![]() Luxembourg station, a 15 minute walk to the old town, see station information. |
This page explains how to travel by train from Luxembourg to other key European cities, and how to buy tickets the cheapest way. Information current for 2023.
Before you buy your tickets
Take a moment to read these tips for buying European train tickets. It answers all the usual questions, "Do I need to book in advance or can I just buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and that old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or just buy a €35 point-to-point ticket online?". Click here to understand how far ahead you can buy train tickets.
European train travel FAQ
Train travel within Luxembourg...
-
See the CFL (Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois, Luxembourg Railways) website www.cfl.lu.
-
All public transport within Luxembourg became free (yes, really) on 1 March 2020. This includes train journeys wholly within Luxembourg, unless you want to travel 1st class. No ticket is needed.
Luxembourg to London from €81...
-
See the London to Luxembourg page for train times, fares, and the clever way to buy tickets by combining a Luxembourg to Arlon ticket with an Any Belgian Station to London ticket.
![]() |
![]() |
|
A Eurostar e320... |
Standard Premier/Business Premier. Larger photo. |
![]() |
![]() |
|
Standard class seats. Larger photo. |
One of two cafe-bars, in cars 8 & 9. Larger photo. |
Luxembourg to Dublin & Ireland...
Option 1, Luxembourg to Dublin via London...
-
Day 1, travel from Luxembourg to London by Intercity train & Eurostar, as shown on the London-Luxembourg page.
-
Stay overnight in London, see suggested hotels near St Pancras. It's a 10 minute walk from London St Pancras to London Euston.
-
Day 2, travel from London Euston to Dublin on the morning train & ferry service, arriving Dublin Ferryport 17:25, see the London-Dublin page for times, fares & how to buy tickets. Rail & Sail is an inexpensive, fun and interesting way to go, see an illustrated account of the journey.
-
Alternatively, you can travel overnight. Travel from Luxembourg to London on an early departure. Allow at least 90 minutes in London between trains to ensure a robust connection, even though it's only a 10 minute walk between St Pancras & Euston stations. Then take the overnight London to Dublin train & ferry service arriving in Dublin next morning, see the timetable here. It's basically a red-eye service, but you can pay for a cabin when you board the ferry, so can at least get 3 hours sleep!
-
How much does it cost?
For fares from Luxembourg to London, see the London-Luxembourg page.
The fare from London to Dublin is either £44.50 or £50, one or other fare always applies, even on the day of travel.
-
How to buy tickets...
Book from Luxembourg to London as shown on the London-Luxembourg page.
Book from London to Dublin Ferryport at www.tfwrail.wales, as shown on the train & ferry to Dublin page.
Option 2, Luxembourg to Dublin using the direct ferry from France to Ireland - avoiding the UK, several departures a week...
-
Day 1, travel from Luxembourg to Paris by high-speed TGV, leaving Luxembourg at 06:40 Mondays-Fridays arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 08:51.
The TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. You need to allow at least 1 hour between trains in Paris, ideally a bit more. There's no train early enough at weekends, so travel to Paris the previous evening and stay overnight.
Transfer from Paris Est to Paris St Lazare by metro or taxi.
-
Day 1, take a late morning train from Paris St Lazare to Cherbourg and an overnight ferry to Dublin.
Irish Ferries (www.irishferries.com) sail from Cherbourg to Dublin several times each week, usually leaving Cherbourg in late afternoon and arriving Dublin late morning next day (Day 2).
For details of this Paris to Dublin journey & how to buy tickets see the Paris to Dublin section.
![]() |
Sail from Cherbourg to Dublin aboard Irish Ferries' WB Yeats. WB Yeats photos courtesy of Irish Ferries. |
![]() |
![]() |
|
Club cabin on the WB Yeats with shower & toilet. |
Deluxe cabin on the WB Yeats with shower & toilet... |
Luxembourg to Paris from €25...
-
TGV Duplex high-speed trains link Luxembourg with Paris Gare de l'Est several times a day in 2h10.
The trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. I recommend an upstairs seat for the best views, any seat number over 60 is upper deck.
-
Fares start at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
-
Book these at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee), or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, a little more fiddly, no fee).
Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.
![]() |
A TGV Duplex at Luxembourg... |
![]() |
![]() |
|
A TGV Duplex at Luxembourg. |
1st class seats on upper deck. 360º photo. |
Luxembourg to Lyon, Avignon, Marseille, Montpellier, Cannes, Nice from €35...
Option 1, by high-speed TGV avoiding Paris - the easiest option for Dijon, Lyon, and the South of France...
-
A direct TGV Duplex leaves Luxembourg at 07:24 every day* for Dijon, Lyon Part Dieu, Avignon, Aix en Provence & Marseille St Charles. This saves you having to cross Paris, making it the ideal option if the time suits you.
* In 2023, it may not run every day. An earlier departure by regional train and a change at Metz may be needed, check online.
Change at Lyon Part Dieu for Nimes, Montpellier, Perpignan. Change at Marseille for Toulon, Cannes, Antibes, Nice.
On certain dates you'll find a later TGV Duplex to Dijon, Lyon and beyond leaving Luxembourg around 11:24.
-
Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, more fiddly).
Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can usually select a mobile ticket to show on your phone.
![]() |
A TGV Duplex at Luxembourg... |
![]() |
![]() |
|
A TGV Duplex at Luxembourg. |
1st class seats on upper deck. 360º photo. |
Option 2, via Paris - works for all French destinations, involves changing stations in Paris by metro or taxi...
-
Step 1, travel from Luxembourg to Paris Gare de l'Est by TGV in 2h10. There are a number of departures every day.
The TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
-
Change trains & stations in Paris by taxi or metro, Allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris, although the transfer physically takes 30-35 minutes.
-
Step 2, travel from Paris to anywhere in France...
TGVs run from Paris Gare de Lyon to Lyon, Avignon, Marseille, Cannes or Nice from €25 upwards. It's a great ride, especially the scenic section along the coast to Cannes or Nice, see the Paris to Nice by TGV page.
TGVs run from Paris Montparnasse to Tours, Le Mans, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Biarritz, Lourdes, Nantes, Rennes & Brittany.
