A German ICE train...

This page explains how to travel by train from Hamburg to other key European cities, and how to buy tickets the cheapest way.  Information current for 2023.

Before you buy your tickets

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

European train travel FAQ

Hamburg to other German towns & cities...

• www.bahn.de will book trains from Hamburg to anywhere in Germany.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, except when the mid-December timetable change gets in the way.  More information about when train booking opens.

  With just a handful of exceptions, German domestic trains are never reservation compulsory so you can always just turn up, buy a ticket and get on the next train without a reservation - although you will usually have to pay the more expensive Flexpreis on the day of travel.

  However, if you pre-book there are cheap advance-purchase Sparpreis (savings) fares for €19.90, €29.90, €39.90 etc. for long-distance journeys, so buy in advance if you want to save money.

  A seat reservation is usually optional for a small extra charge, around €4.50 per seat, usually free if you're buying a 1st class ticket - if you don't want one you can sit in any unreserved seat.  You can choose your seat from a seating plan when booking a German IC or ICE train.

  You print your own tickets (on A4 paper but U.S. Letter size is fine) or you can show it on your laptop or phone.  Tickets can also be sent to any address worldwide for a small fee.

  I recommend registering when prompted, rather than booking as a guest, so you can always log in and check or re-print all your bookings.

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

  There's a time-effective Nightjet sleeper train between Hamburg & Munich, leaving Hamburg Hbf 20:29, arriving Munich Hbf 07:09, with sleeping-car & couchettes.  Book this at either www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same prices).

• Hamburg-Cologne lo-cost trains...

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

• See the train travel in Germany page for a beginner's guide to train travel in Germany, including how to buy tickets online or by phone and an explanation of the Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket and Lander tickets.

Hamburg to London & UK...

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

Hamburg to Dublin & Ireland...

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

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

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

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg to Paris by high-speed train on any departure you like, as shown below.

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

  Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend changing Duration of transfer from standard to at least 30 minutes.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

• Stay overnight in Paris, see hotels near the stations.

• Day 2, travel from Paris to Dublin by train & ferry, taking a morning train from Paris St Lazare to Cherbourg & an overnight ferry to Dublin as shown in the Paris to Dublin section, arriving in the morning on Day 3.

  Irish Ferries sails Cherbourg-Dublin several times a week.  Start by booking the ferry at www.irishferries.com and add a train connection using www.thetrainline.com, see the Paris to Dublin section for full details.

Sail from Cherbourg to Dublin aboard Irish Ferries' WB Yeats.  WB Yeats photos courtesy of Irish Ferries.

Club cabin on the WB Yeats with shower & toilet.		Deluxe cabin on the WB Yeats with shower & toilet...

Hamburg to Paris from €39.90...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  ICE trains have a restaurant car, TGV Duplex have a cafe-bar, both have power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  They travel at up to 320 km/h (199 mph) on the TGV-Est high-speed line to Paris.  On the TGV I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number >60 is upper deck.

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

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

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

• Tip:  I recommend travelling from Hamburg via Karlsruhe or Mannheim to Paris Gare de l'Est, as shown above.  This way you'll get a through ticket with protected connections and it's usually cheaper.  It's also possible to travel Hamburg to Cologne with German Railways then Cologne to Paris Gare du Nord with Thalys, but this involves two separate tickets which usually makes it more expensive and you won't get fully-protected connections as with a through ticket.  Specifying Paris Est as your destination removes journeys involving Thalys from cluttering up the search results.

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

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg to Cologne, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 18:45 and arriving Cologne Hbf at 22:50. 

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

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

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Cologne to Paris by high-speed Thalys train leaving Cologne Hbf at 06:44 arriving Paris Gare du Nord 10:05.

  Or have a leisurely breakfast and take the 08:44 Thalys arriving Paris Gare du Nord 12:05.

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

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

  Book this at www.thalys.com or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com.  Booking normally opens 4 months ahead.  You print your own tickets or can select a mobile ticket to show on your phone.

Option 3, Hamburg to Paris using a Nightjet sleeper train, the most time-effective option...

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Karlsruhe by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 22:07 and arriving Karlsruhe Hbf at 06:02.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Step 1, Hamburg to Karlsruhe by Nightjet.  More information about Nightjets. Courtesy of DiscoverbyRail.com.

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

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

Step 2, Karlsruhe to Paris by TGV Duplex. More information about TGV Duplex.

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

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Hamburg to Strasbourg...

Option 1, Hamburg to Strasbourg by daytime trains...

• 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, so book ahead.

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

Option 2, Hamburg to Strasbourg by sleeper...

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Offenburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 22:07 and arriving Offenburg at 06:37.

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

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Offenburg to Strasbourg by regional train, leaving Offenburg at 07:35 arriving Strasbourg at 08:04.

  On Mondays-Fridays you should make an earlier train, at 07:05 arriving 07:36.

  The fare is a fixed-price €10.10, good for any train that day.

  Buy this at www.bahn.de and print it out or show it on your phone.

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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 13:00.

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

  On some dates this train arrives 13:44, so you'll need an earlier train leaving Hamburg Hbf 08:28 & arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf 13:09.  Just make sure you allow at least 40 minutes between trains in Frankfurt.

• Step 2, travel from Frankfurt to Lyon, Avignon or Marseille by TGV Duplex, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 13:56 every day arriving Lyon Part Dieu 19:56, Avignon TGV 21:09, Aix en Provence TGV 21:33 & Marseille St Charles 21:48.

  The 320 km/h double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number >60 is upper deck.

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

• Book from Hamburg to Lyon, Avignon, Aix or Marseille at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  Tip:  Before running the enquiry, change Duration of transfer from standard to at least 40 minutes.  This gets you a suitable departure from Hamburg giving a robust connection in Frankfurt with time for a coffee.

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg to Paris by train, for example leaving Hamburg Hbf at 14:24 by ICE train, changing at Karlsruhe onto an impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) TGV Duplex arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 22:05.  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, so book ahead.

  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 phone.  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 from the Gare de l'Est to Gare de Lyon.

• Stay overnight in Paris.  The Mercure Paris Gare De Lyon is part of the Gare de Lyon station complex, ideal for an early train next morning.  See other suggested hotels near the Gare de l'Est & Gare de Lyon.

