The civilised way...  Lunch in the restaurant car.  Courtesy of Kevin Coumbe

This page explains how to travel from Ljubljana to other key European cities, and how to buy tickets the cheapest way.  Train information is current for 2021.

  Train travel within Slovenia

  Trains between Ljubljana & Zagreb

  Trains from Ljubljana to Pula

  Trains from Ljubljana to Lake Bled

Before you buy your tickets...

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

European train travel FAQ...

Buying train tickets for journeys within Slovenia...

• You can check times & fares at the Slovenian Railways website potniski.sz.si, although you can't buy Slovenian tickets online, so just buy at the station.

• Although for national & international train times it can be easier to use the all-Europe online timetable provided by German Railways at www.bahn.de.

Ljubljana to Pula for €19...

• Southbound Ljubljana to Pula.

  A direct train called the Istra runs from 18 April to 29 August 2020, leaving Ljubljana at 06:12 arriving Pula 10:43.  2nd class only, bring your own food & drink along.  2021 dates not known.

  All year, a local train service leaves Ljubljana at 08:15 every day, there's an easy change of train at Divaca & at the Croatian border at Buzet, arriving  change at Pula at 13:03.

  All year, a local train service leaves Ljubljana at 14:35 every day, there's an easy change of train at Divaca & at the Croatian border at Buzet, arriving  change at Pula at 19:10.

  A Pula Special ticket costs €19 one-way or €29 return.  All these trains are 2nd class only, no online booking, just buy at the station.

• Northbound Pula to Ljubljana...

  A direct train called the Istra runs from 18 April to 29 August 2020, leaving Pula at 17:57 arriving Ljubljana 22:34.  2nd class only, bring your own food & drink along.

  All year, a local train leaves Pula at 09:05 every day, with an easy change at the border at Buzet and at Divaca, arriving Ljubljana at 17:05.

  All year, a local train leaves Pula at 14:36 every day, with an easy change at the border at Buzet and at Divaca, arriving Ljubljana at 19:42.

• All these trains are 2nd class only, no online booking, just buy at the station, no reservation necessary or possible.  A Pula Spezial ticket costs €19 one-way or €29 return.

• You can check times at the Slovenian Railways site potniski.sz.si.  Tip:  Use their site search, search for Pula.  If you get error 404 in English, try using their site in Slovenia with help from Google Chrome translate.

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Ljubljana to Lake Bled for €7...

• Trains to Lesce-Bled:  Tains link Ljubljana station with Lesce-Bled station every hour or so, journey time 40 minutes (express) or 54-70 minutes (local train), check train times and fares at the Slovenian Railways website potniski.sz.si.

  Buy a ticket at the station, the fare is around €6.88.

  Lesce-Bled station is on the main line to Villach, Salzburg & Munich, 3.8 km from the centre of Bled old town, 5.8 km from Bled Castle. 

  Tip:  Air-conditioned buses link the bus stop outside Lesce Bled station with Bled old town roughly every 20-35 minutes, journey time 9 minutes, fare around €1.30.  You can check times at arriva.si, Lesce ŽP = Lesce-Bled railway station.

• Trains to Bled Jezero:  You can also travel to Bled Jezero station on a local line.  Ljubljana to Bled Jezero takes 90-110 minutes with a train every 2-3 hours, change at Jessenice, fare around €6.59.  Bled Jezero is next to the lake, 2.5 km from Bled Castle, 3.5 km from Bled old town.  You can check current times and fares at potniski.sz.si.

View over Lake Bled near Bled Jezero station.  Photo courtesy of Steve Mason.

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Ljubljana to Zagreb from €9...

• There are several trains every day linking Ljubljana & Zagreb, a lovely scenic train ride through the hills along the beautiful River Sava.

  Departures from Ljubljana to Zagreb:  06:20, 08:30, 14:45, 18:36.  Journey time 2h16 - 2h27.

  Times may vary, so check train times with the German Railways online timetable at www.bahn.de.

• Tickets cannot be bought online, but you can easily buy tickets at the station for around €18, or for just €9 with an advance-purchase ticket if you buy the day before or earlier.  There's no need to buy way ahead as there are always places available.

Great scenery as the train snakes along the Sava between Ljubljana & Zagreb...

More scenery 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!

More scenery between Ljubljana & Zagreb along the river Sava...

Ljubljana to London, Paris, Brussels, Luxembourg, Amsterdam...

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

• Day 1, travel from Ljubljana or Lesce-Bled to Munich, leaving Ljubljana at 15:27 or Lesce-Bled at 16:13, arriving Munich Hbf at 21:42.

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Paris, Brussels, Luxembourg or Amsterdam by train.

  To Paris, for example, the 06:46 (06:23 on Sundays) TGV Duplex from Munich Hbf will get you to Paris Gare de l'Est around 12:38 (12:15 on Sundays), see the Munich-Paris TGV video.  But by all means take a later train.

  To Amsterdam for example, the 07:45 ICE from Munich Hbf, change at Dusseldorf onto another ICE, arrives Amsterdam Centraal 15:28.

  To Brussels for example, the 08:45 ICE from Munich Hbf, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf onto another ICE, arrives Brussels Midi at 15:35.

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

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

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

Great scenery as the train snakes along the Sava between Ljubljana & Zagreb...

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

Option 2, by comfortable sleeper train Lisinski to Munich, then day trains...

