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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.

• 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 en.oui.sncf (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 en.oui.sncf (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.

Option 3, 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 en.oui.sncf (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.

Hamburg to Brussels & Bruges from €39.90...

• Option 1, German Railways sells through tickets from Hamburg to Brussels or anywhere in Belgium.  For example,

  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 ICE3 at Brussels Midi platform 5...		ICE3 2nd class seats.  Larger photo.

ICE3 1st class, with leather seats.  Larger photo.		ICE3 bistro.  See current month's menu.

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Hamburg to Amsterdam from €39.90...

• 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 Cologne Hbf onto an ICE train arriving Amsterdam Centraal 11:28.

  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 17:00.

  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 Add intermediate stops 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 Nightjet sleeper train - the time-effective 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.

• 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 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...

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

Option 2, Hamburg to Switzerland by high-speed ICE train in a single chill-out day...

• 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 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...

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Hamburg to Venice from €60...

Option 1, Hamburg to Munich by ICE train, then Nightjet sleeper train to Venice - 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 22:03 (21:41 some dates).

  The ICE has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, put your feet up and 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.  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.

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.

Option 2, Hamburg to Innsbruck by Nightjet sleeper train, then scenic daytime train to Venice - great scenery & a 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 Austrian 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.

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 on the Nightjet train...

Step 2, Innsbruck to Verona, Bologna or Venice by Austrian EuroCity train.  This is the restaurant car on a EuroCity from Innsbruck arrived at Verona.  You don't need to book a table, just go along and sit down.  Dining on the move as the scenery glides by is one of the pleasures of travelling on trains like this...

Second class seats, mostly in 6-seat compartments with side-corridor like this, but some cars are open-plan saloons...				First class leather seats.  On a few trains you'll find 6-seat compartments too....

Mountains on the Brenner route...

Vineyards, mountains and castles south of Brenner as the train heads for Trento & Verona...

Watch out for hilltop fortresses...  See the Brenner Pass scenery video here.

Option 3, by daytime trains via the Brenner Pass with an 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 00:09 (23:40 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 Austrian 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 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, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• 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 Add intermediate stops 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.

The restaurant car on a EuroCity from Munich, arrived at Verona.  You don't need to book a table, just go along and sit down.  Dining on the move as the scenery glides by is one of the pleasures of travelling on trains like this.  More photos & information about these Austrian EuroCity trains.

Second class seats, mostly in 6-seat compartments with side-corridor like this, but some cars are open-plan saloons...				First class leather seats.  On a few trains you'll find 6-seat compartments too....

Mountains on the Brenner route...

Vineyards, mountains and castles south of Brenner as the train heads for Trento & Verona...

Watch out for hilltop fortresses...  See the Brenner Pass scenery video here.

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

Option 1, Hamburg to Munich by ICE train then Nightjet sleeper train 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.

  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 05:20, Florence SMN at 06:19 and Rome Termini at 09:22.  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.

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.

• 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.  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.

• 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 Add intermediate stops, 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!

ETR610 train as now used on all Switzerland-Milan EuroCity trains.  More information about ETR610 trains.		2nd class seats on the stylish ETR610 EuroCity train...

The restaurant car on an ETR610...		Dinner in the diner, northbound...

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

Option 3, by Nightjet sleeper train to Innsbruck 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 on the Nightjet train...

Step 2, Innsbruck to Bologna by Austrian EuroCity train.  This is the restaurant car on a EuroCity from Innsbruck arrived at Verona.  You don't need to book a table, just go along and sit down.  Dining on the move as the scenery glides by is one of the pleasures of travelling on trains like this...

Second class seats, mostly in 6-seat compartments with side-corridor like this, but some cars are open-plan saloons...				First class leather seats.  On a few trains you'll find 6-seat compartments too....

Mountains on the Brenner route...

Vineyards, mountains and castles south of Brenner as the train heads for Trento & Verona...

Watch out for hilltop fortresses...  See the Brenner Pass scenery video here.

Option 4, by daytime trains 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 00:09 (23:40 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 here.  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.