Intercités run from Paris Bercy to Vichy, Clermont Ferrand.
Intercités run from Paris Austerlitz to Limoges, Cahors, Brive, Toulouse.
Intercités run from Paris St Lazare to Caen, Cherbourg, Rouen, Le Havre.
-
Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, more fiddly). Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can usually select a mobile ticket to show on your phone.
Tip: Use www.raileurope.com to book from Luxembourg to anywhere in France as one easy transaction, but first click More options, enter Paris (any station) as a via point with a stopover duration of at least 1 hour. If you don't do this, by default the French Railways system allows cross-Paris connections as short as 40 minutes, which I consider to tight for comfort.
Option 3, Luxembourg to Toulon, Cannes, Antibes & Nice, using the Paris-Nice overnight train...
-
Step 1, travel from Luxembourg to Paris by TGV Duplex, leaving Luxembourg at 16:10 and arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 18:31.
The TGV travels at up to 320 km/h (199 mph) with a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Times may vary, so check online.
-
Cross Paris from the Gare de 'Est to the Gare d'Austerlitz by taxi or metro. I'd allow at least 90 minutes between trains when catching a sleeper, although the actual transfer only takes 30 minutes.
-
Step 2, travel from Paris to the Côte d'Azur by Intercité de Nuit overnight train, leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 21:04 every day, arriving Toulon 07:09, St Raphael (for St Tropez) 08:07, Cannes 08:31, Antibes 08:43 & Nice Ville 09:08.
The Intercité de Nuit overnight train has 1st class 4-berth couchettes, 2nd class 6-berth couchettes & reclining seats. You can book a 1st class 4-berth compartment for sole occupancy by 1, 2 or 3 people if you like. See more information about Intercités de Nuit overnight trains.
Tip: Have dinner at the celebrated Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon before strolling across the bridge over the Seine to the Gare d'Austerlitz in good time for your sleeper south. There are earlier TGVs if you'd like more time.
-
How much does it cost?
Luxembourg to Paris starts at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Paris to the South of France starts at €19 in a reclining seat, €29 in a 2nd class couchette or €59 in a 1st class couchette.
-
How to buy tickets...
Book at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee.
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.
Tip: To make sure you have at least 90 minutes between trains in Paris, I'd book Luxembourg to Paris, add to basket, then Paris to Nice, add to basket & check out. Otherwise by default the system allows as little as 40 minutes between trains in Paris which I consider too tight, especially when catching a sleeper you don't want to miss.
Tip: To book a whole 4-berth couchette compartment for 1, 2 or 3 people, see the instructions on the Intercités de Nuit page.
You can also book at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, a little more fiddly).
![]() |
Step 1, Luxembourg to Paris by TGV Duplex. This is a TGV Duplex at Luxembourg... |
![]() |
![]() |
|
A TGV Duplex at Luxembourg. |
1st class seats on upper deck. 360º photo. |
![]() |
Step 2, Paris to Cannes, Antibes or Nice by Intercité de Nuit. Above, an Intercité de Nuit boarding at Paris Austerlitz. More information about Intercités de Nuit. 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 |
Couchette car corridor. Courtesy Dan Chester. |
![]() |
The Paris to Nice Intercité de Nuit running along the Côte d'Azur in the morning sun. Photo courtesy of Noam auf Gleis 13. |
Luxembourg to Strasbourg, Mulhouse, Colmar...
-
Every 2-3 hours a train links Luxembourg with Strasbourg, Colmar & Mulhouse, a few direct, some with a change or two.
-
You can check train times and buy tickets at www.sncf-connect.com and either print your own ticket (TGV high-speed trains only) or (if a TER regional train is involved) collect tickets from one of the SNCF self-service machines installed at Luxembourg station. You can also use www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
-
Regional trains (shown as TER or RE) require no reservation and have fixed prices so you can just turn up, buy a ticket at the station and hop on - though buying online saves time at the station.
-
TGV high-speed trains (usually running over classic lines in this case, so hardly any faster than the TERs) require reservation and have dynamic fares, cheaper in advance, more expensive on the day.
Luxembourg to Brussels, Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp...
-
Hourly InterCity trains link Luxembourg with Brussels Midi in 3h18, most direct, some with a change at Arlon.
These trains also call at Brussels Luxembourg station (next to the EU Parliament), Brussels Nord and Brussels Central (3 minutes walk from Brussels' Grand Place) before reaching Brussels Midi. It might suit you better to get off at one of those stations.
Change at Brussels Midi for half-hourly InterCity trains to Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp and so on. It only takes a few minutes to change. As tickets are good for any train that day, feel free to stop off in Brussels for a few hours if you like.
-
The fare is €23.80 in 2nd class or €39.50 in 1st class.
If you're under 26 or over 65 there's a youth/senior fare for €9.60, only available in 2nd class.
Tickets are valid on any train leaving on the date you specify, not just for the specific train you choose when booking. The price is fixed, with unlimited availability, so it's the same price even on the day of travel. No reservation is necessary or possible, so it's just as easy to buy a ticket at the same price at the station on the day, hop on the next train and sit where you like.
-
Buy tickets from Luxembourg to anywhere in Belgium at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee). You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Tip: If you're over 65, you can only buy the senior fare at www.b-europe.com.
-
Tip: There's no catering on these Brussels-Luxembourg trains, so bring your own food & drink for the journey, there are plenty of places to buy food and drink inside Brussels Midi, including a minimarket.
Tip: There are only two power sockets per car, one at each end of the passenger saloon above a window seat. Savvy laptop users usually nab these seats!
![]() |
A Belgian intercity (IC) train from Luxembourg to Brussels, at platform 1 at Luxembourg station. The yellow stripe above the windows indicates first class. It's a push-pull train with a locomotive at one end, and another driving cab at the other. |
![]() |
![]() |
|
2nd class seats. Larger photo. |
1st class seats. Larger photo. |
Luxembourg to Amsterdam from €35.90...
Option 1, Luxembourg-Brussels by Intercity train, Brussels-Amsterdam by high-speed Thalys - fastest & most comfortable, but inflexible, expensive at short notice.
