxembourg from 20.90
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You can travel from Frankfurt to Luxembourg by train in as little as 3h49, with regular departures through the day.
The line from Koblenz to Luxembourg is very scenic, much of it along the Moselle valley past river boats and vineyards. For the best river views, sit on the left hand side when going west from Koblenz (the train leaves Koblenz station heading north before turning west).
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Fares start at 20.90 in 2nd class or 27.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Tip: To avoid journeys involving a bus cluttering up the search results, click Stopovers and enter Igel as a stopover leaving length of stay zero. The trains all call at Igel, the buses don't!
Tip: In the search results, look for journeys by train involving just 1 change at Koblenz. Avoid journeys involving a bus.
Frankfurt to Basel, Zurich, Geneva & Switzerland from 37.90
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Superb German ICE trains link Frankfurt (Main) Hbf with Basel SBB (2h57) at least every hour through the day, many trains going on to Zurich HB (3h55), Bern (4h06) or Interlaken Ost (5h07). Change in Basel or Zurich for destinations all over Switzerland.
The ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
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Fares start at 37.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Book these trains at the German Railways website int.bahn.de,
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted, rather than booking as a guest, so you can always log in and check or re-print all your bookings.
You can book through tickets from Frankfurt to places like Luzern, Zermatt or St Moritz this way, at one cheap price if you pre-book.
Frankfurt to Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome & Italy from 39.90
Option 1, Frankfurt to Italy in a day through the Alps - the scenic option
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Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Milan by EuroCity train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 08:06 and arriving Milan Centrale at 15:50.
This excellent ETR610 EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
This train started running in December 2017, routed via the new Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world's longest railway tunnel. You get excellent views of Swiss mountains and Swiss and Italian lakes, see the photos and video of the Gotthard route here.
Fares start at 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
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Step 2, travel from Milan to Venice, Florence, Rome & Naples by high-speed Frecciarossa train.
For Venice, leave Milan Centrale at 16:45 daily except Saturdays arriving Verona P. Nuova 17:58 and Venice Santa Lucia 19:12. There's a later connection on Saturdays.
For Florence, Rome, Naples, a Frecciarossa leaves Milan Centrale at 16:58 arriving Florence SMN 18:50, Rome Termini 20:35, Naples Centrale 22:03.
Fares to Venice or Florence start at 19.90 in 2nd (standard) class or 29.90 in 1st (business) class.
Fares to Rome or Naples start at 29.90 in 2nd (standard) class or 39.90 in 1st (business) class.
Book from Milan to Florence, Rome, Naples or any Italian destination at www.italiarail.com (they'll refund their small booking fee if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (requires Italian language place names). It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.
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Earlier or later departures are also possible, although you need to change twice, at Zurich (or sometimes Basel SBB) and Milan. To find these journeys, use www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com. As these connect to both the German & Italian ticketing systems they can book as one transaction.
Tip: Using www.raileurope.com, click More options and enter Milan as a via station, leaving stopover duration zero.
You print your own tickets or can show them on your laptop or phone.
Option 2, Frankfurt to Milan, Genoa, La Spezia, Florence, Rome & Naples by sleeper train - the time-effective option
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Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Munich by ICE train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 15:53 and arriving Munich Hbf at 19:11.
The ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Tip: Why not book an earlier train & having dinner in Munich before boarding the sleeper? For Bavarian food & beer I recommend the Augustiner Keller (www.augustinerkeller.de) at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf, see walking map.
Fares start at 17.50 in 2nd class or 31.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
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Step 2, travel from Munich to Italy by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Munich Hbf at 20:09 with a portion for Verona Porta Nuova 05:51, Milan Rogoredo 07:42, Genoa Piazza Principe 09:38 & La Spezia 11:10, another portion for Bologna Centrale 05:15, Florence SMN 06:18 & Rome Termini 09:10.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book the nightjet at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Update: Due to trackwork, from 10 June to 9 September 2023 & on certain weekends the Nightjet sleeper to Florence & Rome will terminate at Bologna Centrale. During this time you will need to buy a separate onward ticket by Italian high-speed train from Bologna to Florence or Rome.
Step 3, for Naples take a train from Rome Termini to Naples Centrale, book this at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (in , requires Italian place names).
Option 3, Frankfurt to Venice by sleeper train - the time-effective option
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Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Stuttgart by ICE train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 17:50 and arriving Stuttgart Hbf at 19:08.
The ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 17.50 in 2nd class or 31.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
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Step 2, travel from Stuttgart to Venice by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 20:29 & arriving Venice Santa Lucia 08:34.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book the nightjet at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Option 4, Frankfurt to Italy using the Bernina Express through the Swiss Alps - the ultimate scenic route
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This takes longer and must be split over 2 days, but it's fabulous and well worth the extra time. It involves the most spectacular Alpine panoramic scenic train of them all, the famous narrow-gauge Bernina Express. I'll show you how to do it cheaply.
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Day 1, take an afternoon or evening train from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Zurich HB in just 3h55, you can leave Frankfurt as late as 18:05, but by all means leave earlier and spend a pleasant evening in Zurich.
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Stay overnight in Zurich. For something really special, the 5-star Hotel Schweizerhof is one of my favourite hotels anywhere, just across the road from the station. They'll even send a uniformed commissionaire to meet you & carry your bags from the train. For something cheaper, also next to the station with great reviews, try the 4-star Hotel St Gotthard or the excellent 3-star Hotel St. Josef, 7 minutes walk from the station, see walking map. If you're on a tight budget you can book private rooms in a one-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station at www.hostelworld.com. Alternatively, you could stay overnight in the smaller town of Chur.
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Day 2, travel from Zurich to Chur early morning, then by the fabulous Bernina Express from Chur to Tirano and by afternoon connecting regional train to Milan Centrale. You can reach Venice or Florence or Rome that evening. See the Bernina Express page for full details of the Zurich-Chur-Tirano-Milan schedule.
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How much does it cost?
Frankfurt to Tirano starts at 29.90 in 2nd class or 39.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
If you want to travel in the panorama carriages of the famous Bernina Express you must pay a modest reservation fee, details here.
Tirano to Milan by regional train costs 12, fixed-price.
Milan to Florence or Venice starts at 19.90 in 2nd class or 29.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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How to buy tickets
Step 1, book from Frankfurt to Tirano using the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
To get the overnight stop in Zurich, click Stopovers and enter Zurich HB and a suitable length of stay, say 12:30. In the search results, look for an option marked ICE, IC, D with arrival in Tirano at 12:49. If you click show details the timings from Chur onwards should match those shown on the Bernina Express page. Adjust the departure time & length of stay in Zurich to get an earlier or later train between Frankfurt and Zurich, some trial & error may be needed!
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time. But see my booking tip below.
Step 2, if you want to travel in the panorama cars of the Bernina Express, make the necessary reservation following the instructions on the Bernina Express page. Booking opens 60 days ahead. You can travel in the Allegra unit that hauls the Bernina Express without any reservation if you like.
Strep 3, buy the Tirano-Milan regional ticket on the day at the station, from the Italian station's cafe if the ticket office is closed or from the RhB station ticket office. Or online at www.thetrainline.com.
Step 4, buy an onward tickets from Milan Centrale to Florence, Rome, Naples or Venice at either www.thetrainline.com (in , £, $ or Au$), www.italiarail.com (in , £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in , requires Italian language place names). You print your ticket or show it on your phone. If you use ItaliaRail (which can also book the Milan-Florence/Rome/Naples connection), they'll refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR.
Frankfurt to Sicily
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There are many and various ways to travel from Frankfurt to Sicily with many possible stopovers on the way. But here's simplest & most epic:
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Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Milan by EuroCity train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 08:06 and arriving Milan Centrale 15:50.
EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Enjoy an afternoon in Milan and have an early dinner there.
Fares start at 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book at the German Railways website int.bahn.de and print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
This train is routed via the new Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world's longest railway tunnel, but you still get excellent views of Swiss mountains and Swiss and Italian lakes, see the photos and video of the Gotthard route here.
Tip: For dinner in Milan I recommend the inexpensive and typically Italian restaurant Nobelsse Oblige (ristorantenoblesseoblige.com) 5 minutes walk from Milan Centrale, see walking map.
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Step 2, travel from Milan to Sicily on Italy's longest train ride, an epic direct sleeper train leaving Milan Centrale at 20:10 every night and arriving next day (day 2) at Catania 14:32, Siracuse 15:48 with another portion to Palermo arriving 16:56.
This train has 4-berth Comfort couchettes and a sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments. The Milan-Catania-Palermo portion also has an Excelsior sleeping-car with a few deluxe compartments with toilet & shower. It is ferried across the Straits of Messina to Sicily on a train ferry, a unique experience and one of the few places in the world where trains go onto ships, have your camera ready! See the Trains to Sicily page for more information, photos & travel tips.
Fares start at 39.90 with a couchette, 59.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper, 89.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.
Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com and print them out or show them on your phone.
Frankfurt to Barcelona, Madrid, Alicante, Malaga & Spain
Option 1, Frankfurt to Barcelona & Spain in a single day
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Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Paris by TGV Duplex leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 08:56 Monday-Saturday, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 12:52.
On Sundays, you need to leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 06:56, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 10:38.
The train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at the German Railways website int.bahn.de (in , no booking fee) and print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
If you'd rather buy all your tickets together in one place, book at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, small booking fee) as these two websites connect to the German, French & Spanish railway ticketing systems.
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Step 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 14:56 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 21:25.
This impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number >60 is upper deck.
It's a scenic ride, the train passes Beziers cathedral, flamingos on the lakes between Montpelier & Narbonne, the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks before Perpignan, with great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, see more photos & information about the journey.