• 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 Add intermediate stops, 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, I recommend allowing at least 45 minutes to change in Verona in case of delay.  Italian high-speed trains normally open for booking 120 days ahead.

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

• 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 16:53.

  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 en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly, no fee).  Booking normally opens 120 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your smartphone.  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, the 07:14 summer-only TGV from Paris connects nicely with the 15:50 AVE from Barcelona to Malaga, Cordoba & Seville, arriving in the evening, but if you take the 10:14 from Paris 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.

Hamburg to Lisbon, Porto & Portugal...

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg Hbf to Paris Gare du Nord or Paris Gare de l'Est and stay in Paris overnight.  Book a Hamburg-Paris ticket at German Railways www.bahn.de from €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  How to change stations in Paris.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Hendaye on the Spanish border by TGV Duplex Océane, leaving Paris Montparnasse at 12:52 arriving Hendaye 17:36.

  The 320 km/h (199 mph) TGV Duplex Océane has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

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

  Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly, no fee).  You print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your smartphone.

• Step 3, travel from Hendaye to Lisbon by Sud Express sleeper train leaving Hendaye at 18:35, arriving Lisbon Oriente at 07:20 and Lisbon Santa Apolonia at 07:30 next morning. 

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

  Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.  Booking for this train usually only opens 60 days ahead, sometimes less than this, although sometimes more, so check online, but be aware that this is usually the limiting factor.  You print your own ticket.

• For Porto, alight from the Sud Express at Coimbra B, Entroncamento or indeed Lisbon and take a train north to Porto, book this at the Portuguese Railways website www.cp.pt, which is the only site that can book Portuguese trains.  Fares from €15.

• For the Algarve, change at Lisbon Oriente for an InterCity train to Faro, book this at the Portuguese Railways website www.cp.pt.

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

The trainhotel's café-bar serves drinks & food.  Grab a barstool early, it gets crowded later on!		4-berth tourist class sleepers (Turista Cama) are cosy & inexpensive.  They convert from beds to seats as shown.  See 360º photo of 4-berth tourist sleeper.

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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, take the Intercité de Nuit couchette train leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 22:12 and arriving l'Hospitalet pres l'Andorre at 08:46.

  This train has 1st class 4-berth couchettes, 2nd class 6-berth couchettes & reclining seats.  Fares start at €35 including a couchette.

  Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or en.oui.sncf (more fiddly, in €, no fee).  You print your own ticket or can choose a mobile ticket.

• Step 3, take a taxi or taxi+bus from l'Hospitalet station to Andorra La Vella as explained on the London to Andorra page - just disregard the London-Paris part.

• Alternatively, you can travel from Paris to Toulouse on the same night train, leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 22:12 and arriving Toulouse Matabiau at 06:00.  Have breakfast in Toulouse (I can recommend the breakfast buffet at the Pullman Hotel around the corner from the station), then take a bus to Andorra la Vella.  A bus run by Andbus (www.andorrabybus.com) leaves from outside Toulouse Matabiau station (bus stand 15) at 11:00, arriving Andorra la Vella bus station at 15:00. This is also explained in more detail on the London to Andorra page.

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

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

Option 1, by daytime train...

• A direct ICE train leaves Hamburg Hbf at 08:03 every day, arriving Vienna Hbf at 16:45.

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

  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.

An ICE-T at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf.  One of these superb ICE-T trains runs direct from Hamburg to Vienna every day...

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

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

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

Option 2, by Nightjet sleeper train...

• A Nightjet sleeper train leaves Hamburg Hbf at 20:29 every night, arriving Vienna Hbf 09:19.  A separate portion arrives Innsbruck Hbf 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 €, more fiddly, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

A comfortline sleeping-car on a Nightjet sleeper train, arrived at Vienna Hbf.  More information about Nightjet trains.

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

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

Hamburg to Copenhagen & Denmark from €27.90...

• Comfortable Danish IC3 intercity train link Hamburg with Copenhagen, with departures from Hamburg Hbf at 08:55, 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.

• 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.

