A German ICE train...

I want to go from Hamburg to...

      Select your destination... Somewhere else in Germany... Aix en Provence Alicante Amsterdam Andorra Athens & Greece Avignon Barcelona Basel (Basle) Belgrade Berlin Bern (Berne) Biarritz Bordeaux Bratislava Brussels Bruges (Brugge) Bucharest Budapest Cannes Cologne Copenhagen Cordoba Dublin & Ireland Dusseldorf Florence Frankfurt Geneva Gothenburg Granada Helsinki Innsbruck Interlaken Istanbul Kiev & Ukraine Krakow Lausanne Linz Lisbon Ljubljana London & UK Luxembourg Luzern (Lucerne) Madrid Malaga Malmo Marseille Milan Montreux Moscow Munich Naples Nice Paris Oslo Prague Riga Rome St Moritz St Petersburg Salzburg San Sebastian Seville Sofia Stockholm Strasbourg Tallinn Toulouse Valencia Venice Verona Vienna Vilnius Warsaw Zagreb Zurich Zermatt

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      Click for Hamburg Hbf station information

This page explains how to travel by train from Hamburg to other key European cities, and how to buy tickets the cheapest way.  Information current for 2022.

Before you buy your tickets...

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

European train travel FAQ...

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Hamburg to other German towns & cities...

• With only one or two exceptions, German trains are never reservation compulsory so you can always just turn up, buy a ticket and get on the next train without a reservation.  However, there are cheap advance-purchase Sparpreis fares for €19.90, €29.90, €39.90 etc. for long-distance journeys if you pre-book, so buy in advance if you want to save money.  On the day you pay the Flexpreis.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.

• www.bahn.de will book all German long-distance daytime trains.  A seat reservation is usually optional, for a small extra charge.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  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.

• Hamburg-Munich by Nightjet sleeper - the time-effective option...

  There's a time-effective Nightjet sleeper train between Hamburg & Munich, leaving 20:29, arriving 07:11, with sleeping-car & couchettes.  Book this at either www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same prices).

• Hamburg-Cologne...

  As well as the regular service run by DB, private operator Flixtrain (formerly HKX) is now competing with several trains per day between Cologne, Dusseldorf, Osnabruck & Hamburg with cheap prices even on the day, for times, fares & online tickets see www.flixtrain.com.

• 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 Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket and Lander tickets.

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Hamburg to London & UK...

• See the London to Germany page for train times, fares & how to buy tickets between Hamburg & London. 

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Hamburg to Dublin & Ireland...

Option 1, Hamburg to Dublin via London & Holyhead - daily departures...

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg to London by high-speed train & Eurostar, see the London-Germany page for times, fares, how to buy tickets.

• Stay overnight in London, see suggested hotels near St Pancras.

• Day 2, travel from London Euston to Dublin on the morning train & ferry service, arriving Dublin Ferryport 17:25, see details here.

  It's only a 10 minute walk between St Pancras & Euston stations.  Rail & Sail is an inexpensive, fun and interesting way to go, see an illustrated account of the journey.  By all means stop off in London for longer if you like.

Option 2, Hamburg to Dublin via Paris & Cherbourg - several times a week...

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg to Paris by high-speed train on any 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 www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend changing Duration of transfer from standard to at least 30 minutes.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

• Stay overnight in Paris.

• 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.

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Hamburg to Paris from €39.90...

Option 1, Hamburg to Paris in a single day...

• It's easy to travel from Hamburg to Paris by high-speed ICE & TGV, a chill-out journey across Europe.  For example...

  Hamburg Hbf depart 06:18 by ICE train, change at Karlsruhe onto an ICE3, arrive Paris Gare de l'Est at 14:05.

  Hamburg Hbf depart 08:24 by ICE train, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf onto a TGV Duplex, arrive Paris Gare de l'Est at 16:54.

  Hamburg Hbf depart 10:24 by ICE train, change at Karlsruhe onto an ICE3, arrive Paris Gare de l'Est at 18:05.

  Hamburg Hbf depart 12:24 by ICE train, change at Mannheim onto a TGV Duplex, arrive Paris Gare de l'Est at 20:41.

  Hamburg Hbf depart 14:24 by ICE train, change at Karlsruhe onto a TGV Duplex, arrive Paris Gare de l'Est at 22:05.

  ICE trains have a restaurant car, TGV Duplex have a cafe-bar, both have power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  They travel at up to 320 km/h (199 mph) on the TGV-Est high-speed line to Paris.  On the TGV 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, 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.

Option 2, Hamburg to Paris with overnight stop in Cologne - the time-effective overnight option with an evening in Cologne... 

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg to Cologne, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 18:46 and arriving Cologne Hbf at 22:50. 

  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.

  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.

  By all means take an earlier train and spend a pleasant evening in Cologne.  The cathedral is right next to the station, for dinner I recommend the excellent Brauhaus Sion (www.brauhaus-sion.de), 5 minutes walk from Cologne Hbf, or the Malzmuehle restaurant (www.muehlenkoelsch.de), 10-15 minutes walk from Cologne Hbf.

• Stay overnight in Cologne.  Hotels near Cologne Hbf with good or great reviews include the Breslauer Hof Am Dom, Hotel Domspitzen, CityClass Hotel Europa am Dom, Hilton Cologne, Excelsior Hotel Ernst am Dom.

• Day 2, travel from Cologne to Paris by high-speed Thalys train leaving Cologne Hbf at 06:44 arriving Paris Gare du Nord around 10:10.

  Or have a leisurely breakfast and take the 08:44 Thalys arriving Paris Nord around 12:10.

  Thalys train have 3 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Fares start at €35 in 2nd class or €72 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this at www.thalys.com or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com.  Booking normally opens 120 days ahead.  You print your own tickets or can select a mobile ticket to show on your smartphone.

Option 3, Hamburg to Paris using a Nightjet sleeper train, the most time-effective option if you don't mind the early start.

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Karlsruhe by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 20:50 and arriving Karlsruhe Hbf at 05:08.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has two double-deck sleeping-cars with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, 1 or 2 berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet, single deck sleeper with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin and 1, 2 & 3 bed deluxe compartments with shower & toilet, and couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments.  See photos & information about Nightjet sleeper trains.

  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.

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

• Step 2, travel from Karlsruhe to Paris by high-speed TGV Duplex, leaving Karlsruhe Hbf at 07:32 Mondays-Saturdays arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 10:05.  On Sundays, you leave Karlsruhe Hbf at 08:06 arriving Paris Est at 10:38.

  The train has 1st & 2nd class seats and a cafe-bar.  I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views.  You've time for breakfast in Karlsruhe between trains.

  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, 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.

TGV Duplex at Paris Est. These impressive 320 km/h double-deck trains link Germany with Paris...

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

1st class seats on upper deck, a club duo on the left, club quatre on the right.  360º photo.		A TGV Duplex.  The red near the door indicates 1st class, pale green indicates 2nd class.

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Hamburg to Strasbourg...

• You can travel from Hamburg to Strasbourg by train with just 1 change in around 5h50.

• 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.

• 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:  Look for journeys with just 1 change.  Check for tight connections:  You might consider changing Duration of transfer from standard to at least 20 minutes.

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Hamburg to Lyon, Avignon, Marseille, Cannes, Nice & other French cities...

Option 1, Hamburg to Lyon, Avignon or Marseille in a day with one easy change in Frankfurt - no need to cross Paris!

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Frankfurt by ICE train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 09:24 and arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 13:00.

  The ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Step 2, travel from Frankfurt to Lyon, Avignon or Marseille by TGV Duplex, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 13:57 every day arriving Lyon Part Dieu 19:56, Avignon TGV 21:11, Aix en Provence TGV 21:33 & Marseille St Charles 21:49.

  The 320 km/h 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.

• Fares from Hamburg to France start at €49.90 in 2nd class or €79.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Book from Hamburg to Lyon, Avignon, Aix or Marseille 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.

  Important tip:  Before running the enquiry, change Duration of transfer from standard to at least 40 minutes.  This gets you the 09:24 with a robust connection in Frankfurt with time for a coffee, rather than the 10:24 with a risky 8-minute connection in Frankfurt.

• 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 3, travel from Marseille to Cannes or Nice next day, fares from €15, check times & buy a ticket at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.sncf-connect.com (in €, a little more fiddly, but no fee).

The TGV Duplex from Frankfurt to Lyon, Avignon & Marseille, about to leave Frankfurt (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.

Option 2, Hamburg to anywhere in France with an overnight stop in Paris...

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg to Paris by train, for example leaving Hamburg Hbf at 14:24 by ICE train, changing at Karlsruhe onto an impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) TGV Duplex arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 22:05.  But by all means take an earlier one and have a leisurely dinner in Paris.

  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.

  Check times & buy tickets 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.

  Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi.

• Stay overnight in Paris.  Hotels near the Gare de Lyon with good reviews:  Hotel Terminus Lyon (right in front of the station, 3-star);  Mercure Paris Gare de Lyon (on the station itself, 4-star);   Novotel Paris Gare de Lyon (opposite the station, 4-star);  Mistral Hotel (800m from Gare de Lyon, 1-star);  Hotel de Reims (5 min walk from Gare de Lyon, 2-star).  .

• Day 2, travel from Paris Gare de Lyon to Lyon, Avignon, Marseille, Cannes or Nice by high-speed TGV Duplex with cafe-bar.  Or travel from Paris to anywhere else in France...

  Fares start at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class.

  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 www.sncf-connect.com (in €, a little more fiddly).  Booking for French trains opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

Option 3, Hamburg to central & southern France with overnight stop in Brussels...

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg to Brussels on any afternoon or evening train you like.

  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 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.

• Stay overnight in Brussels.  The Ibis Brussels Midi is good & inexpensive, just across the road from Brussels Midi station, or the more upmarket Pullman Hotel Brussels Midi is an integral part of the station itself.

• Day 2, travel from Brussels to Lyon, Avignon, Marseille, Nimes & Montpellier on a direct Brussels-France TGV with cafe-bar & free WiFi.

  There are several morning departures to these places, using the Paris by-pass line through Marne la Vallée, avoiding the need for passengers to change trains and stations in Paris.

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

  Check times and buy a ticket at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem. small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, a little more fiddly but no fee).  Booking for French trains opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

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Hamburg to Brussels & Bruges from €39.90...

Option 1, Hamburg to Brussels or anywhere in Belgium with a DB through ticket... 

