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An ICE3 at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf.  More information about ICE...

2nd class seats on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.		1st class seats on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.

Food is served on proper china with metal cutlery.  I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier!  See current month's menu.		Restaurant car:  This is the small 12-seat restaurant on an ICE3M.  ICE3 classes 403 & 407 have a larger restaurant area.  Larger photo.

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The Munich to Venice Nightjet, arrived at Venice Santa Lucia.  More information about Nightjet trains.

Deluxe sleeper.  Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room.  Larger photo.  Video of deluxe room		The same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out.  Larger photo.		Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided.  Larger photo.		Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open.  It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth.  Larger photo.

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

Option 3, via Zurich & the Bernina Express through the Swiss Alps - the ultimate scenic route... 

• This takes longer and must be split over 2 days, but it's fabulous and well worth the extra time.  It involves the most spectacular Alpine panoramic scenic train of them all, the famous narrow-gauge Bernina Express.  And I'll show you how to do it really cheaply...

• Day 1, take an afternoon or evening 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.

  Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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

• 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.

• 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 schedule, prices and how to buy tickets.

  If you follow my advice here you can book Zurich to Tirano in advance from just €29.90.  Tirano to Milan is €12 bought at the station.

• Onward tickets from Milan Centrale to Florence, Rome, Naples or Venice can be booked at www.italiarail.com (in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €).  You simply pay online and quote your booking reference (PNR) on board.  If you use ItaliaRail (which can also book the Milan-Florence/Rome/Naples connection), they'll refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR.

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

The Bernina Express descends from the Bernina Pass...

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Frankfurt to Sicily...

• There are many and various ways to travel from Germany to Sicily with many possible stopovers on the way.  But the simplest is as follows:

• Day 1, travel from Frankfurt to Milan by bullet-nosed ETR610 EuroCity train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 08:01 and arriving Milan Centrale at 15:50.  There's a restaurant car, and all seats have power sockets.  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, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book at the German Railways website www.bahn.de and print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  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 an early dinner in Milan I recommend the inexpensive and typically Italian restaurant Nobelsse Oblige (ristorantenoblesseoblige.com) 5 minutes walk from Milan Centrale, see walking map.

• Day 1, 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.  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 smartphone.

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Frankfurt to Barcelona, Madrid, Alicante, Malaga & Spain...

Option 1:  Frankfurt to Spain in one day, by high-speed train...

• Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Paris by TGV Duplex leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 08:56 and arriving Paris Gare de l'Est around 12:52.

  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, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this train at the German Railways website www.bahn.de (in €, no booking fee) and print your own ticket or show it on your smartphone.  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.

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

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 15:08 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 21:46.

  This train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's a fascinating journey with a lot to see on the way, from the Chateau de Montfaucon on the Rhone to Béziers cathedral to the flamingos in the south of France to Mt Canigou in the Pyrenees, see photos & video about this journey here.  I recommend an upstairs seat on this 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck train for the best views.

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

  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 en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly, no booking fee).  Booking normally opens 120 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your smartphone.

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

• 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 Cordoba & Seville:  Take the direct AVE-S112 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:30 arriving Cordoba 13:12 & Seville Santa Justa at 14:02.  Fares start at €53.

  For Malaga:  Take the 09:00 AVE high-speed train to Madrid Atocha arriving 11:45, then the 13:00 AVE high-speed train to Malaga Maria Zambrano, arriving 16:05.

  Alternatively, or why not spend a morning in Barcelona and take the afternoon 15:50 AVE S112 high-speed train to Cordoba, Seville & Malaga arriving in the evening?  Fares for all these trains start at €45. 

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

  For Valencia & Alicante:  EuroMed trains link Barcelona 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 Spain with overnight stop in Marseille - avoids having to cross Paris...

• Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Marseille by TGV Duplex leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 13:57 and arriving Marseille St Charles at 21:49.

  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, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this train at the German Railways website www.bahn.de (in €, no booking fee), Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or show it on your smartphone.  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.

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

• Step 2, travel from Marseille to Barcelona or Madrid by AVE-S100 high-speed train leaving Marseille St Charles at 08:02 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 12:34 and Madrid Atocha at 15:41.  The train has a cafe-bar, and power sockets at all seats.