• Day 1, travel from Ljubljana to Munich by sleeper train, leaving Ljubljana at 23:55 or Lesce-Bled 21:51, arriving Munich Hbf at 06:10.

  This is the Croatian sleeper train Lisinski, which has a smart air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments, and an air-conditioned Croatian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  See the Croatian sleeper video here.

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Paris, Brussels, Luxembourg or Amsterdam, allowing at least 60 minutes between trains in Munich.  For example:

  Leave Munich Hbf 09:28, change at Stuttgart, arrive Paris Gare de l'Est 16:53. 

  Leave Munich Hbf 07:52, change at Cologne, arrive Brussels Midi 15:35.

  Leave Munich Hb 07:45, change at Düsseldorf, arrive Amsterdam Centraal 15:28.

  You'll find more detail on the International trains from Munich page.

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

  Check times & buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.  Tip:  I also recommend changing Duration of transfer: standard to at least 20 minutes.

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

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

Option 3, by comfortable sleeper train to Zurich, then day trains...

• Day 1, take the excellent air-conditioned sleeper train from Ljubljana to Zurich overnight, leaving Ljubljana at 21:10 & Lesce-Bled at 21:51, arriving Zurich HB at 09:20.

  The train comes from Zagreb, with a comfortable air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, see the Croatian sleeper video, highly recommended.  There's also a couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments which is also comfortable and air-conditioned. There's no catering car so bring a picnic and bottle of wine.  There is lovely scenery along the Sava river between Zagreb & Ljubljana.

  Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €69.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

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

• Day 2, travel from Zurich to Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam as follows.  I'd allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Zurich.

  The 11:34 from Zurich HB reaches Paris Gare de l'Est at 15:38, fares from €29, book at www.thetrainline.com (easiest) or en.oui.sncf.

  The 11:59 from Zurich HB, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, reaches Amsterdam Centraal at 20:28, fares from €37.90, book at www.bahn.de.

  The 11:59 from Zurich HB, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, reaches Brussels Midi at 19:35, fares from €37.90, book at www.bahn.de.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead. You'll find more detail on the International trains from Zurich page.

The Zagreb-Zurich sleeping-car is a modern air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car like this with 10 compartments with washbasin, each of which can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth room, toilets at the end of the corridor.  It's identical to the Zagreb-Munich sleeper.  See larger sleeper photo...

Wake up in Switzerland to scenery like this.  Taken from the Zagreb-Zurich sleeper, courtesy of John Richards...

Option 4, using the Nightjet sleeper train from Vienna to Cologne, Düsseldorf, Brussels & Amsterdam...

• Step 1, travel from Ljubljana to Vienna, leaving Ljubljana at 08:00 by fast Slovenian Pendolino train with cafe-bar, changing at Maribor onto the EuroCity train Croatia to Vienna, arriving Vienna Hbf at 14:02. 

  The Croatia uses comfortable and spacious air-conditioned Austrian EuroCity cars, with power sockets at all seats with a choice of sitting in an open-plan saloon car (my own preference) or in classic 6-seater compartments with side corridor.  It has an elegant Austrian restaurant car.

  This journey is a real treat, enjoy an inexpensive lunch with wine or beer in the restaurant car as the Croatia travels over the wonderfully-scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route through the mountains between Graz & Vienna.  Enjoy an afternoon in Vienna.

  Fares start at €24.90.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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

  Tip:  If it sells you a ticket for the whole journey, great.  If it says Ticket for section only then it's only selling you a ticket from Maribor to Vienna, in which case buy that and print it out.  Then buy the Ljubljana-Maribor ticket at the station in Ljubljana, that won't be a problem.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Amsterdam or Brussels by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Vienna at 20:13 every day and arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 09:58 next morning.  On Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays this train conveys a portion to Brussels, arriving Brussels Midi 09:55.

  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.

  Tip:  If you have a sleeper ticket, you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Vienna Hbf, with free WiFi & complimentary tea, coffee & wine.

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

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

Vienna to Cologne, Dusseldorf, Brussels or Amsterdam by Nightjet sleeper train.  More information about Nightjet trains.

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

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

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Ljubljana to Nice & the South of France...

• Day 1, travel Ljubljana to Trieste by regional train and on to Venice as explained here.  A cheap, scenic and enjoyable journey.

• Stay overnight in Venice - for a hotel that won't break the bank, but is 2 minutes walk from the station with good reviews, try the Hotel Maggior Consiglio or for a little more, the Hotel Abbazia.  Hotels near Venice Mestre on the mainland are usually cheaper, but I'd never miss a chance to stay in Venice itself if I could.

• Day 2, travel from Venice to Monaco, Nice, Cannes changing at the magnificent Milan Centrale, as shown on the Trains from Venice page.  It's a lovely journey along the coast between Genoa and Nice, have your camera ready!

  Fares start at €34.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.

  Check times & book this at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Italian Railways website www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly, requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it). 

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Ljubljana to Zurich & Switzerland...

Option 1, by direct sleeper train...

• An excellent sleeper train leaves Ljubljana for Zurich every night, leaving Ljubljana at 21:10 & Lesce-Bled at 21:51, arriving Zurich HB 09:20.

  The train comes from Zagreb, with a comfortable air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, see the Croatian sleeper video, highly recommended.  It also has an air-conditioned Croatian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments and ordinary seats.  There's no catering car so bring a picnic and bottle of wine.  Morning tea or coffee included in sleepers.

• Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €69.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

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

The Zagreb-Zurich sleeping-car is a modern air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car like this with 10 compartments with washbasin, each of which can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth room, toilets at the end of the corridor.  It's identical to the Zagreb-Munich sleeper.  See larger sleeper photo...

Wake up in Switzerland to scenery like this.  Taken from the Zagreb-Zurich sleeper, courtesy of John Richards...

Option 2, by day train...

• Travel from Ljubljana to Zurich by EuroCity train, leaving Ljubljana at 09:22 or Lesce-Bled at 10:03, changing at Schwarzach-St.Veit (arrive 12:48, depart 13:13) and arriving Zurich HB at 19:20.  There's great scenery through Austria and then through the Arlberg Pass into Switzerland.

• Book from Ljubljana or Lesce Bled to Schwarzach-St.Veit from €29 at www.thetrainline.com.  Then use www.thetrainline.com again to book Schwarzach-St.Veit to Zurich.  You can also book at Austrian Railways' own website www.oebb.at.  You print your own ticket.  You can book through to any Swiss station if you like.

Option 3, by day trains with overnight stop in Vienna...

• Day 1, travel from Ljubljana to Vienna as shown above.

• Stay overnight in Vienna.  Hotels near the station with good reviews include the Motel One Vienna Hbf, GraetzlHotel, Hotel Schani Wien.

• Day 2, travel from Vienna through the wonderfully scenic Arlberg Pass to Zurich as shown here.

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Ljubljana to Trieste, Venice, Florence, Rome & Italy...

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

• Step 1, travel from Ljubljana to Bruck an der Mur by EuroCity train Emona, leaving Ljubljana at 15:55 and arriving Bruck an der Mur at 20:01.

  The train has comfortable air-conditioned Austrian & Slovenian cars, most open-plan, some with classic 6-seat compartments.  There's an excellent Slovenian restaurant car, treat yourself to dinner.  Emona is the Roman name for Ljubljana.

• Step 2, travel from Bruck an der Mur to Italy by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Bruck an der Mur at 21:27 every evening (the train comes from Vienna), arriving Bologna Centrale 05:20, Florence SMN 06:19 & Rome Termini 09:22 with a portion for Milan Porta Garibaldi arriving 08:10.

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

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

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

  Tip:  If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.

Step 1, Ljubljana to Bruck an der Mur by EuroCity train:  This is the Croatia from Zagreb, but the Emona is similar...

1st class open-plan (saloon) seating.  The Emona also has 1st class seats in classic 6-seat  compartments.		2nd class compartments.  The Emona.  also has seats in open plan cars.

Ljubljana to Vienna on the Emona:  This is the Slovenian restaurant car, with inexpensive freshly-cooked meals, beer & wine.

Sevnica Castle, seen from the train between Zagreb & Zidani Most....

Scenery between Zidani Most and Maribor in Slovenia on the route of the Emona...

Step 2, Bruck an der Mur to Florence & Rome by Nightjet sleeper train.  More information about Nightjets.

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

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

Option 2, using the Ljubljana-Trieste daytime trains...

• Travel from Ljubljana to Trieste on one of two daily regional trains or the daily EuroCity train, then onwards to Venice by regional train, see the Ljubljana to Venice page for timetable, fares & how to buy tickets.

• Trains from Ljubljana to Italy were restored in September 2018.  Ljubljana to Venice costs just €22 or so, any day, any date, no prior reservation necessary, it cannot sell out, just buy at the station on the day.  And if you've ever wondered where prosecco comes from, you'll find out on this route (see the Ljubljana to Venice page!)  For Florence, Rome, Naples or Milan, take an onward high-speed train from Venice, see the Train travel in Italy page.

Inside the train.  Larger photo.		The train from Ljubljana to Trieste.  Courtesy of Marc Williams.

Scenery in Slovenia, seen from the train from Ljubljana to Trieste.  More photos & information about Ljubljana-Trieste.

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Ljubljana to Barcelona & Spain...

• Day 1, travel from Ljubljana to Zurich by EuroCity train, leaving Ljubljana at 09:22 or Lesce-Bled at 10:03, changing at Schwarzach-St.Veit (arrive 12:48, depart 13:13) and arriving Zurich HB at 19:20.  There's great scenery through Austria and then through the Arlberg Pass into Switzerland.  Then take a connecting Swiss train from Zurich HB to Geneva, arriving 22:47.

  Book from Ljubljana or Lesce Bled to Schwarzach-St.Veit from €29.90 at www.thetrainline.com. 

  Then use www.thetrainline.com again to book Schwarzach-St.Veit to Geneva.  You print your own tickets.

  You can also book at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.

• Stay overnight in Geneva.  Suggested hotels with good reviews near the station include Hotel Cornavin Geneve, 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 by train, leaving Geneva at 11:30 by TER regional train, changing at Lyon Part Dieu (arrive 13:25, depart 14:28) onto a direct AVE-S100 high-speed train arriving Barcelona Sants at 19:33.

  Between Lyon & Barcelona you follow the same interesting route taken by the Paris-Barcelona TGVs, see the photos & video on the Paris to Barcelona page.  You'll pass the Chateau de Montfaucon, Béziers cathedral, flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Montpelier and Perpignan, the historic Catalan-built Fort de Salses right by the tracks, and get great views of the massive Mt Canigou in the Pyrenees, visible all the way from Perpignan to Girona.

  Geneva-Lyon costs a fixed-price €29.60.  Lyon-Barcelona starts at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, a little more fiddly, but no fee).  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.