• Leave Hamburg Hbf at 06:46 by InterCity train, change at Cologne Hbf onto an ICE train, arriving Brussels Midi at 13:35.

  Leave Hamburg Hbf at 08:46 by InterCity train, change at Cologne Hbf onto an ICE train, arriving Brussels Midi at 15:35.

  Leave Hamburg Hbf at 10:46 by InterCity train, change at Cologne Hbf onto an ICE train, arriving Brussels Midi at 17:35.

  Leave Hamburg Hbf at 12:46 by InterCity train, change at Cologne Hbf onto an ICE train, arriving Brussels Midi at 19:35.

  InterCity trains have a bistro car.  ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Change in Brussels for regular Belgian domestic trains to Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp, and other Belgian destinations.

• 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.

• Buy tickets from Hamburg to anywhere in Belgium 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.

Option 2, Hamburg to Cologne by InterCity train, then Cologne to Brussels by high-speed Thalys train.

• There are also Thalys trains between Cologne and Brussels every 2 hours or so, in the hours when the German ICE isn't running.  You can use these if you like, but it means buying two tickets (Hamburg-Cologne & Cologne-Brussels), or three tickets if you're going from Hamburg to Bruges or Antwerp, which usually costs more.  And with two tickets you don't have any passenger rights in the event of a delay and missed connection as you would with a Hamburg-Belgium through ticket bought from German Railways.  For these reasons I recommend sticking with option 1 above, buying a through ticket and using an ICE between Cologne & Brussels.

• But if you want to use Thalys, check times and buy tickets from Hamburg to Brussels at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com as these sites can sell journeys via both ICE and Thalys.  Booking for Thalys trains normally opens 120 days ahead.

An ICE3M to Frankfurt at Brussels Midi.  More information about ICE.

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

Proper china, metal cutlery.  I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier!  See current month's menu.		Restaurant car:  This is the small 12-seat restaurant area on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.

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Hamburg to Amsterdam from €37.90...

• German Railways sells through tickets from Hamburg to Amsterdam, usually with one easy change of train at Osnabruck.  For example:

  Leave Hamburg Hbf at 05:46 by ICE train, change at Osnabrück onto an ICE train arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 11:00.

  Leave Hamburg Hbf at 06:11 (not Sundays) by InterCity train, change at Duisburg onto an ICE train arriving Amsterdam Centraal 11:29.

  Leave Hamburg Hbf at 07:46 by InterCity train, change at Osnabrück onto an InterCity train arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 13:00.

  Leave Hamburg Hbf at 09:46 by ICE train, change at Osnabrück onto an InterCity train arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 15:00.

  Leave Hamburg Hbf at 11:46 by ICE train, change at Osnabrück onto an InterCity train arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 16:50.

  Leave Hamburg Hbf at 13:46 by ICE train, change at Osnabrück onto an InterCity train arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 19:00.

  Leave Hamburg Hbf at 15:46 by ICE train, change at Osnabrück onto an InterCity train arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 21:00.

  Leave Hamburg Hbf at 17:46 by InterCity train, change at Osnabrück onto an InterCity train arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 23:00.

  InterCity trains have a bistro car & power sockets at all seats.  ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

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

  Tip:  www.bahn.de sells through tickets from Hamburg to almost anywhere in the Netherlands:  Rotterdam, Utrecht, Groningen, wherever...

A German Intercity train at Hamburg Hbf.  More information about Intercity trains.

Dinner in the bistro...		Bistro car.  See current month's menu

2nd class seating is usually in open-plan saloons like this, most seats unidirectional, but with some tables for 4.  Sometimes you'll find 2nd class compartment cars with side corridor and ten 6-seat compartments  Larger photo.

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Hamburg to Luxembourg from €24.90...

• You can travel from Hamburg to Luxembourg by train, taking an Intercity train with bistro car or luxurious ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi from Hamburg Hbf to Koblenz, then a comfortable air-conditioned regional express train along the scenic Moselle river valley from Koblenz to Luxembourg.

  Trains leave Hamburg Hbf at 06:46 and every hour until 16:36.  Typical journey time 7h38.

• Fares start at €24.90 in 2nd class or €56.90 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 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:  To avoid cluttering up the search results with undesirable 2 & 3-change journeys, click Stopover and enter Koblenz as a via station.  You should then only see convenient journeys with 1 change at Koblenz.  I've done that for you in the link above!

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Hamburg to Basel, Zurich, Geneva & Switzerland from €35.90...

Option 1, Hamburg to Switzerland by sleeper train - the time-effective overnight option...

• An excellent Nightjet sleeper train leaves Hamburg Hbf at 20:50 every night, arriving Basel SBB at 07:20 & Zurich HB at 09:05.

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

• Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

• Change in Basel for Luzern, Bern, Interlaken, Lausanne, Geneva.  Change in Zurich for Lugano, Chur, St Moritz, Davos, Klosters.

  Buy onward tickets within Switzerland at www.thetrainline.com (so you can keep all your bookings together in one place, in €, £ or $) or at the Swiss Railways website www.sbb.ch (in CHF).  Swiss domestic tickets go on sale 60 days ahead.  You print your own ticket.

  Tip:  If you wait until 60 days or less before your travel date, you may find Supersaver fares available for longer Swiss domestic journeys (for example, Basel-Geneva), saving up to 70% off the regular flexible fare.  Supersaver fares commit you to a specific train, so I'd allow at least an hour between the Nightjet arrival and an onward train.

The safe & comfortable Nightjet to Zurich.  This is a double-deck sleeping-car arrived at Zurich HB. Courtesy of DiscoverbyRail.com.

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

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

Option 2, Hamburg to Switzerland by high-speed ICE train - the fast daytime option...

• High-speed ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi link Hamburg with Basel & Zurich.

  Departures from Hamburg Hbf are usually at 06:18, 08:24, 10:24, 12:24, 14:34, and there's also a 16:24 as far as Basel.

  Hamburg to Basel SBB takes 6h31, to Zurich HB 7h36 - a chill-out trip, treat yourself to an Erdinger Weissbier or two...

  Times may vary, so check times for your date online.

• Fares start at €35.90 in 2nd class or €56.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Buy tickets from Hamburg to anywhere in Switzerland at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

  It'll book through tickets from Hamburg to most Swiss stations, Geneva, Bern, Luzern, Zermatt, St Moritz, wherever.  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.

An ICE4 at Hamburg Altona.  Most Hamburg-Switzerland ICEs are now ICE4.  Click on the interior images below for larger photos.

1st class on an ICE4...		Restaurant car.  See current month's menu

The bar counter, other end of the restaurant car.		2nd class seats on an ICE4...

Option 3, Hamburg to Switzerland by classic train along the Rhine Valley - the slower scenic option...

• EuroCity train EC9 leaves Hamburg Hbf at 06:19 and arrives Basel SBB 15:36 & Zurich HB 17:00.

  This comfortable EuroCity train (EC9) has spacious & comfortable Swiss Federal Railways cars and an elegant Swiss restaurant car, and a superb Swiss 1st class panorama car, see the photos below.

  Instead of taking the high-speed line between Mainz & Cologne (as in option 2), this train takes the classic line along the scenic Rhine valley, past river boats, vineyards, castles and the legendary Lorelei Rock, see the Rails Down the Rhine page for more information, photos & video.  This is one of my favourite trains on one of my favourite routes, I think it's well worth the extra time!

• 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 which can book from Hamburg to almost any station in Switzerland.  To get this scenic route, click Stopover and enter Koblenz Hbf, leaving stopover duration zero.

  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.

  You can buy a through ticket at www.bahn.de from Hamburg to Swiss destinations such as Zermatt, Wengen or St Moritz, this includes the onward Swiss domestic train and it's a lot cheaper than buying a separate full-price Swiss domestic ticket from Basel.

• Tip:  Panorama car on train EC9...  You will thank me for this!  Train EC9 conveys a wonderful Swiss 1st class panorama car, see photos here.  Speeding along the Rhine in this is a real treat, yet all you need to sit in it is a 1st class ticket.  To make sure you get a seat in it, add a free seat reservation when you book, using the select seat link to pick a seat in car 263, see the advice on the Rails Down the Rhine page.

EuroCity train at Zurich HB...

2nd class seating...  Larger photo.		The Swiss restaurant car:  Treat yourself!  Larger photo.

Panorama car with 1st class seats, available on train EC9.  Make sure you reserve a seat in car 263 as there is just one 1st class panorama car and two other regular 1st class cars.  See advice on booking it.

Pfalzgrafenstein castle on the Rhine...  See the Rails Down the Rhine page for more information.

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Hamburg to Venice from €60...

Option 1, Hamburg to Venice using the Munich-Venice Nightjet sleeper train - the most time-effective option...

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Munich by high-speed ICE train leaving Hamburg Hbf at 16:01 arriving Munich Hbf 21:41 (21:41 some dates).

  The ICE has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, put your feet up & enjoy the ride.  Have a late dinner in Munich, for local Bavarian food & beer I recommend the Augustiner Keller (www.augustinerkeller.de) at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf, see walking map.

  Times may vary, so check times for your date and book a train that arrives in Munich no later than around 22:30.  By all means leave Hamburg an hour or two earlier to allow more time for dinner!

  Fares start at €17.90 in 2nd class or €31.90 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.

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Venice by Nightjet sleeper train leaving Munich Hbf at 23:20 every night, arriving Venice Santa Lucia at 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 this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same fares).  Booking opens 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

2nd class seats.  Larger photo.		Step 1, Hamburg To Munich by ICE...

Restaurant car.  Larger photo.		Bar car.  Larger photo.

Boarding an ICE2...		1st class seats.  Larger photo.

Option 2, Hamburg to Venice using the Hamburg-Innsbruck Nightjet sleeper & scenic daytime train to Venice - great scenery & morning free in Innsbruck.

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Innsbruck by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 20:29 & arriving Innsbruck Hbf at 09:14.

  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, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

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

  Tip:  If you have a sleeper ticket or a 1st class ticket for the onward train, you can use the ÖBB first class lounge at Innsbruck Hbf between trains, with free WiFi and complimentary tea, coffee, soft drinks & snacks.

• Step 2, travel from Innsbruck to Verona & Venice by EuroCity train, leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 13:24 arriving Venice Santa Lucia 18:25.

  There's an elegant Austrian restaurant car for lunch as the mountains roll by. see the Brenner Pass scenery video here. 

  Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this train as a second transaction at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a little more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

Option 3, Hamburg to Venice via the Brenner Pass with overnight stop in Munich...

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg to Munich on any ICE train you like, you can leave Hamburg Hbf as late as 18:01 arriving Munich Hbf at 23:40. (after midnight on some dates), but by all means take an earlier train and spend a pleasant evening in Munich, check times at www.bahn.de.

  For dinner with local Bavarian food and a beer or two I recommend the Augustiner Keller (www.augustinerkeller.de) at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf, see walking map.

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

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Venice by EuroCity train, leaving Munich Hbf at 11:34 and arriving Venice Santa Lucia at 18:25.

  Or you can take the 09:34 from Munich Hbf arriving Venice 16:40, although this involves a change at Verona.  There's also an earlier 07:34 to Verona which goes direct to Venice at weekends.  Your call!

  The comfortable Austrian EuroCity train has an elegant restaurant car so treat yourself to lunch as the train travels thorough the wonderful Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass scenery video here.

• Fares from Hamburg to Venice 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 www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.

  To build in the overnight stop in Munich, click Stopover and enter Munich Hbf in the via box and (say) 12:00 in the hh:mm stopover box.  Look carefully in the search results to find a journey that suits, adjusting the departure time and stopover duration as necessary - a little trial and error is required!  I've set up this link to bahn.de for you with the necessary parameters.

  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

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Hamburg to Florence, Rome, Milan, Verona or anywhere else Italy from €39.90...

Option 1, Hamburg to Italy using the Nightjet sleeper train from Munich to Bologna, Florence & Rome - the time-effective option...

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Munich by ICE train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 12:01 and arriving Munich Hbf at 18:17, or on some dates you'll find a 13:01 arriving 18:42, but by all means book an earlier train.  Just make sure you arrive in Munich before (say) 19:10 at the latest.

  The ICE has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You've time for dinner in Munich, for local Bavarian food and a beer or two I recommend the Augustiner Keller (www.augustinerkeller.de) at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf, see walking map.

  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.

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Italy by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Munich Hbf at 20:10 and arriving Bologna Centrale 05:15, Florence SMN at 06:32 and Rome Termini at 09:10.  Another portion of this train goes to Milan, arriving Milan Porta Garibaldi at 08:10.

  Each portion of this comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

  Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

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

• If you're heading to Naples, buy a separate Rome-Naples ticket at www.italiarail.com (they'll refund their small booking fee if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com, or you can use www.thetrainline.com again.

Step 2, Munich to Florence & Rome by Nightjet sleeper train, seen here boarding on platform 11 at Munich Hbf.

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.

Option 2, Hamburg to Italy in a single day - a scenic ride!

• Travel from Hamburg to Zurich by ICE train, then Zurich to Milan by EuroCity train.  Then take an onward high-speed Frecciarossa from Milan to Venice, Florence, Rome or Naples.  It's possible to travel from Hamburg to Milan in a day, and even  an overnight stop in Basel, Zurich or Milan is usually necessary for longer journeys.  I'd allow at least 45 minutes in Basel or Zurich between trains.  For example:

  Leave Hamburg Hbf at 06:18 by ICE train, change at Zurich HB, arrive Milan Centrale at 18:50.

  Leave Hamburg Hbf at 08:24 by ICE train, change at Zurich HB, arrive Milan Centrale at 20:50.

  Leave Hamburg Hbf at 10:24 by ICE train, change at Zurich HB, arrive Milan Centrale at 22:50.

  The ICE & EuroCity train both have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Frecciarossas have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  If you take the 06:18, a same-day connection is possible to Verona, Venice, Florence & Rome, Hamburg to Rome in a day!  Later departures mean an overnight stop in Milan.  Hotels near Milan Centrale with good reviews include the Made to Measure Business, 43 Station Hotel, Starhotel Echo or Starhotel Anderson.

• How much does it cost?

  Hamburg to Zurich starts at €35.90 in 2nd class or €56.90 in 1st class.

  Zurich to Milan starts at €29 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class.

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

  Milan to Rome starts at €29.90 in 2nd (standard) class or €39.90 in 1st (business) class.

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

• How to buy tickets...

  Times can vary, so first check train times from Hamburg to Milan using the journey planner at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  To avoid getting search results cluttered up with silly 16-change options with reckless 5-minute connections, click Stopover, enter Zurich HB, and enter a stopover time of 00:45 (= at least 45 minutes) in the hh:mm stopover box.  That will give you a robust connection in Zurich.  Then click More means of transport and change admit changes to direct connections in both drop-down boxes.  That'll get you sensible journeys using a direct Hamburg-Zurich train then a direct Zurich-Milan train.  Easy when you know.  Then check onward trains from Milan to Venice, Florence, Rome also using bahn.de.  Note down each train you want, then split the booking to buy tickets like this...

  Step 1, book from Hamburg to Zurich using 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.

  Step 2, book from Zurich to Milan (or, if using the earliest train from Hamburg, Zurich to Verona, Venice, Florence or Rome) using www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, the small booking fee will be refunded if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR) or Italian Railways own website or www.trenitalia.com (more fiddly to use, requires Italian language place names, read this advice on using it).

  Alternatively, if you want to book all your tickets together in one place, you can make both bookings at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee), but I'd still book as two transactions, you can add each to your basket then check out.

• I'd allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Basel or Zurich.  Hamburg to Milan via Basel or Zurich is an all-day train ride.  If you'd prefer to split it over 2 days with an overnight stop in Basel or Zurich or even Lucerne or Lugano, no problem.  Indeed, that's a good option!

Option 3, Hamburg to Italy using the Hamburg-Innsbruck sleeper, then scenic ride through the Brenner Pass...

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Innsbruck by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Hamburg Hbf 20:29 & arriving Innsbruck Hbf 09:14 next morning.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

  Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

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

  Tip:  If you have a sleeper ticket or an onward 1st class ticket, you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Innsbruck with complimentary tea & coffee.

• Step 2, take a comfortable Austrian EuroCity train through the scenic Brenner Pass to Verona & Italy, leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 11:24 and arriving Verona Porta Nuova at 14:58 & Bologna Centrale at 16:20.

  Don't risk a tight connection with the earlier 09:24 EuroCity to Verona, I'd play safe and stick with the 11:24.

  There's a restaurant car for lunch, treat yourself to a beer or two as the mountains roll past, see the Brenner Pass scenery video here.

  Change at Verona Porta Nuova for Milan Centrale.  Change at Bologna Centrale for a high-speed Frecciarossa train to Florence SMN, Rome Termini or Naples Centrale.

  Fares from Innsbruck to Bologna start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st. 

  Fares from Bologna to Florence start at €19.90, fares from Bologna to Rome or Naples at €29.90.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  The easiest way to check times and book is at www.raileurope.com, as this connects to both the German and Italian ticketing systems - but (and this is important) click More options and enter Bologna Centrale (if you're going to Florence, Rome or Naples) or Verona Porta Nuova (if you're going to Milan) as a via station with a stopover duration of 45 minutes before running the enquiry.  You'll get a digital ticket for the EuroCity train which you can print out or show on your smartphone.  The Italian train will usually be ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on board.

Step 1, Hamburg to Innsbruck by Nightjet sleeper train.  Above, a Comfortline sleeping-car on a Nightjet train at Innsbruck.  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...

Option 4, Hamburg to Italy via the scenic Brenner Pass, with overnight stop in Munich...

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg to Munich on any ICE train you like, you can leave Hamburg Hbf as late as 18:01 arriving Munich Hbf at 23:40 (after midnight on some dates), but by all means take an earlier train and spend a pleasant evening in Munich, check times at www.bahn.de.

  For dinner with local Bavarian food and a beer or two I recommend the Augustiner Keller (www.augustinerkeller.de) at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf, see walking map.

• Stay overnight in Munich.  Hotels next to the station with good or great reviews include the Sofitel Munich Beyerpost, Eden Hotel Wolff, InterCity Hotel or (if you're on a budget) the Pension Locarno.

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Verona by Austrian EuroCity train thorough the wonderful Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass scenery video.

   Trains leave Munich Hbf every 2 hours or so taking a leisurely 5h25, and all have a restaurant car so treat yourself to lunch!  The 09:34 departure runs beyond Verona to Bologna Centrale.

  Change in Verona (or, if taking the 09:34, in Bologna), for an onward Italian train to anywhere you like in Italy.  Verona to Florence takes just 2h35, Verona to Rome as little as 2h50.

• How much does it cost? 

  Hamburg to Verona starts at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. 

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

  Verona to Rome or Naples at €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.

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

• How to buy tickets...

  First book from Hamburg to Verona Porta Nuova, or (if you plan to take the 09:34 from Munich) Bologna Centrale, at www.bahn.de.

  Before running the enquiry click Stopover, enter Munich Hbf and a stopover duration of (say) 12 hours.  Adjust the departure time and stopover duration until you get the trains you want either side of Munich.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.

  Then buy onward tickets from Verona Porta Nuova or Bologna Centrale to Florence, Rome, Milan or Naples or anywhere in Italy separately at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, the small booking fee will be refunded if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (more fiddly, requires Italian language place names, read this advice on using it). 

  If buying separate tickets like this I recommend allowing at least 45 minutes between trains in Verona in case of delay.  Italian high-speed trains normally open for booking 4 months ahead.

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Hamburg to Barcelona, Madrid & Spain from €79...

Option 1, Hamburg to Barcelona & Spain with overnight stop in Paris...

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg to Paris, for example leaving Hamburg Hbf at 14:24 by ICE train, changing at Karlsruhe onto an impressive 320 km/h TGV Duplex arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 22:05.  But by all means take an earlier train and have a leisurely dinner in Paris.

  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.

  Buy tickets 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 Paris.  Hotels near the Gare de Lyon with good reviews include the Hotel Terminus Lyon (right in front of the station, 3-star);  Mercure Paris Gare de Lyon (on the station itself, 4-star);   Novotel Paris Gare de Lyon (opposite the station, 4-star);  Mistral Hotel (800m from Gare de Lyon, 1-star);  Hotel de Reims (5 min walk from Gare de Lyon, 2-star).

• Day 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by high-speed TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 10:14 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 16:54.

  This impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's a comfortable & scenic journey - I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views, click here for the sights to see from the train on the way.

  Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.  Again, fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, more fiddly, no fee).  Booking normally opens 120 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your smartphone.  See this advice about getting a cheaper fare by split-ticketing at Perpignan.