  Marseille-Barcelona starts at €25 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  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 en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly, no fee).  Booking normally opens 120 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

• Step 3, take an onward high-speed train from Barcelona to Madrid, Seville, Malaga etc, for example a daily direct AVE leaves Barcelona Sants at 15:50 for Malaga, Cordoba & Seville, arriving in the evening.

  Find trains & buy tickets using www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, 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).  Spanish trains normally open for booking 60 days ahead, but it varies.

Step 1, Frankfurt to Marseille by direct TGV Duplex, seen here ready to leave Frankfurt am Main Hbf...

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

1st class seats on the upper deck, with a club duo on the left, a club quatre on the right. 360º photo.		The TGV to Marseille, boarding at Frankfurt am Main Hbf.  You enter on the lower deck, with 9 stairs up to top deck.

Step 2, Marseille to Barcelona by AVE...  Above, an AVE-S100 at Barcelona Sants.

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

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

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

Option 3:  Frankfurt to Spain with overnight stop in Paris...

• Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Paris by TGV Duplex leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 16:58 and arriving Paris Gare de l'Est around 20:41.

  Or there's a later train around 18:56 daily except Saturdays arriving Paris Gare de l'Est around 22:52.

  Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this train at the German Railways website www.bahn.de (in €, no booking fee) & print your own ticket or show it on your smartphone.  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.

  Cross Paris to the Gare de Lyon. 

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

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by high-speed TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 10:14 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 16:53.

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

  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 en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly, no fee).  Booking normally opens 120 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your smartphone.

• Step 3, now take an onward high-speed train from Barcelona to Madrid, Valencia, Alicante...

  Same-day connections to Madrid, Valencia & Alicante are possible off both the 07:14 and 10:14 departures from Paris.  If you take the 07:14 from Paris (summer only) you can connect with a direct AVE leaving Barcelona at 15:50 arriving Malaga, Cordoba & Seville in the evening.  If you take the 10:14 TGV from Paris (all year) a same-day connection to Cordoba, Malaga or Seville is not possible, so you'll need to stay the night then there's an 08:30 AVE next morning. 

  Find trains & buy tickets using www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (in €, much more fiddly, rejects some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it).  Spanish trains normally open for booking 60 days ahead, but it varies.

Option 4, Frankfurt to Paris by TGV, French sleeper train to the Spanish border & onward Spanish trains...

• Step 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.

  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, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  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 www.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 smartphone.

  Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi.  I'd allow at least 90 minutes between trains in Paris when catching a sleeper you don't want to miss.  Indeed, why not leave earlier and 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?

• Step 2, travel overnight from Paris to Latour de Carol in the heart of the Pyrenees or to Portbou on the Spanish border by French sleeper train, leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz around 22:00.  Then take a local train from Latour or Portbou 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.

• 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 15:50 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.

Frankfurt to San Sebastian...

• 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, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this train at the German Railways website www.bahn.de (in €, no booking fee) & print your own ticket or show it on your smartphone.  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.

  Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Hendaye by TGV Duplex Océane, leaving Paris Gare Montparnasse at 12:52 and arriving Hendaye at 17:36.

  The high-speed double-deck TGV Duplex Océane 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, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  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 en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly, no 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 smartphone.

• Step 3, 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 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.  See the Paris to San Sebastian page for more information, photos & tips.

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Frankfurt to Lisbon, Porto, Faro & Portugal...

• 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.

  Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this train at the German Railways website www.bahn.de (in €, no booking fee) & print your own ticket or show it on your smartphone.  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.

  Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Hendaye by TGV Duplex Océane, leaving Paris Gare Montparnasse at 12:52 and arriving Hendaye at 17:36.

  The high-speed double-deck TGV Duplex Océane 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, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  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 en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly, no fee).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

• Step 3, travel from Hendaye to Lisbon overnight on the Sud Express sleeper train leaving Hendaye at 18:35 and arriving Lisbon Oriente at 07:20 and Lisbon Santa Apolonia at 07:30 next morning.  See more information about the Sud Express.

  Fares start at €37 with bed in a tourist class 4-bed sleeper, €132 with a bed in a preferente 2-bed sleeper, or €148 with a bed in a 2-bed gran clase sleeper with shower & toilet.

  Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.  Booking for this train only opens 60 days ahead, sometimes less than this, although sometimes more, give it a try but be aware that this can be the limiting factor.  You can also book at the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com, much more fiddly, rejects some overseas credit cards, in €.