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

• Day 3, travel from Barcelona to other Spanish cities by high-speed train.

  For Madrid:  AVE-S103 high-speed trains link Barcelona Sants with Madrid Atocha every hour or two in as little as 2h30 from €35, check times at www.raileurope.com.

  For Cordoba & Seville:  Take the direct AVE-S112 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:30 arriving Cordoba 13:12 & Seville Santa Justa at 14:02.  Fares start at €53.  Alternatively, spend a morning in Barcelona and take the 15:50 AVE S112 high-speed train to Cordoba & Seville.

  For Malaga:  Take the 09:00 AVE high-speed train to Madrid Atocha arriving 11:45, then the 13:00 AVE high-speed train to Malaga Maria Zambrano, arriving 16:05.  Alternatively, spend a morning in Barcelona and take the direct 15:50 AVE S112 high-speed train to Malaga.

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

  For Valencia & Alicante:  EuroMed trains link Barcelona Sants with Valencia & Alicante regularly through the day, for example one leaves Barcelona Sants at 08:15 Mondays-Fridays arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 10:55 & Alicante 12:45 or at 10:15 every day arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 12:55 & Alicante 14:48.  Fares from €23.

  For Santiago de Compostela, A Coruna & Vigo, there's a morning Alvia train to Galicia, see details here.

  Check times & buy tickets at www.raileurope.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.petrabax.com (easy to use, in $, small mark-up) or the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (in €, much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see this advice, but no fee).  Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but it varies.

Mt Canigou & the Pyrenees...  Seen from the train and one of the highest peaks in the mighty Pyrenees, the 2,784m (9,137 feet) high Mt Canigou dominates the skyline all the way from Girona to Perpignan...

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Ljubljana to Berlin...

Option 1, Ljubljana to Budapest by day train, then Budapest to Berlin by sleeper train - the cheapest & most time-effective option...

• Step 1, travel from Ljubljana to Budapest on the Intercity train Citadella, leaving Ljubljana at 09:23 & arriving Budapest Déli at 16:59.

  Fares start at just €15 if you book online in advance.

  Buy a ticket at the Hungarian Railways website jegy.mav.hu, see my advice for using it.  Booking normally opens 60 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or show it in the MAV app on your smartphone.  Have an early dinner in Budapest. 

• Step 2, travel from Budapest to Berlin by EuroNight sleeper train Metropol, leaving Budapest Keleti at 19:25 & arriving Berlin Hbf at 09:51.

  The train has an air-conditioned sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, air-conditioned 4 & 6 berth couchettes and 2nd class seats.

  Fares start at €49 with a couchette in a 6-berth compartment, €59 with a couchette in a 4-berth compartment, €79 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper with washbasin, €99 in a 2-bed sleeper with washbasin or €129 in a single-bed sleeper with washbasin.

  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).  Bookings open up to 90 days ahead and you print your own ticket.

  See photos of the sleeping-car here & photos of the couchette car here.  The sleeping-car has 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, the couchette car has 4-berth & 6-berth compartments.

  Tip:  If you like, you can see the formation of this train at www.vagonweb.cz - Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Hungary & click EN, then select the Metropol.

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

Option 2, Ljubljana to Vienna by day, Vienna to Berlin by sleeper - a bit longer than option 1 & with an extra change, but you get an afternoon in Vienna...

• Step 1, travel from Ljubljana to Vienna, leaving Ljubljana at 08:00 by Slovenian Pendolino train with cafe-bar, changing at Maribor onto the EuroCity train Croatia to Vienna, arriving Vienna Hbf at 14:02.

  The Croatia uses comfortable and spacious air-conditioned Austrian EuroCity cars, with power sockets at all seats with a choice of sitting in an open-plan saloon car (my own preference) or in classic 6-seater compartments with side corridor.  It has an elegant Austrian restaurant car.

  This journey is a real treat, enjoy an inexpensive lunch with wine or beer in the restaurant car as the Croatia travels over the wonderfully-scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route through the mountains between Graz & Vienna.  Enjoy an afternoon in Vienna.

  Fares start at €24.90.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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

  Tip:  If it sells you a ticket for the whole journey, great.  If it says Ticket for section only then it's only selling you a ticket from Maribor to Vienna, in which case buy that and print it out.  Then buy the Ljubljana-Maribor ticket at the station in Ljubljana, that won't be a problem.  It should sell you the whole journey if you book less than 60 days ahead, as Slovenian Railways open reservations for the Ljubljana-Maribor train 60 days ahead.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Berlin by nightjet sleeper train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 22:10 and arriving Berlin Hbf at 09:51 next morning.

  This comfortable nightjet has a Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3 bed standard compartments with washbasin, three 1, 2 & 3 bed deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower, there's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in standard sleepers.  There are also 4 & 6 berth couchettes.  A light breakfast is included in the fare in both sleepers and couchettes.  See the nightjet sleeper train page for more photos, travel tips & information.

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

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

  Tip:  If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.

Vienna to Berlin by nightjet...  The Vienna to Berlin Nightjet prepares to leave Vienna Hbf.  See the nightjet page for more photos, tips & information.  Courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.

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

Option 3, by daytime trains with an overnight stop in Vienna - If you prefer day trains and a hotel to sleepers, this is fastest...

• Step 1, travel from Ljubljana to Vienna as shown in the Ljubljana to Vienna section.

