Option 1, Innsbruck to Brussels using the Innsbruck-Cologne Nightjet sleeper train - the most time-effective option...

• Step 1, travel from Innsbruck to Cologne by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 20:44 and arriving at Cologne Hbf at 06:51.

  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's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The train also has several 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.

  Tip:  If you have a ticket for a sleeper, you can use the ÖBB 1st class lounge at Innsbruck Hbf with complimentary tea, coffee & wine.

  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 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 Cologne to Brussels by high-speed ICE train leaving Cologne Hbf at 07:42 and arriving Brussels Midi at 09:35.

  Fares start from €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 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 in Brussels for an Intercity train to Bruges, these run twice an hour, no reservation needed.  You may be able to book through to Bruges as one ticket at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.

Step 1, Innsbruck to Cologne by Nightjet.  Above, the Nightjet at Innsbruck Hbf.

Deluxe sleeper.  Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room.  Larger photo.  Video of deluxe room		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, Cologne to Brussels by ICE.  Above, an ICE3 at Cologne Hbf.  More information about ICE.

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

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

Option 2, Innsbruck to Brussels in a single day by high-speed train...

• You can travel from Innsbruck to Brussels in a single chill-out day.  For example:

  Leave Innsbruck Hbf at 07:17, change at Munich Hbf & Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi 17:35.

  Leave Innsbruck Hbf at 10:40, change at Munich Hbf & Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi 19:35.

  Leave Innsbruck Hbf at 12:40, change at Munich Hbf & Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi 21:35.

  Innsbruck to Munich is by Austrian EuroCity train.  Munich to Frankfurt & Frankfurt to Brussels are by high-speed ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• How much does it cost?

  Innsbruck to Brussels starts at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets...

  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.  

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

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

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

Option 3, Innsbruck to Brussels via the scenic Rhine Valley - much slower, but with a great ride along the Rhine...

• Step 1, travel from Innsbruck to Cologne by direct EuroCity train, leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 08:54 and arriving Cologne Hbf at 18:42.

  Unlike the ICE trains in option 2 above, this Austrian InterCity train takes the classic scenic low-speed route via the Rhine Valley, past river boats, mountains, castles, vineyards and the legendary Lorelei Rock.  The river will be on the right hand side of the train between Mainz and Koblenz, but don't forget the train will have changed direction at Stuttgart Hbf.

• Step 2, travel from Cologne to Brussels by high-speed ICE train, leaving Cologne Hbf at 19:40 and arriving Brussels Midi at 21:35.

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

• How much does it cost?

  Innsbruck to Brussels starts at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets...

  Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, use this special link.

  To get the Rhine valley route, click Stopover and enter Koblenz Hbf as a via station, leaving stopover duration zero.  I have already done that for you in that special link.

  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, Innsbruck to Brussels with an overnight stop in Cologne...

• Day 1, travel from Innsbruck to Cologne, leaving Innsbruck Hbf as late as 14:40, change at Munich Hbf, arriving Cologne Hbf 22:06.

  By all means take an earlier train (they leave regularly) and have dinner in Cologne where the impressive cathedral is right next to the station.  I recommend the excellent Brauhaus Sion (www.brauhaus-sion.de), 5 minutes walk from Cologne Hbf, or the Malzmuehle restaurant (www.muehlenkoelsch.de), 13 minutes walk from Cologne Hbf.

  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.

  Tip:  Take the scenic Rhine Valley route...  By default, bahn.de will route you via the new high-speed line which saves an hour.  But you'll usually find a direct train leaving Innsbruck Hbf 08:54 arriving Cologne Hbf 18:42 which takes the old scenic and curvaceous Rhine Valley route through Koblenz, past mountains, castles, vineyards, river boats and the legendary Lorelei Rock.  A treat! The extra hour is worth it.

• Stay overnight in Cologne.  The good & inexpensive Ibis Hotel Köln-am-Dom is ideal as it's part of Cologne Hbf itself, with an entrance to the left of the main station entrance - many of its rooms have a cathedral view.  Also near the station with good reviews are 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 Brussels on any Thalys or ICE train you like.

  The 06:44 Thalys from Cologne Hbf arrives Brussels Midi at 08:35, by all means have breakfast & book a later train.  Change in Brussels for twice-hourly trains to Bruges.

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

  If you use an ICE, you can book from Cologne to Brussels or almost any station in Belgium at 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.

  If you want to use Thalys, book Cologne to Brussels at www.thalys.com.  Booking opens 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.

  www.thetrainline.com can book both ICE and Thalys.

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Innsbruck to Amsterdam from €59...

Option 1, Innsbruck to Amsterdam by Nightjet sleeper train - the time-effective option...

• Every day, a Nightjet sleeper train leaves Innsbruck Hbf at 20:44 and arrives Amsterdam Centraal at 09:59 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's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The train has several 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.

  Tip:  If you have a ticket for a sleeper, you can use the ÖBB 1st class lounge at Innsbruck Hbf with complimentary tea, coffee & wine.

• 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 very 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 €, bit more fiddly, same prices) or at the Dutch Railways website www.nsinternational.nl (in €, no fee).

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

Innsbruck to Amsterdam by Nightjet.  Above, the Nightjet ready to leave Innsbruck 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 on a Nightjet...

Option 2, Innsbruck to Amsterdam in a single day...

• You can travel from Innsbruck to Amsterdam in one day, using excellent high-speed ICE trains.  For example:

  Leave Innsbruck Hbf at 07:17, change at Munich Hbf & Cologne, Amsterdam Centraal arrive 17:29.

  Leave Innsbruck Hbf at 10:40, change at Munich Hbf & Düsseldorf, Amsterdam Centraal arrive 20:28.

  You travel from Innsbruck to Munich by Austrian EuroCity train, then Munich to Frankfurt & Frankfurt to Brussels by high-speed ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd 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.