Fares start at 39 in 2nd class or 59 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both sites easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.sncf-connect.com (in , no booking fee). Booking normally opens 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your phone.
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Stay overnight in Barcelona... The Hotel Barcelo Sants is the top choice here, it's part of Barcelona Sants station so easy to use when arriving & departing by train, with great reviews & good feedback from Seat61 users. See other suggested hotels near the station.
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Step 3, take an onward high-speed train from Barcelona Sants next morning.
For Madrid: AVE-S103 high-speed trains link Barcelona Sants with Madrid Atocha every hour or two in as little as 2h30 from 35.
For Malaga: Leave Barcelona Sants at 06:45 by direct AVE-S112 high-speed train arriving Malaga Maria Zambrano at 13:00.
For Granada: Leave Barcelona Sants at 06:45 by direct AVE S112 high-speed train arriving Granada at 13:36.
For Cordoba & Seville: Leave Barcelona Sants at 07:32 by direct AVE-S112 high-speed train arriving Cordoba 12:55 & Seville Santa Justa 13:54. Or spend the morning in Barcelona and take the 15:40 direct AVE S112 high-speed train to Cordoba & Seville.
For Valencia & Alicante: EuroMed trains link Barcelona with Valencia & Alicante regularly through the day, for example one leaves Barcelona Sants at 08:15 Mondays-Fridays arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 10:55 & Alicante 12:45 or at 10:15 every day arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 12:55 & Alicante 14:48. Fares from 23.
For Santiago de Compostela, A Coruna & Vigo, there's a morning Alvia train to Galicia, see details here.
Buy tickets for these trains at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (in £ or , both easy to use, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.petrabax.com (in $, small mark-up, easy to use) or the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, rejects some overseas credit cards, in , see this advice on using it). Spanish train booking normally opens 60 days ahead, but it varies.
Option 2, Frankfurt to Barcelona & Spain with overnight stop in Marseille - avoids having to cross Paris
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Day 1, travel from Frankfurt to Marseille by TGV Duplex leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 13:56 and arriving Marseille St Charles 21:48.
This French double-deck high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Book an upstairs seat for the best views, any seat number >60 is upper deck.
Fares start at 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at the German Railways website int.bahn.de (in , no booking fee), Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or show it on your phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Alternatively, If you'd prefer to buy all your tickets together in one place, book at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (in , £ or $, small booking fee) as these two websites connect to the German, French & Spanish railway ticketing systems.
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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 AVE S100 high-speed train, leaving Marseille St Charles at 08:03 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 12:38 & Madrid Atocha 15:45. This train starts running on 29 July 2023, initially only on Saturdays, Sundays & Mondays, but becoming daily all year from 30 September 2023 onwards.
This comfortable Spanish high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Look out for Bιziers cathedral on the right, colonies of flamingos on the ιtangs in southern France, the Fort de Salses on the right approaching Perpignan and great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees. More information about AVE S100 & this journey.
Fares from Marseille to Barcelona start at 25 in 2nd class or 45 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Fares from Marseille to Madrid start at 44 in 2nd class or 54 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this journey at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, small booking fee) or using Renfe's own website www.renfe.com (in , more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it). Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.
Alternatively, on any day of the week you can travel from Marseille to Barcelona leaving Marseille St Charles at 11:24, change at Nξmes, arriving Barcelona Sants 16:34. Or spend a morning & have lunch in Marseille, then leave Marseille St Charles at 15:27, change at Nξmes, arriving Barcelona Sants 21:25. You travel from Marseille to Nimes by Intercitι and from Nimes to Barcelona by double-deck 320 km/h (199 mph) TGV Duplex with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Book an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number >60 is upper deck.
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Day 2, take a high-speed train from Barcelona to Valencia & Alicante or from Madrid to Cordoba, Seville, Granada, Malaga.
A fast EuroMed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 16:10 arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 18:57 & Alicante 21:05.
An AVE high-speed train leaves Madrid Atocha at 16:48 every day, arriving Cordoba 18:54 & Malaga Maria Zambrano 20:09.
An AVE high-speed train leaves Madrid Atocha at 17:00 daily except Saturdays arriving Seville Santa Justa at 19:55. Or on any day of the week you can leave Madrid Atocha at 18:05 arriving Seville Santa Justa at 21:00.
An AVE high-speed train leaves Madrid Atocha at 20:03 every day, arriving Granada 23:48.
AVE & EuroMed trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Check times & buy tickets using either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, small booking fee) or Spanish railways own site www.renfe.com (in , much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it) or www.petrabax.com (in $, small mark-up). You print your own ticket.
Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but it varies. I'd allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Barcelona or Madrid.
Option 3, Frankfurt to Barcelona & Spain with overnight stop in Paris
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Day 1, travel from Frankfurt to Paris by TGV Duplex leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 16:56 and arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 20:41.
Or there's a later train at 18:56 daily except Saturdays arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 22:52.
The train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at the German Railways website int.bahn.de (in , no booking fee) & print your own ticket or show it on your phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Alternatively, If you'd prefer to buy all your tickets together in one place, book at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (in , £ or $, small booking fee) as these two websites connect to the German, French & Spanish railway ticketing systems.
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Stay overnight in Paris. The Mercure Paris Gare De Lyon is part of the Gare de Lyon station complex, ideal for an early train next morning. See other suggested hotels near the Gare de l'Est & Gare de Lyon.
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Day 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by high-speed TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 09:42 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 16:34.
From 8 July to 3 September 2023 there's also an earlier TGV, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon 06:56, arriving Barcelona Sants at 13:25.
This impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number >60 is upper deck.
It's a scenic ride, the train passes Beziers cathedral, flamingos on the lakes between Montpelier & Narbonne, the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks before Perpignan, with great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, see more photos & information about the journey.
Fares start at 39 in 2nd class or 59 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both sites easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in , no booking fee). Booking normally opens 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your phone.
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Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Madrid, Valencia, Alicante and so on by high-speed train.
A high-speed AVE leaves Barcelona Sants at 18:25, arriving Madrid Atocha 20:55, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
A fast EuroMed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 18:15 arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 21:02 & Alicante 23:14.
For Granada, Seville, Cordoba & Malaga, stay in Barcelona overnight, I recommend the Hotel Barcelo Sants inside the station. Next morning a direct high-speed AVE train leaves Barcelona Sants at 08:35 for Granada, Cordoba & Seville Santa Justa, change Cordoba for Malaga Maria Zambrano.
Check times & buy tickets using either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, small booking fee) or Spanish railways own site www.renfe.com (in , much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it) or www.petrabax.com (in $, small mark-up). You print your own ticket.
Booking for Spanish trains normally opens only 60 days ahead, but this varies. Allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Barcelona.
Option 4, Frankfurt to Paris by TGV, French sleeper train to the Spanish border & onward Spanish trains
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Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Paris by TGV Duplex, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 12:56 and arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 16:54.
The TGV Duplex travels at up to 320 km/h (199 mph) on the TGV-Est high-speed line, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Book an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number >60 is upper deck.
Fares start from 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the German Railways website int.bahn.de (in , no fee). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.
Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi. Make sure you allow at least 90 minutes between trains in Paris when catching a sleeper.
Tip: Have dinner at the Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon before strolling across the bridge over the River Seine to the Gare d'Austerlitz.
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Step 2, travel overnight from Paris to Latour de Carol in the heart of the Pyrenees or to Cerbθre on the Spanish border by French sleeper train, leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 21:14. Then take a local train from Latour or Cerbθre to Barcelona Sants arriving around 14:00.
See the Paris to Barcelona by sleeper train page for full details, prices, tips & how to buy tickets.
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Step 3, travel from Barcelona to other Spanish destinations next morning.
For Madrid: AVE-S103 high-speed trains link Barcelona Sants with Madrid Atocha every hour or two in as little as 2h30 from 35.
For Cordoba & Seville: Take the direct AVE-S112 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 15:15 arriving Cordoba & Seville Santa Justa in the evening. Fares start at around 45.
For Valencia & Alicante: A EuroMed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 16:10 arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla at 18:50 and Alicante at 20:37. Fares start from 23.
Check Spanish train times & buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, in , see my advice before using it). I'd allow at least 1 hour between trains in Barcelona. Booking for Spanish trains normally opens only 60 days ahead, but this varies.
Frankfurt to San Sebastian
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Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Paris by high-speed ICE leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 06:56 and arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 10:52.
The ICE has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at the German Railways website int.bahn.de (in , no booking fee) & print your own ticket or show it on your phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Alternatively, If you'd prefer to buy all your tickets together in one place, book at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (in , £ or $, small booking fee) as these two websites connect to the German, French & Spanish railway ticketing systems.
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Step 2, travel from Paris to Hendaye by TGV Duplex Ocιane, leaving Paris Gare Montparnasse at 12:11 and arriving Hendaye at 16:47.
The high-speed double-deck TGV Duplex Ocιane has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 25 in 2nd class or 45 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both sites easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in , no booking fee).
Booking for French trains opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your phone.
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Step 3, transfer from Hendaye to San Sebastian by Euskotren metro, every 30 minutes, journey time 37 minutes.
Simply walk out of Hendaye station and turn right, the little Euskotren station is in a corner of the main station forecourt. Buy a ticket for 2.75 at the Euskotren station from the machines or staffed counter and hop on the next half-hourly Euskotren metro from Hendaye to San Sebastian Amara station, journey time 37 minutes. You can check times at www.euskotren.eus. See the Paris to San Sebastian page for more information, photos & tips.
Frankfurt to Lisbon, Porto, Faro & Portugal
Option 1, Frankfurt to Lisbon via Barcelona & Madrid
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Day 1, travel from Frankfurt to Paris by TGV Duplex leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 16:56 and arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 20:41.