• Day 2, take an onward train from Barcelona Sants to other destinations all over Spain...

  If you're going to Madrid, Zaragoza, Valencia or Alicante, a same-day connection is possible.  If you're going to Malaga, Cordoba or Seville, you'll need to stay overnight in Barcelona and catch the 08:30 AVE to Malaga, Cordoba & Seville next morning.

  Check times & buy tickets at www.aileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (in £ or €, both easy to use, 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, may reject some overseas credit cards, in €).  You print your own ticket.  Allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Barcelona for connections.  Booking for Spanish trains only opens 60 days ahead, but this varies.

Option 2, Hamburg to Barcelona & Spain using a French sleeper train between Paris and the Spanish border...

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg to Paris, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 10:24, changing at Karlsruhe, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 18:05.

  Both trains are ICEs, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  By all means take an earlier train and have a leisurely 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.

  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.

  Buy tickets 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.

  Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi.

• 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 at 21:14.  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 15:45 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.

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Hamburg to San Sebastian...

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg to Paris, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 14:24, changing at Karlsruhe and arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 22:05.

  The Karlsruhe-Paris 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.  By all means take an earlier train for more of an evening in Paris, see the Hamburg to Paris section above for other departures.  Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi.

  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 smartphone.

• Stay overnight in Paris...

  Hotels near Paris Gare du Nord with good reviews:  Libertel Gare du Nord Suede (5 min walk from Gare du Nord, 2-star), 25 Hours Terminus Nord (formerly the Mercure Terminus Nord, now refurbished in a decidedly funky style, 3-star, directly across the road from the station);  Art Hotel (3-star);  Avalon Hotel (2-star);  Hotel Cambrai (1-star).

  Hotels near Paris Gare Montparnasse with good reviews:  Mercure Paris Gare Montparnasse (150m from the station, 4-star);  Best Western Sevres Montparnasse (15 minute walk from station, 3-star);  La Maison Montparnasse (10 min walk from station, 2-star);  Hotel du Maine (5 min walk from station, 2-star).

• Day 2, travel from Paris to Hendaye by TGV Duplex Océane, leaving Paris Gare Montparnasse at 10:11 and arriving Hendaye 14:47.

  An earlier 07:11 departure is available on Mondays to Saturdays, arriving Hendaye at 11:47.

  The TGV Duplex Océane has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Hendaye is on the French side of the Spanish border.

  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 www.sncf-connect.com (in €, more fiddly, no fee).  French trains open for booking up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your smartphone.

• Day 2, 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.  See the Paris to San Sebastian page for more information, photos & tips.

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Hamburg to Lisbon, Porto & Portugal...

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg Hbf to Paris Gare du Nord or Paris Gare de l'Est, as shown in the Hamburg to Paris section above.

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

  Buy a ticket 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.

  Change stations from Paris Nord or Paris Est to the Gare de Lyon by metro or taxi.

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

• Day 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by 320 km/h TGV Duplex leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 10:14 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 16:54.

  This double-deck TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's a comfortable & scenic journey, see an account of the sights to see from the train on the way.

  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.

• 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.

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

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

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Hamburg to Andorra...

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Paris, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 10:24, changing at Karlsruhe and arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 18:05.

  The Karlsruhe-Paris ICE train 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.

  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).   You print your own ticket or can show it on your 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.  You've time for 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 from Paris to either Toulouse or l'Hospitalet près l'Andorre by Intercité de Nuit, leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 21:14 arriving l'Hospitalet près l'Andorre at 08:46, or leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 21:45 arriving Toulouse Matabiau at 07:05.

  These Intercités de Nuit have 1st class 4-berth couchettes, 2nd class 6-berth couchettes & 2nd class reclining seats.

  Fares start at €35 in a 2nd class couchette or €65 in a 1st class couchette.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  The Paris-L'Hospitalet night train should run daily all year, but there are occasional dates or periods when it doesn't run due to track work, so check for your date of travel.  It also has an annoying habit of opening late for booking, less than the expected 4 months ahead, so don't be too impatient.  If it's not running to l'Hospitalet on your date of travel, the Paris to Toulouse one might still be running.

  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 the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, more fiddly, no fee).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can choose a mobile ticket.

  Tip:  If going via Toulouse, I can recommend the breakfast buffet at the Pullman Hotel, a few minutes walk from the station.

• Step 3 if you go via Toulouse (slower, longer road journey, but cheaper):  Travel from Toulouse to Andorra by bus.

  A bus run by Andbus (www.andorrabybus.com) typically leaves Toulouse at 11:00, arriving Andorra la Vella bus station at 15:00.  Check current times at www.andorrabybus.com, I'd allow at least an hour between train and bus in Toulouse in case of delay.

  The bus leaves from bus stand 15 inside the Gare Routière (bus station) immediately outside Toulouse Matabiau station.  Simply walk out of the station onto the forecourt and look to your right.  The bus station is the modern building with the glass-and-blue-framework upper section, see the photos below.

  Book the bus at www.andorrabybus.com.  The fare is around €33 one-way.

• Step 3 if you go via l'Hospitalet (fastest, more rail & less road, but with expense of a taxi):  Enjoy the scenic train ride into the Pyrenees to l'Hospitalet près l'Andorre, then travel from l'Hospitalet to Andorra la Vella by road, see the London to Andorra page for taxi details.

Paris to Toulouse or l'Hospitalet by Intercité de Nuit, seen here at Paris Gare d'Austerlitz:  More information about Intercité de Nuit trains.  Watch the video.  Photo courtesy of Philip Dyer-Perry.

1st class 4-berth couchettes, as recently refurbished.  Courtesy of @Bristol_Phil.  Photo in 2nd class courtesy Dan Chester.		2nd class 6-berth couchettes		Chilling in the corridor...  Courtesy Dan Chester.

Upper berths, 2nd class, showing compartment lighting & temperature controls above door.  Courtesy of Dan Chester.		Each couchette is provided with pillow, lightweight sleeping bag, bottled water & kit with ear plugs and eye mask.

If you choose to go via l'Hospitalet, you stay on the sleeper train as it climbs into the Pyrenees south of Toulouse.  This is Foix, between Toulouse & l'Hospitalet.  The castle is on the right just south of the station.

Beyond Foix, the sleeper train climbs higher into the mountains...

...and arrives at l'Hospitalet-pres-l'Andorre station, pictured above right...

Road transport to Andorra...  This is a Toulouse to Andorra bus at Toulouse bus stand 15.		The bus station in Toulouse Matabiau forecourt.  Photo courtesy of Andrew McIntyre.

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Hamburg to Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck & Austria from €37.90...

Option 1, Hamburg to Vienna by daytime train...

• A direct ICE train leaves Hamburg Hbf at 08:04 every day, arriving Vienna Hbf at 17:45.

  Until 10 June 2022 there's a second train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:02 every day, arriving Vienna Hbf at 16:45.

  There are other journeys to Vienna with 1 easy change of train at Wurzburg or Nuremberg, up to a 13:01 departure.

  There are plenty of options from Hamburg Hbf to Salzburg Hbf, Innsbruck Hbf & other stations in Austria, too.

  It's a leisurely ride across Germany on a comfortable & spacious train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Bring a book and put your feet up.  Treat yourself to lunch and an Erdinger Weissbier in the restaurant car - or passengers in 1st class can order and be served at their seat.

• 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.

  This can book from Hamburg to Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck or anywhere in Austria.  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 rather than booking as a guest, so you can always log in and check or re-print all your bookings.

  Tip:  It often suggests tight 5-minute connections in Wurzburg.  Consider changing Duration of transfer from standard to at least 25 minutes.

  Tip:  Check Austrian Railways www.thetrainline.com as well, I've often seen cheaper fares on oebb.at than bahn.de on a given date & train.  You also get a print-your-own ticket.

Option 2, Hamburg to Vienna by sleeper train - the time-effective option...

• A Nightjet sleeper train leaves Hamburg Hbf at 20:29 every night, arriving Vienna Hbf 09:19.  Another portion arrives Innsbruck Hbf 09:14.

  Change in Wels (served by the Hamburg-Vienna portion) for a railjet train to Salzburg Hbf, arriving 08:48.

  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, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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Hamburg to Copenhagen & Denmark from €27.90...

• Comfortable Danish IC3 intercity train link Hamburg with Copenhagen, with departures from Hamburg Hbf at 08:56, 12:53 & 16:54 every day, journey time to Copenhagen 4h36.  They also call at Kolding (for Legoland) and Odense, see the Hamburg to Copenhagen page for details.

  An altered timetable applies from 18 June to 21 August 2022, see the timetable here

• 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.

• 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.

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Hamburg to Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö & Sweden from €59.90...

Option 1, Hamburg to Stockholm by direct sleeper train, daily all year round starting 1 September 2022...

• Starting 1 September 2022, it will leave Hamburg Altona at 21:55 and arrive Stockholm Central at 09:55 next morning.

  Procured by the Swedish government and run by Swedish Railways SJ, the train has sleeping-cars with compact 1 & 2 berth compartments with washbasin, several 1 or 2 bed deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower, couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  The sleeping-cars are former Austrian Railways AB32s, refurbished.

• 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 either www.sj.se or (as this is a Nightjet partner route) Austrian Railways www.oebb.at.

  Booking opens several months ahead, you print your own ticket or can show it on your smartphone.

Option 2, Hamburg to Malmö, Gothenburg & Stockholm by year-round daytime trains...

• You can travel from Hamburg to Stockholm by train in a single day with one easy change in Copenhagen.  For example:

  Leave Hamburg Hbf at 08:56 by Danish intercity train, change at Copenhagen onto an X2000 and arrive Stockholm Central at 19:37.

• Fares start at €56.90 in 2nd 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.  Book from Hamburg to Stockholm as one transaction and look for an option with just 1 change.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

  Tip:  You may not find any affordable advance-purchase 1st class fares this way.  If so, book Hamburg-Copenhagen at www.bahn.de, then book the Copenhagen-Stockholm train separately at the SJ website www.sj.se (has been known to reject some overseas credit cards) or at Omio.com.  You will then find affordable fares in both classes for both trains.

• Stopover in Copenhagen?

  You can arrange a stopover in Copenhagen for up to 48 hours at the same price, simply by clicking Stopover and entering Copenhagen then the number of hours stopover you want in the hh:mm box.

  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).

Option 3, Hamburg to Malmo & Stockholm by Berlin Night Express, daily from April to September...