-
The fastest & most comfortable way is to take the hourly InterCity (IC) train from Luxembourg to Brussels Midi then a high-speed Thalys train from Brussels Midi to Amsterdam Centraal. Typical journey time 5h32.
-
Check times and buy tickets at www.nsinternational.nl from Luxembourg to Amsterdam or any Dutch station.
In the search results, look for journeys with 1 change marked IC, Thalys. You print your own ticket.
-
On the IC train between Luxembourg & Brussels there's no catering so bring your own food and drink, but it's a nice run with some very pretty scenery. Brussels-Amsterdam Thalys trains run at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) on the high-speed line. They have 3 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more information about Thalys.
-
However, with Thalys you must book in advance and commit to a specific departure, unless you book ahead this option is more expensive.
Thalys has airline-style dynamic pricing, cheaper if you book in advance, much more expensive closer to departure date. Thalys tickets are only good for the specific train you book and a reserved seat is automatically included. However, for the Luxembourg-Brussels part of the journey your ticket is good for any IC train that day, not just the one you selected, and you sit where you like, there are no seat reservations.
![]() |
Step 1, Luxembourg to Brussels by intercity (IC) train, seen here at Luxembourg platform 1. |
![]() |
![]() |
|
2nd class seats. Larger photo. |
1st class seats. Larger photo. |
![]() |
Step 2, Brussels to Amsterdam by Thalys. This is a Thalys at Amsterdam Centraal. More information about Thalys. |
![]() |
![]() |
|
Comfort & Premium seats, 2+1 across the car. Larger photo. |
Standard seats, 2+2 across. Larger photo. |
Option 2, Luxembourg to Amsterdam by Intercity trains all the way - the cheap & flexible option, but slower...
-
The most flexible and usually cheapest option is to use regular InterCity (IC) trains rather than Thalys.
IC trains are comfortable enough, but they only run at up to 160 km/h (100 mph) and there's no catering so bring your own food & drink. There are no seat reservations, you sit where you like.
-
There are two good routes using IC or local trains with hourly departures through the day. The route via Maastricht is cheaper than via Brussels but involves an extra change:
1. Luxembourg to Brussels Midi by IC train then Brussels Midi to Amsterdam Centraal by IC train. 6h27 with 1 change.
2. Luxembourg to Liège by local train, IC train to Maastricht, another IC train to Amsterdam Centraal. 6h39 with 2 changes.
-
Check times & prices & buy tickets at www.nsinternational.nl.
Look carefully at the search results for various different options marked IC without any mention of Thalys. You print your own ticket. You can also book at www.thetrainline.com.
Tip: To find trains via the cheaper Maastricht route you must enter Maastricht as a via station.
-
Regular full-flex fare €70.80 via Brussels or €39 via Liège & Maastricht, any date, any day, any train.
It's a fixed price which doesn't change, tickets are good for any train that day, tickets can be bought at the station on the day for that price, no prior reservation is necessary or possible, tickets cannot sell out. Just turn up, buy and go. Easy, and flexible.
-
Advance-purchase fares: Early bird fares start at €33 in 2nd class or €51.50 in 1st class. Early Bird fares are still good for any train on the day you buy them for, it's just cheaper to book ahead. No refunds, no date changes! But this usually makes taking IC trains the cheapest option, especially at relatively short notice.
![]() |
Step 1, Luxembourg to Brussels by intercity (IC) train, seen here at Luxembourg platform 1. |
![]() |
![]() |
|
2nd class seats. Larger photo. |
1st class seats. Larger photo. |
![]() |
Step 2, Brussels to Amsterdam by Intercity train, jointly run by NS & SNCB (Dutch & Belgian railways). |
![]() |
![]() |
|
InterCity train 2nd class seats. See larger photo. |
InterCity train 1st class seats. See larger photo. |
Luxembourg to Rotterdam, Utrecht & other cities in the Netherlands...
-
There are regular InterCity trains from Luxembourg to the Netherlands with either one change of train at Brussels or two, at Liège and Maastricht. If you use these IC trains, no reservation is necessary, you can buy on the day (although worth checking in an Early Bird fare is available by booking in advance).
-
However, it's faster to take the hourly InterCity to Brussels then a high-speed Thalys train to Rotterdam & Amsterdam, and reservation is required for Thalys and there are cheaper fares if you pre-book, much more expensive fares on the day.
-
You can check times and prices & buy tickets online at www.nsinternational.nl or www.thetrainline.com.
-
You can buy tickets to any Dutch station this way: Rotterdam, Utrecht, Arnhem, Groningen, Den Haag...
Luxembourg to Basel, Zurich, Geneva & Switzerland from €37.90...
Option 1, via Metz, Strasbourg & Basel - the fastest & most direct route...
-
This is the direct route from Luxembourg to Switzerland. Find a train from Luxembourg to Basel SBB using www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead.
Luxembourg to Basel SBB by TGV+TER regional train takes about 3h16 with a change at Mulhouse, or a bit longer with changes at Metz & Strasbourg. Just see what www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com give you.
-
Buy onward tickets within Switzerland either at www.thetrainline.com (which would keep all your bookings together) or Swiss Railways www.sbb.ch.
If you buy a full-price ticket (or Saver Day Pass) it's good for any onward train to your destination, so even a 10 minute connection is fine, if you miss it you can take the next one. However, if you buy a cheap advance-purchase Supersaver fare it's only good for the specific train you book, so in this case I'd allow maybe 40 minutes between trains in Basel in case of delay.
![]() |
A Strasbourg - Mulhouse - Basel TER train at Basel SBB platform 31. |
Option 2, Luxembourg to Switzerland via Koblenz & Basel - slower but much cheaper & easier to book, with through tickets...
-
This is a longer way round, but it's far easier to book & significantly cheaper than option 1 assuming you book in advance, thanks to DB's (German Railways) cheap advance-purchase through fares. DB sell through tickets from Luxembourg to most Swiss towns & cities.