Step 2, Hamburg to Copenhagen by Danish IC3...  This is the late afternoon Hamburg-Copenhagen IC3 leaving platform 5 at Hamburg Hbf on a busy summer day.  The yellow stripe above the windows indicates first class, located at one end of both 3-car units.  More information about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.

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

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

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

Option 1, by year-round regular trains...

• You can travel from Hamburg to Stockholm by train in a single day from €56.90 upwards with one easy change in Copenhagen.  Just go to www.bahn.de and book from Hamburg to Stockholm as one transaction.  Look for an option with just 1 change.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

• Leave Hamburg Hbf at 08:55 by Danish IC3 intercity train, change at Copenhagen onto an X2000 and arrive Stockholm Central at 19:36.

• Stopover in Copenhagen?

  You can arrange a stopover in Copenhagen for up to 48 hours at the same price, simply by clicking Add intermediate stops 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).

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

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

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

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

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

Option 2, Hamburg to Malmo & Stockholm by Berlin Night Express, twice a week March-October, daily in high summer...

• Private operator www.snalltaget.se has run a sleeper train between Berlin and Malmö twice a week in summer in previous years, and in 2021 it is being expanded to run direct from Berlin & Hamburg to Malmo & Stockholm, and for a longer operating period, too

  The Berlin Night Express runs on Wednesdays & Saturdays from 8 May to 2 October 2021, and every day 11 June to 5 September 2021.

  It will leave Berlin Hbf at 19:02, Hamburg Hbf at 23:26 and arrive Malmo at 07:40 & Stockholm at 14:20.

  The train has ordinary seats, reclining seats, and 6-berth couchettes.  A fixed price is charged for a whole couchette compartment for private occupancy, the same price for 1 person or any number of people up to 6, unlike normal overnight trains berths are not sold individually.

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

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

The Berlin Night Express about to leave Berlin Hbf, see www.snalltaget.se.  Courtesy of Stephen Barker...

The Berlin Night Express after being shunted aboard the Sassnitz-Trelleborg ferry above left and a 4 or 6 berth couchette compartment, above right.  From 2021 onwards it will no longer go via the ferry.  Photos courtesy of Stephen Barker.

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Hamburg to Oslo & Norway...

Option 1, by train all the way...

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg to Gothenburg (= Göteborg Central), booked as one transaction from €59.90 in 2nd class at German Railways www.bahn.de.  The best journey involves one change in Copenhagen.  Stay overnight in Gothenburg.

• Day 2, take a train from Gothenburg (Göteborg Central) to Oslo.  The cheapest way to book this is with Norwegian Railways at www.vy.no looking for a cheap minipris fare.

• Alternatively, you can go Hamburg-Copenhagen in the afternoon or evening of day 1, then Copenhagen-Gothenburg-Oslo on day 2.  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 Add intermediate stops, 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.

Option 2, Hamburg to Oslo via the Kiel-Oslo Color Line cruise ferry - the most comfortable 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.

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

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

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

Wake up to this....

Option 3, by train to Copenhagen then DFDS overnight cruise ferry from Copenhagen to Oslo...

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by Danish IC3 intercity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:55 & arriving Copenhagen at 13:33.

  Fares start at €27.90 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.

• Step 2, sail from Copenhagen to Oslo overnight by luxurious cruise ferry with DFDS Seaways, leaving Copenhagen's International Ferry Terminal in Dampfærgevej at 16:30 and arriving Oslo at 09:45 next day.

  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 dinner & breakfast on board, you can pre-book dinner & 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 07:00 and she enters the narrow part of the fjord by about 07:30.

  In Copenhagen the ferry terminal is about 4 km (3 miles) from Copenhagen main station, see map of Copenhagen showing DFDS ferry terminal, Taxis are available or you can take an 8-minute suburban train ride from Copenhagen main station to Nordhavn station from where it's a 10-minute 750m walk to the ferry terminal, easy enough even with luggage.  There's also a DFDS shuttle bus from Norreport station, see www.dfds.co.uk.

  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.

The huge DFDS luxury overnight cruise ferry Crown Seaways berthed at Oslo...  Courtesy of Ivor Morgan.