• Private operator Snälltåget (www.snalltaget.se) runs a summer-only sleeper train from Berlin to Malmo & Stockholm.

  It will run every day from 8 April to 24 September 2022.  It may also run on certain dates after September, to be announced in due course.

  It leaves Berlin Hbf at 20:58, Hamburg Hbf at 23:59 and arrives Malmo 07:25 & Stockholm 14:16.

• The train has 6-berth couchette compartments & ordinary seats.  There's a restaurant car between Malmo & Stockholm, which they call the Krogen (the Hook).  Couchettes can be booked individually in shared compartments, or you can pay a fixed price for a whole couchette compartment for private occupancy by 1-6 people, the same price for any number of people up to 6.

  The train normally consists of 5 cars from Berlin: 2 cars only going as far as Malmo, and 2 couchette cars & 1 seats car going all the way to Stockholm.  The Berlin-Stockholm cars are attached to a Snälltåget daytime train between Malmö & Stockholm.

  This train used to run only as far as Malmo and only twice a week, but in 2021 it was extended to Stockholm and expanded to run daily in high summer.  In 2022 it's further expanded to run daily throughout the operating period.

• Fares start at 499 SEK (about €49) per person with a seat, 749 SEK (€74) per person with a couchette in a shared 6-berth compartment, or 2999 SEK (€295) for sole occupancy of a whole couchette compartment for any number of people between 1 & 6.

• See www.snalltaget.se for operating dates, times, fares & to buy tickets online.

Option 4, Hamburg to Gothenburg using Stena Line's Kiel-Gothenburg overnight ferry...

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Kiel by regional train in the late afternoon.

  The journey takes around 1h15, regional trains leave Hamburg Hbf twice an hour, there's usually one around 15:20.  However, you should book the ferry first and confirm ferry times, then take a train that arrives at Kiel Hbf around 2 hours before the ferry sails.

  Check train times & buy a ticket at the German Railways site 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 on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  Alternatively, as it's only a regional train, you can buy a ticket at the station on the day.

  In Kiel, the ferry terminal is 750m from the station, a 9-minute walk, see walking map.

• 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.

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Hamburg to Oslo & Norway...

Option 1, Hamburg to Oslo by train all the way...

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg to Gothenburg, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 12:53, change at Copenhagen, arriving Gothenburg Central at 22:20.

  Fares start at €56.90 in 2nd class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Gothenburg is listed as Göteborg Central.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

  Tip:  You may not find any affordable advance-purchase 1st class fares this way.  If so, book Hamburg-Copenhagen at www.bahn.de, then book the Copenhagen-Gothenburg train separately at the SJ website www.sj.se (has been known to reject some overseas credit cards) or at Omio.com.  You will then find affordable fares in both classes for both trains.

• Stay overnight in Gothenburg.

• Day 2, take a train from Gothenburg (Göteborg Central) to Oslo.  The first train is at 06:10 Mondays-Fridays, 07:55 Saturdays, 10:15 Sundays, journey time around 3h40.

  Book this is with Norwegian Railways at www.vy.no looking for a cheap advance-purchase fare.  You print your own ticket.

• Alternatively, overnight in Copenhagen instead...

  You can go Hamburg-Copenhagen in the afternoon of day 1, see the timetable here.  Then travel Copenhagen-Gothenburg-Oslo on day 2, see the timetable here.

  The cheapest way to book is still to use www.bahn.de to book through from Hamburg to Gothenburg, but in this case you'd click Stopover, enter Copenhagen in the via box and (say) 12:00 in the hh:mm box.  It will then give you a cheap Hamburg to Gothenburg ticket with a 12 hour stopover in Copenhagen.  Adjust the times and stopover length to get your desired train times (a little trial & error may be needed!)

• Hamburg to Oslo in a single day, possible 18 June to 21 August 2022...

  From 18 June to 21 August 2022 you can travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen leaving Hamburg Altona at 06:52 arriving Copenhagen 11:33.

  Then travel from Copenhagen to Oslo by train, leaving Copenhagen at 13:27, change at Gothenburg Central, arriving Oslo Sentral at 21:51.

  Book Hamburg to Goteborg Central at www.bahn.de from €56.90.  Book Goteborg Central to Oslo at www.vy.no.

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

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Kiel Hbf in around 1h16 by hourly regional train, fare around €23.  Check times at the German Railways site www.bahn.de. 

  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 at the Direct Ferries website or www.colorline.com.

  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.

Option 3, Hamburg to Oslo using the DFDS overnight cruise ferry from Frederikshavn to Oslo - cheaper than Color Line...

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Frederikshavn by Danish intercity train & onward connections, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 10:53, changing at Fredericia & Lindholm, arriving Frederikshavn at 19:25.

  Fares start at €28.90 in 2nd class or €49.90 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 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 Frederikshavn it's a 1.3 km 16 minute walk from station to ferry terminal, see walking route map.  If you find a good restaurant for dinner, let me know!

• Step 2, sail from Frederikshavn to Oslo by ferry, leaving Frederikshavn ferry terminal at 23:45 & arriving Oslo at 09:15 next day.

  This is a luxurious overnight cruise ferry operated by DFDS Seaways, with restaurants, bars & cosy private cabins.

  Check times, prices & buy tickets at www.dfds.co.uk or using the Direct Ferries website.

  All passengers travel in comfortable private cabins with en suite toilet & shower and satellite TV.  To travel in luxury, treat yourself to DFDS's famous Commodore Class, some suites with private balconies with sea view..  The ship has bars & restaurants for breakfast on board, you can pre-book breakfast with your ticket.  There's also a sauna.  The ships on this route are the Crown Seaways or Pearl Seaways.

  Make sure you're on deck in the morning when the ferry sails up the scenic Oslo Fjord, a stunning way to arrive in Norway.  You'll see coast on either side of the ship from about 06:30 and she enters the narrow part of the fjord by about 07:00.

  Incidentally, from 2021 it's no longer possible to pick this ferry up in Copenhagen where it starts, as it now leaves too early for a robust connection with even the first train of the day from Hamburg.

  At the DFDS ferry terminal, you can check yourself in at the self-service check-in machines just inside the entrance.  You enter your booking reference, scan your passport, and it produces your boarding pass/cabin key.  You then pass through a fairly nominal customs check and walk onto the ferry.

  In Oslo you can walk from the ferry terminal the city centre in 15-20 minutes, or you can take a taxi.  I'd allow at least 90 minutes between the ferry's arrival and any onward train from Oslo Sentral.  See map of Oslo showing ferry terminal.

Commodore Class suite with double bed on board the DFDS superferry to Oslo.  Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com.

Scenery in Oslo Fjord on the voyage to Norway...  Courtesy of Ivor Morgan.

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Hamburg to Helsinki & Finland...

Option 1, Hamburg to Helsinki by direct ferry from Germany - the easiest option...

Finnlines sail from Travemünde in Germany to Helsinki every day, boarding from 22:30 to 24:00 and arriving Helsinki Vuosaari ferry terminal at 09:00 2 nights later.  First, go to the Direct Ferries website or www.finnlines.com or  to check sailing dates, times & to book the ferry.  Then travel as follows:

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Skandinavienkai Terminal, Lübeck like this:

  (a)  Take a local train from Hamburg Hbf to Lübeck Hbf, these run every 30 minutes into the evening, taking 42-43 minutes.

  You can leave Hamburg Hbf as late as 19:30,  but I'd leave around 17:30 and have dinner in Lübeck.  There are plenty of bars & restaurants in Lübeck's old town, I suggest the Schiffergesellschaft restaurant (schiffergesellschaft.de) located in a historic seamans' union building, 21 minutes walk from the station, see walking map.

  (b)  Now take Bus 30 or 31 from Lübeck ZOB bus station to Skandinavienkai Terminal, Lübeck.

  The ZOB bus station is just 100m from Lübeck Hbf.  The bus runs every 30 minutes until late, the journey takes 28-34 minutes.

  Skandinavienkai Terminal, Lübeck is the bus stop right outside the Travemünde ferry terminal building, it's the stop before Travemünde Skandinavienkai Bahnhof, Lübeck, which is a local railway station with a similar name a little further north.

  You can check journey times from Hamburg or Lübeck to Skandinavienkai Terminal, Lübeck at the German Railways website as its database holds the bus times as well as trains, just use this link to bahn.de, or you can find bus information at www.xn--sv-lbeck-95a.de.

  Alternatively, you could a frequent local train from Hamburg Hbf to Lübeck Hbf, then another frequent local train to Travemünde Skandinavienkai Bahnhof, Lübeck from where the ferry terminal building is an 8-minute taxi ride or a 34-minute 2.8 km walk.

• Step 2, sail from Travemünde to Helsinki with Finnlines.

  Get off the bus at the Skandinavienkai Terminal stop and walk into the large modern office block marked HAFENHAUS next to the bus stop, with a green neon Check in sign by the front door.  After check-in, you go downstairs to a large waiting hall, with a bar/cafe open until 10pm, toilets and a large supermarket open until 01:30 selling alcohol and chocolate.

  Check-in normally opens at 21:00 and the ship boards from 22:30 to 24:00, foot passengers are driven onto the car deck in a minibus.  The ship sails at 03:00 arriving at Helsinki Vuosaari ferry terminal outside Helsinki at 09:00 the following day (2 nights from Hamburg).

  The ship is not as glamorous as some other cruise ferries on the Baltic, but it has all the essentials:  Comfortable cabins with private shower & toilet and free internet access (but not WiFi, so bring a network cable), restaurant, shop, bar, sundeck, and (naturally, being Finnish) a sauna.  It's a very civilised way to travel.

• Step 3, transfer from the Vuosaari ferry terminal to central Helsinki.  Helsinki's new Hansa Ferry Terminal in the Vuosaari Harbour is 16 km east of central Helsinki.  There is a bus connection (bus 90B) between Vuosaari harbour and Vuosaari metro station.  Take the metro from Vuosaari into central Helsinki, journey time 25 minutes.  Map of Helsinki showing Vuosaari.

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

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Stockholm by train as shown in the Hamburg to Sweden section above.

• Step 2, travel from Stockholm to Helsinki either by direct overnight cruise ferry, or by daytime or overnight ferry to Turku and connecting train to Helsinki as shown on the Trains & ferries from Stockholm page.

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Hamburg to Prague from €27.90...

• Direct EuroCity trains leave Hamburg Hbf are at 06:48, 08:51, 12:51 & 14:51 every day, taking 6h44 to Prague Hlavni.