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

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

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

Option 3, Innsbruck to Amsterdam with an overnight stop in Cologne...

• Day 1, travel from Innsbruck to Cologne, leaving Innsbruck Hbf as late as 14:40, change at Munich Hbf, arriving Cologne Hbf 22:06.

  By all means take an earlier train (they leave regularly) and have dinner in Cologne where the impressive cathedral is right next to the station.  I recommend the excellent Brauhaus Sion (www.brauhaus-sion.de), 5 minutes walk from Cologne Hbf, or the Malzmuehle restaurant (www.muehlenkoelsch.de), 13 minutes walk from Cologne Hbf.

  Tip:  Take the scenic Rhine Valley route...  By default, bahn.de will route you via the new high-speed line which saves an hour.  But you'll usually find a direct train leaving Innsbruck Hbf 08:54 arriving Cologne Hbf 18:43 which takes the old scenic and curvaceous Rhine Valley route through Koblenz, past mountains, castles, vineyards, river boats and the legendary Lorelei Rock.  A treat!

• Stay overnight in Cologne.  The good & inexpensive Ibis Hotel Köln-am-Dom is ideal as it's part of Cologne Hbf itself, with an entrance to the left of the main station entrance - many of its rooms have a cathedral view.  Also near the station with good reviews are 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 Amsterdam by ICE train, for example leaving Cologne Hbf at 06:38 arriving Amsterdam Centraal 09:29.

  But by all means book a later one, they leave every couple of hours, you could even spend a morning in Cologne.  The ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• How much does it cost?

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

• How to buy tickets...

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

  To build in the overnight stop in Cologne, click Stopover and enter Cologne Hbf as a via station with a suitable stopover duration, say 11 hours, in the hh:mm box.  Adjust the departure time & stopover duration to get the trains you want either side of Cologne.

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

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Innsbruck to Luxembourg...

• You can travel from Innsbruck to Luxembourg by daytime trains, for example:

  Leave Innsbruck Hbf at 07:17, change at Munich Hbf & Cologne Hbf, Luxembourg arrive 17:48.

  Leave Innsbruck Hbf at 08:54, change at Koblenz, Luxembourg arrive 20:23.

  Leave Innsbruck Hbf at 10:40, change at Munich Hbf & Koblenz, Luxembourg arrive 21:29.

  Tip:  The 2nd & 3rd journey suggested above take the old scenic and curvaceous Rhine Valley route between Mainz & Koblenz, past mountains, castles, vineyards, river boats and the legendary Lorelei Rock.  A treat!

• How much does it cost?

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

• How to buy tickets...

  Check train times & buy a ticket at the German Railways website www.bahn.de. 

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  Look for journeys involving just 2 changes (or in the case of the 08:54, 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.

  Tip:  Click Stopover and enter Koblenz Hbf as first via station and Igel as a second via station.  Specifying Koblenz avoids risky tight connections via Mannheim.  Specifying Igel eliminates journeys using a bus from the search results.

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Innsbruck to Zurich, Basel, Geneva & Switzerland from €19...

• Smart Austrian railjet trains leave Innsbruck Hbf for Zurich HB at 07:47 & every 2 hours until 19:47, taking 3h33.

  Railjet trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more information about railjets.  The scenery through the Arlberg pass is wonderful, see the Arlberg Pass video & see the Arlberg Railway page.

• Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44.90 in business class (premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Buy tickets from Innsbruck to almost any station in Switzerland at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly, same fares).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

• Tip:  Going beyond Zurich?

  www.thetrainline.com and www.oebb.at can sell through tickets between Innsbruck and almost any town or city in Switzerland (in either direction) from €19.90 upwards, one inclusive price covering the railjet to Zurich and the onward Swiss trains.  You'll often find that Innsbruck to Interlaken, Chur, St Moritz, Geneva or wherever costs the same (or just €10 more...) as a ticket to Zurich, this is much cheaper than buying a separate Swiss domestic ticket.

• Tip:  Panorama car on the 15:47 from Innsbruck to Zurich...

  Although most daytime trains from Innsbruck to Zurich are railjets, the 15:47 from Innsbruck to Zurich is EC164 Transalpin, a EuroCity (EC) train composed of conventional Austrian EuroCity cars & restaurant car like the ones shown here, with one special Swiss Railways 1st class panorama car attached, see the photos here.  So if you have a 1st class ticket, make sure you reserve a seat in this special panorama car as explained here, it only costs €3 and it's a real treat.  You can make a seat reservation this way this even if you already have tickets or a pass.

Innsbruck to Zurich by railjet, through the scenic Arlberg Pass.  Above, a railjet about to leave Innsbruck.

Business class.  About.		Restaurant car.

First class.		Economy class.

The mountains of Austria...

In the Arlberg pass, the railway hugs the valley side, past fir forests and meadows...		In railjet first & business class, a steward takes your order & serves lunch at your seat.

The railjet clips a corner of Liechtenstein, passing non-stop through the little station of Schaan-Vaduz.  Once in Switzerland, the railjet runs alongside the Zürichsee, then along the Walensee...

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Innsbruck to Venice, Florence, Milan, Rome & Italy from €29.90...

Option 1, Innsbruck to Italy by daytime trains through the Brenner Pass - the scenic option...

• Comfortable Austrian EuroCity trains leave Innsbruck Hbf at 09:24, 11:24, 13:24, 15:24 & 17:24 for Verona Porta Nuova.

  The 09:24 runs through to Bologna Centrale on weekdays and to Venice Santa Lucia on Saturdays & Sundays.

  The 11:24 runs through to Bologna Centrale every day of the week.

  The 13:24 runs through to Venice Santa Lucia every day of the week, arriving 18:25.

  All these trains run through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass scenery video here.

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

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• If you're going to Verona...