A later 18:56 departure by high-speed ICE is also available on Mondays-Fridays & Sundays, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 22:52
Fares start at 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train the German Railways website int.bahn.de (in , no booking fee) & print your own ticket or show it on your phone.
Alternatively, If you want to buy all your tickets together in one place, book at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (in , £ or $, small booking fee) as these connect to the German, French & Spanish railway ticketing systems.
Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi. Always allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris, ideally more.
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Stay overnight in Paris. The Mercure Paris Gare De Lyon is part of the Gare de Lyon station complex, ideal for an early train next morning. See other suggested hotels near the Gare de l'Est & Gare de Lyon.
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Day 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 09:42 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 16:34.
This impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number >60 is upper deck.
It's a scenic ride, the train passes Beziers cathedral, flamingos on the lakes between Montpelier & Narbonne, the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks before Perpignan, with great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, see more photos & information about the journey.
Fares start at 39 in 2nd class or 59 in 1st class. Fares work like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. Booking for the TGV opens up to 4 months ahead.
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Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Madrid by AVE high-speed train, leaving Barcelona Sants at 18:25 and arriving Madrid Atocha at 20:55.
The AVE has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More information about trains from Barcelona to Madrid.
Fares start at 38 in Standard class or 45 in Comfort class. Fares work like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but this varies.
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Stay overnight in Madrid. The classic Hotel Mediodia is across the road from Atocha with good reviews, or try the NH Hotel Madrid Atocha or Only YOU Hotel Atocha, also across the road from the station.
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Day 3, travel from Madrid to Lisbon by daytime trains as shown on the Madrid to Lisbon page.
Option 2, Frankfurt to Lisbon via San Sebastian & Vigo
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Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Paris by TGV Duplex leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 08:56 Monday-Saturday, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 12:52.
On Sundays, leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 10:56, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 14:52.
The train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train the German Railways website int.bahn.de (in , no booking fee) & print your own ticket or show it on your phone.
Alternatively, to buy all your tickets together in one place, use www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (in , £ or $, small booking fee) as these websites connect to the German, French & Spanish railway ticketing systems.
Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi. Always allow at least 60 or 70 minutes between trains in Paris, ideally more.
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Day 1, travel from Paris to Hendaye by TGV Duplex Ocιane, leaving Paris Gare Montparnasse at 16:08 arriving Hendaye 20:47.
The TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 25 each way in 2nd class, 40 each way in 1st class. The price varies, book ahead for the cheaper prices.
Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. Booking for the TGV opens up to 4 months ahead.
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Day 1, at Hendaye walk out of the station and turn right, walk across the forecourt to the Euskotren station (www.euskotren.eus). Buy a ticket and hop on the half-hourly local train to San Sebastian. Hendaye to San Sebastian Amara station takes 37 minutes - Amara (Euskotren) station is 10 minutes walk from the Renfe station.
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Stay overnight in San Sebastian. The Pension Regil is close to the old town with great reviews, 10 minutes walk from the Renfe station, 7 minutes walk from the Amara Euskotren station. If you want something in the old town itself, try the Pension Garibai or Pension Alameda. If you want to push the boat out, San Sebastian's most venerable hotel (which I can recommend personally, having stayed there) is the Hotel de Londres y Inglaterra, on the sea front.
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Day 2, travel across Spain from San Sebastian to Vigo on one of these two possible departures:
Morning departure, every day: Travel from San Sebastian (Renfe station) to Madrid by Alvia train, leaving San Sebastian at 09:02 and arriving Madrid Chamartin at 13:56. Then travel from Madrid to Vigo by Alvia train, leaving Madrid Chamartin at 16:00 and arriving Vigo Urzaiz at 20:12. The comfortable high-speed Alvia trains have a cafe-bar, standard & comfort class. Vigo Urzaiz station is a 1.1 km 15-minute walk from Vigo Guixar station, see walking map.
Afternoon departure, Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays only: Spend the morning in San Sebastian. An Intercity train leaves San Sebastian (Renfe station) at 12:13 arriving Vitoria/Gasteiz at 13:58. This is a guaranteed connection into the Barcelona-Galicia Alvia train which leaves Vitoria/Gasteiz at 14:19 on Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays arriving Vigo Guixar at 23:35.
Tip: There's a lovely relaxed cafe-bar at San Sebastian Renfe station, accessible from the forecourt or the near-side platform, just north of the main station building, ideal for a cafe con leche before your train.
San Sebastian to Vigo starts at 23 each way. The price varies, book ahead for the cheaper prices.
Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but this varies.
Tip: If using the daily departure with a change in Madrid, you might need to treat San Sebastian-Madrid & Madrid-Vigo as separate bookings.
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Stay overnight in Vigo. The NH Collection Vigo hotel & cheaper Hotel Atlantico Vigo are both near the station with great reviews.
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Day 3, travel from Vigo to Porto by air-conditioned regional train, leaving Vigo at 08:58 arriving Porto Campanhγ at 10:20. If you'd like to spend some time in Vigo, there's a later train leaving Vigo at 19:56 arriving Porto 21:18.
The fare is 14.95, fixed price.
This can also be booked at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. Booking opens 60 days ahead, but this can vary.
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Day 3, take any suitable onward train from Porto to Lisbon, for example the 11:40 Alfa Pendular arriving Lisbon Santa Apolonia at 14:30. Fares start at 15. Book this at the Portuguese Railways website www.cp.pt (in ) or at Omio.com (in , £ or $).
Frankfurt to Andorra
Option 1, Frankfurt to Andorra in a day
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Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Paris by ICE train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 08:56 Monday-Saturday arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 12:52.
On Sundays leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 06:56 arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 10:38.
The ICE train travels at up to 300 km/h on the TGV-Est high-speed line, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start from 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi. Always allow at least 70 minutes between trains in Paris.
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Step 2, travel from Paris to Toulouse by high-speed TGV, leaving Paris Montparnasse at 15:08 arriving Toulouse Matabiau 19:26.
Fares start from 25 in 2nd class or 45 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Have dinner in Toulouse.
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Step 3, travel from Toulouse Matabiau station to Andorra la Vella by bus, taking 4 hours, fare 33. There are 3 services every day run by Andbus, check times at www.andorrabybus.com. I'd allow at least an hour between train and bus in Toulouse, just in case of delay. There's normally a bus leaving Toulouse Matabiau station (bus stand 15) at 20:00 arriving Andorra at midnight.
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How to buy tickets
Buy a ticket from Frankfurt to Toulouse Matabiau at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in , no booking fee). If necessary, book Frankfurt-Paris & Paris-Toulouse separately, to get sufficient time between trains in Paris. You print your own ticket or can choose a mobile ticket.
Buy the bus ticket at www.andorrabybus.com.
Option 2, Frankfurt to Andorra using the Paris-Toulouse-l'Hospitalet overnight train
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Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Paris by TGV Duplex, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 12:56 and arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 16:54.
The TGV Duplex travels at up to 320 km/h (199 mph) on the TGV-Est high-speed line, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Book an upper deck seat for the best views.
Fares start from 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the German Railways website int.bahn.de (in , no fee). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.
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Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi. Always allow at least 90 minutes between trains in Paris when catching a sleeper.
Tip: Have dinner at the Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon before strolling across the bridge over the River Seine to the Gare d'Austerlitz.
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Step 2, take the Intercitι de Nuit couchette train leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 21:14 and arriving l'Hospitalet pres l'Andorre at 08:46.
This train has 1st class 4-berth couchettes, 2nd class 6-berth couchettes & reclining seats. Fares start at 35 including a couchette.
Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in , no booking fee). You print your own ticket or can choose a mobile ticket.
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Step 3, take a taxi or taxi+bus from l'Hospitalet station to Andorra La Vella as explained on the London to Andorra page - just disregard the London-Paris part.
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Alternatively, you can travel from Paris to Toulouse on the same Intercitι de Nuit couchette train, arriving Toulouse Matabiau at 05:54. Have breakfast in Toulouse (I recommend the breakfast buffet at the Pullman Hotel around the corner from the station), then take a bus to Andorra la Vella. A bus run by Andbus (www.andorrabybus.com) leaves from outside Toulouse Matabiau station (bus stand 15) at 11:00, arriving Andorra la Vella bus station at 15:00. This is also explained in more detail on the London to Andorra page.
Frankfurt to Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck & Austria from 27.90
Frankfurt to Austria by daytime trains
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Comfortable ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi link Frankfurt (Main) Hbf with Vienna Hbf in 6h25.
There are also trains between Frankfurt and other cities in Austria, including Salzburg, Hallstatt, Graz or Innsbruck.
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Fares start at 27.90 in 2nd class or 59.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Check train times and buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Tip: Check www.thetrainline.com too, this connects to the Austrian Railways ticketing system. You may find cheaper fares on the Austrian system than bahn.de on the same date & train. You print your own ticket.
Frankfurt to Copenhagen & Denmark from 39.90
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You can easily travel from Frankfurt to Copenhagen by ICE train & Danish Intercity train, for example:
Leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 07:14, change at Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen 17:34.
Leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 11:14, change at Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen 21:34.
The Hamburg to Copenhagen Intercity trains also call at Kolding (for Legoland) & Odense.
Take a good book, sit back and enjoy the ride. The Frankfurt-Hamburg ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. The Hamburg to Copenhagen Intercity train has no catering car so bring your own food & drink. More information for the Hamburg to Copenhagen journey.
An altered timetable applies from 17 June to 20 August 2023:
Leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 05:14, change at Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen 15:34.
Leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 07:14, change at Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen 17:34.
Leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 09:14, change at Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen 19:34.
Leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 13:14, change at Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen 23:34.