  South of Dresden, these trains run along the scenic Elbe River valley, make sure you find a seat on the left hand side of the train for the best river views.  These trains have a waiter-service restaurant car, treat yourself to a meal and some wine or a beer or two.  What's the train ride to Prague like?

• Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €36.90 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 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.

• Stopover in Dresden on the way?

  To build in a few hours stopover in Dresden, go to www.bahn.de, enter Hamburg to Prague, click Stopover, enter Dresden in the via box and the number of hours you want to have in Dresden (max 48 hours) in the hh:mm box.  Then run the enquiry and buy the ticket.  There are left luggage lockers at Dresden Hbf.

Scenery along the Elbe river between Dresden & Prague...

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Hamburg to Bratislava from €46.90...

Option 1, Hamburg to Bratislava by direct train - the leisurely daytime option, until 11 December 2021 & from 1 September 2022...

• A direct EuroCity train called the Hungaria leaves Hamburg Hbf at 06:48, arriving Bratislava Hlavna at 17:50.

  The Hungaria uses Hungarian Railways' latest air-conditioned cars with power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's an all-day train ride on a comfortable & spacious EuroCity train with waiter-service restaurant car and some great scenery along the way along the Elbe River between Dresden and Prague, see photos & video about the Berlin-Dresden-Prague part of this journey.

  Major engineering work south of Prague means this direct train will not run from 12 December 2021 to 31 August 2022.

• Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €56.90 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, but in this case 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.

The EuroCity train Hungaria calls at Berlin Hbf...

1st class.  You can choose to sit in a 1st class open plan (saloon) car like this...  Larger photo.		...or in a 1st class car with side corridor & classic 6-seat compartments like this.  Larger photo.

2nd class.  You can choose to sit in a 2nd class open plan (saloon) car like this...  Larger photo.		...or in a 2nd class car with side corridor & classic 6-seat compartments like this.   Larger photo.

Lunch on the Hungaria.  There are no table reservations, just go along & sit down.  Courtesy of @_DiningCar...		Restaurant car on the Hungaria.  Larger photo.  Photo courtesy of Siddhartha Verma.

Between Dresden & Prague the train runs along the pretty river Elbe, or Labe in Czech.  One of Europe's major rivers, the Elbe eventually flows into the North Sea at Cuxhaven near Hamburg.  Watch for river boats, even the occasional paddle steamer.  See the photos & video of this part of the journey here.

Option 1, Hamburg to Bratislava by daytime trains - the leisurely daytime option from 12 December 2021 to 31 August 2022...

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Vienna by ICE-T, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:03 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 16:45.

  The air-conditioned German ICE-T train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

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

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Bratislava by hourly regional express train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 17:16 and arriving Bratislava Hlavna at 18:23.

• Fares from Hamburg to Bratislava start at €46.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 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.

Step 1, Hamburg to Vienna by ICE train.  This is an ICE-T arrived at Vienna Hbf.  More information about ICE-T trains.  Courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler .

Table for two in 1st class, my favourite configuration.  There are also tables for four in both classes.		Lunch in the restaurant car.  I highly 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...

Step 2, Vienna to Bratislava by regional express train.  More about Vienna-Bratislava trains.

Option 2, Hamburg to Bratislava using the Hamburg-Vienna sleeper...

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Vienna by Austrian Nightjet sleeper train leaving Hamburg at 20:29 arriving Vienna Hbf at 09:19.

  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, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna on the hourly regional express train taking 1h07.

  You can buy a ticket for the Vienna-Bratislava train at the station in Vienna for €10.80, as no reservation is necessary or possible, just buy a ticket and hop on the next train.  You can check times at www.thetrainline.com.

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

Option 3, Hamburg to Bratislava using the Berlin-Bratislava sleeper...

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg Hbf to Berlin Hbf by ICE train, for example leaving Hamburg Hbf at 15:36 arriving Berlin Hbf at 17:22.

  Times vary, you can book any train you like, as long as you arrive in Berlin at least 1 hour before the sleeper to Budapest leaves.  The ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Fares start at €18.90 in 2nd class or €27.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book 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.

• Step 2, travel from Berlin to Bratislava by sleeper train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 18:43 every night & arriving Bratislava Hlavna 05:54 next morning.

  This comfortable EuroNight sleeper train has a Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, 4 & 6 berth couchettes and 2nd class seats.  The sleeper fare includes a light breakfast, served in your compartment.

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

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Hamburg to Budapest from €46.90...

Option 1, Hamburg to Budapest by daytime train - the cheap & leisurely option, until 11 December 2021 & from 1 September 2022...

• A direct EuroCity train called the Hungaria leaves Hamburg Hbf at 06:48 every day, arriving Budapest Nyugati at 20:20.

  The Hungaria uses Hungarian Railways' latest air-conditioned cars with power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's an all-day train ride on a comfortable & spacious EuroCity train with waiter-service restaurant car and some great scenery along the way along the Elbe River between Dresden and Prague, see photos & video about the Berlin-Dresden-Prague part of this journey.

  Major engineering work south of Prague means this direct train will not run from 12 December 2021 to 31 August 2022.

  Alternatively you can also take the 08:51 from Hamburg with one easy change at Prague Hlavni.

• 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.

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket, although in this case 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.

The EuroCity train Hungaria calls at Berlin Hbf...

1st class.  You can choose to sit in a 1st class open plan (saloon) car like this...  Larger photo.		...or in a 1st class car with side corridor & classic 6-seat compartments like this.  Larger photo.

2nd class.  You can choose to sit in a 2nd class open plan (saloon) car like this...  Larger photo.		...or in a 2nd class car with side corridor & classic 6-seat compartments like this.   Larger photo.

Lunch on the Hungaria.  There are no table reservations, just go along & sit down.  Courtesy of @_DiningCar...		Restaurant car on the Hungaria.  Larger photo.  Photo courtesy of Siddhartha Verma.

Between Dresden & Prague the train runs along the pretty river Elbe, or Labe in Czech.  One of Europe's major rivers, the Elbe eventually flows into the North Sea at Cuxhaven near Hamburg.  Watch for river boats, even the occasional paddle steamer.  See the photos & video of this part of the journey here.

Option 1, Hamburg to Budapest by daytime trains - the leisurely daytime option from 12 December 2021 to 31 August 2022...

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Vienna by ICE-T, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:03 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 16:45.

  The air-conditioned German ICE-T train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

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

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest by railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 17:40 and arriving Budapest Keleti at 20:19.

  The railjet has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It also offers business class (= premium first).

• Fares from Hamburg to Budapest start at €46.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 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.

  Tip:  By default, the system suggests you change at Vienna Meidling.  Click Stopover and enter Vienna Hbf, then it'll give you a longer interchange at Vienna Hbf with better facilities.  I've already set up the www.bahn.de link to do this for you.

Step 1, Hamburg to Vienna by ICE train.  This is an ICE-T arrived at Vienna Hbf.  More information about ICE-T trains.  Courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler .

Table for two in 1st class, my favourite configuration.  There are also tables for four in both classes.		Lunch in the restaurant car.  I highly 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...

Step 2, Vienna to Budapest by railjet.  This is a railjet on platform 9 at Budapest's historic Keleti station.  More information about railjets.

Economy (2nd) class...  Larger photo.		First class...  Larger photo.

Option 2, Hamburg to Budapest using the Hamburg-Vienna sleeper - the time-effective option...

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Vienna overnight by Nightjet sleeper train leaving Hamburg Hbf at 20:29 & arriving Vienna Hbf at 09:19.

  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, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

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

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest by EuroCity train leaving Vienna Hbf at 10:42 and arriving Budapest Keleti at 13:19.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com and print your own ticket.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.

Step 2, Vienna to Budapest by EuroCity train.

1st class is usually in 6-seat compartments.  Larger photo.		2nd class, open-plan saloon type, modernised.  Larger photo.

Option 3, Hamburg to Budapest using the Berlin-Budapest sleeper - another time-effective option...

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg Hbf to Berlin Hbf by ICE train, for example leaving Hamburg Hbf at 15:36 arriving Berlin Hbf at 17:22.

  Times vary, you can book any train you like, as long as you arrive in Berlin at least 1 hour before the sleeper to Budapest leaves.  The ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Fares start at €18.90 in 2nd class or €27.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book 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.

• Step 2, travel from Berlin to Budapest by sleeper train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 18:43 every night & arriving Budapest Nyugati 08:20.

  This comfortable EuroNight sleeper train has a Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, 4 & 6 berth couchettes and 2nd class seats.  The sleeper fare includes a light breakfast, served in your compartment.

  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.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a little more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

Option 4, Hamburg to Budapest using the Prague-Budapest sleeper...

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Prague by EuroCity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 12:51 & arriving Prague Hlavni at 19:35.

  The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  By all means catch an earlier train for an evening in Prague, when it's light the line between Dresden and Prague is very scenic, all along the Elbe river valley, see the photos here.  Have dinner in Prague, see suggested restaurant.

  Fares start at €18.90 in 2nd class or €27.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train 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 on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

• Step 2, travel from Prague to Budapest by sleeper train Metropol, leaving Prague Hlavni at 22:34 arriving Budapest Nyugati at 08:20.

  The train has a comfortable air-conditioned sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin.  Morning tea or coffee is included in the fare. There is a couchette car with 4 & 6 bunk compartments.  See more photos & information here.

  Fares start at €39 including a couchette, €49 including a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €69 including a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €80 in a single-bed sleeper.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book the sleeper at the Czech Railways www.cd.cz and print your own ticket.  Booking usually opens 90 days ahead.

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Hamburg to Brasov & Bucharest from €98...

Option 1, Hamburg to Romania via Vienna - the fastest & most comfortable option...

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Vienna by ICE-T high-speed train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:03 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 16:45.

  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.

  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 on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Romania by Dacia Express, leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:42 every day and arriving next day in Simeria 07:36, Sighisoara 10:09, Braşov 13:26, Ploeşti 15:08 & Bucharest Nord at 15:47.

  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 and Budapest, treat yourself to dinner.  A bar-bistro is then attached in the morning between Arad & Bucharest, serving drinks, snacks and breakfast.  There's wonderful almost Alpine scenery through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov and Bucharest, a real treat...

  From 12 December 2021 the Dacia Express will also convey a second portion from Vienna to Bucharest via Timişoara, also leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:42 and arriving Timişoara Nord at 05:52, Craiova 12:42 & Bucharest Nord at 16:05.  This portion has a Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments, and ordinary seats.