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

• If you're going to Venice...

  ...aim for the direct trains if you can, leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 09:24 weekends or 13:24 every day.  The direct trains will be cheaper, as well as  ore convenient.  Book the direct trains at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or using the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

  If you want to take one of the other departures, you must change trains at Verona Porta Nuova.  To book a journey with a change in Verona, use www.raileurope.com, click More options, enter Verona Porta Nuova as a via station with stopover duration at least 45 minutes.  That gets you a robust connection.  www.raileurope.com connects to both the Austrian & Trenitalia ticketing systems so can book both trains.  Onward Italian trains normally opens for booking 4 months ahead.

• If you're going to Milan...

  ...change at Verona Porta Nuova.  Book at www.raileurope.com, click More options, enter Verona Porta Nuova as a via station with stopover duration at least 45 minutes.  That gets you a robust connection.  www.raileurope.com connects to both the Austrian & Trenitalia ticketing systems so can book both trains.  Italian trains normally open for booking 120 days ahead.

• If you're going to Florence, Rome or Naples...

  ...ideally, aim for the 09:24 on weekdays, or the 11:24 on any day of the week, as you can change at Bologna Centrale which offers better onward connections than changing at Verona.  Book at www.raileurope.com, click More options, enter Bologna Centrale as a via station with stopover duration at least 45 minutes.  That gets you a robust connection.  www.raileurope.com connects to both the Austrian & Trenitalia ticketing systems so can book both trains.  Italian trains normally open for booking 4 months ahead.

  ...On all other departures, you must change at Verona Porta Nuova.  Book at www.raileurope.com, click More options, enter Verona Porta Nuova as a via station with stopover duration at least 45 minutes to get a robust connection.

A EuroCity train about to leave Innsbruck for Verona & Italy.  More photos & information about these 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. with side corridor, too....

Mountains on the Brenner route...

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

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

Option 2, Innsbruck to Bologna, Florence & Rome by Nightjet sleeper train - the time-effective option...

• Step 1, travel from Innsbruck to Salzburg by railjet train, leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 19:14 and arriving Salzburg Hbf at 21:04.

  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 prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

  Tip:  I recommend booking an earlier train & having dinner in Salzburg.  Trains link Innsbruck & Salzburg every hour.

  Tip:  If you have a sleeping-car ticket, you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Salzburg Hbf between trains.

• Step 2, travel from Salzburg to Italy by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Salzburg Hbf at 22:02 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 the nightjet at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

• Step 3 for Naples, change in Rome.  Allowing at least 1 hour between trains in Rome, book from Rome to Naples from €19.90 at www.thetrainline.com (keeping all your bookings together in one place) or www.trenitalia.com (requires Italian-language place names).

A Comfortline sleeping-car on a nightjet 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		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...

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Innsbruck to Barcelona, Madrid & Spain...

Innsbruck to Barcelona & Spain with overnight stop in Zurich or Geneva...

• Day 1, travel from Innsbruck to Geneva, leaving Innsbruck at 13:47 by railjet train to Zurich HB then Swiss Intercity train arriving Geneva 20:18.

  The railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It travels through the beautiful Arlberg Pass into Switzerland, see the Arlberg Pass page for photos, video & more information.

  By all means book an earlier train for more of an evening in Geneva.

  Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class, €44 in 1st class or €59 in business class (= premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book from Innsbruck to Geneva at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in 2, £ or $, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  Look for journeys with just 1 change.  You print your own ticket.

• Stay overnight in Geneva.  Hotels with good reviews near the station include Hotel Cornavin Genève, Hotel Les Arcades, ibis Styles Geneva Gare.  Hotels in Switzerland can be expensive, if you're on a budget you can book budget private rooms in a one-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station using www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2, travel from Geneva to Barcelona, leaving Geneva at 07:14, change Lyon Part Dieu & Montpelier St-Roch, arriving Barcelona Sants 16:34.

  Geneva to Lyon is by TER regional train along the river Rhône, Lyon to Montpelier is by TGV with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, Montpelier to Barcelona is by TGV Duplex also with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  The TGV Duplex 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.

  Geneva-Lyon costs a fixed-price €29.40.  Lyon-Barcelona starts at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book from Geneva to Barcelona at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, more fiddly).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own tickets or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.

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

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

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

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

  Check times & buy tickets using either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or Spanish railways own site www.renfe.com (in €, much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it) or www.petrabax.com (in $, small mark-up).  You print your own ticket.

  Booking for Spanish trains normally opens only 60 days ahead, but this varies.  Allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Barcelona.

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

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Innsbruck to San Sebastian...

• Step 1, travel from Innsbruck to Paris as shown in the Innsbruck to Paris section above.

  Change stations by metro or taxi from the Gare de Lyon to the Gare Montparnasse.  Allow at least 1h15 between trains in Paris.

• Stay overnight in Paris, see suggested hotels near Paris Montparnasse.

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

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

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

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

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

• Step 3, transfer from Hendaye to San Sebastian by Euskotren metro, every 30 minutes, journey time 37 minutes...

  Simply walk out of Hendaye station and turn right, the little Euskotren station is in a corner of the main station forecourt.  Buy a ticket for €2.75 at the Euskotren station from the machines or staffed counter and hop on the next half-hourly Euskotren metro from Hendaye to San Sebastian Amara station, journey time 37 minutes.  You can check Euskotren times at www.euskotren.eus.  See the Paris to San Sebastian page for more information, photos & tips.

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

• Day 1, travel from Innsbruck to Paris by high-speed train via Zurich as shown in the Innsbruck-Paris section above.

• 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 Lyon.

• Day 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by 320 km/h TGV Duplex leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 09:42 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 16:34.

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

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

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.  Booking for the TGV opens up to 4 months ahead.

• Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Madrid by AVE high-speed train, leaving Barcelona Sants at 18:25 and arriving Madrid Atocha at 20:55.

  The AVE has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More information about trains from Barcelona to Madrid.

  Fares start at €38 in Standard class or €45 in Comfort class.  Fares work like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.  Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but this varies.

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

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

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Innsbruck to Andorra...

• Step 1, travel from Innsbruck to Paris on the 07:47 departure as shown in the Innsbruck to Paris section above.

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 the Paris-l'Hospitalet isn't running on your date of travel, the Paris-Toulouse train 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 getting off in 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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Innsbruck to Munich...

• Trains link Innsbruck Hbf & Munich Hbf regularly, there's a fast mainline route via Kufstein and a slower regional scenic route through Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

• For details, see the Munich to Innsbruck page.

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Innsbruck to Cologne, Frankfurt, Berlin, Hamburg & Germany from €19.90...

Option 1, Innsbruck to Germany by daytime trains...

• Check train times & buy tickets from Innsbruck Hbf to anywhere Germany 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.

  Tip:  It's worth checking prices at www.thetrainline.com too.  This connects to the Austrian ÖBB ticketing system rather than the German one, and prices for the same train or trains can differ between the two systems.  Buy from whichever is cheapest!

Option 2, Innsbruck to Cologne, Dusseldorf, Hannover, Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train...

• Every evening, a Nightjet sleeper train leaves Innsbruck Hbf at 20:44 with a portion for Cologne Hbf (arriving 06:51) & Düsseldorf (arriving 07:23) and a portion for Hannover & Hamburg Hbf (arriving 08:47).

  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.

Innsbruck to Cologne, Düsseldorf or Hamburg by Nightjet.  Above, the Nightjet boarding at Innsbruck 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 on a Nightjet...

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Innsbruck to Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Stockholm & Scandinavia...

Option 1, Innsbruck to Stockholm using the Hamburg-Stockholm sleeper train - the time-effective option...

• Step 1, travel from Innsbruck to Hamburg, leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 10:40 by EuroCity train, changing at Munich Hbf onto an ICE train and arriving Hamburg Altona at 20:28.

  The EuroCity train has a restaurant car.  The ICE train also has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Always allow at least an hour when connecting with a sleeper train.  Have dinner in Hamburg.

  Fares start at €37.90 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.

  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 Hamburg to Stockholm by sleeper train, leaving Hamburg Altona at 21:19 & arriving Stockholm Central 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, 2 or 3 bed deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower, couchette cars with 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  The sleeping-cars are former Austrian Railways AB32s, refurbished.  More information about the Hamburg-Stockholm sleeper train.

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

  Book tickets at 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...		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, Innsbruck to Copenhagen in a single day.  On to Gothenburg, Stockholm, Oslo next day...

• Day 1, travel from Innsbruck to Copenhagen, leaving Innsbruck Hbf 07:17, change at Munich Hbf & Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen 21:34.

  You travel from Innsbruck to Munich is by comfortable EuroCity train.  Munich to Hamburg is by superb German ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Hamburg to Copenhagen is by Danish IC3 Intercity train.

  From 17 June to 20 August 2023, times change: Leave Innsbruck Hbf 07:17, change Munich Hbf & Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen 23:34.

  Fares start at €46.90 in 2nd class or €79.90 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 Copenhagen.  The friendly Astoria Hotel is a 1930s design classic right outside Copenhagen station main entrance, see photos & information here.  Other hotels near the station with good reviews include the Nimb Hotel (5-star luxe), Radisson Blu Royal Hotel (5-star), Axel Guldsmeden (4-star), Andersen Boutique Hotel, First Hotel Mayfair (3-star), Hotel Ansgar (3-star), City Hotel Nebo (2-star).

• Day 2, if travelling to Stockholm:  Travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000 train in around 5h16, there are regular departures.  There's usually one leaving Copenhagen at 08:19 arriving Stockholm Central 13:35, by all means have a leisurely breakfast and take a later one.

  Fares start at SEK 195 (€20).

  Book this at either the Swedish Railways website www.sj.se or Omio.com.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Day 2, if travelling to Gothenburg or Oslo:  Travel from Copenhagen to Gothenburg (= Göteborg Central) by hourly Öresund train, journey time 3h53.  For Oslo, take the 09:27, change at Gothenburg and arrive Oslo Sentral 17:43 or there's an afternoon departure, see the timetable here.

  Book this at the Swedish Railways website www.sj.se.

Option 3, Innsbruck to Copenhagen & Scandinavia using the Innsbruck-Hamburg sleeper train...

• Step 1, travel from Innsbruck to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 20:44 & arriving Hamburg Hbf at 08:47.

  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 and you print your own ticket.

• Step 2, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by Danish IC3 intercity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 12:53 and arriving Copenhagen at 17:34.

  If you're only going as far as Copenhagen, book from Hamburg to Copenhagen at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

  Fares from Hamburg to Copenhagen start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.  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 3, change in Copenhagen for an onward train to Malmo or Gothenburg.

  If you're going beyond Copenhagen, book from Hamburg to Gothenburg (listed as Göteborg Central) or Malmo as one transaction at www.bahn.de with fares from €56.90.

Step 1, Innsbruck to Hamburg by Nightjet.  Above, the Nightjet ready to leave Innsbruck Hbf.

Deluxe sleeper.  Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room.  Larger photo.  Video of deluxe room		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 a Nightjet...

Step 2, 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 3, 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 4, Innsbruck to Copenhagen & Scandinavia with overnight stop in Hamburg...

• Day 1, travel from Innsbruck to Hamburg, for example leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 12:40, change at Munich Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf at 20:59.

  You travel by comfortable high-speed ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €56.90 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 Hamburg.  The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews.  Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski.  If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by Danish IC3 intercity train leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:56 and arriving Copenhagen 13:34.