The ferry is a floating hotel, with cabins, suites, restaurants, bars and entertainment.  The Pearl Seaways even features an outdoor jacuzzi but reportedly her sister ship Crown Seaways lacks this.  Courtesy of Andrew Leo.		1, 2, 3 or 4 berth standard cabin on the Crown Seaways with shower & toilet and satellite TV.  Larger photo.  Courtesy of Ivor Morgan.

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Hamburg to Helsinki & Finland...

Option 1, by direct ferry from Germany to Helsinki - 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 Lübeck Travemünde Skandinavienkai Terminal.

  Take a local train from Hamburg Hbf to Lübeck, these run every 30 minutes during the day, hourly in the evening, journey time 42-43 minutes.

  At Lübeck, leave the station and follow the signs to the ZOB bus station.  Lübeck is a good place for dinner with plenty of bars & restaurants in the old town 5 minutes walk from the bus station.

  Now take a bus from Lübeck bus station to Travemünde Skandinavienkai Terminal (this is not the same stop as Travemünde Skandinavienkai), the bus ride takes 28 minutes, the last bus goes around 21:00.

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

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

  At the terminal, walk into the unassuming building next to the bus stop for check in.  You're looking for a large building marked HafenHaus and 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 may not be quite 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.

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

Option 2, travel to Stockholm and take a ferry from there...

• 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 6h45 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 Add intermediate stops, 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.

Hamburg to Prague by EuroCity train, seen here calling at Berlin Hbf...

2nd class seats in classic compartments...		1st class seats in an open-plan car...

So civilised!  A meal in the Czech restaurant car as the Berlin-Prague express snakes along the beautiful Elbe river south of Dresden.  Most Berlin-Prague trains use Czech carriages like this, a few use Hungarian air-conditioned carriages.  See more photos, tips & info for the Berlin to Prague train ride.  Photo courtesy of Philip Dyer-Perry.

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Hamburg to Bratislava from €39.90...

Option 1, by direct daytime train.,..

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

  If you like you can check the train formation & see what the carriages are like at www.vagonweb.cz - Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Czechia and click EC then look for the Hungaria.

• Fares start at €39.90 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, 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.

Option 2, by sleeper train via Vienna...

• 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, take the hourly regional express train from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna taking 1h07.  You can buy a ticket for the Vienna-Bratislava train at the station in Vienna for €11.20, 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.

Hamburg to Budapest from €39.90...

Option 1, Hamburg to Budapest by daytime train - the cheap & leisurely option...

• 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.

  If you like you can check the train formation & see what the carriages are like at www.vagonweb.cz - Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Czechia and click EC then look for the Hungaria.

  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 Berlin-Budapest Hungaria with the latest air-conditioned Hungarian cars.  Photos courtesy of Siddhartha Verma.

2nd class seats on the Hungaria...		Restaurant car on the Hungaria...

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.

A comfortline sleeping-car on a Nightjet sleeper train.  More information about Nightjet trains.

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

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

Option 3, using the Berlin-Budapest sleeper train Metropol...

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg Hbf to Berlin Hbf, for example on an ICE train leaving Hamburg Hbf at 15:36 arriving Berlin Hbf at 17:26.

  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.  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, a comfortable air-conditioned EuroNight sleeper train called the Metropol leaves Berlin Hbf at 18:43 every night and arrives Budapest Keleti at 08:35 next morning.

  The train has a sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, 4 & 6 berth couchettes and 2nd class seats.  A light breakfast is included in the fare in sleepers.  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.

  Although operated by Hungarian Railways (MAV), for this train MAV hire in the sleeping-car & couchette car from the Slovakians, see photos of the sleeping-car here & photos of the couchette car here.  The sleeping-car If you like, you can see the formation of this train at www.vagonweb.cz - Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Hungary, click EN then select the Metropol.