  It's a scenic and enjoyable ride.  The direct train Emona  has comfortable Austrian & Slovenian air-conditioned cars and a Slovenian restaurant car, see the photos in the Ljubljana to Vienna section.  Emona is the Roman name for Ljubljana.

  Fares start at €24.90.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book online at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, overseas credit cards no problem) or at Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices but a bit more fiddly).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

• Stay overnight in Vienna.  Hotels near Vienna Hbf with good reviews include the Motel One Vienna Hbf, GraetzlHotel, Hotel Schani Wien.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Berlin by ICE train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 10:15 arriving Berlin Hbf at 17:58.

  This is the superb ICE train Berolina, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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

The ICE Berolina at Vienna Hbf.  Courtesy Helmut Uttenthaler .

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

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

Option 4, by daytime trains with an overnight stop in Budapest - If you prefer day trains & a hotel to sleepers, slower but cheaper than option 3...

• Step 1, travel from Ljubljana to Budapest on the Intercity train Citadella, leaving Ljubljana at 09:23 & arriving Budapest Déli at 16:59.

  Fares start at €15 if you book online in advance.

  Buy a ticket at the Hungarian Railways website jegy.mav.hu, see my advice for using it.  Booking normally opens 60 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or show it in the MAV app on your smartphone.

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

• Step 2, travel from Budapest to Berlin on the EuroCity train Hungaria, leaving Budapest Nyugati at 07:40 arriving Berlin Hbf at 18:42.

  The train has a restaurant car, treat yourself to lunch and a beer or two.  The train follows the scenic Elbe river between Prague & Dresden, see the photos & video here.

  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.  Tickets are sent by post to any address worldwide.

Option 5, via Munich...

• Step 1, travel from Ljubljana to Munich as shown above.  There's a Ljubljana-Munich sleeper or Ljubljana-Munich daytime trains.  Make sure you allow at least 90 minutes between trains in Munich, just in case of delay.

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Berlin by high-speed ICE train in as little as 3h58 from €27.90 as shown on the trains from Munich page.

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Ljubljana to Munich, Frankfurt, Cologne, Hamburg & Germany from €37.90

Option 1, by daytime trains...

• There are two or three daily EuroCity trains and an overnight sleeper train between Ljubljana, Lesce-Bled, Salzburg & Munich.  One EuroCity train is direct, another one involves a quick and easy cross-platform change at Villach on the Austrian border.  Change at Salzburg Hbf for Innsbruck.

  Simply use www.bahn.de to confirm times and buy tickets for the daytime trains from Zagreb or Ljubljana to anywhere in Germany.

  You'll find departures from Ljubljana to Salzburg Hbf & Munich Hbf at 07:26, 09:22, 15:27 & 23:55 (sleeper).

  You'll find departures from Lesce-Bled to Salzburg Hbf & Munich Hbf at 08:13, 10:03, 16:13 & 00:36 (sleeper).

  Fares from Ljubljana to anywhere in Germany start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €56.90 in 1st class if you book in advance. 

  The Man in Seat 61 says:  "The 15:27 from Ljubljana involves a simple cross-platform change in Villach.  It only takes 30 seconds to change trains at Villach, but if the Croatian/Slovenian train is late, the Austrian train so Salzburg & Munich will not wait.  I'd go with the earlier morning train which is direct."

• You can buy tickets from Ljubljana to Salzburg, Innsbruck, Munich or anywhere in Germany at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, you print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

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

Option 2, using the Ljubljana to Munich sleeper...

• Step 1, travel from Slovenia to Munich by sleeper train, leaving Ljubljana at 23:55 or Lesce-Bled at 00:36 arriving Munich Hbf at 06:10. 

  This is the sleeper train Lisinski, which has a smart air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments, and an air-conditioned Croatian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  See the Croatian sleeper video here.

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Munich to anywhere in Germany.  Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de and print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I'd allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Munich, just in case the sleeper is late.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

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

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

In summer when it's light you'll see scenery like this between Zagreb & Ljubljana, along the river Sava...

Option 3, Morning train to Vienna, afternoon free, then Vienna to Cologne, Düsseldorf or Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train...

• Step 1, travel from Ljubljana to Vienna, leaving Ljubljana at 08:00, changing at Maribor onto the EuroCity Croatia, arriving Vienna Hbf 14:02. 

  The Croatia uses comfortable and spacious air-conditioned Austrian EuroCity cars, with power sockets at all seats with a choice of sitting in an open-plan saloon car (my own preference) or in classic 6-seater compartments with side corridor.  it has an elegant Austrian restaurant car.

  This journey is a real treat, enjoy an inexpensive lunch with wine or beer in the restaurant car as the train travels over the wonderfully-scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route through the mountains between Graz & Vienna.  Enjoy an afternoon in Vienna.

  Fares start at €24.90.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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

  Tip:  If it sells you a ticket for the whole journey, great.  If it says Ticket for section only then it's only selling you a ticket from Maribor to Vienna on the Croatia, in which case buy that, then buy the Ljubljana-Maribor ticket at the station, that won't be a problem.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Cologne, Düsseldorf or Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Vienna at 20:13 and arriving Cologne Hbf at 06:51, Düsseldorf  at 07:23 or (a separate portion) Hamburg Hbf at 08:47 next morning.

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

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

Vienna to Cologne, Düsseldorf or Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train.  More information about Nightjets.

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

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

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Ljubljana to Vienna from €24.90...

Option 1, morning departure with a change of train.