  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.

  If you're only going as far as Copenhagen, book from Hamburg to Copenhagen at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone.

• For Stockholm, take an X2000 train from Copenhagen Stockholm, leaving Copenhagen at 14:21 and arriving Stockholm Central at 19:36.

  From 17 June to 20 August 2023, either take the 06:45 from Hamburg Hbf to connect with the 12:21 Copenhagen-Stockholm (arriving Stockholm 17:37), or the 10:53 from Hamburg Hbf to connect with the 16:21 Copenhagen-Stockholm (arriving Stockholm 21:38).

  You should book from Hamburg to Stockholm as one transaction from €56.90 at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.  Book Hamburg to Stockholm departing 08:56 using this special link which I have set up with the necessary parameters.

• For Malmö or Gothenburg, Öresund trains run hourly from Copenhagen to Gothenburg in 3h53 and every 20-30 minutes from Copenhagen to Malmö in 39 minutes.

  Book from Hamburg to Malmö or Gothenburg (= Göteborg Central) as one transaction from €39.90 at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.

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Innsbruck to Oslo & Norway...

Option 1, Innsbruck to Oslo via the Kiel-Oslo cruise ferry - the most comfortable way to Oslo...

• Day 1, travel from Innsbruck to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 20:44 & arriving Hamburg Hbf at 08:47.

  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 prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

• Day 2, travel from Hamburg Hbf to Kiel Hbf by regional train, these leave several times each hour taking 1h10, fixed-price fare around €23.  Check times and buy a ticket at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

  In Kiel, the Color Line ferry terminal is just a 5-6 minute walk from Kiel Hbf, but allow several hours between train & ferry for the ferry check-in and in case of delay.

• Day 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 (Day 3 from Innsbruck).

  Check times & buy tickets using the Direct Ferries website or at www.colorline.com.  You print your own ticket.

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

Step 1, Innsbruck to Hamburg by Nightjet and take a regional train to Kiel.  Above, the Nightjet boarding at Innsbruck 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 on a Nightjet...

Step 2, sail from Kiel to Oslo with Color Line.  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 2, Innsbruck to Oslo via Hamburg & Copenhagen - by train all the way, or using the cheaper DFDS Copenhagen-Oslo cruise ferry...

• Day 1, travel from Innsbruck to Copenhagen in a single day as shown above.

• Stay overnight in Copenhagen.  The friendly Astoria Hotel is a 1930s design classic right outside Copenhagen station main entrance, see photos & information here.  Other hotels near the station with good reviews include the Nimb Hotel (5-star luxe), Radisson Blu Royal Hotel (5-star), Axel Guldsmeden (4-star), Andersen Boutique Hotel, First Hotel Mayfair (3-star), Hotel Ansgar (3-star), City Hotel Nebo (2-star).

• Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Oslo by train, leaving Copenhagen at 09:27, change at Gothenburg Central, arriving Oslo Sentral 17:43.

  Earlier & later departures are available, see the Copenhagen-Oslo timetable & how to buy tickets here.

  Alternatively, spend a morning in Copenhagen, and after lunch take the DFDS overnight ferry to Oslo with a comfortable private cabin with shower & toilet, sailing from Copenhagen at 14:15 and arriving Oslo at 09:15 on day 3, as also shown here.  This is remarkably affordable, and saves a hotel bill.  Book the ferry at www.dfds.co.uk.

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Innsbruck to Helsinki & Finland...

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

• Day 1, travel from Innsbruck to Hamburg, leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 10:40, change at Munich Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 18:55 (times may vary).

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

  Book this train at the German Railways website 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.

• Day 1, transfer from Hamburg Hbf to the Travemünde ferry terminal by train+bus and sail from Travemünde to Helsinki with Finnlines, see the Trains from Hamburg page for full details of the transfer, check-in arrangements & ferry crossing.

  Finnlines sail from Travemünde in northern Germany to Helsinki every day, boarding at 23:30, sailing at 02:45 (the exact time varies) and arriving at Helsinki's Hansa Terminal in Vuosaari at 09:15 2 nights later (Day 3 from Innsbruck).

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

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

Finnlines operate the 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, Innsbruck to Helsinki by train to Stockholm, then ferry...

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Innsbruck to Prague or Cesky Krumlov from €19...

• Hop on a smart Austrian railjet train with restaurant car & free WiFi from Innsbruck Hbf to Linz in just 2h52, then change onto a comfortable air-conditioned EuroCity train to Prague taking 4h05.  There are a range of departures every day:

  Leave Innsbruck Hbf 08:17, change at Linz Hbf, arrive Prague Hlavni 15:39.

  Leave Innsbruck Hbf 12:17, change at Linz Hbf, arrive Prague Hlavni 19:39.

  Leave Innsbruck Hbf 15:14, change at Linz Hbf, arrive Prague Hlavni 22:40.

  Relax and enjoy the ride across Austria and into the Czech Republic - there's a restaurant car on the railjet, and usually a bistro car on the Linz-Prague EuroCity train, or take your own picnic and beer or wine.

• Fares start at just €19 (about 500 CZK) in 2nd class or €39 in 1st class.

• Buy tickets at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz.

  Change the Czech flag to the UK flag for English  and look for journeys with just 1 transfer via Linz.  Or you can travel via Vienna if you prefer.  Booking opens up to 3 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.  See my tips & advice for using cd.cz.

  Tip:  You can also buy from www.thetrainline.com which connects to the Austrian ÖBB ticketing system and on which Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  Cd.cz is usually cheaper, but you may prefer booking at Trainline up to 6 months out.

• If you're going to Cesky Krumlov...