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Fares start at 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Book at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Tip: I recommend clicking Stopovers and entering Hamburg Hbf with a length of stay of 00:40 (40 minutes), to get a robust 1h17 connection in Hamburg (with time for a coffee or beer!) rather than an 17-minute one. The times shown above take that into account.
Hamburg to Copenhagen by Intercity train. From June 2023, these trains are temporarily being operated by former German Railways intercity cars and a Danish electric locomotive, until new trains being built by Talgo arrive in 2024. The current trains have 1st & 2nd class, power sockets at seats, but no catering so bring your own food & drink. More information about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.
2nd class seats are almost all open-plan like this. There are a handful of 6-seat 2nd class compartments in one of the coaches, but only a few.
The 1st class car has 6-seater compartments like this. Larger photo. Larger photo.
Frankfurt to Stockholm, Gothenburg & Malmφ from 59.90
Option 1, Frankfurt to Stockholm using the Hamburg-Stockholm sleeper train, starting 1 September 2022 - the time-effective option
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Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Hamburg by ICE train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 15:14 and arriving Hamburg Hbf at 19:36.
The ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Always allow at least an hour when connecting with a sleeper train you don't want to miss. Have dinner in Hamburg, see suggested restaurants near the station.
Fares start at 18.90 in 2nd class or 29.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.
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Step 2, travel from Hamburg to Stockholm by sleeper train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 22:01, arriving Stockholm Central 09:55 next morning.
Procured by the Swedish government and run by SJ (Swedish Railways), the train has sleeping-cars with compact 1 & 2 berth compartments with washbasin, several 1, 2 or 3 bed deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower, couchette cars with 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. The sleeping-cars are former Austrian Railways AB32s, refurbished. More information about the Hamburg-Stockholm sleeper train.
Fares start at 44.90 with a couchette in 6-berth, 69.90 with a couchette in 4-berth, 79.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or 164.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself. All prices per person per bed, fares vary like air fares so book ahead.
Book tickets at SJ's website www.sj.se.
Booking opens several months ahead, You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Option 2, Frankfurt to Sweden with overnight stop in Hamburg
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Day 1, travel from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Hamburg Hbf by ICE train in 3h37, there are regular departures right up until the evening.
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Stay overnight in Hamburg. The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews. Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by Danish intercity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:56 arriving Copenhagen at 13:34.
An altered timetable applies from 17 June to 20 August 2023, see the timetable here.
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Day 2, catch a connecting train from Copenhagen to Sweden:
If you're going to Stockholm, travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000 train leaving Copenhagen at 14:21 and arriving Stockholm Central at 19:36. The 200 km/h X2000 train crosses the water from Denmark to Sweden over the impressive Φresund fixed link.
From 17 June to 20 August 2023, either take the 06:45 from Hamburg Hbf to connect with the 12:21 Copenhagen-Stockholm (arriving Stockholm 17:37), or the 10:53 from Hamburg Hbf to connect with the 16:21 Copenhagen-Stockholm (arriving Stockholm 21:38).
If you're going to Gothenburg, travel from Copenhagen to Goteborg Central by Φresund train, these leave every hour taking 3h53, also using the impressive Φresund fixed link.
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The German Railways sell through fares from Frankfurt to Stockholm from 56.90 in 2nd class.
Book from Hamburg to Stockholm at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. To get the overnight stop in Hamburg, click Stopovers and enter Hamburg Hbf with a suitable length of stay, say 11 hours.
You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
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Step 3 for Malmφ or Gothenburg, Φresund trains run every 20-30 minutes from Copenhagen to Malmφ Central taking 39 minutes, and hourly from Copenhagen to Gothenburg taking 3h53.
The German Railways sell through fares from Frankfurt to Malmφ or Gothenburg from 56.90 in 2nd class.
Book from Hamburg to Malmφ or Gothenburg (listed as Goteborg Central) at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. To get the overnight stop in Hamburg, click Stopovers and enter Hamburg Hbf with a suitable length of stay, say 11 hours.
You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.
Option 3, Frankfurt to Sweden with overnight stop in Copenhagen
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Day 1, travel from Frankfurt to Copenhagen by ICE train & Danish Intercity train, for example:
Leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 07:14, change at Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen at 17:34.
Leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 11:14, change at Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen at 21:34.
The ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi - take a good book, sit back and enjoy the ride. See photos, tips & information for the Hamburg to Copenhagen intercity train.
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Stay overnight in Copenhagen. The friendly Astoria Hotel is a 1930s design classic right outside Copenhagen station main entrance, see photos & information here. Other hotels near the station with good reviews include the Nimb Hotel (5-star luxe), Radisson Blu Royal Hotel (5-star), Axel Guldsmeden (4-star), Andersen Boutique Hotel, First Hotel Mayfair (3-star), Hotel Ansgar (3-star), City Hotel Nebo (2-star).
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Day 2, if travelling to Stockholm: Travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000 train in around 5h15, there are regular departures. There's usually one leaving Copenhagen around 08:19 arriving Stockholm Central 13:34, by all means have a leisurely breakfast and take a later one.
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Day 2, if travelling to Gothenburg: Travel from Copenhagen to Gothenburg (= Gφteborg Central) by hourly Φresund train, journey time 3h53.
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How much does it cost?
German Railways sell Sparpreis tickets from Frankfurt to Malmφ, Gothenburg or Stockholm from 59.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. The fare varies like air fares, so book ahead.
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How to check times & buy tickets
If travelling to Stockholm or Gothenburg, go to int.bahn.de and book from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Stockholm or Gφteborg Central with a morning departure selected, but to see these cheap fares you must click Stopovers, enter Copenhagen and a length of stay of (say) 12 hours. This will give you a 12-hour stopover in Copenhagen. Adjust the length of stay to get the trains you want, a little trial & error may be needed!
If travelling to Oslo, go to int.bahn.de and book from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Gφteborg Central with a afternoon departure selected, but to see the cheap fares you must click Stopovers and enter Copenhagen with a length of stay of (say) 12 hours. Adjust the length of stay to get the trains you want. Now add a connecting Gothenburg to Oslo S ticket using either www.vy.no or www.sj.se.
Hamburg to Copenhagen by Intercity train. From June 2023, these trains are temporarily being operated by former German Railways intercity cars and a Danish electric locomotive, until new trains being built by Talgo arrive in 2024. The current trains have 1st & 2nd class, power sockets at seats, but no catering so bring your own food & drink. More information about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.
2nd class seats are almost all open-plan like this. There are a handful of 6-seat 2nd class compartments in one of the coaches, but only a few.
The 1st class car has 6-seater compartments like this. Larger photo. Larger photo.
Option 4, Frankfurt to Gothenburg using Stena Line's Kiel-Gothenburg overnight ferry
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Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Kiel by train, leaving late morning.
The journey takes around 5h00, you'll typically find a train leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf around 11:00 with 1 easy change in Hamburg. However, you should book the ferry first and confirm ferry times, then book a train that arrives at Kiel Hbf at least 2 hours before the ferry sails.
Book the train at the German Railways site int.bahn.de.
You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.
In Kiel, the ferry terminal is 750m from the station, a 9-minute walk, see walking map.
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Step 2, sail overnight from Kiel to Gothenburg by Stena Line ferry.
The ferry normally sails at 18:45 and arrives around 09:15, but times may vary so check online.
The ferry is a floating hotel with restaurants & bars, all passengers travel in a cosy private cabin with en suite toilet & shower. You can add dinner & breakfast to your ticket when you book.
Fares vary, you might pay 39 per passenger as basic fare plus 75-89 per cabin for a private 1 or 2 bed room.
Book the ferry at www.stenaline.com and print your own ticket or show it on your phone.
In Gothenburg, the ferry terminal is a short taxi ride (or 4.3 km 53-minute walk) from Goteborg Central station, see walking map.
Frankfurt to Oslo & Norway
Option 1, Frankfurt to Oslo via Hamburg & Copenhagen - by train all the way
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Day 1, travel from Frankfurt to Copenhagen as explained above.
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Stay overnight in Copenhagen. The friendly Astoria Hotel is a 1930s design classic right outside Copenhagen station main entrance, see photos & information here. Other hotels near the station with good reviews include the Nimb Hotel (5-star luxe), Radisson Blu Royal Hotel (5-star), Axel Guldsmeden (4-star), Andersen Boutique Hotel, First Hotel Mayfair (3-star), Hotel Ansgar (3-star), City Hotel Nebo (2-star).
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Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Oslo by train, leaving Copenhagen at 09:27, change at Gothenburg Central, arriving Oslo Sentral 17:43.
Earlier & later departures are available, see the Copenhagen-Oslo timetable & how to buy tickets here.
Alternatively, spend a morning in Copenhagen, and after lunch take the DFDS overnight ferry to Oslo with a comfortable private cabin with shower & toilet, sailing from Copenhagen at 14:15 and arriving Oslo at 09:15 on day 3, as also shown here. This is remarkably affordable, and saves a hotel bill. Book the ferry at www.dfds.co.uk.
Option 2, Frankfurt to Oslo via the Kiel-Oslo cruise ferry - the most luxurious & scenic route to Oslo
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Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Kiel, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 05:06 Monday-Saturday, change Hamburg Hbf, arriving Kiel Hbf 10:57.
On Sundays, leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 06:14, change Hamburg Hbf, arriving Kiel Hbf 11:57.
Fares start at 17.50 in 2nd class or 26.40 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
In Kiel it's just a 5-6 minute walk from Kiel Hbf to the Color Line ferry terminal, but allow several hours between trains and ferry for the ferry check-in and in case of any delay.
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Step 2, sail from Kiel to Oslo by luxurious overnight Color Line ferry, with a full range of en suite cabins, suites, bars, restaurants and lounges. The m/v Magic or m/v Fantasy normally sails at 14:00 arriving Oslo at 10:00 next morning.