  From 12 December 2021 the Dacia Express will convey 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.

  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 ÖBB 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.  It can book seats, couchettes or sleepers.  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, Hamburg to Romania via Budapest...

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 20:29 and arriving in Vienna Hbf at 09:19.

  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, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

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

• Step 2, from Vienna to Budapest by EuroCity train leaving Vienna Hbf at 10:42 & arriving Budapest Keleti at 13:19.

  The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, treat yourself to an early lunch.  Enjoy an afternoon in Budapest.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com and print your own ticket.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.

• Step 3, travel from Budapest to Romania on the sleeper train Ister leaving Budapest Keleti at 19:10 and arriving Brasov at 09:23 & Bucharest Nord at 11:59 next day.

  The Ister has a Romanian air-conditioned sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6-berth compartments.  Take a picnic and bottle of wine as there may not be a bar car until the train gets to Romania.  It's a really scenic journey in the morning, as the train passes through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov & Ploesti, have your camera to hand!

  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 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 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, Hamburg to Romania with overnight stop in Budapest - if you prefer daytime trains & hotel to sleepers...

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg to Budapest in a day, as shown in the Hamburg 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.

  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.

The daytime train from Budapest to Bucharest has modern air-conditioned Romanian carriages.  Three cars travel all the way, additional cars are attached whilst in Hungary, and additional cars and a bar car are attached between Drobeta Turnu Severin & Bucharest.

On the left, the daytime train to Bucharest is about to leave Budapest Keleti...		Comfortable 2nd class seats on the Budapest to Bucharest train.  There are power outlets under the tables.  Larger photo.

A bar car is attached between Drobeta Turnu Severin & Bucharest.  Photos courtesy of @AndyBTravels, DiscoverByRail.com.

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Hamburg to Ljubljana & Zagreb from €39.90...

Option 1, Hamburg to Ljubljana & Zagreb using the Munich-Zagreb sleeper - the most time-effective option...

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Munich by ICE train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 16:01 & arriving Munich Hbf at 21:41.

  Times may vary, you'll need to leave 15:50 on some dates, just make sure you arrive in Munich at least 1 hour before the sleeper train leaves.

  Ideally, leave a bit earlier and allow time for dinner in Munich.  For local 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 €27.90 in 2nd class or €56.90 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.

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Ljubljana & Zagreb by sleeper train, leaving Munich Hbf at 23:20, arriving Ljubljana 06:00 & Zagreb 08:32.

  The sleeper train Lisinski has a modern air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car with comfortable 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin and a modern Croatian air-conditioned couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, see the photos below and 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 (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

2nd class seats.  Larger photo.		Step 1, Hamburg To Munich by ICE...

Restaurant car.  Larger photo.		Bar car.  Larger photo.

Boarding an ICE2...		1st class seats.  Larger photo.

Step 2, Munich to Ljubljana & Zagreb by sleeper train.  Above, the air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car from Munich to Zagreb is boarding on platform 12 at Munich Hbf.  It has 10 compartments with washbasin, each of which can be used as 1, 2 or 3 berth, with toilets at the end of the corridor.  Compartments convert to a private sitting room for evening or morning use.  A light breakfast is included in the sleeper fare.  The Croatian couchette car is the next vehicle to the right, also modern & air-conditioned with 4 & 6 bunk compartments, ideal for families.  Couchettes convert from bunks to seats for evening or morning use.

1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper.		Set up as a single-berth.		4 or 6-berth couchettes. 360º photo.

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

More scenery along the river Sava...

Option 2, Hamburg to Ljubljana & Zagreb in a single scenic day, or with an overnight stop in Munich...

• The can travel from Hamburg to Ljubljana or Zagreb in a day if you leave early.  The scenery through the Austrian alps is superb, as is the scenery along the lovely River Sava between Ljubljana and Zagreb.  Check times online for your date of travel.

• 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.

• 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:  You might want to change Duration of transfer from standard to at least 30 minutes.

• If you'd like to break up the journey with an overnight stop in Munich, simply click Stopover and type in Munich with (say) 11:00 in the hh:mm stopover box.  In Munich, Try the Sofitel Munich Beyerpost, Eden Hotel Wolff, InterCity Hotel or (budget) the Pension Locarno, all these hotels are right next to the station with great reviews.  For dinner in Munich with local Bavarian food and a beer or two I recommend the Augustiner Keller (www.augustinerkeller.de) at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf, see walking map.

An early lunch in the Austrian restaurant car as the Alpine scenery flies by.  The first stage is on a smart Austrian EuroCity train from Munich to Villach...		Through the Austrian Alps...  Clinging to the mountainside high in the Austrian Alps, the train snakes along between snow-capped mountains, absolutely wonderful...

...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...		Comfortable seats:  The 2nd class seats in the Slovenian cars are arranged 2+1 abreast, the same as 1st class!

Option 3, Hamburg to Ljubljana & Zagreb using the Hamburg-Munich sleeper then scenic onward daytime train...

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train leaving Hamburg Hbf at 20:29 and arriving Munich Hbf at 07:11.

  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, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Ljubljana or Zagreb, leaving Munich Hbf at 08:17 by railjet train, make a quick & simple cross-platform change at Villach onto the waiting Slovenian & Croatian EuroCity train Sava, arriving Lesce-Bled on Lake Bled at 13:50, Ljubljana 14:32 & Zagreb 17:12.

  This is a really lovely journey, through the mountains of Austria then along the Sava river between Ljubljana and Zagreb.  The railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  The Sava has no catering car, so bring your own food & drink.

  If you'd like a morning in Munich, there's a later 12:18 EuroCity train direct to Lesce-Bled, Ljubljana and Zagreb.

  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, or you can use www.thetrainline.com to keep all your bookings in one place.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  

Option 4, Hamburg to Ljubljana & Zagreb using the Hamburg-Vienna sleeper, morning in Vienna, EuroCity train to Zagreb.

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 20:29 every evening, arriving Vienna Hbf 09:19.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper 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.

  In Vienna, you've the best part of a day to enjoy the city.  Left luggage lockers are available.

  Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

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

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Zagreb by EuroCity train Croatia, leaving Vienna Hbf at 15:58 and arriving Zagreb at 22:30. 

  For Ljubljana, change at Maribor onto a Slovenian InterCity train, arriving Ljubljana at 22:00.

  The EuroCity train has comfortable air-conditioned Austrian coaches and an Austrian restaurant car.  In summer when it's light, enjoy the wonderful scenery over dinner in the restaurant car, including a ride over the famous UNESCO-listed Semmering Railway south of Vienna, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmering_railway.

  Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €49.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  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 site www.oebb.at (same prices, more fiddly, in €).  Bookings usually open up to 90 days ahead and you print your own ticket.

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Hamburg to Belgrade, Sofia & Montenegro...

Option 1, Hamburg to Belgrade & beyond via Zagreb...

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Munich by ICE train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 16:01 & arriving Munich Hbf at 21:41.

  Times may vary, you'll need to leave 15:50 on some dates, just make sure you arrive in Munich at least 1 hour before the sleeper train leaves.

  Ideally, leave a bit earlier and allow time for dinner in Munich.  For local 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 €27.90 in 2nd class or €56.90 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.

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Zagreb by Croatian sleeper train Lisinski, leaving Munich Hbf at 23:20 & arriving Zagreb 08:32 next morning.

  The Lisinski has a modern air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car with comfortable 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin and a modern Croatian air-conditioned couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, see the photos below and 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 (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same prices).  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 travel 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.

2nd class seats.  Larger photo.		Step 1, Hamburg To Munich by ICE...

Restaurant car.  Larger photo.		Bar car.  Larger photo.

Boarding an ICE2...		1st class seats.  Larger photo.

Step 2, Munich to Zagreb by sleeper train.  Above, the air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car from Munich to Zagreb is boarding on platform 12 at Munich Hbf.  It has 10 compartments with washbasin, each of which can be used as 1, 2 or 3 berth, with toilets at the end of the corridor.  Compartments convert to a private sitting room for evening or morning use.  A light breakfast is included in the sleeper fare.  The Croatian couchette car is the next vehicle to the right, also modern & air-conditioned with 4 & 6 bunk compartments, ideal for families.  Couchettes convert from bunks to seats for evening or morning use.

1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper.		Set up as a single-berth.		4 or 6-berth couchettes. 360º photo.

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

Step 3, Zagreb to Belgrade by Serbian train.  There's no catering, so bring your own food & drink.

Option 2, Hamburg to Sofia via Bucharest - currently the easiest option for Sofia...

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg to Vienna overnight as shown above, using the Hamburg-Vienna Nightjet sleeper train.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same fares).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

• Day 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest by railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 11:40 and arriving Budapest Keleti at 14:19.

  The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  By all means take an earlier train if you'd like more time in Budapest, perhaps for lunch.

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

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same fares).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

• Day 2, travel from Budapest to Bucharest on the sleeper train Muntenia, leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:10 and arriving Bucharest Nord at 08:06.

  The Muntenia has 4 & 6-berth couchettes and ordinary seats.  A Romanian sleeping-car is attached from Timişoara Nord (depart 22:00) to Bucharest.  There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink.

  Fares start at €40 with a couchette in 6-berth or €47 with a couchette in 4-berth.  These are limited-availability advance-purchase fares

  Book this at the Romanian Railways international website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en.  You print your own ticket.

  If you want the comfort & privacy of a proper sleeper from Timisoara to Bucharest, (1) book a 2nd class seat from Budapest to Timisoara from €17 using bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en.  You print your own ticket.  (2) Now book berths in a 1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper from Timisoara Nord to Bucharest Nord at the Romanian domestic website bilete.cfrcalatori.ro and print your own ticket.

• Day 3, travel from Bucharest to Sofia by daytime train as shown on the train from Bucharest page.  You leave Bucharest Nord at 10:55 and arrive Sofia Central at 20:10 after a pleasant day meandering across the Danube and through the river valleys of Bulgaria.  In summer it's direct, in winter you have to switch trains at Ruse.  There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink.

  The fare is around €34.

  Book this at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en.  You print your own ticket.

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Hamburg to Warsaw, Krakow & Poland from €37.90...

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

• The German Railways website www.bahn.de can book tickets from Hamburg to Warsaw using an ICE train with restaurant car & free WiFi from Hamburg Hbf to Berlin Hbf then a comfortable Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity train with restaurant car from Berlin Hbf to Warsaw Centralna.