• For Porto, book a connecting ticket from Lisbon Santa Apolonia to Porto Campanhã at the Portuguese Railways website www.cp.pt, which is the only site that can book Portuguese trains.  You print your own ticket.  Alfa Pendular 125mph tilting trains or slightly slower InterCity trains leave regularly.

• For the Algarve, change at Lisbon Oriente for a train to Faro or Albufeira, book this at the Portuguese Railways website www.cp.pt and print your own ticket.

• See the London to Portugal page for full details of the Paris-Lisbon journey with photos, simply disregard the London to Paris bit.  If necessary, travel from Cologne to Paris the night before and stop over in Paris.

The Sud Express, about to leave Irun on the Franco-Spanish frontier, bound for Lisbon...  Courtesy of Ron Baker.  See panorama photo...		Gran Clase sleeper, in evening mode with the seats folded out...		....return from the bar to find the attendant has made up the beds...		Gran Clase private toilet & shower...

The trainhotel's café-bar serves drinks & food.  Grab a barstool early, it gets crowded later on!		4-berth tourist class sleepers (Turista Cama) are cosy & inexpensive.  They convert from beds to seats as shown.  See panorama photo of 4-berth tourist sleeper.

Frankfurt to Andorra...

Option 1, Frankfurt to Andorra in a day...

• Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Paris by ICE train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 06:56 and arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 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, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi.  Always allow at least 70 minutes between trains in Paris.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Toulouse by high-speed TGV, one usually leaves Paris Montparnasse at 13:52 arriving Toulouse Matabiau 18:10.

  Fares start from €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Have dinner in Toulouse...

• 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.

• 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 en.oui.sncf (more fiddly, in €, but no 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, using the Paris-Toulouse-l'Hospitalet overnight train...

• Step 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.

  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, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  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 www.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 smartphone.

• Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi.  I'd allow at least 90 minutes between trains in Paris when catching a sleeper you don't want to miss.  Indeed, why not leave earlier and 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?

• Step 2, take the Intercité de Nuit couchette train leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 22:12 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 en.oui.sncf (more fiddly, in €, no fee).  You print your own ticket or can choose a mobile ticket.

• 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.

• Alternatively, you can travel from Paris to Toulouse on the same night train, leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 22:12 and arriving Toulouse Matabiau at 06:00.  Have breakfast in Toulouse (I can 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.

The intercité de nuit overnight train from Paris to Latour de Carol has 1st class 4-berth & 2nd class 6-berth couchettes, each with lightweight sleeping-bag & mineral water...

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Frankfurt to Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck & Austria from €27.90...

Option 1, by daytime trains...

• Comfortable ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi link Frankfurt (Main) Hbf with Vienna Hbf in 6h24.

  There are also trains between Frankfurt and other cities in Austria, including Salzburg, Hallstatt, Graz or Innsbruck.

• Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Check train times and buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  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.

An ICE-T from Frankfurt to Vienna, at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf.  More information about ICE-T.

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

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

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

Frankfurt to Copenhagen & Denmark from €39.90...

• You can easily travel from Frankfurt to Copenhagen by ICE train & Danish Intercity train, for example:

  Leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 07:58, change at Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen at 17:33.

  Leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 11:58, change at Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen at 21:33.

  The ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi - take a good book, sit back and enjoy the ride.  The Hamburg to Copenhagen Intercity trains also call at Kolding (for Legoland) & Odense.  See photos, tips & information for the Hamburg to Copenhagen intercity train.

• Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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

  Tip:  I recommend clicking Add intermediate stops and entering Hamburg Hbf with a stopover duration of 00:40 (= at least 40 minutes), to get a robust 1h18 connection in Hamburg (with time for a coffee or beer!) rather than an 18-minute one.  The times above take that into account.

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

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

2nd class seats on a IC3 train.  Larger photo.		An IC3 train to Copenhagen at Hamburg.

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Frankfurt to Stockholm, Gothenburg & Malmö from €59.90...

Option 1, by daytime trains with an overnight stop in Hamburg...

• Step 1, travel from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Hamburg Hbf by ICE train in 3h37, there are regular departures right up until the evening.

• Stay overnight in Hamburg.  The Hotel Reichshoff Hamburg is just 200m from the station, features art deco-based design and gets great reviews.  Other hotels next to 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, private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf start at around £33 for one person or £49 for two people booked at www.hostelworld.com.