  The Linz-Prague EuroCity trains all call at Ceske Budejovice (formerly known as Budweis, yes that's right, where the name of the beer comes from).  Simply get off there and take the regular branch line train run by local operator GWTR to Cesky Krumlov, 44 minutes away.  Book from Innsbruck to Ceske Budejovice at www.cd.cz and print your own ticket.  Then buy the local ticket from Ceske Budejovice to Cesky Krumlov either at Ceske Budejovice from the distinctive green & orange GWTR ticket kiosk in station's main hall or on board the local train from the self-service machines which accept contactless cards.

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Innsbruck to Bratislava from €39.90...

Option 1, Innsbruck to Bratislava by direct railjet train - once per day, the best option if the timings suit you... 

• A direct railjet train leaves Innsbruck Hbf at 16:17 every day, arriving Bratislava Hlavna at 21:51.

  The railjet has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more information about railjet trains.

• Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class, €44.90 in 1st class or €59.90 in business class (premium 1st).  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 the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

The direct railjet at Bratislava...

Business class.  About business class.		Restaurant.  In 1st & business you're served at your seat.

First class.		Economy class.

Option 2, Innsbruck to Vienna by railjet then regional express to Bratislava - hourly departures from morning to late afternoon...

• If the timing of the direct train doesn't suit you, simply take any of the regular Austrian railjet trains from Innsbruck Hbf to Vienna Hbf in around 4h15, then the hourly regional express train from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna (the main station, closest to the city centre) taking 1h06.  You'll find hourly departures with 1 change at Vienna Hbf from morning until late afternoon.

• Book at 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 €, more fiddly, same fares).  In the search results, look for journeys with just 1 change.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

  Tip:  I recommend selecting the specific destination station Bratislava hl.st. so you only see journeys to Bratislava Hlavna which is the main station, closest to the city centre.  If you select the generic BRATISLAVA as your destination you may see journeys to Bratislava Petrzalka station instead, which is not the main or best-located station in Bratislava.

• Tip:  The Vienna-Bratislava regional express trains run every hour, your ticket is good for any of them, so feel free to spend some time in Vienna between trains.

• Tip:  You could consider a river trip along the Danube from Vienna to Bratislava.  Fast ferries and hydrofoils run at least once a day in winter, up to 5 times a day in summer, journey time 80 minutes.  At least two companies operate the route, see www.twincityliner.com or www.lod.sk.

• For Poprad-Tatry & Kosice, the best way is to leave Innsbruck Hbf at 09:14 by railjet train to Vienna Hbf, then take the 14:42 direct Slovakian Intercity train from Vienna Hbf to Poprad & Kosice.  Look up times and buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.  I'd allow at least 30 minutes between trains in Vienna, ideally more.

The hourly regional express train from Vienna to Bratislava Hlavna

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Innsbruck to Poprad-Tatry & Kosice...

• Step 1, travel from Innsbruck to Vienna by smart modern railjet train, leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 09:14 and arriving Vienna Hbf 13:32.

  The railjet has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  1st class passengers are served at their seat.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Slovakia by Intercity train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 14:42 arriving Poprad-Tatry 19:57 & Kosice 21:13.

  This comfortable Slovakian Intercity train has a restaurant car.

• Fares start at €59.90 in 2nd class or €89.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Book from Innsbruck to Poprad Tatry or Kosice at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.

  Tip:  To get a safe connection time in Vienna, not a risky 10-minute one, wait until the search results appear, then click Set more filters and tick Comfortable connection time.

  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  In this case, tickets must be collected from a self-service machine or ticket office in Austria.

  You can also book at the Slovakian Railways website www.zssk.sk, which can be cheaper.  Switch it to English by clicking EN top right, it's a little fiddly, but it works.  You print your own ticket.  To get a safe connection time in Vienna, click More options for 1 route and select Time for change at least 30 minutes.

Slovakian Intercity train at Bratislava Hlavna...

Bar area at one end of the restaurant car.		2nd class open-plan seating...

1st class open-plan seats...		2nd class compartment seating...

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Innsbruck to Budapest from €29.90...

• A direct railjet train links Innsbruck Hbf with Budapest Keleti station leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 14:17 & arriving Budapest Keleti 21:19.

  If this direct train doesn't suit you there are other departures every hour with one easy change at Vienna Hbf.

  These smart Austrian railjet trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more information about railjets.  1st & business class passengers have restaurant orders taken and served at their seats.  Look out for views of Salzburg castle on its hill on the right as you cross the river Salzach on the approach to Salzburg Hbf.

• Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class, €44.90 in 1st class or €59.90 in business class (= premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Book from Innsbruck to Budapest at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or 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 railjet at Innsbruck Hbf.  More information about railjets.

Business class.  About business class.		Restaurant.  In 1st & business you're served at your seat.

First class.		Economy class.

A railjet arrived on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti station...

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Innsbruck to Brasov, Bucharest & Romania from €58...

Option 1, Innsbruck to Romania using the sleeper train Ister from Budapest to Brasov & Bucharest...

• Step 1, travel from Innsbruck to Budapest by railjet train, leaving Innsbruck Hbf 08:17, changing at Vienna Hbf arriving Budapest Keleti 16:19.

  Fares start at €29 in 2nd class, €44 in 1st class or €59 in business class (= premium 1st).  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 2, travel from Budapest to Romania by sleeper train Ister leaving Budapest Keleti at 19:10, arriving Brasov 08:40 & Bucharest Nord 11:19.

  This comfortable sleeper train has an air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  There's no restaurant car (although a bar-bistro is usually attached within Romania) so take a picnic and bottle of wine.  There's wonderful almost Alpine scenery through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov and Bucharest, a real treat...

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

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

  You can also book at the Hungarian Railways website www.mav-start.hu, see my advice on using it.  For Bucharest type Bucuresti.  You show your ticket in the MAV app on your phone.  Booking opens 60 days ahead.

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 2, Innsbruck to Romania using the sleeper train Dacia Express from Vienna to Sighisoara, Brasov & Bucharest.