It's also a very scenic route, as you travel along the Moselle valley from Luxembourg to Koblenz, then south along the Rhine Valley to Basel past castles, vineyards and the legendary Lorelei Rock, see the Rails Down the Rhine page for more info and photos.
-
Fares from Luxembourg to Basel, Zurich, Geneva & other Swiss towns & cities start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.
-
Use the German Railways website www.bahn.de to book from Luxembourg to Basel, Zurich or almost any rail station in Switzerland as one transaction. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.
Tip: Before running the enquiry, click Stopover and enter Trier Hbf. You can leave stopover duration as zero, unless you want a longer interchange time. This forces the journey planner to find journeys via this route.
You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Option 3, Luxembourg to Geneva using the direct Luxembourg-Lyon TGVs - longer, simplest option for Geneva, Lausanne, Montreux...
-
Step 1, travel from Luxembourg to Lyon by direct TGV, leaving Luxembourg at 07:24 arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 13:04.
This train should run daily, in 2023 trackwork means it might not run every day.
Fares from €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy tickets for this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, more fiddly). Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can usually select a mobile ticket to show on your phone.
-
Step 2, travel from Lyon to Geneva by TER regional train, leaving Lyon Part Dieu at 14:38 arriving Geneva 16:35.
The fare is a fixed-price €29.
Buy tickets for this train at www.raileurope.com, www.thetrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com. You print your own ticket.
-
Step 3, book onward trains to Lausanne, Montreux at either www.thetrainline.com or the Swiss Railways website www.sbb.ch. You print your own ticket.
-
On most dates you'll also find the following departure:
-
Step 1, travel from Luxembourg to Lyon by direct TGV, leaving Luxembourg at 11:24 arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 17:04.
Times may vary, check online.
Fares from €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy tickets for this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, more fiddly). You print your own ticket or can usually select a mobile ticket to show on your phone.
-
Step 2, travel from Lyon to Geneva by TER regional train, leaving Lyon Part Dieu at 18:38 arriving Geneva 20:35.
The fare is a fixed-price €29.
Buy tickets for this train at www.raileurope.com, www.thetrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com. You print your own ticket.
-
Step 3, book onward trains to Lausanne, Montreux at either www.thetrainline.com or the Swiss Railways website www.sbb.ch. Booking for Swiss trains opens 60 days ahead, You print your own ticket.
Luxembourg to Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples & Italy...
Option 1, Luxembourg to Italy in a single day...
-
Step 1, travel from Luxembourg to Paris by TGV, leaving Luxembourg at 10:10 and arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 12:20.
The TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Change trains & stations in Paris by metro or taxi to the Gare de Lyon.
-
Step 2, travel from Paris to Italy by Frecciarossa, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon 15:12, arriving Turin Porta Susa 21:18 & Milan Centrale 22:07.
Trenitalia's high-speed Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It's a scenic journey through the Alps, see the Paris-Milan page showing train & scenery.
-
Stay overnight in Turin or Milan...
Both cities make a great stopover, but Turin is lovely. In Turin I suggest the Hotel Torino Porta Susa or Hotel Diplomatic or small Al Porta Susa B&B, all right next to Turin Porta Susa station where the Frecciarossa arrives and where your onward train leaves next morning, with good or great reviews. Alternatively, the excellent Turin Palace Hotel is in the centre right next to Porta Nuova station. It's a 7 minute taxi ride, 3-stop €1.50 metro ride or 20 minute walk from Porta Susa, but next morning you can board your train to Venice, Florence, Rome or Naples at Porta Nuova station where these trains start their journey.
In Milan, affordable hotels & guesthouses with good or great reviews just outside Milan Centrale include the Hotel Bristol, Hotel Bernina, 43 Station Hotel, B&B Hotel Milano Central Station, Guesthouse Teodora.
-
Step 3, take an onward train from Turin or Milan to Venice, Florence, Rome or Napes, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Milan to Venice only takes 2h35, Milan to Florence 1h40, Milan to Rome 2h55.
-
How much does it cost?
Luxembourg to Paris start at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class.
Paris to Turin or Milan start at €29 in 2nd class (standard), €36 in 1st class (business) or €165 in executive class with food included.
Turin or Milan to Venice or Florence starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.
Turin or Milan to Rome or Naples starts at €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
-
How to buy tickets...
Buy at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com as you can then buy all your tickets together in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or £, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee. Booking for each of these trains normally opens 4 months ahead.
First book from Luxembourg to Paris & add to basket. Then book Paris to Turin or Milan & add to basket. Make sure you allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris, ideally more. Then book from Turin or Milan to your Italian destination for the following day, add to basket and check out.
You can also book Luxembourg to Paris at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com, a bit more fiddly but no booking fee, then the onward Italian Frecciarossa from Paris to Turin or Milan at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, their €3.50 booking fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (requires Italian language place names, a bit more fiddly see this advice on using it).
![]() |
Step 1, Luxembourg to Paris by TGV Duplex, seen here at Luxembourg... |
![]() |
![]() |
|
A TGV Duplex at Luxembourg. |
1st class seats on upper deck. 360º photo. |
![]() |
Step 2, Paris to Turin or Milan by Frecciarossa seen here at Paris Gare de Lyon. More about the Paris-Milan Frecciarossa. Interior photos in this section courtesy of Nicholas Brooke. |
![]() |
![]() |
|
Business class seats 1+2 across car width, with tables for 2, tables for 4 & complimentary prosecco. Larger photo. |
In business class you can order a simple meal at your seat, around €18... |
![]() |
The Frecciarossa dashes from Paris to Lyon then slows right down through the Alpine foothills. These are mountains in France, in autumn... |
![]() |
...And these are mountains in Italy in summer. Scenery between Oulx and Turin, courtesy of www.discoverbyrail.com. |
Option 2, Luxembourg to Italy via Basel...
-
Step 1, find a train from Luxembourg to Basel or Zurich using www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. There are various departures some taking as little as 3h26, fares from as little as €22.50 if pre-booked.
-
Step 2, now book a train from Basel or Zurich to anywhere in Italy at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee), www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, their booking fee will be refunded if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com after booking) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (a little more fiddly, requires Italian language place names, no booking fee, read this advice on using it).