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

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

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.sncf-connect.com (in €, a little more fiddly).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.

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

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

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

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

• Stay overnight in Brussels.  I recommend the excellent Pullman Hotel Brussels Midi which is an integral part of Brussels Midi station itself, or the inexpensive Ibis Brussels Midi just across the road.

• 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, so book ahead.

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

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Hamburg to Brussels & Bruges from €39.90...

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

• Leave Hamburg Hbf at 06:45 by Swiss EuroCity, change at Cologne Hbf onto an ICE3 train, arriving Brussels Midi at 13:35.

  Leave Hamburg Hbf at 08:45 by ICE train, change at Cologne Hbf onto an ICE3 train, arriving Brussels Midi at 15:35.

  Leave Hamburg Hbf at 10:45 by ICE train, change at Cologne Hbf onto an ICE3 train, arriving Brussels Midi at 17:35.

  Leave Hamburg Hbf at 12:50 by InterCity train, change at Cologne Hbf onto an ICE3 train, arriving Brussels Midi at 19:35.

  Leave Hamburg Hbf at 14:44 by InterCity train, change at Cologne Hbf onto an ICE3 train, arriving Brussels Midi at 21:35.

  InterCity trains have a bistro car, some may have WiFi.  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, so book ahead.

• 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 phone.  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 4 months ahead.

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

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

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

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Hamburg to Amsterdam from €37.90...

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

  Leave Hamburg Hbf at 05:45 by ICE train, change at Osnabrück onto an InterCity train arriving Amsterdam Centraal 11:00.

  Leave Hamburg Hbf at 07:45 by ICE train, change at Osnabrück onto an InterCity train arriving Amsterdam Centraal 13:00.

  Leave Hamburg Hbf at 09:45 by ICE train, change at Osnabrück onto an InterCity train arriving Amsterdam Centraal 15:00.

  Leave Hamburg Hbf at 11:45 by ICE train, change at Osnabrück onto an InterCity train arriving Amsterdam Centraal 16:49.

  Leave Hamburg Hbf at 13:45 by ICE train, change at Osnabrück onto an InterCity train arriving Amsterdam Centraal 19:00.

  Leave Hamburg Hbf at 15:45 by ICE train, change at Osnabrück onto an InterCity train arriving Amsterdam Centraal 21:00.

  Leave Hamburg Hbf at 17:45 by ICE train, change at Osnabrück onto an InterCity train arriving Amsterdam Centraal 23:00.

  InterCity trains have a bistro car & power sockets at all seats, there may now be free WiFi.  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, so book ahead.

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

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  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 more or less every hour, but the best departures involve only 1 change at Koblenz or Cologne onto an air-conditioned double-deck regional express to Luxembourg:

  Leave Hamburg Hbf at 06:45 by Swiss EuroCity train, change at Koblenz onto a regional train arriving Luxembourg 14:23.

  Leave Hamburg Hbf at 09:45 by ICE train, change at Koblenz onto a regional train arriving Luxembourg 17:48.

  Leave Hamburg Hbf at 11:53 by ICE train, change at Koblenz onto a regional train arriving Luxembourg 19:23.

  Leave Hamburg Hbf at 16:10 by ICE train, change at Koblenz onto a regional train arriving Luxembourg 00:34 (23:29 at weekends)

  The line from Koblenz to Luxembourg is very scenic, much of it along the Moselle valley past river boats and vineyards.  For the best river views, sit on the left hand side when going west from Koblenz (the train leaves Koblenz station heading north before turning west).

• Fares start at €24.90 in 2nd class or €56.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Koblenz to Luxembourg by double deck regional train.  This is a CFL double-decker at Luxembourg.  This same type also operates the Cologne-Luxembourg IC train.

1st class on the upper deck. Larger photo.		2nd class on the upper deck.  Larger photo.

Scenery along the Moselle between Koblenz & Luxembourg in the morning sun, the mists still clearing.  For the best river views, sit on the right hand side of the train going east from Luxembourg, left hand side going west from Koblenz.

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

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

• An excellent Nightjet sleeper train leaves Hamburg Hbf at 22:07 every night, arriving Basel SBB at 08:10 & Zurich HB at 10:05.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  Hamburg to Basel SBB normally takes 6h31, to Zurich HB 7h36, a little longer in some periods in 2023 due to trackwork - it's a chill-out trip, treat yourself to an Erdinger Weissbier or two...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• EuroCity train EC9 leaves Hamburg Hbf at 06:45 and arrives Basel SBB 15:36 & Zurich HB 17:00.

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

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

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

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de which can book from Hamburg to almost any station in Switzerland.  To get this scenic route, click Stopover and enter Koblenz Hbf, leaving stopover duration zero.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

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

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

EuroCity train at Zurich HB...

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

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

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

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Hamburg to Venice from €60...

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

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Stuttgart by high-speed ICE train leaving Hamburg Hbf at 13:24 and arriving Stuttgart Hbf 19:08.

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

  Times may vary, so check times for your date and book a train that arrives in Stuttgart no later than around 19:30.  By all means leave Hamburg an hour or two earlier to allow more time for dinner.

  Fares start at €17.90 in 2nd class or €31.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

• Step 2, travel from Stuttgart to Venice by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 20:29 and arriving Venice Santa Lucia 08:34.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Step 2, Stuttgart to Venice by Nightjet sleeper train.  More information about Nightjets.

2-berth deluxe sleeper.  More info about Nightjet trains.		...en suite toilet & shower.		4-berth couchettes...

Sunrise as the Munich-Venice Nightjet crosses the causeway over the lagoon into Venice.  Courtesy of Andreas Wiedenhoff.

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

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Innsbruck by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 20:24 & 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.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same 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 lounge at Innsbruck Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.

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

  There's great scenery through the Brenner Pass. 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, so book ahead.

  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 bit more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, 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 a EuroCity at Innsbruck.

2nd class seats, some in open-plan saloons like this, some in 6-seat compartments.		1st class leather seats.  You'll also find seats in classic 6-seat compartments.