• Leave Ljubljana at 08:00 on a fast Slovenian air-conditioned Pendolino train with cafe-bar that tilts into the curves on the pretty route to Maribor, near the Austrian border.  Change at Maribor onto the EuroCity train Croatia to Vienna, arriving Vienna Hbf at 14:02.

  The EuroCity train Croatia uses comfortable and spacious air-conditioned Austrian EuroCity cars, with power sockets at all seats with a choice of sitting in an open-plan saloon car (my own preference) or in classic 6-seater compartments with side corridor.  it has an elegant Austrian restaurant car.

  This journey is a real treat, enjoy an inexpensive lunch with wine or beer in the restaurant car as the train travels over the wonderfully-scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route through the mountains between Graz & Vienna.  Enjoy an afternoon in Vienna.

  Fares start at €24.90.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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

  Tip:  If it sells you a ticket for the whole journey, great.  If it says Ticket for section only then it's only selling you a ticket from Maribor to Vienna, in which case buy that and print it out.  Then buy the Ljubljana-Maribor ticket at the station in Ljubljana, that won't be a problem.  The issue is that the pendolino is reservation compulsory but the Slovenians only load reservation data 60 days ahead.

Option 2, afternoon departure by direct EuroCity train Emona...

• A comfortable EuroCity train called the Emona leaves Ljubljana every day at 15:55 arriving Vienna Hbf at 22:02.

  The Emona has a Slovenian restaurant car serving inexpensive waiter-service meals, beer & wine.  This train also travels over the beautiful UNESCO-listed Semmering route through the mountains between Graz & Vienna, a real treat.

  The Emona uses a mix of comfortable & spacious air-conditioned Austrian & Slovenian carriages with a choice of sitting in an open-plan saloon car (my own preference) or in classic 6-seater compartments with side corridor.  The Austrian cars have power sockets at seats, although the Slovenian ones don't.  Emona is the Roman name for Ljubljana.

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

  Fares start at €24.90.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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

Option 3, an early morning connection...

• A train leaves Ljubljana at 07:26 with one quick & easy change at Villach, arriving Vienna Hbf at 13:35.  It's a short connection in Villach, but easy to make as it is just across a platform, and if there is a delay there's another train from Villach to Vienna two hours later which will get you into Vienna Hbf at 15:35.

  Fares start at €24.90.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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

Option 4, a late morning connection: 

• A train leaves Ljubljana at 09:22 with one quick & easy change at Villach, arriving Vienna Hbf at 15:35.  It's a reasonable connection in Villach, easy to make as it is just across a platform, and if there is a delay there's another train from Villach to Vienna two hours later which will get you into Vienna Hbf at 17:35.

  Fares start at €24.90.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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

Austrian EuroCity train:  This is the Croatia from Zagreb to Vienna, a similar train to the Emona...

1st class open-plan (saloon) seating.  The Emona also has 1st class seats in classic 6-seat  compartments.		2nd class compartments.  The Emona.  also has seats in open plan cars.

Ljubljana to Vienna on the Emona:  The Slovenian restaurant car with inexpensive freshly-cooked meals, beer & wine.

Sevnica Castle, seen from the train between Zagreb & Zidani Most....

Scenery between Zidani Most and Maribor in Slovenia on the route of the Emona...

Between Graz & Vienna the Emona & Croatia travel over the famous Semmering Railway, opened in 1854 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  See the Vienna to Venice by train page for more information, photos & video.

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Ljubljana to Graz, Salzburg, Innsbruck & Austria...

• There are three daily trains between Ljubljana & Salzburg.  One train is direct, another one involves a quick and easy cross-platform change at Villach on the Austrian border.  There is a also a direct train from Ljubljana to Graz.

  You'll normally find departures from Ljubljana to Salzburg Hbf at 07:26, 09:22, 15:27.  Change at Salzburg Hbf for Innsbruck.

  You'll normally  find departures from Lesce-Bled to Salzburg Hbf at 08:13, 10:03, 16:13.  Change at Salzburg Hbf for Innsbruck.

  You'll find a direct train from Ljubljana to Graz at 15:55 (the EuroCity Emona, with restaurant car).

• Fares from Ljubljana to Austria start at €24.90 in 2nd class.  Fares work like air fares, so book ahead.

• Check train times & buy tickets from Ljubljana to Graz, Salzburg, Innsbruck or anywhere in Austria at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (more fiddly, same prices, in €).  You print your own ticket.

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

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Ljubljana to Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm & Scandinavia...

Option 1, using the Ljubljana-Munich sleeper - fastest & most time-effective option...

• Day 1, travel from Ljubljana to Munich by sleeper train Lisinski leaving Ljubljana at 23:55 or Lesce-Bled 00:36 & arriving Munich Hbf at 06:10.

  The Lisinski has a modern air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments and a modern air-conditioned Croatian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments.  See the Croatian sleeping-car video.  Highly recommended.

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Copenhagen, leaving Munich Hbf at 08:51, changing at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen at 21:33.

  You travel from Munich to Hamburg by high-speed ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then by Danish IC3 Intercity train to Copenhagen.

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

  Book from Munich to Copenhagen at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, but (and this is important) before running the enquiry, change Duration of transfer from standard to at least 45 minutes.  That gets you a robust connection in Hamburg, not a tight one, as that's the last train of the day to Copenhagen.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

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

• Day 3, travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm as shown here, Copenhagen to Gothenburg as shown here, or Copenhagen to Oslo & Norway as shown here.