Basel to Milan takes around 4h12 with fares from €29 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class.
Milan to Florence or Venice starts at €19.90, Milan to Rome or Naples at €29.90.
-
Do a dry run on both sites first, to marry up the times! I'd allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Basel or Zurich, in case of delay.
Luxembourg to Barcelona, Madrid & Spain...
Option 1, Luxembourg to Barcelona by train in a single day...
-
Step 1, travel from Luxembourg to Paris by TGV, leaving Luxembourg at 10:10 and arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 12:20.
The TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, more fiddly). Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your phone.
-
Change trains & stations in Paris by taxi or metro, Always allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris, ideally more, although the transfer physically takes 30-35 minutes. By all means break up the journey with an overnight stop in Paris if you like, see suggested hotels near the station.
-
Step 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 14:56 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 21:25.
The 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Book an upper deck seat for the best views, it's a scenic and comfortable journey, click here for the sights to see on the way.
Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, more fiddly). Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your phone.
-
Stay overnight in Barcelona... The Hotel Barcelo Sants is the top choice here, it's part of Barcelona Sants station so easy to use when arriving & departing by train, with great reviews & good feedback from Seat61 users. See other suggested hotels near the station.
-
Step 3, travel from Barcelona Sants to Madrid, Seville, Malaga, Valencia, Alicante or anywhere else in Spain by high-speed train.
Trains leave more or less every hour for Madrid taking 2h40, there are at least two daily direct trains from Barcelona to Cordoba & Seville leaving at 08:35 & 15:15, a train to Granada at 08:35, and regular departures for Valencia & Alicante.
Check times & buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (in €, much, much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it first). Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but it varies.
![]() |
Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex. Here, a TGV Duplex is boarding at Paris Gare de Lyon. Watch TGV Duplex video. |
![]() |
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. |
Option 2, Luxembourg to Barcelona using a French sleeper train between Paris & the Spanish border...
-
Step 1, travel from Luxembourg to Paris by TGV, leaving Luxembourg at 16:10 and arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 18:31.
On Saturdays & Sundays a later connection is usually possible, leaving Luxembourg at 18:10 and arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 20:20.
The TGV travels at up to 320 km/h (199 mph) on the TGV-Est high-speed line, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start from €29 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, more fiddly). Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.
Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi. I'd allow at least 90 minutes between trains in Paris when catching a sleeper.
Why not have dinner at the Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon before strolling across the bridge over the Seine to the Gare d'Austerlitz?
-
Step 2, travel overnight from Paris to Latour de Carol in the heart of the Pyrenees or to Cerbère on the Spanish border by French sleeper train, leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 21:14. Then take a local train from Latour or Cerbère to Barcelona Sants arriving around 14:00.
See the Paris to Barcelona by sleeper train page for full details, prices, tips & how to buy tickets.
-
Step 3, travel from Barcelona to other Spanish destinations next morning...
For Madrid: AVE-S103 high-speed trains link Barcelona Sants with Madrid Atocha every hour or two in as little as 2h30 from €35.
For Cordoba & Seville: Take the direct AVE-S112 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 15:15 arriving Cordoba & Seville Santa Justa in the evening. Fares start at around €45.
For Valencia & Alicante: A EuroMed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 16:10 arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla at 18:50 and Alicante at 20:37. Fares start from €23.
Check Spanish train times & buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, in €, see my advice before using it). I'd allow at least 1 hour between trains in Barcelona. Spanish trains open for booking 60 days ahead, but this varies.
Luxembourg to San Sebastian from €63...
-
Step 1, travel from Luxembourg to Paris Gare de l'Est by TGV in 2h10.
TGVs have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class.
Cross Paris by metro or taxi from the Gare de l'Est to the Gare Montparnasse. Allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris.
-
Step 2, travel from Paris Gare Montparnasse to Hendaye on the Spanish border by high-speed double-deck TGV Duplex Océane in around 4h40. The TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
-
Times vary, but for example:
Leave Luxembourg 06:34 Mon-Fri, change trains & stations in Paris, arrive Hendaye 14:47.
Leave Luxembourg 07:59 Saturday & Sunday, change trains & stations in Paris, arrive Hendaye 16:47.
Leave Luxembourg 10:10 every day, change trains & stations in Paris, arrive Hendaye 20:47.
-
Step 3, travel from Hendaye to San Sebastian Amara station by Euskotren metro, this little narrow gauge electric train runs every 30 minutes from early morning till around 22:30, journey time 37 minutes, fare around €2.75. Amara station is walking distance from most hotels. You can check Euskotren times at www.euskotren.eus.
-
Buy tickets from Luxembourg to Hendaye as one transaction at www.raileurope.com, looking for journeys with just 1 change.
Tip: To ensure a robust connection in Paris, I recommend clicking More options, entering Paris (any station) and a stopover duration of at least 1 hour, if you'd like lunch between trains or a wander in Paris, make it 2 or 3 hours.
Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own tickets or can select a mobile ticket to show on your phone. There's a small booking fee.
Alternatively, book the Luxembourg-Paris TGV & Paris-Hendaye TGV at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com, more fiddly but no fee.
-
Buy the Hendaye-San Sebastian local ticket at the Euskotren station in Hendaye either from the ticket machines or staffed counter.
-
See the Paris to San Sebastian page for more details, including tips for the Paris-Hendaye-San Sebastian journey, with photos showing the location of the Euskotren station at Hendaye.
Luxembourg to Lisbon & Portugal...
Option 1, Luxembourg to Lisbon via Barcelona & Madrid...
-
Day 1, travel from Luxembourg to Paris by TGV, leaving Luxembourg at 18:47 and arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 21:19.
By all means take an earlier train for more of an evening in Paris.
The TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Times vary, so check times for your date online.
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 easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, more fiddly). You print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your phone.
-
Stay overnight in Paris. The Mercure Paris Gare De Lyon is part of the Gare de Lyon station complex, ideal for an early train next morning. See other suggested hotels near the Gare de l'Est & Gare de Lyon.