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

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg to Munich on any ICE train you like, you can leave Hamburg Hbf as late as 18:01 arriving Munich Hbf at 00:43, 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 affordable Eden Hotel Wolff & NH Collection München are across the road from the station's north side exit with great reviews.  Or consider the more upmarket 25 Hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian, Excelsior by Giesel & Mercure City Center.  For a splurge, the luxurious Sofitel Munich Beyerpost occupies the former Royal Bavarian Post Office building of 1896-1900, at the station's south side exit.

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Venice by EuroCity train, leaving Munich Hbf at 11:32 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!  See the Brenner Pass scenery video here.

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

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.

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

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

A EuroCity train at Munich Hbf.  More photos & information about these Austrian EuroCity trains.

2nd class seats, some in open-plan saloons like this, some in 6-seat compartments.		1st class leather seats.  You'll also find seats in classic 6-seat compartments.

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

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Munich by ICE train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 12:01 and arriving Munich Hbf at 18:39.

  The ICE has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Times may vary, just make sure you arrive in Munich before 19:00.

  By all means take the earlier 11:01 and have 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 phone.  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 20:09 with a portion for Verona Porta Nuova 05:51, Milan Rogoredo 07:42, Genoa Piazza Principe 09:38 & La Spezia 11:10, another portion for Bologna Centrale 05:15, Florence SMN 06:18 & Rome Termini 09:10.

  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.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

Update:  Due to trackwork, from 10 June to 9 September 2023 & on certain weekends the Nightjet sleeper to Florence & Rome will terminate at Bologna Centrale.  During this time you will need to buy a separate onward ticket by Italian high-speed train from Bologna to Florence or Rome.

• Step 3, onward trains from Rome to Naples, Rome to Sicily or Milan to Genoa (for example) can be booked separately at either www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, recognises English place-names) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, the small booking fee will be refunded if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (more fiddly to use, requires Italian language place names, read this advice on using it first).

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

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

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

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

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

6-berth couchettes.		4-berth couchettes.		Couchette car.

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

• Travel from Hamburg to Basel or Zurich by ICE train, then from Basel or 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 19:50.

  Leave Hamburg Hbf at 08:45 by ICE train, change at Basel SBB, arrive Milan Centrale 21:40.

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

  If you take the 06:18, a same-day connection is possible to Verona, Venice, Florence & Rome, Hamburg to Rome in a day.  Later departures mean an overnight stop in Milan.  Affordable hotels & guesthouses with good or great reviews just outside Milan Centrale include the Hotel Bristol, Hotel Bernina, 43 Station Hotel, B&B Hotel Milano Central Station, Guesthouse Teodora.

• 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.

  All these fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets...

  First check times from Hamburg to Milan at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Look for journeys with just 1 change.  Note down each train you want, then split the booking to buy tickets like this...

  Step 1, book from Hamburg to Basel or Zurich using www.bahn.de.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  Step 2, book from Basel or Zurich to Milan (or, if using the early 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!

Step 1, Hamburg to Zurich by ICE. This is an ICE4 at Zurich HB.  Click on interior images for larger photos.

1st class on an ICE4...		Restaurant car on an ICE4...

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

Step 2, Zurich to Milan by EuroCity train.  This is an Giruno train at Zurich HB.  More information about these EuroCity trains.

Giruno, 1st class.  Larger photo.		Restaurant car with bar counter. Larger photo.

Giruno 2nd class.  Larger photo		Level boarding. Note the destination screen in the door.

The Zurich to Milan trains take the Gotthard main line through the Swiss Alps, past Lake Lugano...

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

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Innsbruck by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Hamburg Hbf 20:24 & 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.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

• 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 phone.  The Italian train will usually be ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

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...

Step 2, Innsbruck to Bologna by Austrian EuroCity train.  Above, a EuroCity train at Innsbruck...

2nd class seats, some in open-plan saloons like this, some in 6-seat compartments.		1st class leather seats.  You'll also find seats in classic 6-seat compartments.

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

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg to Munich on any ICE train you like, you can leave Hamburg Hbf as late as 18:01 arriving Munich Hbf at 00:43, 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 affordable Eden Hotel Wolff & NH Collection München are across the road from the station's north side exit with great reviews.  Or consider the more upmarket 25 Hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian, Excelsior by Giesel & Mercure City Center.  For a splurge, the luxurious Sofitel Munich Beyerpost occupies the former Royal Bavarian Post Office building of 1896-1900, at the station's south side exit.

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

   Trains leave Munich Hbf every 2 hours or so taking a leisurely 5h25.  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, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets...

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg to Paris as shown above, 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.  By all means take an earlier train and spend a pleasant evening in Paris.

  These trains all have a cafe-bar or restaurant, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

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

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

• Stay overnight in Paris.  The Mercure Paris Gare De Lyon is part of the Gare de Lyon station complex, ideal for an early train next morning.  See other suggested hotels near the Gare de l'Est & Gare de Lyon.

• Day 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by high-speed TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 09:42 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 16:34.

  This impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number >60 is upper deck.

  It's a scenic ride, the train passes Beziers cathedral, flamingos on the lakes between Montpelier & Narbonne, the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks before Perpignan, with great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, see more photos & information about the journey.

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Madrid, Valencia, Alicante and so on by high-speed train...

  A high-speed AVE leaves Barcelona Sants at 18:25, arriving Madrid Atocha 20:55, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  A fast EuroMed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 18:15 arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 21:02 & Alicante 23:14.

  For Granada, Seville, Cordoba & Malaga, stay in Barcelona overnight, I recommend the Hotel Barcelo Sants inside the station.  Next morning a direct high-speed AVE train leaves Barcelona Sants at 08:35 for Granada, Cordoba & Seville Santa Justa, change Cordoba for Malaga Maria Zambrano.

  Check times & buy tickets 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 60 minutes between trains in Barcelona for connections.  Booking for Spanish trains only opens 60 days ahead, but this varies.

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

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

  Both trains are ICEs, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  By all means take an earlier train and have a leisurely dinner at the Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon before strolling across the bridge over the River Seine to the Gare d'Austerlitz.

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

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

  Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi.

• Step 2, travel overnight from Paris to Latour de Carol in the heart of the Pyrenees or to Cerbère on the Spanish border by French sleeper train, leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 21:14.  Then take a local train from Latour or Cerbère to Barcelona Sants arriving around 14:00.

  See the Paris to Barcelona by sleeper train page for full details, prices, tips & how to buy tickets.