Check times & buy tickets using the Direct Ferries website or at www.colorline.com. You print your own ticket.
Money-saving tip: It appears that it's considerably cheaper to book on Color Line's Norwegian website www.colorline.no in Norwegian Krone, for example a 274 fare becomes the equivalent of 164. You'll need to use Google Chrome translation to translate the Norwegian. You are still able to enter a UK or other European address and contact details. Feedback appreciated.
Make sure you're on deck next morning as the ship sails through spectacular scenery up Oslo Fjord. The ship docks at the modern Color Line terminal about 2 km from the city centre. Color Line provide transfer buses to Oslo Sentral station costing 55 krone, or there are plenty of taxis. If you have little luggage it's possible to walk. See map of Oslo showing ferry terminal.
Frankfurt to Helsinki & Finland
Option 1, Frankfurt to Helsinki using a Finnlines ferry from Germany - the easiest option
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Day 1, travel from Frankfurt to Hamburg by ICE train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 14:14 and arriving Hamburg Hbf 18:36.
Fares start at 27.90 in 2nd class or 56.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Tip: You should book from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Skandinavienkai Terminal, Lόbeck as one transaction as this gets you a through ticket to the ferry terminal covering the train to Hamburg, the regional train to Lόbeck and the bus to the Skandinavienkai Terminal. If you'd like time for dinner in Lόbeck (see suggested restaurant here), click Stopovers and enter Lόbeck Hbf with a length of stay of (say) 2 hours.
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Day 1, travel from Hamburg Hbf to Lόbeck by regional train then take a bus to the Skandinavienkai ferry terminal in Travemόnde.
Sail from Travemόnde to Helsinki by Finnlines ferry. Finnlines sail from Travemόnde to Helsinki every day, boarding at 23:30, sailing at 02:45 (the exact time varies) and arriving at Helsinki's Hansa Terminal in Vuosaari at 09:15 2 nights later (Day 3 from Frankfurt).
For full details of the transfer, check-in arrangements & ferry crossing, see the Hamburg page.
Book the ferry using the Direct Ferries website or at www.finnlines.com.
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Book onward trains within Finland at the Finnish Railways website www.vr.fi.
Option 2, Frankfurt to Helsinki by train to Stockholm, then ferry
Frankfurt to Prague from 20.90
Option 1, Frankfurt to Prague via Cheb - fastest & cheapest
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You can travel from Frankfurt to Prague via Nuremberg & Cheb:
Leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf 08:22, change at Nuremberg & Cheb, arrive Prague Hlavni 15:17.
Leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf 10:22, change at Nuremberg & Cheb, arrive Prague Hlavni 17:17.
Leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf 12:22, change at Nuremberg & Cheb, arrive Prague Hlavni 19:17.
Leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf 14:22, change at Nuremberg & Cheb, arrive Prague Hlavni 21:17.
You take a top-quality high-speed ICE train from Frankfurt to Nuremberg with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then a swish German air-conditioned regional train from Nuremberg to Cheb and a comfy air-conditioned Czech Interjet train from Cheb to Prague with refreshment trolley and free WiFi. See more photos, video guide, information & tips on travel to Prague via Cheb.
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Fares start at 20.90 in 2nd class or 29.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Tip: If you don't see any attractive prices at int.bahn.de, check prices for the same trains at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz instead. Booking at cd.cz only opens 90 days ahead.
Option 2, Frankfurt to Prague via Dresden - the scenic route, from 27.90
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This usually takes just over an hour longer than option 1, but with only one change of train and high-quality express trains with restaurant car throughout, plus great scenery between Dresden & Prague along the Elbe River valley, see photos of the Dresden-Prague scenery here.
Frankfurt (Main) Hbf depart 07:16, change at Dresden Hbf, arriving Prague Hlavni 15:35.
Frankfurt (Main) Hbf depart 09:19, change at Dresden Hbf, arriving Prague Hlavni 17:35.
Frankfurt (Main) Hbf depart 11:19, change at Dresden Hbf, arriving Prague Hlavni 19:35.
Frankfurt (Main) Hbf depart 13:19, change at Dresden Hbf, arriving Prague Hlavni 21:35.
Frankfurt to Dresden is by luxurious ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, Dresden to Prague is by comfortable EuroCity train with restaurant car along the scenic Elbe valley. Sit on the left hand side of the train for the best river views.
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Fares start at 27.90 in 2nd class or 36.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Tip: Book from Frankfurt to Prague, but before running the enquiry click Stopovers and enter Dresden as a stopover.
Look for options with just 1 change.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
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Stopover in Dresden? If you'd like to spend a few hours exploring Dresden on the way, no problem, click Stopovers, enter Dresden Hbf and any length of stay up to 48h. Dresden is well worth a stop, even for a few hours, left luggage lockers are available.
Frankfurt to Cesky Krumlov & other Czech destinations
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You can book from Frankfurt to almost anywhere in the Czech Republic at the German Railways website int.bahn.de with through fares from 37.90. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.
Tip: Also check times & prices using the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz. On cd.cz, booking normally opens 90 days ahead.
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For Cesky Krumlov (a lovely town, and the second most-visited place in the Czech Republic, see the Cesky Krumlov page) you must book to Ceske Budejovice, not Cesky Krumlov, because the branch line between Ceske Budejovice and Cesky Krumlov is now run by private operator GWTR and German Railways can no longer ticket that part.
So book from Frankfurt to Ceske Budejovice at int.bahn.de from 27.90, then buy the local ticket from Ceske Budejovice to Cesky Krumlov either at the station in Ceske Budejovice from the distinctive green & orange ticket kiosk in the main hall, or on board the train using the self-service ticket machines, contactless cards accepted. You can check train times from Ceske Budejovice to Cesky Krumlov at www.gwtr.cz.
Tip: The easiest journey is with 1 change in Linz, but Bahn.de doesn't show any cheap fares for this route! The solution is to split the booking, first book Frankfurt to Linz at int.bahn.de then book Linz to Ceske Budejovice at www.cd.cz. It's a short connection in Linz, so I'd actually book Frankfurt-Passau at int.bahn.de then Passau-Ceske Budejovice at www.cd.cz, making sure the Passau-Linz part of your train-specific Czech ticket is for the same ICE train that your Frankfurt-Passau ticket is for. Then your rights are protected if there's a delay and you miss the connection and can take a later onward train at no extra cost.
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For Karlovy Vary or Plzen, book at int.bahn.de, looking for 3-change options via Frankfurt, Nuremberg & Cheb from 18.90.
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For Brno, book Frankfurt to Brno at int.bahn.de. It tends to route you via Vienna, as this is slightly quicker. By all means click Stopovers and enter Prague, this can be cheaper. By adding a stopover with a suitable length of stay, you can have an overnight stop there if you like.
Frankfurt to Bratislava from 39.90
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Take a luxurious ICE train from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Vienna Hbf in 6h24 and change onto the hourly Regional Express train from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna taking 1h06.
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Fares start at 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
In the search results, look for options with just 1 change. Bratislava Hlavna (main station, shown as Bratislava hl.st) is the best station to arrive at, closer to the city centre than Bratislava Petrzalka.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket, though in this case it cannot be shown on a laptop or phone, it must be printed out. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Tip: To get a digital ticket you can show on your phone, book Frankfurt to Vienna at int.bahn.de, then book Vienna-Bratislava separately at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.
Tip: If you'd like more time in Vienna between trains - perhaps a stop for lunch or even overnight - simply click Stopovers before running the enquiry at bahn.de, enter Vienna Hbf and a length of stay up to 48 hours, and you'll still get a ticket from Frankfurt to Bratislava, but with a stopover in Vienna built in.
Tip: It's sometimes cheaper to book Frankfurt to Vienna using www.thetrainline.com as this connects to the Austrian Railways system rather than the German, then buy an open 10.20 ticket from Vienna to Bratislava either at www.thetrainline.com or at the station in Vienna, no reservation necessary or possible, you simply hop on the next hourly Regional Express train to Bratislava Hlavna.
Frankfurt to Poprad Tatry & Kosice
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You can book from Frankfurt to Poprad-Tatry or Kosice at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.
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It's an all-day journey taking a superb ICE-T train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Vienna Hbf leaving just after 08:00, the hourly regional express from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna, then a Slovakian Express from Bratislava Hlavna to Poprad Tatry & Kosice, arriving late at night.
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Tip: It can help to click Stopovers and enter Bratislava.
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Tip: You might want to break up the journey with an overnight stop in Vienna or Bratislava. click Stopovers and enter Bratislava hl.st. or Vienna Hbf as a via station with a suitable overnight length of stay. Adjust the departure time and length of stay to get the trains you want either side of your overnight stop.
Frankfurt to Budapest from 39.90
Option 1, Frankfurt to Budapest by daytime trains - the leisurely daytime option
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Take a luxurious ICE-T train from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Vienna, then a smart Austrian railjet train or Hungarian EuroCity train to Budapest:
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Frankfurt (Main) Hbf depart 06:21, change at Vienna Hbf, arriving Budapest Keleti 16:19.
Frankfurt (Main) Hbf depart 08:22, change at Vienna Hbf, arriving Budapest Keleti 18:19.
Frankfurt (Main) Hbf depart 10:22, change at Vienna Hbf, arriving Budapest Keleti 20:19.
Frankfurt (Main) Hbf depart 12:22, change at Vienna Hbf, arriving Budapest Keleti 22:19.
Frankfurt (Main) Hbf depart 14:22, change at Vienna Hbf, arriving Budapest Keleti 00:19.