A 2-bed double sleeper (above left) in the air-conditioned Slovakian sleeping-car on the Metropol from Berlin to Budapest.  Above right, a morning view of the Berlin-Budapest couchette car (nearest the camera) and sleeping-car in the morning light, en route to Budapest... Each sleeper compartment is fitted with 3 beds so can be sold as a single, double or triple.  Sleeper compartments convert to comfortable private sitting room for evening use.  A light breakfast is included in the fare.  See larger photo.  See more photos of this type of sleeping-car. Photos courtesy Helmut Uttenthaler.

Option 4, using the Prague-Budapest sleeper train...

• Step 1, take a EuroCity train from Hamburg to Prague with restaurant car, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 12:51 and arriving Prague Hlavni at 19:36.

  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.  Book this train at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or smartphone.  Have dinner in Prague, see suggested restaurant.

• Step 2, from Prague to Budapest by sleeper train Metropol, leaving Prague Hlavni at 21:56 and arriving Budapest Keleti at 08:35 next morning.

  The train has a modern air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, plus three deluxe 1,2 or 3 bed compartments with en suite toilet & shower.  There's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers, and morning tea or coffee is included in the fare. There is a couchette car with 4 & 6 bunk compartments.  See more photos & information here.

  Book at Czech Railways www.cd.cz and print your own ticket.

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Hamburg to Brasov & Bucharest from €98...

Option 1, 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 & 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 Vienna to Romania on the Dacia Express, leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:42 every day and arriving Sighisoara 10:34, Brasov 13:35 & Bucharest Gara de Nord at 16:04.

  It 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...

  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 normally opens 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.

The Dacia Express couchette car at Vienna Hbf.  Always book a couchette not just a seat.  Couchettes convert from seats by day to bunks at night.		4 or 6-berth couchettes.  Larger photo.

A 1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper with washbasin.  Larger photo.		The Dacia Express arrived at Sighisoara.  Sleepers convert from beds to private sitting rooms for day use.   Courtesy of Philip Dyer-Perry.

Enjoy breakfast in the bar-bistro eastbound, or an evening beer westbound, as a bar-bistro is attached in Romania to both the Ister & Dacia Express.  Bar-bistro photos courtesy of Philip Dyer-Perry.

Option 2, 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 and arriving Budapest Keleti at 13:19.  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.

• Step 3, travel from Budapest to Romania on the sleeper train Ister leaving Budapest Keleti at 19:10 and arriving Brasov at 09:54 & Bucharest Nord at 12:33 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!

  Tip:  You can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Hungary, click IC and look for Ister.

  Fares start at €39 with a couchette in 6-berth, €46 with a couchette in 4-berth, €69 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €84 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €162 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.  All prices per person per berth.

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

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

Hamburg to Ljubljana & Zagreb from €39.90...

Option 1, by scenic daytime train in a single 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.

• Check times & 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.  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 Add intermediate stops 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.

  Important:  Engineering work affecting the Munich-Ljubljana-Zagreb route until at least 31 July 2021...  Major engineering work has closed the Karawanks Tunnel between Austria & Slovenia until at least 31 July 2021, and normal train service is suspended.  To find alternatives, run a Munich-Ljubljana or Munich-Zagreb enquiry at the German Railways site www.bahn.de.  You'll find Munich-Ljubljana services with 1 change at Villach onto a rail replacement bus.  You'll find Munich-Zagreb journeys by train via the alternative Maribor route with 1 or 2 changes.

Option 2, by Hamburg-Munich sleeper train then scenic daytime train from Munich to Ljubljana & Zagreb...

• 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 air-conditioned Austrian railjet train, there's a quick & simple cross-platform change at Villach onto a waiting Slovenian & Croatian EuroCity train Sava, arriving Lesce-Bled on Lake Bled at 13:50, Ljubljana at 14:32 and Zagreb at 17:12.

  This is a really lovely journey, through the mountains of Austria then along the Sava river between Ljubljana and Zagreb.  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 www.bahn.de (use this special link) and print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or smartphone.

  Important:  Engineering work affecting the Munich-Ljubljana-Zagreb route until at least 31 July 2021...  Major engineering work has closed the Karawanks Tunnel between Austria & Slovenia until at least 31 July 2021, and normal train service is suspended.  To find alternatives, run a Munich-Ljubljana or Munich-Zagreb enquiry at the German Railways site www.bahn.de.  You'll find Munich-Ljubljana services with 1 change at Villach onto a rail replacement bus.  You'll find Munich-Zagreb journeys by train via the alternative Maribor route with 1 or 2 changes.