• Step 3, travel from Barcelona to other Spanish destinations next morning...

  For Madrid:  AVE-S103 high-speed trains link Barcelona Sants with Madrid Atocha every hour or two in as little as 2h30 from €35.

  For Cordoba & Seville:  Take the direct AVE-S112 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 15:15 arriving Cordoba & Seville Santa Justa in the evening.  Fares start at around €45.

  For Valencia & Alicante:  A EuroMed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 16:10 arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla at 18:50 and Alicante at 20:37.  Fares start from €23.

  Check Spanish train times & buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, in €, see my advice before using it).  I'd allow at least 1 hour between trains in Barcelona.

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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, so book ahead.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the German Railways website www.bahn.de (in €, no fee).   You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi.  I'd allow at least 90 minutes between trains in Paris when catching a sleeper you don't want to miss.  You've time for dinner at the Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon before strolling across the bridge over the River Seine to the Gare d'Austerlitz...

• Step 2, travel from Paris to either Toulouse or l'Hospitalet près l'Andorre by Intercité de Nuit, leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 21:14 arriving Toulouse Matabiau at 05:54 or l'Hospitalet près l'Andorre at 08:46.

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

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

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

  Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, more fiddly, no fee).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can choose a mobile ticket.

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

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

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

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

  Book the bus at www.andorrabybus.com.  The fare is around €36 one-way.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• A direct ICE train leaves Hamburg Hbf at 08:04 every day, arriving Vienna Hbf at 17:47.

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

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

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

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

• 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 phone.  I recommend registering when prompted rather than booking as a guest, so you can always log in and check or re-print all your bookings.

  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 arrived at Vienna 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 a Frankfurt-Vienna ICE...

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

• A Nightjet sleeper train leaves Hamburg Hbf at 20:24 every night, arriving Vienna Hbf 09:14.  Another portion arrives Innsbruck Hbf 09:14.

  Change in Wels (served by the Hamburg-Vienna portion) for a railjet train to Salzburg Hbf, arriving 08:49.

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

• Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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 08:56, 12:53 & 16:54 every day, journey time to Copenhagen 4h36.  They also call at Kolding (for Legoland) and Odense, see the Hamburg to Copenhagen page for details.

  An altered timetable applies from 17 June to 20 August 2023, see the timetable here

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

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

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

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, Hamburg to Stockholm by sleeper train, daily all year round...

• Starting 1 September 2022, a sleeper train leaves Hamburg Altona at 21:19 and arrives Stockholm Central at 09:55 next morning.

  From 1 April to 1 October 2023 this train will instead leave from Hamburg Hbf at 22:01, arriving Stockholm Central 09:55 next morning.

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

• Fares start at €44.90 with a couchette in 6-berth, €69.90 with a couchette in 4-berth, €79.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €164.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.  All prices per person per bed, fares vary like air fares so book ahead.

• Book tickets at the Swedish Railways website www.sj.se.

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

The inaugural Hamburg to Stockholm SJ EuroNight train at Hamburg Altona, 1 September 2022.  The author rode this first departure.  More information.		6-berth couchettes. Larger photo.

Couchettes in day mode, en route to Stockholm.  Larger photo.		The inaugural train from Hamburg to Stockholm calls at Padborg, just after entering Denmark.

Typical Swedish scenery on the morning run into Stockholm...

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

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

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

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

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

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  Book from Hamburg to Stockholm as one transaction and look for an option with just 1 change.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

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

• Stopover in Copenhagen?

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

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

Step 1, Hamburg to Copenhagen by Intercity train seen here at Copenhagen.  More about Hamburg to Copenhagen trains.

2nd class seats on an IC3 train.  Larger photo.		1st class seats on an IC3 train.  Larger photo.

Step 2, Copenhagen to Stockholm by tilting 200km/h X2000, seen at Stockholm Central.  More about X2000 trains.

1st class on an X2000.  Larger photo.		2nd class on an X2000.  Larger photo.

Bistro seating on an X2000 train. Larger photo.		Bistro on an X2000 train. Larger photo.

Crossing the impressive Öresund bridge from Denmark to Sweden...

Option 3, Hamburg to Malmo & Stockholm by Berlin Night Express, daily except Saturdays 31 March to 6 November 2023...

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

  The sleeper train runs daily except Saturdays from 30 March to 4 November 2023.  It also runs over Christmas & New Year.

  It leaves Berlin Hbf at 20:57, Hamburg Hbf at 23:59 and arrives Malmö Central 07:35 & Stockholm Central 14:10.

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

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

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

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

The Snälltåget sleeper from Hamburg to Stockholm.  This is in fact the southbound train at Stockholm Central the day the new service was launched, about to make its inaugural departure.  Courtesy of Robert Enskog.

The Snälltåget sleeper train uses ex-German Railways couchettes, sold as a whole private compartment for up to 6 people.  Bedding is provided, toilets & washrooms are at the end of the corridor.  Photos courtesy of Snalltaget.

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Hamburg to Oslo & Norway...

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Stay overnight in Gothenburg.

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

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

• Alternatively, overnight in Copenhagen instead...

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

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

• Hamburg to Oslo in a single day, possible 17 June to 20 August 2023...

  From 17 June to 20 August 2023 you can travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen leaving Hamburg Hbf at 06:45 arriving Copenhagen 11:34.

  Then travel from Copenhagen to Oslo by train, leaving Copenhagen at 13:27, change at Gothenburg Central, arriving Oslo Sentral 21:42.

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

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

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

  In Kiel it's just a 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, Hamburg to Oslo using the DFDS overnight cruise ferry from Frederikshavn to Oslo - cheaper than Color Line...

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

  Fares start at €28.90 in 2nd class or €49.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book at the German Railways website www.bahn.de. 

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  In Frederikshavn it's a 1.3 km 16 minute walk from station to ferry terminal, see walking route map.  If you find a good restaurant for dinner, let me know!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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Hamburg to Helsinki & Finland...

Option 1, Hamburg to Helsinki by daily ferry from Travemünde in Germany - the easiest option...

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg Hamburg Hbf to Lübeck Hbf by regional train, these run every 30 minutes taking 42-43 minutes.

  You can leave Hamburg Hbf at 19:06 or 19:34, but if you leave at 17:34 train you'll have time for dinner in Lübeck.