• Step 1, travel from Innsbruck to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 14:17 & arriving Vienna Hbf at 18:32.

  Fares start at €29 in 2nd class, €44 in 1st class or €59 in business class (= premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Romania on the sleeper train 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 bed compartments with washbasin plus several with en suite shower & toilet, a Romanian couchette car with 4-berth & 6-berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  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.  If it says not available you can't book it, but if a Sparschiene fare is shown you can.  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.  For Austria to Romania journeys you can 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 3, Innsbruck to Romania by daytime trains with overnight stop in Budapest...

• Day 1, travel from Innsbruck to Budapest on any railjet train you like.

  A direct railjet train leaves Innsbruck Hbf at 14:17 arriving Budapest Keleti 21:19, but by all means travel earlier with a change in Vienna.

  Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class, €44.90 in 1st class or €59.90 in business class (premium 1st).  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 prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

• Stay overnight in Budapest.  Top choice for an inexpensive stay next to Budapest Keleti is the Intercity Hotel just across the square in front of the station.  Also try the Royal Park Boutique Hotel, the inexpensive Baross City Hotel across the road or the Elit Hotel two minutes walk away. Of course, if you want to push the boat out, the luxurious Corinthia Hotel opened in 1896 was almost certainly the inspiration for the 2014 film The Grand Budapest Hotel, 20 minutes walk or 9 minutes by taxi from Keleti station.  More hotels in Budapest.

• 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 Budapest page for details.

  Limited-availability advance-purchase fares start at €26.30 in 2nd class or (on trains which have it) €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.

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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Innsbruck to Ljubljana, Zagreb, Slovenia & Croatia from €29.90...

• Catch a fast railjet train to Salzburg Hbf or Schwarzach-St-Veit and change onto an air-conditioned EuroCity train to Ljubljana & Zagreb.

  This is a really lovely scenic journey through the mountains of Austria and along the lovely River Sava between Ljubljana and Zagreb. Total journey time to Ljubljana is just 6h08, to Zagreb around 8h30.  Bring a picnic & a bottle of wine and have your camera ready!

• Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Check times & buy tickets at 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 €, same fares, more fiddly).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

• Tip:  I've seen a cheap €29.90 Sparschiene fare available from Salzburg to Zagreb but only standard price €50+ available on the same date and train from Salzburg to Ljubljana.  So if you don't see a cheap Sparschiene to Ljubljana, see if there's one to Zagreb as nothing stops you buying that and getting off in Ljubljana!

An early lunch in the Austrian restaurant car as the Alpine scenery flies by.  This is a smart Austrian EuroCity train from Salzburg 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!

The EuroCity train Sava, arrived at Zagreb.		More scenery along the Sava between Ljubljana & Zagreb.

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Innsbruck to Belgrade, Sofia & Montenegro...

Option 1, Innsbruck to Belgrade by day trains with overnight stop in Zagreb - a scenic option....

• Day 1, travel from Innsbruck Hbf to Zagreb as explained above.  A lovely scenic ride!

• Stay overnight in Zagreb.  The Esplanade Hotel, Palace Hotel or Central Hotel are all near the station with good reviews.

• Day 2, travel from Zagreb to Belgrade on the daily 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.

  2nd class only, with two comfortable Serbian air-conditioned cars.  There's no catering, so bring your own food & drink.  This train cannot be booked online, just buy at the station or on the train for around €29.

if you're going to Sofia...

• Stay overnight in Belgrade.  I recommend the historic Hotel Moskva at the start of the main pedestrianised street through the old centre.

• Day 3, travel from Belgrade to Sofia by train, see the Belgrade to Sofia page for timetable, fares, tips & photos.

If you're going to Montenegro...

• A daytime and overnight train link Belgrade Topcider station with Podgorica and Bar over one of the most scenic lines in Europe, fare around €22 paid at the station on the day.  For train times, fares & photos see the Belgrade to Montenegro page.  Change at Podgorica for buses to Budva or Kotor.

Option 2, Innsbruck to Sofia via Bucharest - currently the only viable option...

• Day 1, travel from Innsbruck to Budapest by railjet train, leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 06:10, change at Vienna Hbf, arriving Budapest Keleti 13:19.

  The connection in Vienna may seem tight, but if there's a delay a later onward train will get you to Budapest at 14:19.

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

  Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

• Day 1, 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 2, 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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Innsbruck to Krakow & Warsaw...

Option 1, Innsbruck to Krakow & Warsaw using the Vienna-Poland sleeper train - the time-effective option...

• Step 1, travel from Innsbruck to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 16:17 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 20:32.

  Have dinner in Vienna.  By all means book an earlier train if you'd like more of an evening in Vienna.

  Tip:  If you have an onward ticket for a berth in the sleeping-car, you can use the ÖBB 1st class lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary tea, coffee & wine.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44.90 in business class (= premium 1st).  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.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Poland by sleeper train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 22:10, arriving Krakow Glowny 05:46 & Warsaw Gdanska 08:56.

  The EuroNight sleeper train Chopin has  a comfortable air-conditioned Polish sleeping-car with 1 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin plus two deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower, a couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.

  Vienna to Krakow starts at €19, Vienna to Warsaw at €29.  These are the cheapest possible advance-purchase Sparschiene fare, the price varies with limited availability at each price level.  You then need to add one of the following supplements to get a bed:

  €20 for a couchette in 6-berth, €30 for a couchette in 4-berth, €35 for a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €50 for a bed in a 2-bed sleeper, €100 for a bed in a single-bed sleeper, €70 for a bed in a 2-berth deluxe sleeper with shower & toilet, or €120 for a single-bed deluxe sleeper with shower & toilet (all per person, berths are sold individually).