  Hamburg to Warsaw takes around 7h35, 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, so book ahead.

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking to Poland normally opens 60 days ahead.

  Click Stopover, entering Berlin Hbf and a stopover duration of at least 40 minutes, this gives you more time to change train in case of any delay.  Look for a journey with just 1 change.

  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Option 2, Hamburg to Wroclaw & Krakow in a single day from €37.90...

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Berlin by ICE train with restaurant car & free WiFi, leaving Hamburg Hbf 07:36 & arriving Berlin Hbf 09:22.

  A later departure is possible with a tighter connection in Berlin, but any delay would mean missing the once-a-day train to Krakow, so  I recommend the train shown above.

• Step 2, travel from Berlin to Krakow by EuroCity train Wawel, leaving Berlin Hbf at 10:39 and arriving Wroclaw 14:52 & Krakow Glowny at 17:52.

  The Wawel is comfortable & air-conditioned Polish EuroCity train with restaurant car, treat yourself to lunch and a beer or two.

• Fares from Hamburg to 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.  Booking to Poland normally opens 60 days ahead.

  Click Stopover, enter Berlin Hbf with a stopover duration of 40 minutes.  This gets you the robust connection in Berlin as recommended above.  Look for a journey with just 1 change.

  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

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Hamburg to Vilnius. Riga, Tallinn...

Option 1, Hamburg to Lithuania with overnight stop & morning free in Warsaw...

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg to Warsaw by ICE & EuroCity train in a single day as shown in the Hamburg to Warsaw section above.

  Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €56.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking to Poland normally 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 on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  

• Stay overnight in Warsaw and spend the following morning there.  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.

• Day 2, travel from Warsaw to Kaunas & Vilnius, leaving Warsaw at lunchtime, changing at Bialystok and arriving Kaunas in Lithuania in the evening, with connections to Vilnius, see the Warsaw to Vilnius page for details.  Warsaw-Vilnius costs around €24.

• Day 3, for onward travel from Vilnius to Riga, see here.

• Day 4, for onward travel from Riga to Tallinn, see here.

Option 2, Hamburg to Lithuania with overnight stop in Berlin - faster, Sundays-Fridays only, with a very early start from Berlin...

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg to Berlin by ICE train in the afternoon or early evening.

• Stay overnight in Berlin.  The 3-star InterCity Hotel (my favourite) or Meininger Hotel are right next to Berlin Hbf, a 10-minute walk from the Reichstag or 15 minutes from the Brandenburg Gate, relatively inexpensive with good reviews.  The Steigenberger Hotel is more upmarket, also right next to the station with great reviews.  If you want to push the boat out, the famous & historic Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate.  If you're on a tight budget, the cheaper Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or see www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2, travel from Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity train leaving Berlin Hbf at 05:43 Mondays-Saturdays only arriving Warsaw Centralna at 11:42.

  The Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity train is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with trolley refreshment service and a restaurant car serving drinks, snacks and meals.  Treat yourself to a cooked breakfast the restaurant car.

  Hamburg to Warsaw starts at €37.90 in 2nd class or €56.90 in 1st class.

  Buy tickets from Hamburg to Warsaw at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  To get the overnight stop in Berlin, click Stopover, enter Berlin Hbf and a suitable stopover duration, say 10 hours.  Adjust departure time & stopover duration to get the trains you want either side of Berlin, a little trial & error may be required.

  Tip: You may be able to buy a through ticket from Hamburg to Bialystok covering both the Hamburg-Berlin-Warsaw & Warsaw-Bialystok trains for almost the same price as Hamburg to Warsaw.  In which case, you just need to buy a Bialystok-Kaunas/Vilnius ticket at the station in Warsaw, or on board the train.

• Day 2, travel from Warsaw to Kaunas & Vilnius, leaving Warsaw at lunchtime, changing at Bialystok and arriving Kaunas in Lithuania in the evening, with connections to Vilnius, see the Warsaw to Vilnius page for details.  Warsaw-Vilnius costs around €24.

• Day 3, for onward travel from Vilnius to Riga in Latvia, see here.

• Day 4, for onward travel from Riga to Tallinn in Estonia, see here.

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Hamburg to Kiev & Ukraine...

Option 1, Hamburg to Kiev using the Warsaw-Kiev sleeper...

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg to Warsaw in a day, as shown in the Hamburg to Warsaw section above,

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

  Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking 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 on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  

• Stay overnight in Warsaw and explore Warsaw next day.  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.

• Alternatively, catch an early evening train to Berlin & stay overnight, then take the 09:38 EuroCity train to Warsaw Centralna next morning.

• Day 2, travel from Warsaw to Kiev on the Kiev Express, leaving Warsaw Wschodnia at 17:48 & arriving Kiev at 11:00 next day (day 3).

  The Kiev Express has comfortable Ukrainian sleeping-cars with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments 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 Kiev as they have close contacts with Ukrainian Railways.

• Step 3, to book onward trains within Ukraine from Kiev to Odessa or the Crimea, see the Ukraine page.

A Ukrainian sleeping-car on the Kiev Express at Warsaw Centralna.  Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com.

1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper...		Washbasin...		Kiev Express...

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Hamburg to Moscow, St Petersburg & Russia...

Option 1, Hamburg to Moscow using the daily Warsaw-Moscow sleeper...

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg to Warsaw as shown above. 

• Stay overnight in Warsaw.  If your budget will stretch, the Polonia Palace Hotel is just across the road from both the Palace of Culture skyscraper and Warsaw Centralna station, and 25 minutes walk from Warsaw's old town. Opened in 1913, it was one of the few hotels to emerge unscathed from WW2, and has been used by many famous people including General (later President) Eisenhower and General de Gaulle.

• 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 Hamburg).  You can check times at the Russian Railways website www.rzd.ru.

  The train is suspended due to Covid-19...

  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 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.

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

Option 2, Hamburg to Moscow using the new Berlin-Moscow Strizh (Swift) Talgo sleeper train, twice a week...

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Berlin, the 14:36 from Hamburg Hbf arrives Berlin Hbf at 16:19, but by all means take an earlier train.

  Fares start at €18.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fare, so book ahead.

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

• Step 2, travel from Berlin to Moscow by Russian sleeper train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 20:08 on Mondays & Saturdays, arriving at Moscow Belorussky station at 21:24 next day.

  The train is suspended due to Covid-19...

  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.  See photo of 2-berth sleeper on this train.

  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, Hamburg to Moscow via Kiev - avoiding Belarus...

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Warsaw, then take the Kiev Express to Kiev, as shown in the Hamburg to Kiev section.

• Step 2, take an overnight sleeper train from Kiev to Moscow.

  There are several night trains, but there's usually one leaving Kiev at 19:36 and arriving in Moscow Kievskaya station next morning at 10:13 (day 3 from Berlin).  2-berth & 4-berth sleepers are available.  No problems have been reported by westerners travelling from Kiev to Moscow on these trains.

  These trains are suspended due to Covid-19...

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Hamburg to Athens, Corfu & Greece...

Option 1, Hamburg to Athens by train & ferry via Italy - the leisurely option with an Adriatic cruise thrown in...

• 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.

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg Hbf to Verona Porta Nuova in a single chill-out day with a restaurant car for lunch & dinner.

  I'd leave around 06:30, have at least an hour between trains in Munich just in case of delay, then arrive Verona around 18:58, but there are later or earlier options.

  Fares start at from €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 www.bahn.de - you can use the adjust transfer time feature to increase the time between trains in Munich if you like.

• 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.

• 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 afterwards) or www.trenitalia.com.  Booking normally opens 120 days ahead.  It's ticketless, you just quote the reference on the train.

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

• Day 2, sail from Bari to Patras with Superfast Ferries.  The ferry sails normally daily except Sundays at 19:30 arriving Patras at 13:00 the next day (day 3).  On Sundays the ship sails at 13:30, too early to make connections from Verona.

  Check ferry times, dates, prices & buy tickets using the Direct Ferries website or at www.superfast.com or www.ferriesingreece.com. 

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

  In Patras, the ferry arrives at the new South ferry terminal a few km from the town centre.  Bus number 18 links the port with the town bus station every hour on the hour, fare €1.20 or you can hop in a taxi for around €7, journey time 15-20 minutes.

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

Option 2, Hamburg to Athens overland by train via Munich & Belgrade - a rail adventure across the Balkans...

• You can also travel overland by train from Hamburg to Athens via Belgrade & Thessaloniki.  It'll take 3 or 4 nights, with the romance and adventure of an epic train ride through the Balkans.  Unfortunately, the Belgrade-Greece train now only operates June-September.

• Travel from Hamburg to Budapest as shown above.

• In Budapest you pick up the London-Budapest-Belgrade-Thessaloniki-Athens route explained in detail on the London to Greece page.

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Hamburg to Istanbul & Turkey...

• Take the Nightjet sleeper train leaving Hamburg Hbf at 20:29 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 09:19.  Buy tickets for this train at the www.thetrainline.com.

• From Vienna you can pick up the London-Bucharest-Istanbul route shown on the London to Turkey page.

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Hotels in Hamburg & other cities

Other hotel sites worth trying...

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

Backpacker hostels...

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

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Travel insurance & VPN

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 myself.  Here are some suggested insurers.  Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.

In the UK, reliable insurers include Columbus Direct.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over 65, see www.JustTravelCover.com - 10% discount with code seat61.

You can use Confused.com to compare prices & policies from many different insurers.

  If you live in the USA try Travel Guard USA.

A Curve card saves on foreign transaction fees...

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then charge you a currency conversion fee.  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 balance goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.

How it works:  1. Download the app for iPhone or Android.  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to most European addresses including the UK.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, just like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance onto whichever of your debit or credit cards you choose.  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 - I get some commission if you sign up to Curve, but I'm recommending it here because it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card - they'll give you £5 cashback through that link, too.

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  VPNs & why you need one explained...

When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure.  A VPN means your connection to the internet is encrypted & always secure, even using unsecured WiFi.  In countries such as China where access to Twitter & Facebook is restricted, a VPN gets around these restrictions.  And lastly, you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geographic restrictions which some websites apply - for example one booking site charges a booking fee to non-European visitors but none to European visitors, so if you're not located in Europe you can avoid this fee by browsing with a UK IP address using a VPN.  VPNs & why you need one explained.  ExpressVPN is a best buy and I use it 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, and I get a small commission to help support this site.

 

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