-
Day 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by 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, both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee. These websites connect to both SNCF and Renfe ticketing systems so you can buy tickets for both trains together in one place.
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, both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee. These websites connect to both SNCF and Renfe ticketing systems so you can buy tickets for both trains together in one place.
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.
Option 2, Luxembourg to Lisbon via San Sebastian, Vigo & Porto - slightly slower, can be cheaper...
-
Day 1, travel from Luxembourg to Paris by TGV, leaving Luxembourg at 10:10 and arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 12:20.
The TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Times vary, so check times for your date online.
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 easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, more fiddly). You print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your phone.
Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi. Always allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris, but the longer the better.
-
Day 1, travel from Paris to Hendaye on the Spanish frontier by TGV Duplex Océane, leaving Paris Gare Montparnasse daily except Saturdays at 16:11 arriving Hendaye on the Spanish border at 20:47. On Saturdays, leave Paris Gare Montparnasse at 14:06 arriving Hendaye 18:47.
The impressive double-deck TGV Duplex Océane has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number >60 is upper deck. Hendaye is on the French side of the Spanish border.
Fares start at €25 each way in 2nd class, €40 each way in 1st class. The price varies, book ahead for the cheaper prices.
Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee. These websites connect to both SNCF and Renfe ticketing systems so you can buy tickets for both trains together in one place.
Booking for the TGV opens up to 4 months ahead.
-
Day 1, transfer from Hendaye to San Sebastian by Euskotren metro, every 30 minutes, journey time 37 minutes...
Simply walk out of Hendaye station and turn right, the little Euskotren station is in a corner of the main station forecourt. Buy a ticket for €2.75 at the Euskotren station from the machines or staffed counter and hop on the next half-hourly Euskotren metro from Hendaye to San Sebastian Amara station, journey time 37 minutes. See the Paris to San Sebastian page for more information, photos & tips.
-
Stay overnight in San Sebastian. The Pension Regil is close to the old town with great reviews, 10 minutes walk from the Renfe station, 7 minutes walk from the Amara Euskotren station. If you want something in the old town itself, try the Pension Garibai or Pension Alameda. If you want to push the boat out, San Sebastian's most venerable hotel (which I can recommend personally, having stayed there) is the Hotel de Londres y Inglaterra, on the sea front.
-
Day 2, travel across Spain from San Sebastian to Vigo on one of these two possible departures:
Morning departure, every day: Travel from San Sebastian (Renfe station) to Madrid by Alvia train, leaving San Sebastian at 09:02 and arriving Madrid Chamartin at 13:56. Then travel from Madrid to Vigo by Alvia train, leaving Madrid Chamartin at 16:00 and arriving Vigo Urzaiz at 20:12. The comfortable high-speed Alvia trains have a cafe-bar, standard & comfort class. Vigo Urzaiz station is a 1.1 km 15-minute walk from Vigo Guixar station, see walking map.
Afternoon departure, Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays only: Spend the morning in San Sebastian. An Intercity train leaves San Sebastian (Renfe station) at 12:13 arriving Vitoria/Gasteiz at 13:58. This is a guaranteed connection into the Barcelona-Galicia Alvia train which leaves Vitoria/Gasteiz at 14:19 on Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays arriving Vigo Guixar at 23:35.
Tip: There's a lovely relaxed cafe-bar at San Sebastian Renfe station, accessible from the forecourt or the near-side platform, just north of the main station building, ideal for a cafe con leche before your train.
San Sebastian to Vigo starts at €23 each way. The price varies, book ahead for the cheaper prices.
Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but this varies.
Tip: If using the daily departure with a change in Madrid, you might need to treat San Sebastian-Madrid & Madrid-Vigo as separate bookings.
-
Stay overnight in Vigo. The NH Collection Vigo hotel & cheaper Hotel Atlantico Vigo are both near the station with great reviews.
-
Day 3, travel from Vigo to Porto by air-conditioned regional train, leaving Vigo at 08:58 arriving Porto Campanhã at 10:20. If you'd like to spend some time in Vigo, there's a later train leaving Vigo at 19:56 arriving Porto 21:18.
The fare is €14.95, fixed price.
This can also be booked at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee. These websites connect to both SNCF and Renfe ticketing systems so you can buy tickets for both trains together in one place.
-
Day 3, take any suitable onward train from Porto to Lisbon, for example the 11:40 Alfa Pendular arriving Lisbon Santa Apolonia at 14:30. Fares start at €15. Book this at the Portuguese Railways website www.cp.pt (in €) or at Omio.com (in €, £ or $).
Luxembourg to Andorra...
Option 1, Luxembourg to Andorra in a day...
-
Step 1, travel from Luxembourg to Paris by TGV, leaving Luxembourg at 10:10 and arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 12:20.
TGVs have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi. Always allow at least 70 minutes between trains in Paris, but the more the better.
-
Step 2, travel from Paris to Toulouse by high-speed TGV, leaving Paris Montparnasse at 15:11 arriving Toulouse Matabiau 19:26.
Fares start from €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class. Have dinner in Toulouse.
-
Step 2, travel from Toulouse Matabiau station to Andorra la Vella by bus, taking 4 hours, fare €33. There are 3 services every day run by Andbus, check times at www.andorrabybus.com. I'd allow at least an hour between train and bus in Toulouse, just in case of delay. There's normally a bus leaving Toulouse Matabiau station (bus stand 15) at 20:00 arriving Andorra at midnight.
-
How to buy tickets...
Check train times & buy a ticket from Luxembourg to Toulouse Matabiau at www.raileurope.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (more fiddly, in €, no fee). If necessary, book Luxembourg-Paris & Paris-Toulouse separately to get sufficient time between trains in Paris. Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can choose a mobile ticket to show on your phone.
Buy the Toulouse-Andorra bus ticket at www.andorrabybus.com.
Option 2, using the Paris-Toulouse-l'Hospitalet overnight train...
-
Step 1, travel from Luxembourg to Paris by TGV, leaving Luxembourg at 16:10 and arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 18:20.
TGVs have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. A later connection is sometimes available, but I'd play safe with the 16:10.