• Step 2, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by Danish IC3 intercity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:55 and arriving Copenhagen 13:33.

• Step 3 for Stockholm, travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000 train leaving Copenhagen at 14:19 & arriving Stockholm Central 19:36.

  The German Railways sell through fares from Frankfurt to Stockholm from €59.90 in 2nd class.

  Book from Hamburg to Stockholm at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  To build in the overnight stop in Hamburg, click Add intermediate stops and enter Hamburg Hbf as a via station with a suitable stopover duration, say 11 hours, in the hh:mm box.  I have set up this special link to Bahn.de for you, just enter your date of travel and number of passengers.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

• Step 3 for Malmö or Gothenburg, Öresund Link trains run every half hour from Copenhagen to Malmo taking 39 minutes, and hourly from Copenhagen to Gothenburg taking 3h53.

  The German Railways sell through fares from Frankfurt to Malmö or Gothenburg from €56.90 in 2nd class.

  Book from Hamburg to Malmö or Gothenburg (listed as Goteborg Central) at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  To build in the overnight stop in Hamburg, click Add intermediate stops and enter Hamburg Hbf as a via station with a suitable stopover duration, say 11 hours, in the hh:mm box.  I have set up this special link to Bahn.de for you, just enter your date of travel and number of passengers.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

Option 2, by daytime trains with an overnight stop in Copenhagen...

• Day 1, travel from Frankfurt to Copenhagen by ICE train & Danish Intercity train, for example:

  Leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 07:58, change at Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen at 17:33.

  Leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 11:58, change at Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen at 21:33.

  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.

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

• Day 2, if travelling to Stockholm:  Travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000 train in around 5h11, there are regular departures.  There's usually one leaving Copenhagen around 08:19 arriving Stockholm Central 13:35, by all means have a leisurely breakfast and take a later one.

• Day 2, if travelling to Gothenburg:  Travel from Copenhagen to Gothenburg (= Göteborg Central) by hourly Öresund train, journey time 3h53.

• How much does it cost? 

  German Railways sell Sparpreis tickets from Frankfurt to Malmö, Gothenburg or Stockholm from €59.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  The fare varies, book early for the best prices.

• How to check times & buy tickets...

  If travelling to Stockholm or Gothenburg, go to www.bahn.de and book from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Stockholm or Göteborg Central with a morning departure selected, but to see these cheap fares you must click Add intermediate stops, enter Copenhagen in the via box and a time of (say) 12:00 in the hh:mm stopover box.  This will give you a 12-hour stopover in Copenhagen.  Click here for a link to bahn.de which I've set up for you.  Adjust the overnight stopover time as necessary to get the trains you want, a little trial & error is often needed!

  If travelling to Oslo, go to www.bahn.de and book from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Göteborg Central with a afternoon departure selected, but to see the cheap fares you must click Add intermediate stops enter Copenhagen in the via box and a time of say 12:00 in the hh:mm stopover box.  Click here for a link to bahn.de which I've set up for you.  Adjust the overnight stopover time as necessary to get the trains you want.  Now add a connecting Gothenburg to Oslo S ticket using either www.vy.no or www.sj.se.

A Danish IC3 train at Copenhagen station...		1st class seats on an IC3 train...

2nd class seats on an IC3 train...		Boarding a train to Copenhagen in Hamburg.

The view from your seat as the IC3 train slowly runs onto the Puttgarden-Rødby ferry.  Courtesy of Adina Bogert-O'Brien.  Interior & Hamburg photos above courtesy of DiscoverbyRail.com.

A Copenhagen-Stockholm X2000 train boarding at Copenhagen main station...		2nd class seats on an X2000 train from Copenhagen to Stockholm.  Larger photo.

X2000 bistro car...		X2000 bistro car seating area.  Larger photo.		Bistro self-service...

Winter scenery from a train between Copenhagen & Stockholm. Courtesy of Radoslav Sharapanov

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Frankfurt to Oslo & Norway...

Option 1, via Hamburg & Copenhagen - by train all the way...

• Day 1, travel from Frankfurt to Copenhagen as explained above.

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

• Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Oslo by train as explained here.  Departure from Copenhagen is usually around 08:27 arriving around 16:52, but check current times online.

  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 Color Line cruise ferry - the most luxurious & scenic route to Oslo...

• Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Kiel, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 05:06 Mondays-Saturdays, arriving Kiel at 10:10.  On Sundays, leave at 05:50, changing in Hamburg, arriving 10:57.

  Fares start at €17.50 in 2nd class or €26.40 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  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.

• 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.

  Make sure you're on deck next morning as the ship sails through spectacular scenery up Oslo Fjord.  The ship docks at the modern Color Line terminal about 2 km from the city centre.  Color Line provide transfer buses to Oslo Sentral station costing 55 krone, or there are plenty of taxis.  If you have little luggage it's possible to walk.  See map of Oslo showing ferry terminal.

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

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

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

Wake up to this....

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Frankfurt to Helsinki & Finland...

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

• Day 1, travel from Frankfurt to Hamburg by ICE train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 14:58 and arriving Hamburg Hbf 18:35.

  Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €56.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this train at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or smartphone.

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

• Day 1, transfer from Hamburg Hbf to the Travemünde ferry terminal by local train+bus and sail from Travemünde to Helsinki with Finnlines.

  Finnlines sail from Travemünde in northern Germany to Helsinki every day, boarding from 22:30 to 24:00 and arriving Helsinki Vuosaari ferry terminal at 09:00 2 nights later (Day 3 from Frankfurt).  See the Trains from Hamburg page for full details.

  Check sailing dates, times & book the ferry at www.finnlines.com or using the Direct Ferries website.

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

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

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

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Frankfurt to Prague from €16 - yes, really...

Option 1, the fastest & cheapest route via Cheb - all train, no buses, from €16 - or €30 in 1st class!

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Frankfurt to Cesky Krumlov & other Czech destinations...

• You can book from Frankfurt to almost anywhere in the Czech Republic at the German Railways website www.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 smartphone.

  Tip:  Also check times & prices using the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz.  On cd.cz, booking normally opens 90 days ahead.

• For Cesky Krumlov (a lovely town, and the second most-visited place in the Czech Republic, see the Cesky Krumlov page) you need to book to Ceske Budejovice, not Cesky Krumlov, because the branch line between Ceske Budejovice and Cesky Krumlov is now run by private operator GWTR and German Railways can no longer ticket that part.

  So book from Frankfurt to Ceske Budejovice at www.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 www.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 www.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.

• For Karlovy Vary or Plzen, book at www.bahn.de, looking for 3-change options via Frankfurt, Nuremberg & Cheb from €18.90.

• For Brno, book Frankfurt to Brno at www.bahn.de.  It tends to route you via Vienna, as this is slightly quicker.  By all means click Add intermediate stops and enter Prague, this can be cheaper.  By adding a stopover duration of a suitable number of hours, you can have an overnight stop there.

The Dacia Express has one or at peak times two air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-cars, seen here at Bucharest.  You can check the train formation at www.vagonweb.cz.  Courtesy of @PaliparanDotCom

Sleepers:  Each compartment can be sold as a single, double (as here) or triple.  Most compartments have a washbasin as shown, two compartments have a shower & toilet.  Beds fold away to form a private sitting room for day use.  Larger photo.				Couchettes:  4 & 6-berth, bedding is provided.  Larger photo.

The Dacia Express has one couchette car, seen here at Bucharest.  Courtesy of @PaliparanDotCom.

Transylvania:  The Dacia Express crosses rural Transylvania.  Courtesy of @PaliparanDotCom.

The Dacia Express en route to Bucharest...  Photo courtesy of @PaliparanDotCom.

Enjoy lunch and a beer in the bar car, as a bar-bistro is attached to the Dacia Express in Romania between Simeria & Bucharest.  Photos courtesy of @PaliparanDotCom & @_DiningCar.

The Carpathian mountains:  Almost Alpine scenery between Brasov & Bucharest...  Courtesy of @PaliparanDotCom

Option 2, using the sleeper train Ister from Budapest to Romania...

• Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Budapest with 1 easy change of train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 06:21 arriving Budapest Keleti at 16:19.

  Book this at the German Railways website www.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.

• Step 2, travel from Budapest to Romania on the sleeper train Ister, leaving Budapest Keleti at 19:10 and arriving Brasov 09:54 & Bucharest Gara de Nord at 12:33 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.