  There are plenty of bars & restaurants in Lübeck's old town, I suggest the Schiffergesellschaft restaurant (schiffergesellschaft.de) located in a historic seamans' union building, 21 minutes walk from the station, see walking map.

• Day 1, travel from Lübeck ZOB bus station to Skandinavienkai Terminal, Lübeck by bus.

  Lübeck ZOB bus station is just across the road from Lübeck Hbf.  Bus 30 or 31 runs every 30 minutes until late, journey time 28-34 minutes.

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

  Get off the bus at the Skandinavienkai Terminal stop and walk into the large modern office block marked HAFENHAUS next to the bus stop, with a green neon Check in sign by the front door.

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

  Alternatively, you can take a frequent regional train from Lübeck Hbf to Travemünde Skandinavienkai Bahnhof, Lübeck from where the ferry terminal building is an 8-minute taxi ride or a 34-minute 2.8 km walk.

• Day 1/2, sail from Travemünde to Helsinki by Finnlines ferry, a daily 2-night crossing.

  Check-in for the ferry opens at 20:30.  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.

  The ship boards at 23:30, foot passengers are driven onto the car deck in a minibus.  Check-in closes 2h before departure.

  The ship sails around 02:45, the exact time varies by day of the week.  It arrives 2 nights later at the Hansa Terminal in Vuosaari harbour just outside Helsinki at 09:15 Mondays-Saturdays, 10:00 on Sundays (day 3 from Hamburg).

  The ship may not be as glamorous as some other cruise ferries on the Baltic, but it has all the essentials: Comfortable cabins with private shower & toilet, satellite TV & WiFi (paid for), cafe-restaurant, shop, bar, sundeck, gym and (naturally, being Finnish) a free sauna. A very civilised way to travel.

• Day 3, transfer from the Hansa Terminal to downtown Helsinki by bus+metro.

  Helsinki's Hansa Ferry Terminal in Vuosaari harbour is 16 km east of central Helsinki, see map of Helsinki showing the ferry terminal. 

  Take bus 90 from its terminus immediately outside the Hansa Terminal to Vuosaari metro station, the bus runs every 15 minutes.  Then take the metro to any metro station in central Helsinki (for example, Helsinki Central Station), total journey time 40 minutes.

  Buy a Helsinki Zone AB ticket, this covers both bus & metro into the city centre.  For Helsinki public transport see www.hsl.fi.

Finnlines operate the m/v Finnstar, Finnmaid & Finnlady on the Travemünde-Helsinki route.  Photo courtesy of Hubert Bartkowiak.  Photos below courtesy of Chris Russell.

Standard cabin.  Larger photo.		Gym with a view...		Sauna...

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

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

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

• For example, you can take the daily SJ EuroNight sleeper from Hamburg Altona to Stockholm, spend a few hours and have lunch in Stockholm next day, then sail overnight to Helsinki with Silja Line.

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Hamburg to Prague from €27.90...

• Direct EuroCity trains leave Hamburg Hbf are at 06:48, 08:51, 10:51, 12:51 every day, taking 6h44 to Prague Hlavni.

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

• Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €36.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

• Stopover in Dresden on the way?

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

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

1st class seats...		2nd class seats in a compartment 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.

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

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Hamburg to Bratislava from €46.90...

Option 1, Hamburg to Bratislava by EuroCity train - the direct daytime option...

• A direct EuroCity train called the Hungaria leaves Hamburg Hbf at 06:48, arriving Bratislava Hlavna at 17:54.

  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.

• Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €56.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket, but in this case it cannot be shown on a mobile device.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

The EuroCity train Hungaria calls at Berlin Hbf...

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

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

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

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

Option 2, Hamburg to Bratislava by day trains - alternative daytime options...

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Vienna by ICE-T, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:04 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 17:47.

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Bratislava by hourly regional express train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 18:16 and arriving Bratislava Hlavna at 19:23.

• Fares from Hamburg to Bratislava start at €46.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares so book ahead.

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

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

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

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

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

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

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

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Vienna by Austrian Nightjet sleeper train leaving Hamburg Hbf at 20:24 arriving Vienna 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.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

• Step 2, travel from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna on the hourly regional express train taking 1h06.

  You can buy a ticket for the Vienna-Bratislava train at the station in Vienna for €10.20, 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.

Step 1, Hamburg to Vienna by 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.		Nightjet couchette car...

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

Option 4, Hamburg to Bratislava using the Berlin-Bratislava sleeper...

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

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

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

  Book at the German Railways website www.bahn.de. 

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

• Step 2, travel from Berlin to Bratislava by sleeper train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 18:52 every night & arriving Bratislava Hlavna 05:54 next morning.

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

  Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €69.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €88.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

The Berlin to Budapest sleeper train Metropol, boarding at Berlin Hbf.  More information about this train.

1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper, set up as a 2 bed.  Larger photo.		4 or 6-berth couchettes.  Larger photo.

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Hamburg to Budapest from €46.90...

Option 1, Hamburg to Budapest by EuroCity train - the direct daytime option...

• A direct EuroCity train called the Hungaria leaves Hamburg Hbf at 06:48 every day, arriving Budapest Nyugati at 20:28.

  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.

  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, so book ahead.

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

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket, although in this case it cannot be shown on a mobile device.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

The EuroCity train Hungaria calls at Berlin Hbf...

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

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

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

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

Option 2, Hamburg to Budapest by day trains - alternative daytime options...

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Vienna by ICE-T, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:04 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 17:47.

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest by railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 18:42 and arriving Budapest Keleti at 21:19.

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

• Fares from Hamburg to Budapest start at €46.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares so book ahead.

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

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Option 3, 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 20:24 & arriving Vienna 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.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

• 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, so book ahead.

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

Step 1, Hamburg to Vienna by 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.		Nightjet couchette car...

Step 2, Vienna to Budapest by EuroCity train.

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

Option 4, Hamburg to Budapest using the Berlin-Budapest sleeper - another time-effective option...

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

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

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Berlin to Budapest by sleeper train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 18:52 every night & arriving Budapest Nyugati 08:29.

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

  Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €69.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €88.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

The Berlin to Budapest sleeper train Metropol, boarding at Berlin Hbf.  More information about this train.