Fares start at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (more fiddly, in €). Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can choose a mobile ticket to show on your phone.
Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi. Allow at least 90 minutes between trains in Paris when catching a sleeper you don't want to miss.
Tip: Have 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.
These Intercités de Nuit have 1st class 4-berth couchettes, 2nd class 6-berth couchettes & 2nd class reclining seats.
Fares start at €29 including a couchette. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.sncf-connect.com (more fiddly, in €). Booking should open up to 4 months ahead, but for this night train, often less than that. You print your own ticket or can choose a mobile ticket.
-
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.
![]() |
![]() |
|
The intercité de nuit overnight train from Paris to Latour de Carol has 1st class 4-berth & 2nd class 6-berth couchettes, each with lightweight sleeping-bag & mineral water... |
Luxembourg to Trier & Koblenz...
-
Regional trains link Luxembourg with Trier & Koblenz every hour taking 52 minutes to Trier & 2h24 to Koblenz.
It's a scenic run, much of it along the Moselle valley past river boats and vineyards. For the best river views, sit on the right hand side when going east from Luxembourg.
-
Luxembourg to Trier costs €5.40 in 2nd class, €11.60 in 1st class, fixed price.
Luxembourg to Koblenz costs €31.50 in 2nd class or €53.40 in 1st class, fixed price.
If you are travelling after 09:00 weekdays, any time at weekends, Luxembourg to Koblenz costs just €26 with a Rheinland-Pfalz-Ticket + Luxemburg ticket, only available in 2nd class..
-
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 phone.
-
No reservation is necessary or possible, you can just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on the next train. It can't sell out!
![]() |
Luxembourg to Trier & Koblenz by double deck regional train. This is a CFL double-decker at Luxembourg. |
Luxembourg to Cologne, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Berlin & Germany...
-
Hourly regional express trains link Luxembourg with Koblenz in 2h24, connecting with trains to towns & cities all over Germany.
Luxembourg to Koblenz is a scenic run, much of it along the Moselle valley past river boats and vineyards. For the best river views, sit on the right hand side when going east from Luxembourg.
-
Advance-purchase fares start at €18.90 in 2nd class or €27.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
-
Check times & buy tickets from Luxembourg to anywhere in Germany at the German Railways website www.bahn.de
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone.
Tip: Avoid any journeys shown in the search results as including a 'bus' as this is indeed just a bus and not a train. To de-clutter the search results by removing journeys involving a bus, click Stopover before running the enquiry and enter Igel as a via station, leaving stopover duration as 00:00.
Tip: There's a direct train from Luxembourg to Cologne & Dusseldorf every day at 06:18. It's a Luxembourg Railways double-deck train like the one shown below.
![]() |
Luxembourg to Koblenz by double deck regional train. This is a CFL double-decker at Luxembourg. |
Luxembourg to Munich, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Vienna...
Option 1, by daytime trains...
-
Luxembourg to Munich takes as little as 6h56. Even Luxembourg to Vienna can be done on a day, with morning departure and evening arrival, most of the journey uses superb ICE trains with restaurant car.
The Luxembourg to Koblenz part of the journey is a scenic run, much of it along the Moselle valley past river boats and vineyards. For the best river views, sit on the right hand side when going east from Luxembourg.
-
Luxembourg to Munich starts at €27.90 in 2nd class or €56.90 in 1st class.
Luxembourg to Vienna starts at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
-
Check times & buy tickets at 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: Avoid any journeys shown in the search results as including a bus as this is indeed just a bus and not a train. To de-clutter the search results by removing journeys involving a bus, simply click Stopover before running the enquiry and enter Trier as a via station, leaving stopover duration as 00:00.
![]() |
Luxembourg to Koblenz by double deck regional train. This is a CFL double-decker at Luxembourg. |
Option 2, by Nightjet sleeper train...
-
Step 1, travel from Luxembourg to Koblenz by regional train, leaving Luxembourg at 19:33 & arriving Koblenz Hbf at 21:56.
Or take the earlier 17:33 or 18:33 and have dinner in Koblenz, try the restaurant Koenigsbachertreff which is just 50m from the station, see koenigsbachertreff.cafelists.com.
The train ride from Luxembourg to Koblenz is very scenic, at least in summer when it's light, the line runs along the Moselle valley past river boats and vineyards. For the best river views, sit on the right hand side when going east from Luxembourg.
The fare is €26 in 2nd class or €53.40 in 1st class, fixed price, always available.
Buy a ticket at the station on the day or 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: Alternatively, you could take the 17:33 from Luxembourg to Cologne (changing at Koblenz) with advance-purchase fares from €27.90. Then you can board the sleeper earlier, at 22:16.
-
Step 2, travel from Koblenz to Munich, Innsbruck or Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Koblenz Hbf at 23:46 and arriving Munich Hbf 07:09, Innsbruck 09:14 and (a separate portion) Vienna Hbf 09:14. Change in Wels for a railjet train to Salzburg Hbf, arriving 08:49.
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 to yourself. The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee in the morning.
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 Nightjet sleeper train at Vienna. 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. |
Luxembourg to Copenhagen & Denmark from €37.90...
-
You can travel from Luxembourg to Copenhagen in a day, leaving Luxembourg around 08:33, change Koblenz & Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 21:34.
An altered timetable applies from 17 June to 20 August 2023, check times at www.bahn.de.
Alternatively, you can travel from Luxembourg to Hamburg, stay overnight, then catch a Hamburg to Copenhagen Intercity train next day.
-
Fares from Luxembourg to Copenhagen start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
-
Book from Luxembourg to Copenhagen 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: If you want to stop in Hamburg overnight, click Stopover, enter Hamburg Hbf and a suitable stopover duration, say 10 hours. Adjust the departure time and stopover duration to get the trains you want either side of Hamburg.
![]() |
The late afternoon Hamburg-Copenhagen IC3 leaving platform 5 at Hamburg Hbf on a busy summer day. The yellow stripe above the windows indicates first class, located at one end of both 3-car units. More information about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey. |
![]() |
![]() |
|
Boarding a Danish IC3 train at Hamburg Hbf... |
1st class seats on an IC3 train. Larger photo. |
![]() |
![]() |
|
2nd class seats on a IC3 train. Larger photo. |
An IC3 train to Copenhagen at Hamburg. |
Luxembourg to Stockholm & Sweden from €59.90...