  Book this train at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.  Click EN top right for English.  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  For Bucharest type Bucuresti.  It can book seats, couchettes or sleepers.  For Hungary to Romania journeys you print your own ticket.

  You can also normally book at the Hungarian Railways website www.mav-start.hu, see my advice on using it.  For Bucharest type Bucuresti.  You show your ticket in the MAV app on your smartphone.  However, since MAV revamped its website in 2020, it can't book couchettes or sleepers, only seats, though this should be fixed at some point.

Option 3, by daytime trains with overnight stop in Budapest - if you prefer daytime trains & hotels to sleeper trains...

• Day 1, travel from Frankfurt to Budapest on any departure you like, as shown in the Frankfurt to Budapest section above.

• Stay overnight in Budapest.  For an inexpensive hotel with great reviews right next to Keleti Station, try the Royal Park Boutique Hotel or the inexpensive Baross City Hotel just across the road or the Elit Hotel two minutes walk away.  More hotels in Budapest.

• Day 2, travel from Budapest to Romania by comfortable air-conditioned Intercity train.  These link Budapest Keleti with Cluj, Timisoara, Craiova, Sibiu, Sinaia, Brasov & Ploesti.  It's an all-day daytime run across Transylvania, see the Trains from Budapest page for details.

  Fares start at €26.30 in 2nd class or (on trains which have 1st class) €40.50 in 1st class.

  Buy tickets at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  You show your ticket in the MAV app on your smartphone.

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Frankfurt to Ljubljana or Zagreb from €29...

Option 1, by daytime trains...

• A direct EuroCity train leaves Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 08:20 arriving Lesce-Bled 17:50, Ljubljana 18:33 & Zagreb 20:53.

  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.

  If you like, you can check the train formation & see carriage photos & seat numbering plans using www.vagonweb.cz - Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria, click EC then select EC113 Blauer Enzian.

• 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.

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

Through the Austrian Alps...  Clinging to the mountainside high in the Austrian Alps, the train snakes along between snow-capped mountains, absolutely wonderful...

2nd class seats in an open-plan saloon.  See larger photo.		2nd class seats in a compartment.  See larger photo.

...and along the Sava river in Slovenia.  Now across the border in Slovenia, the EuroCity train runs along the pretty River Sava all the way to Ljubljana and Zagreb...		1st class seats in an Austrian 6-seat compartment with side corridor as used on the Blauer Enzian/Mimara...

Option 2, using the excellent Munich-Zagreb sleeper train - safe, comfortable & time-effective...

• Step 1, travel from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Munich Hbf on any evening ICE train arriving in Munich before 22:20, as I'd recommend allowing at least an hour between trains in Munich.

  You could leave Frankfurt as late as 18:54, but how about taking the earlier 17:54 and having dinner in Munich?  For typical Bavarian cooking & good Bavarian 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 €17.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, you print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.  Tip:  Book the sleeper first & confirm times, then add a suitable Frankfurt-Munich train.

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Ljubljana or Zagreb by sleeper train, leaving Munich Hbf at 23:20, arriving Ljubljana at 05:57 & Zagreb at 08:35.

  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.

  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.

The sleeping-car on the Lisinski:  The modern air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car of the Lisinski from Munich to Zagreb has 10 compartments with washbasin, each of which can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth room, with toilets at the end of the corridor.  Above left, the sleeper arrived at Zagreb.

The couchette car on the Lisinski has modern air-conditioned 6-berth and 4-berth compartments.  Above right, the westbound train is seen boarding at Zagreb. See panorama photo.

Wake up to scenery like this between Ljubljana & Zagreb, along the river Sava...

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Frankfurt to Belgrade, Sofia, Montenegro...

• Step 1, travel from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Munich Hbf on any evening ICE train arriving in Munich before 22:20, as I'd recommend allowing at least an hour between trains in Munich. 

  You could leave Frankfurt as late as 18:54, but how about taking the earlier 17:54 and having dinner in Munich?  For typical Bavarian cooking & good Bavarian 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 €17.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, you print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.  Tip:  Book the sleeper first & confirm times, then add a suitable Frankfurt-Munich train.

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Zagreb by sleeper train, leaving Munich Hbf at 23:20, arriving Zagreb at 08:35.

  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.

  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.

• 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 is still currently suspended due to Covid-19.

  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.