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

• Step 1, travel from Ljubljana to Vienna on a morning train, as explained above.  Enjoy an afternoon in Vienna.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Vienna at 20:13 and arriving Hamburg Hbf at 08:47 next morning.

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

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

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

• Step 3, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by Danish Intercity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 12:53 and arriving Copenhagen at 17:33.

  Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €46.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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

• Step 4, take an onward train to Malmo, Gothenburg or Stockholm.  Check times at www.sj.se.  Allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Copenhagen.  An overnight stop in Copenhagen may be required if going to Stockholm, if there isn't a late enough train.

• Alternatively, travel to Vienna, stay overnight then use any of the options shown on the International Trains from Vienna page.

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Ljubljana to Bratislava & Prague...

Option 1, Ljubljana to Prague or Bratislava in a single day...

• Step 1, travel from Ljubljana to Vienna by train, leaving Ljubljana at 08:00, changing at Maribor, arriving Vienna Hbf at 14:02.

  You travel from Ljubljana to Maribor by swish Slovenian Pendolino train, then from Maribor to Vienna by EuroCity train Croatia.  The Croatia uses comfortable and spacious air-conditioned Austrian EuroCity cars, with power sockets at all seats with a choice of sitting in an open-plan saloon car (my own preference) or in classic 6-seater compartments with side corridor.  it has an elegant Austrian restaurant car.

  This journey is a real treat, enjoy an inexpensive lunch with wine or beer in the restaurant car as the train travels over the wonderfully-scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route through the mountains between Graz & Vienna.  Enjoy an afternoon in Vienna.

  Fares start at €24.90.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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

  Tip:  If it sells you a ticket for the whole journey, great.  If it says Ticket for section only then it's only selling you a ticket from Maribor to Vienna on the Croatia, in which case buy that, then buy the Ljubljana-Maribor ticket at the station, that won't be a problem.

• Step 2, if going to Prague...

  Travel from Vienna to Prague by railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 15:10 and arriving Prague Hlavni at 19:38.

  The trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  See timetable & more information about trains from Vienna to Prague.

  Fares start at €14.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz, whichever is cheaper for your chosen date and train.  Booking normally opens 90 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

• Step 2, if going to Bratislava...

  Take a Regional Express train from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna in just 1h07, these leave every hour, fixed-price fare €11.20, just buy a ticket at the station in Vienna on the day.  No reservation is necessary or even possible for these local trains.  You can check times & prices at www.thetrainline.com.

Option 2, Ljubljana to Munich by sleeper, morning express train to Prague - time-effective and saves a hotel bill...

• Step 1, travel from Ljubljana to Munich by sleeper train Lisinski, leaving Ljubljana at 23:55 or Lesce-Bled at 00:36 arriving Munich Hbf 06:10.

  It has a very comfortable air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car and couchette car, see the Croatian sleeping-car video.  Highly recommended!

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Prague by express train, leaving Munich Hbf at 06:43 arriving Prague Hlavni at 12:21.

  This is a bit tight if the sleeper arrives late, consider booking a cheap ticket on both this train and the later 08:43 arriving 14:21.  For more information, photos, tips & a timetable, see the Munich to Prague page.

  Fares start at €15 in 2nd class or €35 in 1st class.  These are limited-availability advance-purchase fares.

  Book this at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz.  Booking normally opens 90 days ahead.  You print your own ticket.

Option 3, Ljubljana to Bratislava or Prague with an overnight stop in Vienna...

• Day 1, travel from Ljubljana to Vienna as shown above, leaving Ljubljana at 15:45 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 22:02.

  This comfortable train has a Slovenian restaurant car, treat yourself to dinner.  It takes the beautiful UNESCO-listed Semmering route through the mountains between Graz & Vienna.

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

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

• Stay overnight in Vienna.  Hotels near Vienna Hbf with good reviews include the Motel One Vienna Hbf, GraetzlHotel, Hotel Schani Wien.

• Day 2, if going to Prague...

  Take a comfortable railjet train from Vienna Hbf to Prague Hlavni in 4h03, these leave every two hours throughout the day. 

  Fares start at €14.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44.90 in business class (= premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, ao book ahead.

  Book at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee, Booking opens up to 6 months ahead) or at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz (booking normally opens 90 days ahead).  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  See more information about Vienna to Prague railjet trains.

• Day 2, if going to Bratislava...

  Take a local train from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna in 1h07.  These leave every hour through the day, fixed-price fare €11.20, just buy a ticket at the station in Vienna on the day.  No reservation is necessary or even possible for these local trains.  You can check times & prices at www.thetrainline.com.

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Ljubljana to Budapest...

Option 2, by mid-morning train all year round...

• \A comfortable Intercity train called the Citadella leaves Ljubljana at 09:23 every day arriving Budapest Déli at 16:59.

  Remember that it goes to Budapest Déli station, not Keleti, when arranging any connections.  2nd class only.  There's no catering car so bring your own picnic and bottle of wine.

• In summer late June to mid-August there's also usually a sleeper train leaving Ljubljana around 00:15 arriving Budapest Déli around 08:30.  The train has couchettes (4 & 6 bunk compartments) and a sleeping-car (1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin).

• Fares start at €15 if you book online in advance.

• Buy a ticket at the Hungarian Railways website jegy.mav.hu, see my advice for using it.

  Booking normally opens 60 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or show it in the MAV app on your smartphone.