1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper, set up as a 2 bed.  Larger photo.		4 or 6-berth couchettes.  Larger photo.

Option 5, Hamburg to Budapest using the Prague-Budapest sleeper...

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

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

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Prague to Budapest by sleeper train Metropol, leaving Prague Hlavni at 22:43 arriving Budapest Nyugati at 08:29.

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

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

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

Step 1, Hamburg to Prague by EuroCity train, seen here calling at Berlin Hbf...

1st class seats...		2nd class seats in a compartment 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.

Scenery along the Elbe river...

Washstand, soap & towels provided.  Larger photo.		Czech Railways 2-bed 'double' sleeper on the Prague-Budapest route.  Each room can be used with 1, 2 or 3 beds.  Larger photo.		The corridor.  Each compartment locks securely.  Larger photo.

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Hamburg to Brasov & Bucharest from €98...

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

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Vienna by ICE-T high-speed train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:04 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 17:47.

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

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Romania by Dacia Express, leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:42 every day and arriving next day in Simeria 07:13, Sighisoara 09:21, Braşov 12:35, Ploeşti 14:27 & Bucharest Nord at 15:05.

  The Dacia Express has a modern air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, plus several deluxe compartments with en suite shower & toilet.  It has a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments.

  A Hungarian restaurant car operates between Vienna and Budapest, treat yourself to dinner.  A bar car is attached in the morning between Arad & Bucharest, serving drinks & snacks.  There's wonderful almost Alpine scenery through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov and Bucharest, a real treat...

  The Dacia Express also conveys a portion from Vienna to Cluj Napoca, also leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:42 and arriving Cluj Napoca at 08:19.  This portion has a Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments, and ordinary seats.

  Fares start at €59 with a couchette in a 6-berth compartment, €69 with a couchette in a 4-berth compartment, €79 with a bed in a 3-berth sleeper, €99 with a bed in a 3-berth sleeper or €159 with a bed in a single-berth sleeper all to yourself.  All per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  In the search results, look for the direct train marked D with no changes.  You collect tickets from an ÖBB ticket machine in Vienna.

  You can also (as of 2022) book this train at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.  Click EN top right for English.  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  For Vienna type Wien, for Bucharest type Bucuresti.  It can book seats, couchettes or sleepers.  For Austria to Romania journeys you now print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  Tip:  Prices might be cheaper than on oebb.at, so check both sites!

The Dacia Express sleeping-car at Vienna Hbf.  Sleeper photo courtesy of @PaliparanDotCom.  Larger photo.

The Dacia Express couchette car, boarding at Vienna Hbf.  Larger photo.

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

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

Option 2, Hamburg to Romania via Budapest...

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 20:24 and arriving in Vienna 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.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

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

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

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

• Step 3, travel from Budapest to Romania on the sleeper train Ister leaving Budapest Keleti at 19:10 and arriving Brasov at 08:40 & Bucharest Nord at 11:19 next day.

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

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

  Book this train at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.  Click EN top right for English.  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  For Bucharest type Bucuresti.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

  You can also book at the Hungarian Railways website www.mav-start.hu, see my advice on using it.  For Bucharest type Bucuresti.  You show your ticket in the MAV app on your phone.

A 1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper with washbasin.  Larger photo.		The sleeping-car (vagon de dormit) on the westbound Ister at Bucharest.  Sleepers convert from beds to private sitting rooms for day use.  Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.

The vagon cuseta (couchette car) on the westbound Ister, boarding at Bucharest.  Couchettes convert from bunks at night to seats by day.  Courtesy of @AndyBTravels, DiscoverByRail.com .		4 or 6-berth couchettes.  Larger photo.

Option 3, Hamburg to Romania with overnight stop in Budapest - if you prefer daytime trains & hotel to sleepers...

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

• Stay overnight in Budapest.  Top choice for an inexpensive stay next to Budapest Keleti is the Intercity Hotel just across the square in front of the station.  Also try the Royal Park Boutique Hotel, the inexpensive Baross City Hotel across the road or the Elit Hotel two minutes walk away.  More hotels in Budapest.

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

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

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

  You can also book at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.  Click EN top right for English.  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  For Bucharest type Bucuresti.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

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

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

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

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Hamburg to Ljubljana & Zagreb from €39.90...

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

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Stuttgart by high-speed ICE train leaving Hamburg Hbf at 13:24 and arriving Stuttgart Hbf 19:08.

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

  Times may vary, so check times for your date and book a train that arrives in Stuttgart no later than around 19:30.  By all means leave Hamburg an hour or two earlier to allow more time for dinner.

  Fares start at €17.90 in 2nd class or €31.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

• Step 2, travel from Stuttgart to Ljubljana & Zagreb by sleeper, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 20:29, arriving Lesce-Bled 07:22, Ljubljana 08:09 & Zagreb 10:39.

  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.

  From 31 March to 2 September 2023, there's also a direct Croatian sleeping-car to Rijeka, arriving Rijeka 11:25.

  Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €66.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €86.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

2nd class seats.  Larger photo.		Step 1, Hamburg to Stuttgart by ICE.

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

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

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

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

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

More scenery along the river Sava...

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

• You can travel from Hamburg to Ljubljana or Zagreb in a day, Leaving Hamburg Hbf at 04:54 Mondays-Saturdays only, change at Munich, arriving Lesce-Bled 17:50, Ljubljana 18:32 and Zagreb at 20:45.

  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, so book ahead.

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.

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

  Tip:  Before running the enquiry, click Stopover and change Duration of transfer from standard to at least 30 minutes.

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

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

...and along the Sava river in Slovenia.  Now across the border in Slovenia, the EuroCity train runs along the pretty River Sava all the way to Ljubljana and Zagreb...		Comfortable seats:  The 2nd class seats in the Slovenian cars are arranged 2+1 abreast, the same as 1st class!

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

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train leaving Hamburg Hbf at 20:24 and arriving Munich Hbf at 07:09.

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

  Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, 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 08:16 by railjet train, make a quick & simple cross-platform change at Villach onto the waiting Slovenian & Croatian EuroCity train Sava, arriving Lesce-Bled on Lake Bled at 13:51, Ljubljana 14:31 & Zagreb 17:11.