• Step 4 for Sofia, stay overnight in Belgrade and take the train from Belgrade to Sofia next day (day 3), see the Belgrade to Sofia page for schedule, fares & how to buy tickets.

• Step 4 for Montenegro, transfer to Belgrade Topcider station and either take the overnight sleeper Lovcen to Podgorica and Bar arriving in the morning on day 3, or stay overnight in Belgrade and take the daytime train Tara next day.  See the Belgrade to Montenegro page for schedule, fares & how to buy tickets.

The Lisinski sleeper train from Munich to Zagreb.  This is sleeping-car on the Lisinski arrived at Zagreb.  The modern air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car of the Lisinski from Munich to Zagreb has 10 compartments with washbasin, each of which can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth room, with toilets at the end of the corridor.  See larger sleeper photo.  See the Croatian sleeper video.

The couchette car on the Lisinski has modern air-conditioned 6-berth and 4-berth compartments.  Above right, the westbound train is seen boarding at Zagreb. See panorama photo.

Wake up to scenery like this between Ljubljana & Zagreb, along the river Sava...

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Frankfurt to Warsaw & Krakow from €37.90...

Option 1, Frankfurt to Warsaw by in a single day from €37.90 - all in one day...

• You can travel from Frankfurt to Warsaw in a single day, for example:

  Frankfurt (Main) Hbf depart 09:02, change at Berlin Hbf, arrive Warsaw Centralna 19:09.

  Frankfurt (Main) Hbf depart 13:02, change at Berlin Hbf, arrive Warsaw Centralna 23:04.

• 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...

• Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking to Poland opens 60 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  Tip:  I recommend clicking Add intermediate stops, entering Berlin Hbf with a stopover duration of at least 40 minutes, this gives you a more robust connection in case of delay.

Option 2, Frankfurt to Krakow in a single day from €37.90 - Mondays-Fridays only...

• Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Berlin by ICE train with restaurant car & free WiFi, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf 06:00, arriving Berlin Hbf 09:54.

  A later departure is possible with a tighter connection in Berlin, but any delay means missing the once-a-day train to Krakow, so I recommend the earlier train shown here, Mondays-Fridays only.

• Step 2, travel from Berlin to Krakow by EuroCity train Wawel leaving Berlin Hbf at 10:37 and arriving Krakow Glowny at 17:39.

  The Wawel is a comfortable Polish EuroCity train with restaurant car.  Take a good book, a bottle of wine and put your feet up...

• Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Buy tickets at www.bahn.de.  Booking to Poland opens 60 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  Tip:  Click Add intermediate stops, enter Berlin Hbf with a stopover duration of 40 minutes.  This gets you the robust connection in Berlin as recommended above.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

A Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity train at Berlin Hbf...

1st class compartment car...		2nd class open-plan car.  Some seats are in compartments.

The bar...		Decent food, served on proper china...

Option 3, Frankfurt to Krakow using the Berlin-Krakow sleeper - why not spend a few hours in Berlin?

• Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Berlin by ICE train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 13:02 and arriving Berlin Hbf 16:59.

  The ICE has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  By all means book an earlier train to have more time in Berlin, there are left luggage lockers available and Berlin Hbf is just 10-15 min walk from the Reichstag & Brandenburg Gate, so even a few hours stopover is a worthwhile experience.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €49.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Step 2, travel from Berlin to Krakow or Rzeszow by sleeping-car, leaving Berlin Hbf at 18:43 and arriving Krakow Glowny nice & early (well, early) at 03:47 & Rzeszow Glowny at 06:39.

  Tip:  Instead of getting off at Krakow at silly o'clock, I suggest booking the sleeper to Rzeszow Glowny.  Have breakfast in the historic city of Rzeszow with its well-preserved old town, then return to Krakow on any train you like, Rzeszow to Krakow takes 1h40, trains leave regularly.

  The Berlin-Krakow/Rzeszow sleeper train has two seats cars and a safe & comfortable Polish sleeping-car bound for Przemysl.  The sleeping-car has 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin.  There are no couchettes on this train and no restaurant car, so bring a picnic & bottle of wine along, or have an early dinner in Berlin.

  Prices start at €39 with a bed in a 3-berth, €54 with a bed in a 2-berth or €79 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.

• Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com, this allows you to buy both tickets together in one place, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee:  First book the sleeper from Berlin to Krakow (or Rzeszow), and add to basket.  Booking for this sleeper normally opens 60 days ahead.  Then add a suitable connecting train from Frankfurt to Berlin allowing at least 1 hour between trains in Berlin, add to basket and check out.  You print your own tickets.