  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 modern Polish sleeping-car on the Vienna-Krakow-Warsaw overnight train, boarding at Vienna Hbf.

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

Option 2, Innsbruck to Warsaw by railjet & EuroCity train - the leisurely daytime option...

• Step 1, travel from Innsbruck to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 08:17 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 12:32.

  The railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  A later connection is possible, but as there are no later onward trains to Warsaw, I'd play it safe.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44.90 in business class (= premium 1st).  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.

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

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Warsaw by EuroCity train Polonia with restaurant car, leaving Vienna Hbf 14:10 arriving Warsaw Centralna 21:29.

  Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 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 prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

A EuroCity train from Vienna to Warsaw & Gydnia at Vienna Hbf.  On these PKP Polish Railways cars, the green stripe above the windows indicates 2nd class.  Yellow indicates first class.  Red indicates the restaurant car.  Courtesy of Jennifer Delaney.

Most 2nd class cars have compartments like this with side corridor & 6-seat compartments, although one or two cars may have open-plan saloons.  All 1st class seats are in 6-seat compartments on these trains.  Click images for larger photos.

Restaurant car...

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Innsbruck to Vilnius, Riga, Tallinn...

• Day 1, travel from Innsbruck to Warsaw by daytime trains as shown in the Innsbruck to Warsaw section above.

• 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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Innsbruck to Kyiv & Ukraine...

• Step 1, travel from Innsbruck to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 10:17 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 14:32.

  The railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  A later connection is possible, but I'd play it safe.

  Fares start at €19.90 in economy class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44.90 in business class (= premium 1st class).

  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 to Lviv or Kyiv by direct Ukrainian sleeping-car, leaving Vienna Hbf at 16:42 every day and arriving at Lviv at 11:00 & Kyiv at 18:30 next day.

  Introduced in December 2017, this train has one or two direct Ukrainian sleeping-cars with comfortable 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, see the photos below.  At Chop on the other side of the border the through sleeping-cars are jacked up to have their wheelsets changed from European standard gauge (4'8½") to Russian gauge used in Ukraine (5').

  Book the train from Vienna to Lviv or Kyiv online at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.

  This will only book one-way or round trip starting in Vienna because tickets need to be collected from an ÖBB station in Austria.  They cannot be collected in Ukraine.  Booking this way you pay no fee or mark-up, just the official fare.  The sleeper is popular, it usually sells out.

  If you have any problems or want a one-way ticket starting in Ukraine, you can also book the Vienna-Kyiv train via reliable agency www.polrail.com, with tickets posted or couriered to you for a small fee.  Polrail are based in Poland so charge in zlotys, but as they have access to Ukrainian ticketing system they are good for booking this train.

  Booked through oebb.at:

  Vienna to Kyiv costs €80.50 in a 3-berth sleeper, €90.50 in a 2-berth sleeper or €152.90 in a single sleeper.

  Vienna to Lviv costs €62.10 in a 3-berth sleeper, €70.10 in a 2-berth sleeper or €119.30 in a single sleeper.

  Booked through Polrail:

  Vienna to Kyiv costs around €138 in a 3-berth sleeper €149 in a 2-berth sleeper, or €241 in a single-berth sleeper.

  Vienna to Lviv costs around €120 in a 3-berth sleeper €129 in a 2-berth sleeper, or €207 in a single-berth sleeper.

  Booked at the station in Ukraine, Kyiv to Vienna costs around €80, Lviv to Vienna around €60, in both cases with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper.

The Vienna-Kyiv sleeping-car boarding at Vienna Hbf.

The Vienna-Kyiv sleeper about to leave Vienna Hbf... Courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.		The sleeper corridor.  Courtesy Helmut Uttenthaler.		1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper compartment.

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Innsbruck to Moscow, St Petersburg & Russia...

Innsbruck to Moscow via Kyiv - avoiding Belarus...

• Step 1, travel from Innsbruck to Vienna by railjet train, then Vienna to Kyiv by sleeper as shown above.

• Step 2, take one of the various Kyiv to Moscow sleeper trains, for example train 6 leaves at 19:36 arriving Moscow Kievskaya station at 10:09.

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

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

  You can ask www.polrail.com to book this for you too, or you can book tickets from Kyiv to Moscow at the Ukrainian Railways site booking.uz.gov.ua/en/ booking from Kyiv to Moskva Kievskaya.  You collect tickets at the station in Kyiv.  Feedback appreciated!

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

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Innsbruck to Athens, Corfu & Greece...

Option 1, Innsbruck 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 Innsbruck to Verona Porta Nuova by comfortable Austrian EuroCity train through the scenic Brenner Pass with a restaurant car for dinner. There are various departures, journey time 3h31, you can leave in late afternoon.

  Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy a ticket at 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 2, a little more fiddly, same fares).

• 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.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at either www.thetrainline.com (keeping all your bookings together in one place) or www.italiarail.com (they'll refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com afterwards) or www.trenitalia.com.  Booking normally opens 120 days ahead.  It's ticketless, you 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, Innsbruck to Athens overland by train via Munich & Belgrade - not currently viable...

• You can also travel overland by train from Frankfurt to Athens via Belgrade & Thessaloniki.  It'll take 3 nights, with the romance and adventure of an epic train ride through the Balkans.

• Travel from Innsbruck to Munich by train from €18.90 booked at www.bahn.de.

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

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Innsbruck to Istanbul & Turkey...

• Day 1, travel from Innsbruck to Bucharest overnight using the Vienna-Bucharest sleeper train Dacia Express as shown above.

• Day 2, stay overnight in Bucharest.  The Hotel MyContinental Bucuresti Gara de Nord is walking distance from the station, inexpensive and gets great reviews.

• Day 3, travel from Bucharest to Istanbul by sleeper train as shown on the Bucharest to Istanbul page, arriving in the morning on Day 4.