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

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

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

  Book this train at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, or you can use www.thetrainline.com to keep all your bookings in one place.

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

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

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 20:24 every evening, arriving Vienna Hbf 09:14.

  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.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Zagreb by EuroCity train Croatia, leaving Vienna Hbf at 15:58 and arriving Zagreb at 22:27. 

  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, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways site www.oebb.at (same prices, more fiddly, in €).  Bookings usually open up to 90 days ahead and you print your own ticket.

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Hamburg to Belgrade, Sofia & Montenegro...

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

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Stuttgart by high-speed ICE train leaving Hamburg Hbf at 13:24 and arriving Stuttgart Hbf 19:08.

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

  Times may vary, so check times for your date and book a train that arrives in Stuttgart no later than around 19:30.  By all means leave Hamburg an hour or two earlier to allow more time for dinner.

  Fares start at €17.90 in 2nd class or €31.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

• Step 2, travel from Stuttgart to Zagreb by sleeper train, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 20:29, arriving Zagreb 10:39.

  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.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

• Step 3, travel from Zagreb to Belgrade by train, leaving Zagreb at 11:04 and arriving Novi Beograd 18:04 & Belgrade Centar at 18:12.

  This train was suspended due to Covid-19 and remains suspended in 2023.

  This train has air-conditioned Serbian carriages with comfortable 2nd class seats, but no 1st class.  There's no dining-car, so bring a picnic and some beer or wine.

  The fare is around €29 bought at the station in Zagreb or paid on board the train, but tickets cannot be bought online.

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

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

2nd class seats.  Larger photo.		Step 1, Hamburg to Stuttgart by ICE.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  The Muntenia has 4 & 6-berth couchettes and ordinary seats.  A Romanian sleeping-car is attached from Timişoara Nord (depart 21:50) to Bucharest.  There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink.

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

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

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

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

  The fare is around €34.

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

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

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

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

  Hamburg to Warsaw takes around 7h35, take a good book, a bottle of wine and put your feet up...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Berlin to Krakow by EuroCity train Wawel, leaving Berlin Hbf at 10:52 every day, arriving Wroclaw 14:50, Katowice 16:58 & Krakow Glowny 18:01.

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

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

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

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

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

Berlin to Warsaw or Krakow by EuroCity train.  This is the Wawel to Krakow on platform 11 at Berlin Hbf.

2nd class.  Some seats are in compartments.		1st class seats on the Wawel.

Restaurant car.  You don't need to reserve a table, just go along and sit down.  Larger photo.

Zurek soup - an excellent tasty starter.		Kotlet schabowy, served on proper china...

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Hamburg to Vilnius. Riga, Tallinn...

Hamburg to Lithuania with overnight stop in Warsaw...

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg to Warsaw as shown in the Hamburg to Warsaw section above.  You can do this in a single day..

• Stay overnight in Warsaw.  The Polonia Palace Hotel is excellent, historic, relatively inexpensive for such a good hotel, and it's just across the road from the station.  For something much cheaper, but still with great reviews and near the station, try the Hotel Metropol next door to the Polonia Palace or the nearby Novotel Warsaw Centrum.  Also see the Warsaw Centralna station & city information.

• Day 2, travel from Warsaw to Kaunas & Vilnius by train as shown on the Warsaw to Vilnius page.

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

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

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Hamburg to Kyiv & Ukraine...

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

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

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

  Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking to Poland opens 60 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  

• Stay overnight in Warsaw and explore Warsaw next day.  The Polonia Palace Hotel is excellent, historic, relatively inexpensive for such a good hotel, and it's just across the road from the station.  For something much cheaper, but still with great reviews and near the station, try the Hotel Metropol next door to the Polonia Palace or the nearby Novotel Warsaw Centrum.  Also see the Warsaw Centralna station & city information.

• Alternatively, catch an early evening train to Berlin & stay overnight, then take the 09:51 EuroCity train to Warsaw Centralna next morning.

• Day 2, travel from Warsaw to Kyiv on the Kyiv Express, leaving Warsaw Wschodnia at 17:49 & arriving Kyiv at 13:12 next day (day 3).

  The Kyiv 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 Kyiv as they have close contacts with Ukrainian Railways.

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

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

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

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Hamburg to Moscow, St Petersburg & Russia...

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

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Warsaw to Moscow by Russian sleeper train, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 19:15 daily and arriving Moscow Belorussky at 16:58 next day (day 3 from Hamburg).  You can check times at the Russian Railways website www.rzd.ru.

  This train was suspended due to Covid-19 and remains suspended due to sanctions & the war in Ukraine.

  This train uses impressive Austrian-built sleeping-cars with 4-berth compartments built in 2014, see photos of this type of sleeper here & see panorama photo inside one of these modern sleepers.  Each compartment can be sold as 1st class 1-berth, 1st class 2-berth or 2nd class 4-berth.  The train consist of two or three sleeping-car which start their journey in Prague.  There's a bistro car in Poland and a Russian restaurant car is attached between Brest (on the Polish/Belarus border) & Moscow.

  You can book this train by contacting reliable Polish train ticketing agency www.polrail.com - their booking system is at booking.polrail.com.  Tickets can be collected in Warsaw or (at extra charge) shipped to any address worldwide.

Alternatively, you can book with Russian Railways at www.rzd.ru although it's a little quirky and may not accept some overseas credit cards.

Don't forget to arrange both your Russian visa & Belarus transit visa as the train runs via Belarus. See my important update about travel to Russia through Belarus.

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

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

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

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

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

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

  This train was suspended due to Covid-19 and remains suspended due to sanctions & the war in Ukraine.

  This train is an articulated Spanish-built Talgo train branded Strizh (Russian for swift) which started running in 2016.  It has ordinary seats, 2nd class 4-berth sleepers, 1st class 1 or 2 berth sleepers with washbasin and deluxe 1 or 2 berth sleepers with en suite shower & toilet.  There's a restaurant & bistro car.  See photo of 2-berth sleeper on this train.

  Russian track gauge is 5', but most of Europe (including the UK) is 4' 8½", so at Brest on the Belarus frontier the Talgo train runs through a special gauge-changing shed and the axles automatically adjust to the new gauge.  Once in Russia, the scenery is rolling hills, birch tree forests, and villages of small wooden houses.  Approaching Moscow, you may glimpse the plaques on the station building marked '1812' and '1942' as the train passes through the small station of historic Borodino...