All these trains have restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, it's a chill-out day with a good book, take a bottle of wine and put your feet up.
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Fares start at 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Book at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket, although in this case it must be printed out, it cannot be shown on a mobile device. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Tip: It's best to specify Budapest Keleti as your destination rather than the generic BUDAPEST. If you use plain BUDAPEST the journey planner sometimes finds the privately-run Regiojet IC trains (which go to Budapest Deli station and which it can't sell tickets for) as the fastest onward connection from Vienna, and therefore can't sell that departure from Frankfurt. If you specify Budapest Keleti it always finds a normal Austrian or Hungarian Railways train to Budapest Keleti so cheap fares now appear for that departure from Frankfurt. Easy when you know!
Option 2, Frankfurt to Budapest using the Stuttgart-Budapest sleeper - the safe, comfortable, time-effective way
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Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Stuttgart by ICE train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 17:50 and arriving Stuttgart Hbf at 19:08.
The ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 17.50 in 2nd class or 31.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
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Step 2, take the Hungarian sleeper train Kalman Imre leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 20:29 and arriving Budapest Keleti at 09:19.
This train has a comfortable air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, see the Hungarian sleeping-car video, an air-conditioned Hungarian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. The sleeper fare includes morning tea or coffee.
Fares start at 49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, 59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, 69.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, 88.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or 129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Frankfurt to Brasov & Bucharest from 79
Option 1, Frankfurt to Romania by Dacia Express sleeper train from Vienna to Sighisoara, Brasov & Bucharest - the fastest & most comfortable option
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Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Vienna by ICE-T high-speed train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 12:22 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 18:47.
Fares start at 27.90 in 2nd class or 59.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy tickets at the German Railways site int.bahn.de & print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Romania on the Dacia Express, leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:42 every day and arriving next day in Simeria 07:13, Sighisoara 09:21, Braşov 12:35, Ploeşti 14:27 & Bucharest Nord at 15:05.
The Dacia Express has a modern air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, plus several deluxe compartments with en suite shower & toilet. It has a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments.
A Hungarian restaurant car operates between Vienna & Budapest, treat yourself to dinner and a glass of wine or two. A bar car is attached in the morning between Arad & Bucharest, serving drinks & snacks. There's wonderful almost Alpine scenery through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov and Bucharest, a real treat.
The Dacia Express also conveys a portion from Vienna to Cluj Napoca, also leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:42 and arriving Cluj Napoca at 08:19. This portion has a Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments, and ordinary seats.
Fares start at 59 with a couchette in a 6-berth compartment, 69 with a couchette in a 4-berth compartment, 79 with a bed in a 3-berth sleeper, 99 with a bed in a 3-berth sleeper or 159 with a bed in a single-berth sleeper all to yourself. All per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at. Booking opens up to 90 days ahead. In the search results, look for the direct train marked D with no changes. You collect tickets from an ΦBB ticket machine in Vienna.
You can also (as of 2022) book this train at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro. Click EN top right for English. Booking opens up to 90 days ahead. For Vienna type Wien, for Bucharest type Bucuresti. For Austria to Romania journeys you now print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. Tip: Prices might be cheaper than on oebb.at, so check both sites!
Option 2, Frankfurt to Romania using the sleeper train Ister from Budapest to Brasov & Bucharest
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Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Budapest, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 06:21, change at Vienna Hbf, arriving Budapest Keleti 16:19.
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. You print your own ticket, although in this case it must be printed out, it cannot be shown on a mobile device. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Important tip: You should specify Budapest Keleti as your destination rather than the generic BUDAPEST. If you use plain BUDAPEST the journey planner sometimes finds the privately-run Regiojet IC trains (which go to Budapest Deli station and which it can't sell tickets for) as the fastest onward connection from Vienna, and therefore can't sell that departure from Frankfurt. If you specify Budapest Keleti it always finds a normal Austrian or Hungarian Railways train to Budapest Keleti so cheap fares now appear for that departure from Frankfurt.
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Step 2, travel from Budapest to Romania by sleeper train Ister, leaving Budapest Keleti at 19:10 and arriving Brasov 08:40 & Bucharest Gara de Nord at 11:19 next day.
This comfortable train has an air-conditioned sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments. There's no restaurant car (although a bar-bistro is usually attached within Romania) so take a picnic and bottle of wine. There's wonderful almost Alpine scenery through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov and Bucharest, a real treat.
Fares start at 39 with a couchette in 6-berth, 46 with a couchette in 4-berth, 69 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, 84 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or 162 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself. All prices per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro. Click EN top right for English. Booking opens up to 90 days ahead. For Bucharest type Bucuresti. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.
You can also book at the Hungarian Railways website www.mav-start.hu, see my advice on using it. For Bucharest type Bucuresti. You show your ticket in the MAV app on your phone.
Option 3, Frankfurt to Romania with overnight stop in Budapest - if you prefer daytime trains & hotel to sleepers
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Day 1, travel from Frankfurt to Budapest on any departure you like, as shown in the Frankfurt to Budapest section above.
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Stay overnight in Budapest. Top choice for an inexpensive stay next to Budapest Keleti is the Intercity Hotel just across the square in front of the station. Also try the Royal Park Boutique Hotel, the inexpensive Baross City Hotel across the road or the Elit Hotel two minutes walk away. Of course, if you want to push the boat out, the luxurious Corinthia Hotel opened in 1896 was almost certainly the inspiration for the 2014 film The Grand Budapest Hotel, 20 minutes walk or 9 minutes by taxi from Keleti station. More hotels in Budapest.
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Day 2, travel from Budapest to Romania by comfortable air-conditioned Intercity train. These link Budapest Keleti with Cluj, Timisoara, Craiova, Sibiu, Sinaia, Brasov & Ploesti. It's an all-day daytime run across Transylvania, see the Trains from Budapest page for details.
Fares start at 26.30 in 2nd class or (on trains which have 1st class) 40.50 in 1st class.
Buy tickets at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it. Booking opens 60 days ahead. You show your ticket in the MAV app on your phone.
You can also book at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro. Click EN top right for English. Booking opens up to 90 days ahead. For Bucharest type Bucuresti. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.
Frankfurt to Ljubljana or Zagreb from 29
Option 1, Frankfurt to Ljubljana & Zagreb in a day
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A direct EuroCity train leaves Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 08:20 arriving Lesce-Bled 17:50, Ljubljana 18:32 & Zagreb 20:45.
The train has comfortable air-conditioned Austrian coaches, an elegant Austrian restaurant car is attached from Frankfurt as far as Villach on the border with Slovenia, so treat yourself to breakfast and/or lunch. The scenery through the mountains on the Tauern route through Austria is fantastic, and the scenery along the Sava river between Ljubljana and Zagreb is lovely, at least in summer when it's light.
Note that on departure from Frankfurt, only one 1st class compartment car, one 2nd class compartment car & one 2nd class open-plan car go through to Ljubljana & Zagreb, the rest of the EuroCity Blauer Enzian goes to Klagenfurt. The through cars to Ljubljana & Zagreb are detached at Villach and attached to two Slovenian cars to become the EuroCity Mimara from Villach to Zagreb.
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Fares to Ljubljana or Zagreb start at just 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets at the German Railways website, int.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Option 2, Frankfurt to Ljubljana & Zagreb by sleeper - safe, comfortable & time-effective
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Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Stuttgart by ICE train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 17:50 and arriving Stuttgart Hbf at 19:08.
The ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 17.50 in 2nd class or 31.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
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Step 2, travel from Stuttgart by sleeper train, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 20:29 and arriving Lesce-Bled 07:22, Ljubljana 08:09 & Zagreb 10:39.
The comfortable sleeper train Lisinski has a modern air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, and a modern air-conditioned Croatian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments. See the photos below & see the Croatian sleeper video.
From 31 March to 2 September 2023, there's a direct Croatian sleeping-car for Rijeka, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 20:29 & arriving Rijeka 11:25.
Fares start at 49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, 59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, 66.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, 86.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or 129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at (same prices, in , more fiddly). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Frankfurt to Belgrade, Sofia, Montenegro
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Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Stuttgart by ICE train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 17:50 and arriving Stuttgart Hbf at 19:08.
The ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 17.50 in 2nd class or 31.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
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Step 2, travel from Stuttgart to Zagreb by sleeper train, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 20:29 and arriving Zagreb at 10:39.
The comfortable sleeper train Lisinski has a modern air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, and a modern air-conditioned Croatian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments. See the photos below & see the Croatian sleeper video.
Fares start at 49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, 59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, 66.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, 86.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or 129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at (same prices, in , more fiddly). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
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Step 3, travel from Zagreb to Belgrade by train, leaving Zagreb at 11:04 and arriving Novi Beograd 18:04 & Belgrade Centar at 18:12.
This train was suspended due to Covid-19 and is still suspended in 2023.
This train has air-conditioned Serbian carriages with comfortable 2nd class seats, but no 1st class. There's no dining-car, so bring a picnic and some beer or wine.
The fare is around 29 bought at the station in Zagreb or paid on board the train, but tickets cannot be bought online.
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Step 4 for Sofia, stay overnight in Belgrade and take the train from Belgrade to Sofia next day (day 3), see the Belgrade to Sofia page for schedule, fares & how to buy tickets.
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Step 4 for Montenegro, transfer to Belgrade Topcider station and either take the overnight sleeper Lovcen to Podgorica and Bar arriving in the morning on day 3, or stay overnight in Belgrade and take the daytime train Tara next day. See the Belgrade to Montenegro page for schedule, fares & how to buy tickets.
Frankfurt to Warsaw & Krakow from 37.90
Option 1, Frankfurt to Warsaw by in a single day from 37.90 - all in one day
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You can travel from Frankfurt to Warsaw in a single day, for example:
Frankfurt (Main) Hbf depart 07:02, change at Berlin Hbf, arrive Warsaw Centralna 17:22.