Option 3, using the Munich-Zagreb sleeper train - the most time-effective option...

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Munich by ICE train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 16:01 and arriving Munich Hbf at 22:03 (21:41 on some dates).

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

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

  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.

  Important:  Munich-Ljubljana-Zagreb sleeper train cancelled until at least 31 July 2021...  Major engineering work has closed the Karawanks Tunnel between Austria & Slovenia until at least 31 July 2021, and the Munich-Zagreb sleeper train is temporarily cancelled.  Please use another option until this work is completed and the Munich-Zagreb sleeper train resumes.

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 4, using the Hamburg-Vienna nightjet sleeper train, morning in Vienna, EuroCity train to Zagreb. 

This avoids the Karawanks Tunnel engineering work!  It's a slower option, if only because of the morning at leisure in Vienna, but it's straightforward & comfortable.

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Vienna by Nightjet, 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 22:28. 

  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...

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Munich by ICE train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 16:01 and arriving Munich Hbf 22:03 (21:41 some dates)

  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.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

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

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Zagreb by Croatian sleeper train Lisinski, leaving Munich Hbf at 23:20 and arriving Zagreb 08:35 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.  Until 31 July 2021 it leaves Zagreb at 13:04 arriving Novi Beograd 20:17 & Belgrade Centar at 20:25.  From 1 August 2021 it leaves Zagreb at 11:04 arriving Novi Beograd 18:04 & Belgrade Centar at 18:12.

  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.

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

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

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

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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.

• Check times & buy tickets at www.bahn.de, booking to Poland normally opens 60 days ahead.  It's a good idea to click Add intermediate stops, 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 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 07:38 & arriving Berlin Hbf 09:22.

  Note that 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 10:37 and arriving Krakow Glowny at 17:39.

  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.  Look for a journey with just 1 change.  Tip:  Click Add intermediate stops, enter Berlin Hbf with a stopover duration of 40 minutes.  This gets you the robust connection in Berlin as recommended above.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

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

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

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

Option 2, Hamburg to Krakow using the Berlin-Krakow sleeping-car - why not spend a few hours in Berlin?

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Berlin by ICE train with restaurant car.

  Trains leave every hour or so, you can leave Hamburg Hbf at 15:36 and arriving Berlin Hbf 17:26, but by all means book an earlier train to have more time in Berlin, there are left luggage lockers available and Berlin Hbf is just 10-15 min walk from the Reichstag & Brandenburg Gate, so even a few hours stopover is a worthwhile experience.

  Fares start at €18.90 in 2nd class or €49.90 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.

• Step 2, travel from Berlin to Krakow by sleeper, leaving Berlin Hbf at 18:43 arriving Krakow Glowny at 03:47 & Rzeszow Glowny at 06:39.

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

  The Berlin-Krakow-Rzeszow-Przemysl sleeper train has a safe & comfortable Polish sleeping-car bound for Przemysl, with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin.  There are also two seats cars, but no couchettes and no restaurant car, so bring a picnic & bottle of wine.

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

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

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

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

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Hamburg to Vilnius. Riga, Tallinn...

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Hamburg to Kiev & Ukraine...

• Step 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.

• 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 09:37 EuroCity train to Warsaw Centralna next morning.

• Step 2, travel from Warsaw to Kiev on the Kiev Express, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 18:20 and arriving Kiev at 11:00 next day.

  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.

Boarding in Warsaw...		1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper...		...with washbasin.

Hamburg to Moscow, St Petersburg & Russia...

Option 1, 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.

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

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Berlin from €18.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.  For example, the 14:36 from Hamburg Hbf arrives Berlin Hbf at 16:19, but by all means take an earlier train.  Book this at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.

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

  This train 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.

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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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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 Australia, New Zealand, Ireland or the EU, try Columbus Direct's other websites.

  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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