  You can book the Berlin-Moscow train at the Russian Railways website www.rzd.ru and print your own ticket, it's a little fiddly but usually works, or you can easily buy it online with English language after-sales service if you need it, using the Real Russia online system here.

  Don't forget to arrange both your Russian visa and Belarus transit visa as the train runs via Belarus.  See my important update about travel to Russia through Belarus.

Option 3, Hamburg to Moscow via Kyiv - avoiding Belarus...

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

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

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

  These train were suspended due to Covid-19 and remain suspended due to the war in Ukraine.

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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) or www.trenitalia.com.  Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

• In Bari, transfer from station to port, see map of Bari showing station, port entrance, check-in building & Superfast Ferries berth.

  You can walk the 1.9 km from the station to the port entrance in 25 minutes, a stroll through Bari's pleasant old town, see correct walking map from the station to the port entrance gate - if Google tells you any different, trust me, not Google!

  Alternatively, bus 50 runs from Bari Centrale station to the road outside the port gate roughly every 40 minutes.  A taxi will take 10 minutes.

• Day 2, sail overnight from Bari to Patras in Greece with Superfast Ferries.

  The ferry sails from Bari at 19:30 on Mondays-Saturdays, arriving Patras at 13:00 next day (Day 3).

  On Sundays the ship sails at 13:30, too early to make connections.

  You can check sailing times & dates at using the Direct Ferries website or at www.superfast.com or www.ferriesingreece.com.

  You should check in at the Superfast desk on the ground floor of the cruise terminal (Terminal Crociere) at Bari port with passport & booking number to get your boarding pass, ideally 3 hours before departure in summer, although in practice 2 hours or even 1½ hours is normally fine.

  You then walk 500m from check-in to the ferry, board the ferry via the foot passenger gangway at the stern and head up the escalator to the main lounge and reception desk to get your cabin key.

  The ship is comfortable, with self-service restaurant, lounge, bar and sun deck.  You can book a deck place (a good & cheap option in summer if you have your own sleeping bag), a reclining seat or various types of cabin, all with private shower & toilet.  Strolling the decks in the morning sun as the ship cruises past the islands of Cephalonia and Ithaca is the nicest part of the trip, and it's a wonderful way to arrive in Greece.

  In Patras, the ferry arrives at the new South ferry terminal a few km from the town centre.  Bus 18 links the port with the Patras bus station every hour on the hour, fare €1.20 or you can hop in a taxi for around €9, journey time 15-20 minutes.

• Day 3, travel from Patras to Athens by Greek Railways bus/train combo.

  Hellenic Train (Greek Railways) operate an integrated bus/train service from Patras to Athens every hour or two, total journey time 3h02, fare around €18.  No prior reservation is necessary, just buy a ticket to Athens at Patras railway station ticket office.

  For example, at the time I write this, buses leave from outside Patras railway station at 14:15, 15:15, 16:00, 17:15 & 18:15, taking 90 minutes to reach Kiato railway station near Corinthos.  At Kiato they connect with a modern air-conditioned regional train taking 78 minutes to Athens Larissa Station in downtown Athens.  You can check Patra to Athens bus/train times using the journey planner at www.hellenictrain.gr.

The ferry Superfast II from Bari to Patras, boarding at Bari.  Photos courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com.

The passenger gangway, onto the ferry.		Reception desk & lounge on the ferry.

Lounge and bar on the Superfast II.		Self-service restaurant.

Private cabin with en suite toilet & shower.

The ferry passes Cephalonia & Ithaca then approaches mainland Greece.  This is what travel to Greece should be like!

The ferry approaches the new port of Patras...

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

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

• Travel from Hamburg to Budapest as shown above.

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

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Hamburg to Istanbul & Turkey...

• Step 1, travel from Hamburg to Bucharest as shown above.

  Do not risk any tight connections in Bucharest, I'd allow a minimum of 2 hours, or plan an overnight stop.

• Step 2, travel overnight from Bucharest to Istanbul as shown on the Bucharest to Istanbul page.

  Book online as shown on those pages, but you should consider using an Interrail pass for the flexibility it gives.  You'll find more info about using a pass for a journey like this on the London to Istanbul page.

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Hotels in Hamburg

My favourite hotel search site: www.booking.com www.booking.com is my favourite hotel booking site and I generally prefer booking my hotels all in one place here.  You can usually book with free cancellation - this allows you to confirm your accommodation at no risk before train booking opens.  It also means you can hold accommodation while you finalise your itinerary, and alter your plans as they evolve - a feature I use all the time when putting a trip together.  I never book hotels non-refundably.  I have also come to trust their review scores - you won't be disappointed with anything over 8.0. Tip:  It can pay to compare prices across multiple hotel sites:  HotelsCombined.com is a price comparison site which compares hotel prices on Booking.com, Hotels.com, Expedia, Accor, Agoda and many others.  Though if there's not much in it, I prefer keeping all my bookings together in one place at www.booking.com.

Other hotel sites worth trying...

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

Backpacker hostels...

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

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Travel insurance & VPN

Always take out travel insurance...

Never travel overseas without travel insurance from a reliable insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover.  It should also cover cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible limit.  An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself.  Here are some suggested insurers.  Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.

www.staysure.co.uk offers enhanced Covid-19 protection & gets 4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot.

www.columbusdirect.com is also a well-know brand.

  If you live in the USA try Travel Guard USA.

Get an eSIM with mobile data package

Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a mobile data package for the country you're visiting and stay connected.  Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM card so you don't need to buy a physical SIM, including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list.  Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data.

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then add a foreign transaction fee on top.  A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month at time of writing.  The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.

How it works:  1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android.  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app.  You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader.  The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than digging a card out).  I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card, they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.

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 encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi.  It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply.  See VPNs & why you need one explained.  ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription.  I get a small commission to help support this site.

Always carry an Anker powerbank

Tickets, reservations, vaccination records and Interrail or Eurail passes are often held digitally on your mobile phone, so it's vital to keep it charged.  I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over if I can't get to a power outlet.  Buy from Amazon.co.uk or from Buy from Amazon.com.

 

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