  Alternatively, more work but no booking fee, first book the sleeper from Berlin to Krakow (or Rzeszow) at Hamburg to Berlin at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at and print your own ticket, then book your Frankfurt-Berlin connecting train separately at the German Railways website www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.

  If you want to pre-book a Rzeszow-Krakow ticket, buy this at the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl and print it out.

This is the modern Polish air-conditioned sleeping-car on the Berlin-Krakow-Rzeszow-Przemysl train, about to leave Berlin Hbf.  Quiet, carpeted, civilised, a pleasure to travel in.  This type of sleeper also has two deluxe compartments with toilet & shower, but as Polish Railways cannot guarantee this type on this train, all compartments are sold as standard sleepers and if you get a deluxe it's a bonus.  Photo courtesy of Nicholas A Milligan...

Standard sleeper in evening/morning mode with seats folded out.		Standard sleeper set up as a 3-berth.  It can also be sold as a single or double.		Deluxe sleeper, set up as a 2-berth, showing TV & wardrobe.		Deluxe sleeper:  En suite shower & toilet.  Click the photos for larger images.

Option 4, Frankfurt to Warsaw or Krakow with overnight stop in Berlin from €37.90...

• 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 23:24, but by all means take an earlier train and have an evening in Berlin.

• Stay overnight in Berlin, the 3-star Meininger Hotel is ideal as it's right next to Berlin Hbf and a 10-minute walk from the Reichstag or a 15-minute walk from the Brandenburg Gate, it's inexpensive and gets good reviews.  If you want to push the boat out, try the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is right next to the Brandenburg Gate, 15 min walk from the station.  More hotels in Berlin.  If you're on a tight budget, see www.hostelworld.com.

• For Warsaw...

  Day 2, travel from Berlin to Warsaw on any Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity train you like.  Daily except Sundays the 05:43 from Berlin Hbf will get you to Warsaw Centralna at 11:11 with breakfast in the restaurant car.  Or have a leisurely breakfast at your hotel and take the daily 09:37 arriving 15:19.  By all means take a later train from Berlin to spend some time in Berlin.  The German capital is fascinating...

• For Krakow...

  The direct Berlin-Krakow EuroCity train Wawel makes a welcome return from 13 December 2020:  Day 2, travel from Berlin to Krakow by EuroCity train Wawel, leaving Berlin Hbf at 10:37 every day, arriving Katowice at 16:44 & Krakow Glowny at 17:39.  The Wawel is comfortable & air-conditioned with restaurant car, treat yourself to lunch and a beer or two.

• 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. 

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de:  Enter Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Warsaw or Krakow, but click Add intermediate stops and enter Berlin and the number of hours stopover you want, say 12:00.  Adjust the departure time and the Berlin stopover duration to get the trains you want, with a little trial and error.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

  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.

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Frankfurt to Lviv, Kiev & Ukraine...

Option 1, via Vienna...

• Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Vienna, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 08:22 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 14:45.

  Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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

• Day 2 evening, travel overnight from Warsaw to Kiev on the Kiev Express sleeper train leaving Warsaw Centralna at 18:20 and arriving Kiev at 11:00 next morning.  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 http://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 Kiev as they have close contacts with Ukrainian Railways.

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

Boarding in Warsaw...		A sleeper compartment...		...with washbasin.

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Frankfurt to Moscow, St Petersburg & Russia...

Option 1, via Kiev - avoids Belarus, daily departures...

• Step 1, travel from Frankfurt to Kiev as explained in detail above, taking a morning train to Vienna on day 1 and overnight sleeper from Vienna to Kiev, arriving in late afternoon on day 2.

• Step 2, take one of the various Kiev to Moscow sleeper trains, for example train 6 leaves Kiev at 19:36 arriving Moscow Kievskaya station at 10:09 the next morning (= the morning of day 3 from Frankfurt).

  The fare is around €92 with a bed in 4-berth kupé or €180 with a bed in a 2-berth spalny vagon.

  You can ask www.polrail.com to book this for you too, or you can book tickets from Kiev 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 Kiev.  Feedback appreciated!

Option 2, using the new Berlin-Moscow Strizh sleeper train, twice a week...