  You can also buy at the station.  If you want to do that, it's cheaper to buy in advance, even a few hours or a day or two.  The fare might be €29 bought 15 minutes before departure, but €19 or €15 if you buy at least 2h before departure, or the day before.

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Ljubljana to Belgrade, Sofia, Athens, Istanbul...

• Travel from Ljubljana to Belgrade by train, leaving Ljubljana at 08:30 and arriving Novi Beograd 18:04 & Belgrade Centar at 18:12.

  It's 2nd class only, with two comfortable Serbian air-conditioned cars.  There's no catering car so bring your own food & drink. 

  Ljubljana to Belgrade costs €29 or so bought locally.  It's easy to buy a ticket at the station, or you can simply pay on the train when the conductor comes round.  It cannot be bought online.  You can check train times using the journey planner at www.bahn.de.

  Tip:  Although Belgrade Centar is slightly closer to the city centre, you have to rely on a single bus line.  Trams 7 & 9 link Novi Beograd station with the site of the now-defunct old Belgrade station on the edge of the old city every 5-10 minutes so you may prefer to get off at Novi Beograd and take a tram, see the Belgrade station page for more information.

• Stay overnight in Belgrade.  I recommend the excellent & historic Hotel Moskva at the end of Belgrade's main pedestrianised shopping street, see map of Belgrade showing station.

• For Sofia, travel from Belgrade to Sofia as shown on the Belgrade to Sofia page.  Buy at the station, tickets cannot be bought online.

• For Istanbul, first travel to Sofia by daytime trains as shown on the Belgrade to Sofia page, stay overnight in Sofia and spend the next day there, then take the overnight sleeper to Istanbul, see the Belgrade to Istanbul section for full details.

• For Thessaloniki or Athens, see the Trains from Belgrade page for details of the summer-only overnight train from Belgrade to Thessaloniki with connections for Athens.  The connection is Belgrade is too tight for a same-day connection so an overnight stop is recommended.

The train from Ljubljana & Zagreb to Belgrade.  Above left, 2nd class seats.

The direct train from Belgrade to Sofia.  Just two coaches, but comfy enough, and a scenic run across the Balkans.  Bring your own food & drink.		Comfortable 2nd class seats.  Photos courtesy Remco van der Kort.

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Ljubljana to Warsaw, Krakow, Bucharest, Kiev & Moscow...

Option 1, by morning train to Budapest, then sleeper train...

• Step 1, take a comfortable morning train from Ljubljana to Budapest as explained above.

• Step 2 for Krakow & Warsaw:  Take the sleeper train from Budapest to Krakow & Warsaw as shown here.

• Step 2 for Sighisoara, Brasov & Bucharest:  Take the 19:10 sleeper train from Budapest to Romania as shown here.

Option 2, by morning train to Vienna, then sleeper train...

• Step 1, travel from Ljubljana to Vienna on a morning train, as explained above.  There's a morning train from Ljubljana with a change of train at Villach.  Enjoy an afternoon in Vienna.

• Step 2 for Krakow & Warsaw:  Take the 22:10 sleeper train Chopin from Vienna to Krakow & Warsaw as shown here.

• Step 2 for Sighisoara, Brasov & Bucharest:  Take the 19:42 sleeper train from Vienna to Romania as shown here.

• Step 2 for Lviv & Kiev:  Take the 16:42 sleeper train from Vienna to Lviv & Kiev as shown here.

• Step 3 for Moscow, travel to Kiev then take an overnight sleeper from Kiev to Moscow as shown here.  This route avoids Belarus.

Option 3, by afternoon train to Budapest, overnight stop, then daytime train...

• Step 1, travel from Ljubljana to Budapest on an afternoon train, as explained above.

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

• Step 2 for Krakow & Warsaw:  Take a daytime Intercity train from Budapest Keleti to Warsaw & Krakow as shown here

• Step 2 for Brasov & Bucharest:  Take a daytime Intercity train from Budapest Keleti to Brasov or Bucharest as shown here.

Option 2, by afternoon train to Vienna, overnight stop, then daytime train...

• Step 4, travel from Ljubljana to Vienna on the afternoon train, as explained above.

• Stay overnight in Vienna.  Hotels near the station with good reviews include the Motel One Vienna Hbf, GraetzlHotel, Hotel Schani Wien.

• Step 2 for Krakow & Vienna:  Take the 08:12 EuroCity train from Vienna to Krakow & Warsaw as shown here.

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Hotels in Ljubljana

Other hotel sites worth trying...

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

Backpacker hostels...

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

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Travel insurance & VPN

Always take out travel insurance...

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

In the UK, reliable insurers include Columbus Direct.

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

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

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

  If you live in the USA try Travel Guard USA.

A Curve card saves on foreign transaction fees...

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

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

I have a Curve Blue card myself - I get some commission if you sign up to Curve, but I'm recommending it here because it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card - they'll give you £5 cashback through that link, too.

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

When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure.  A VPN means your connection to the internet is encrypted & always secure, even using unsecured WiFi.  In countries such as China where access to Twitter & Facebook is restricted, a VPN gets around these restrictions.  And lastly, you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geographic restrictions which some websites apply - for example one booking site charges a booking fee to non-European visitors but none to European visitors, so if you're not located in Europe you can avoid this fee by browsing with a UK IP address using a VPN.  VPNs & why you need one explained.  ExpressVPN is a best buy and I use it myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription, and I get a small commission to help support this site.

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