Frankfurt (Main) Hbf depart 08:58, change at Berlin Hbf, arrive Warsaw Centralna 19:28.
Frankfurt (Main) Hbf depart 11:02, change at Berlin Hbf, arrive Warsaw Centralna 21:16.
Frankfurt (Main) Hbf depart 13:02 daily except Saturdays, change at Berlin Hbf, arrive Warsaw Centralna 23:16.
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You travel from Frankfurt to Berlin on a superb ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then from Berlin to Warsaw on a comfortable Polish EuroCity train with restaurant car. Take a good book, a bottle of wine and put your feet up.
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Fares start at 37.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. Booking to Poland opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Tip: I recommend clicking Stopovers and entering Berlin Hbf as a stopover with a length of stay of (say) 40 minutes, this gives you a more robust connection in case of delay.
Option 2, Frankfurt to Wroclaw & Krakow in a single day from 37.90
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Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Berlin by ICE train with restaurant car & free WiFi, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf 05:58, arriving Berlin Hbf 10:32.
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Step 2, travel from Berlin to Krakow by EuroCity train Wawel leaving Berlin Hbf at 10:52 every day, arriving Wroclaw 14:50, Katowice 16:58 & Krakow Glowny 18:01.
The Wawel is a comfortable Polish EuroCity train with restaurant car. Take a good book, a bottle of wine and put your feet up.
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Fares start at 37.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets at int.bahn.de. Booking to Poland opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Option 3, Frankfurt to Warsaw or Krakow with overnight stop in Berlin from 37.90
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Day 1, travel from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Berlin by ICE train in 3h59. You can leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf as late as 19:14 arriving Berlin Hbf at 23:29, but by all means take an earlier train and have an evening in Berlin.
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Stay overnight in Berlin. Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station. If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com. Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.
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For Warsaw
Day 2, travel from Berlin to Warsaw on any Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity train you like. Daily except Sundays the 05:52 from Berlin Hbf will get you to Warsaw Centralna at 11:16 with breakfast in the restaurant car. Or have a leisurely breakfast at your hotel and take the daily 09:51 arriving 15:22. By all means take a later train from Berlin to spend some time in Berlin. The German capital is fascinating.
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For Krakow
The direct Berlin-Krakow EuroCity train Wawel made a welcome return in 2020: Day 2, travel from Berlin to Krakow by EuroCity train Wawel, leaving Berlin Hbf at 10:52 every day, arriving Wroclaw 14:50, Katowice 16:58 & Krakow Glowny at 18:01. The Wawel is comfortable & air-conditioned with restaurant car, treat yourself to lunch and a beer or two.
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Fares from Frankfurt to Warsaw or Krakow start at 37.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
To get the overnight stop in Berlin, click Stopovers and enter Berlin Hbf with a length of stay of, say, 12 hours. Adjust the departure time and length of stay to get the trains you want either side of Berlin. A little trial and error may be needed!
You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.
Tip: Tickets to Poland only go on sale 60 days ahead, but you can book from Frankfurt to Berlin up to 6 months ahead, adding a separate Berlin-Warsaw or Berlin-Krakow ticket when booking to Poland opens.
Frankfurt to Vilnius. Riga, Tallinn
Frankfurt to Lithuania with overnight stop in Warsaw
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Day 1, travel from Frankfurt to Warsaw in a single day as shown in the Frankfurt to Warsaw section above.
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Stay overnight in Warsaw. The Polonia Palace Hotel is excellent, historic, relatively inexpensive for such a good hotel, and it's just across the road from the station. For something much cheaper, but still with great reviews and near the station, try the Hotel Metropol next door to the Polonia Palace or the nearby Novotel Warsaw Centrum. Also see the Warsaw Centralna station & city information.
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Day 2, travel from Warsaw to Kaunas & Vilnius by train as shown on the Warsaw to Vilnius page.
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Day 3, for onward travel from Vilnius to Riga in Latvia, see here.
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Day 4, for onward travel from Riga to Tallinn in Estonia, see here.
Frankfurt to Lviv, Kyiv & Ukraine
Option 1, Frankfurt to Lviv & Kyiv via Vienna
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Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Vienna, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 08:22 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 14:47.
The ICE-T train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 27.90 in 2nd class or 59.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Lviv or Kyiv by direct Ukrainian sleeping-car, leaving Vienna Hbf at 16:42 every day and arriving next day (day 3) at Lviv at 11:00 & Kyiv at 18:30.
Introduced in December 2017, this train has one or two direct Ukrainian sleeping-cars 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-cars are jacked up to have their wheelsets changed from European standard gauge (4'8½") to Russian gauge used in Ukraine (5').
Book the train from Vienna to Lviv or Kyiv 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 ΦBB 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-Kyiv 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 Kyiv 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 Kyiv 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, Kyiv to Vienna costs around 80, Lviv to Vienna around 60, in both cases with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper.
Option 2, Frankfurt to Kyiv via Warsaw
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Day 1, take a late afternoon or early evening train from Frankfurt to Berlin in around 4h10, booked at the German Railways website int.bahn.de from 27.90. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.
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Stay overnight in Berlin. Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station. If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com. Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.
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Day 2 morning, travel from Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity train leaving Berlin Hbf at 09:51 daily and arriving Warsaw Centralna at 15:22. On Mondays to Saturdays there's also an earlier Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity train leaving Berlin Hbf at 05:52 every day and arriving Warsaw Centralna 11:16. Fares start at 27.90, also booked at int.bahn.de.
If you take the earlier train you have some time to explore Warsaw, see Warsaw Centralna station & city information. Warsaw's historic old town is a 30 minute walk from Centralna station - if you fancy a modest splurge, the celebrated Ufukiera restaurant (www.ufukiera.pl) is excellent and right on the square in the heart of Warsaw's old town. The Palace of Culture (a wedding cake style Soviet skyscraper and distinctive Warsaw landmark, www.pkin.pl) is right next to the station and has a viewing terrace on the 30th floor.
Tip: It's usually cheaper to book like this: Go to int.bahn.de and set up an enquiry from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Warsaw Centralna, click Stopovers and enter Berlin with a length of stay of (say) 10 hours. You'll then get a through fare from 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class with an overnight stop in Berlin built in. Adjust the departure time and length of stay as necessary to get the trains you want in the evening and morning.
Alternatively, you could leave Frankfurt earlier on day 1 and go Frankfurt-Warsaw all in one day, and staying overnight in Warsaw rather than Berlin. That would also allow you to take the Sunday departure of the Warsaw-Kyiv Kyiv Express, as there's no connection from Berlin early enough on Sundays in this timetable period. And it would give you a half day to explore Warsaw.
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Day 2, travel from Warsaw to Kyiv on the Kyiv Express sleeper train leaving Warsaw Wschodnia at 17:49 and arriving Kyiv 13:12 next day.
This train has comfortable Ukrainian 1, 2 and 3 bed sleepers with washbasin. There's no restaurant car, so take a picnic and perhaps some wine or beer.
The fare is around 46 in a 3-bed sleeper if you manage to book via the Ukrainian Railways website. If you have to book via Polrail it costs around 57 including a bed in a 3-berth sleeper, 66 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or 110 in a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.
To buy tickets, first see if you can book online with Ukrainian Railways at booking.uz.gov.ua/en - but please, please, please read the important notes here which explain how to book this train using that website. If that doesn't work for you, book with reliable Polish agency Polrail at booking.polrail.com. Tickets can be collected in Warsaw or (at extra charge) shipped to any address worldwide. Polrail are also pretty good at arranging the return reservation back from Kyiv as they have close contacts with Ukrainian Railways.
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To book onward trains from Kyiv to Odessa and other places in Ukraine, see the Ukraine page.
Frankfurt to Moscow, St Petersburg & Russia
Option 1, Frankfurt to Moscow via Kyiv - avoids Belarus, daily departures. Suspended due to sanctions.
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Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Kyiv as explained in detail above, taking a morning train to Vienna on day 1 and overnight sleeper from Vienna to Kyiv, arriving in late afternoon on day 2.
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Step 2, take one of the various Kyiv to Moscow sleeper trains, for example train 6 leaves Kyiv at 19:36 arriving Moscow Kievskaya station at 10:09 the next morning (= the morning of day 3 from Frankfurt).
This train was suspended due to Covid-19 and remains suspended due to sanctions & the war in Ukraine.
The fare is around 92 with a bed in 4-berth kupι or 180 with a bed in a 2-berth spalny vagon.
You can ask www.polrail.com to book this for you too, or you can book tickets from Kyiv to Moscow at the Ukrainian Railways site booking.uz.gov.ua/en/ booking from Kyiv to Moskva Kievskaya. You collect tickets at the station in Kyiv. Feedback appreciated!
Option 2, Frankfurt to Moscow using the Berlin-Moscow sleeper train, twice a week. Suspended due to sanctions
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Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Berlin from 27.90. For example, the 14:13 from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf arrives Berlin Hbf at 18:29, but by all means take an earlier train and have dinner in Berlin. Book this at int.bahn.de and print your own ticket.
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Step 2, travel from Berlin to Moscow by direct Russian sleeper train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 20:08 on Mondays & Saturdays, arriving at Moscow Belorussky station at 21:24 next day.
This train was suspended due to Covid-19 and remains suspended due to sanctions & the war in Ukraine.
This train is an articulated Spanish-built Talgo train branded Strizh (Russian for swift) which started running in 2016. It has ordinary seats, 2nd class 4-berth sleepers, 1st class 1 or 2 berth sleepers with washbasin and deluxe 1 or 2 berth sleepers with en suite shower & toilet. There's a restaurant & bistro car.
Russian track gauge is 5', but most of Europe (including the UK) is 4' 8½", so at Brest on the Belarus frontier the Talgo train runs through a special gauge-changing shed and the axles automatically adjust to the new gauge. Once in Russia, the scenery is rolling hills, birch tree forests, and villages of small wooden houses. Approaching Moscow, you may glimpse the plaques on the station building marked '1812' and '1942' as the train passes through the small station of historic Borodino.
You can book the Berlin-Moscow train at the Russian Railways website www.rzd.ru and print your own ticket, it's a little fiddly but usually works, or you can easily buy it online with English language after-sales service if you need it, using the Real Russia online system here.
Don't forget to arrange both your Russian visa and Belarus transit visa as the train runs via Belarus. See my important update about travel to Russia through Belarus.
Option 3, Frankfurt to Moscow using the daily Warsaw-Moscow sleeper.
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Day 1, take a late afternoon or early evening train from Frankfurt to Berlin, it takes just 4h10 from 27.90 with regular departures, check times and buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de and print your own ticket.
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Stay overnight in Berlin. Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station. If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com. Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.
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Day 2 morning, travel from Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity train leaving Berlin Hbf at 09:51 daily and arriving Warsaw Centralna at 15:22. Fares start at 27.90, also booked at int.bahn.de.
Alternatively, on Mondays to Saturdays you can take the earlier 05:52 EuroCity train arriving 11:16, which gives you time to explore Warsaw, see Warsaw Centralna station & city information. Warsaw's historic old town is a 30 minute walk from Centralna station - if you fancy a modest splurge, the celebrated Ufukiera restaurant (www.ufukiera.pl) is excellent and right on the square in the heart of Warsaw's old town. The Palace of Culture (a wedding cake style Soviet skyscraper and distinctive Warsaw landmark, www.pkin.pl) is right next to the station and has a viewing terrace on the 30th floor.
Tip: It's usually cheaper to book like this: Go to int.bahn.de and set up an enquiry from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Warsaw Centralna, click Stopovers and enter Berlin Hbf with a length of stay of (say) 10 hours. You'll then get a through fare from 37.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class with an overnight stop in Berlin built in. Adjust the departure time and length of stay as necessary to get the trains you want in the evening and morning.
Alternatively, you could leave Frankfurt earlier on day 1 and go Frankfurt-Warsaw all in one day, and staying overnight in Warsaw rather than Berlin.
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Day 2, travel from Warsaw to Moscow by Russian sleeper train, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 19:15 daily and arriving Moscow Belorussky at 16:58 next day (day 3 from Frankfurt). You can check times at the Russian Railways website www.rzd.ru.
This train is currently suspended due to sanctions & the war in Ukraine.
This train uses impressive Austrian-built sleeping-cars with 4-berth compartments built in 2014, see photos of this type of sleeper here & see panorama photo inside one of these modern sleepers. Each compartment can be sold as 1st class 1-berth, 1st class 2-berth or 2nd class 4-berth. The train consist of two or three sleeping-car which start their journey in Prague. There's a bistro car in Poland and a Russian restaurant car is attached between Brest (on the Polish/Belarus border) & Moscow.
You can book this train by contacting reliable Polish train ticketing agency www.polrail.com - their booking system is at http://booking.polrail.com. Tickets can be collected in Warsaw or (at extra charge) shipped to any address worldwide.
Alternatively, you can book with Russian Railways at www.rzd.ru although it's a little quirky and may not accept some overseas credit cards.
Don't forget to arrange both your Russian visa & Belarus transit visa as the train runs via Belarus. See my important update about travel to Russia through Belarus.
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For St Petersburg it's best to travel via Moscow. Moscow to St Petersburg takes as little as 3h50 by daytime Sapsan trains, or can be done an a number of traditional overnight sleepers. See the train travel in Russia page to buy tickets within Russia.
Frankfurt to Athens, Corfu & Greece
Option 1, Frankfurt to Athens by train & ferry via Italy - the leisurely option with an Adriatic cruise thrown in
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The best and most comfortable option is to pick up a ferry in Bari. The whole scenic and relaxing journey to Athens will take around 2 nights & 3 days, depending how the connections work out on your particular date.
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Day 1, travel from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Verona Porta Nuova via Munich and the scenic Brenner Pass on any train you like.
Fares start at 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Check times & buy a ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de, Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I'd change Transfer time from normal to minimum 40 minutes. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.
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Stay overnight in Verona. Hotels near the station with good or great reviews include the Corte Merighi Rooms & Breakfast, Novo Hotel Rossi, Guesthouse Verona or (a little closer to the centre but with fab reviews) the Relais Empire.
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Day 2, travel from Verona to Bari, leaving Verona Porta Nuova around 07:50.
Fares start at 29.90 in 2nd class or 39.90 in 1st class.
Book this at either www.italiarail.com (they'll refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com. Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.
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In Bari, transfer from station to port, see map of Bari showing station, port entrance, check-in building & Superfast Ferries berth.
You can walk the 1.9 km from the station to the port entrance in 25 minutes, a stroll through Bari's pleasant old town, see correct walking map from the station to the port entrance gate - if Google tells you any different, trust me, not Google!
Alternatively, bus 50 runs from Bari Centrale station to the road outside the port gate roughly every 40 minutes. A taxi will take 10 minutes.
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Day 2, sail overnight from Bari to Patras in Greece with Superfast Ferries.
The ferry sails from Bari at 19:30 on Mondays-Saturdays, arriving Patras at 13:00 next day (Day 3).
On Sundays the ship sails at 13:30, too early to make connections from Milan.
You can check sailing times & dates at using the Direct Ferries website or at www.superfast.com or www.ferriesingreece.com.
You should check in at the Superfast desk on the ground floor of the cruise terminal (Terminal Crociere) at Bari port with passport & booking number to get your boarding pass, ideally 3 hours before departure in summer, although in practice 2 hours or even 1½ hours is normally fine.
You then walk 500m from check-in to the ferry, board the ferry via the foot passenger gangway at the stern and head up the escalator to the main lounge and reception desk to get your cabin key.
The ship is comfortable, with self-service restaurant, lounge, bar and sun deck. You can book a deck place (a good & cheap option in summer if you have your own sleeping bag), a reclining seat or various types of cabin, all with private shower & toilet. Strolling the decks in the morning sun as the ship cruises past the islands of Cephalonia and Ithaca is the nicest part of the trip, and it's a wonderful way to arrive in Greece.
In Patras, the ferry arrives at the new South ferry terminal a few km from the town centre. Bus 18 links the port with the Patras bus station every hour on the hour, fare 1.20 or you can hop in a taxi for around 9, journey time 15-20 minutes.
Day 3, travel from Patras to Athens by Greek Railways bus/train combo.
Hellenic Train (Greek Railways) operate an integrated bus/train service from Patras to Athens every hour or two, total journey time 3h02, fare around 18. No prior reservation is necessary, just buy a ticket to Athens at Patras railway station ticket office.
For example, at the time I write this, buses leave from outside Patras railway station at 14:15, 15:15, 16:00, 17:15 & 18:15, taking 90 minutes to reach Kiato railway station near Corinthos. At Kiato they connect with a modern air-conditioned regional train taking 78 minutes to Athens Larissa Station in downtown Athens. You can check Patra to Athens bus/train times using the journey planner at www.hellenictrain.gr.
Option 2, Frankfurt to Athens overland by train via Munich & Belgrade - a rail adventure across the Balkans
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You can also travel overland by train from Frankfurt to Athens via Belgrade & Thessaloniki. It'll take 3 nights, with the romance and adventure of an epic train ride through the Balkans.
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Travel from Frankfurt to Munich by daytime ICE trains from 29.90 booked at int.bahn.de.
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In Munich you pick up the London-Munich-Belgrade-Thessaloniki-Athens route explained in detail on the London to Greece page.
Frankfurt to Istanbul
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Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Bucharest as shown above.
Do not risk any tight connections in Bucharest, I'd allow a minimum of 2 hours, or plan an overnight stop.
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Step 2, travel overnight from Bucharest to Istanbul as shown on the Bucharest to Istanbul page.
Book online as shown on those pages, but you should consider using an Interrail pass for the flexibility it gives. You'll find more info about using a pass for a journey like this on the London to Istanbul page.
Hotels in Frankfurt
For advice on hotels in Frankfurt, see the hotels section on the Frankfurt Hbf page.
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.
Travel insurance & VPN
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Always take out travel insurance
Never travel overseas without travel insurance from a reliable insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover. It should also cover cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible limit. An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself. Here are some suggested insurers. Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.
www.staysure.co.uk
offers enhanced Covid-19 protection & gets 4.7 out of 5 on
Trustpilot.
www.columbusdirect.com
is also a well-know brand.
If you live in the USA try
Travel Guard USA.
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Get an eSIM with mobile data package
Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a mobile data package for the country you're visiting and stay connected. Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM card so you don't need to buy a physical SIM, including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list. Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data.
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Get a Curve card for foreign travel
Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then add a foreign transaction fee on top. A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month at time of writing. The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.
How it works: 1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android. 2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses. 3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card. 4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app. You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.
I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader. The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than digging a card out). I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great. See details, download the app and get a Curve card, they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.
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Get a VPN for safe browsing. Why you need a VPN
When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure. A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi. It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply. See VPNs & why you need one explained. ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription. I get a small commission to help support this site.
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Carry an Anker powerbank
Tickets, reservations, vaccination records and Interrail or Eurail passes are often held digitally on your mobile phone, so it's vital to keep it charged. I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over if I can't get to a power outlet. Buy from Amazon.co.uk or from Buy from Amazon.com.