-
German Railways sell through tickets from Luxembourg to Malmo from €49.90, Gothenburg or Stockholm from €59.90.
-
Step 1, travel from Luxembourg to Hamburg Hbf with one easy change at Koblenz. There are various departures, check times at www.bahn.de.
-
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.
-
Step 2, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by Danish Intercity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:56 and arriving Copenhagen at 13:34.
An altered timetable applies from 17 June to 20 August 2023, see the timetable here.
-
Step 3 for Malmö, travel from Copenhagen to Malmö Central on the next Öresund train, these leave every 20-30 minutes taking 39 minutes.
Step 3 for Gothenburg, travel from Copenhagen to Gothenburg Central on the next hourly Öresund train, taking 3h53.
Step 3 for Stockholm, travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000 train leaving Copenhagen at 14:21 & arriving Stockholm Central 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).
-
Book from Luxembourg to Malmo, Gothenburg or Stockholm at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, but read the tips below!
For Gothenburg, enter Göteborg Central. To get the overnight stop in Hamburg, click Stopover, enter Hamburg Hbf and a suitable stopover duration, say 10 hours.
Look for journeys with the fewest changes. Adjust the departure time & stopover duration to get the trains you want either side of Hamburg, this can take a bit of trial & error to get sensibly-timed connections with the fewest possible changes on both days.
If all else fails, use www.bahn.de to book Luxembourg to Hamburg on day 1, then book Hamburg to Malmo, Gothenburg or Stockholm as a separate ticket on day 2. This may cost a little more than buying a through ticket, that's all.
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.
![]() |
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. |
![]() |
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... |
Luxembourg to Oslo & Norway...
Option 1, Luxembourg to Oslo via Hamburg & Copenhagen - by train all the way...
-
Day 1, travel from Luxembourg to Copenhagen in a single day as shown in the Luxembourg to Copenhagen section 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, 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.
Option 2, Luxembourg to Oslo using the Kiel to Oslo cruise ferry - the luxury option...
-
Day 1, travel from Luxembourg to Kiel in northern Germany on any departure you like, for example leaving Luxembourg at 12:33, change at Koblenz & Hamburg Hbf, arriving Kiel Hbf at 22:34. It's not possible to reach Kiel in time to check in for that same day's sailing.
Fares start at €24.90 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 Kiel. The InterCity Hotel Kiel gets good reviews, is relatively inexpensive and is right next to the station and a few minutes walk from the ferry. The B&B Hotel Kiel City is also next to the station with good reviews, and is even cheaper. For something upmarket, the Atlantic Hotel Kiel gets great reviews and is in Bahnhofsplatz in front of the station.
In Kiel the Color Line ferry terminal is just a 5-6 minute walk from Kiel Hbf.
-
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 Luxembourg).
Check times & buy tickets using the Direct Ferries website or at www.colorline.com.
Make sure you're on deck next morning as the ship sails through spectacular scenery up Oslo Fjord. The ship docks at the modern Color Line terminal about 2 km from the city centre. Color Line provide transfer buses to Oslo Sentral station costing 55 krone, or there are plenty of taxis. If you have little luggage it's possible to walk. See map of Oslo showing ferry terminal.
![]() |
This photo is taken from the exit of Kiel station, so you can see how close the ferry is. It's a 5-6 minute walk across the harbour, with a street lift up to a connecting walkway which takes you to the ferry terminal. If you have reserved one of what Color Line call their "5 star suites", check in at the desk rather than the machines and you'll be directed to a special lounge to wait with free tea, coffee, juice, snacks & WiFi. You'll also have priority boarding of the ship. Photos courtesy of Andrew Leo. |
![]() |
Boarding the Color Line ferry to Oslo in Kiel... |
![]() |
![]() |
|
A 5 Star Suite on the ferry... |
More cruise liner than ferry! The restaurant. |
![]() |
Wake up to this.... |
Luxembourg to Helsinki & Finland...
Option 1, Luxembourg to Helsinki using a Finnlines ferry from Germany - the easiest option...
-
Day 1, travel from Luxembourg to Hamburg by Regional train & ICE train, leaving Luxembourg at 09:33 and arriving Hamburg Hbf 17:53.
Fares start at €27.90 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 local train+bus and sail from Travemünde to Helsinki with Finnlines.
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 Frankfurt). See the Trains from Hamburg page for full details.
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, Luxembourg to Helsinki by train to Stockholm, then ferry...
-
Step 2, travel from Stockholm to Helsinki either by direct overnight cruise ferry, or by daytime or overnight ferry to Turku and connecting train to Helsinki as shown on the Trains & ferries from Stockholm page.
Luxembourg to Prague from €37.90...
-
You can do this journey in a single day, or split it up with an overnight stop in Germany.
-
Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €56.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
-
Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.
Booking 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: You'll see options with 3 changes via Koblenz, Nuremberg & Cheb, these are a good choice. See the Prague via Cheb page for more photos & information about the journey to Prague via Nuremberg &, Cheb.
Tip: To add an overnight stop, perhaps in Nuremberg, click Stopover and enter Nuremberg with a suitable stopover duration, say 12 hours or more.
Tip: Enjoy the Rhine valley scenery from Koblenz southwards as far as Mainz, see the Rails Down the Rhine page for photos, tips & information. You want to sit on the left hand side of the train south from Koblenz.
Luxembourg to Bratislava, Budapest, Bucharest, Ljubljana & Zagreb, ...
Option 1, using the Koblenz-Vienna sleeper...
-
Step 1, travel from Luxembourg to Koblenz by regional train, leaving Luxembourg at 19:33 & arriving Koblenz Hbf at 21:56.
Or take the earlier 17:33 or 18:33 and have dinner in Koblenz, try the restaurant Koenigsbachertreff which is just 50m from the station, see koenigsbachertreff.cafelists.com.
The train ride from Luxembourg to Koblenz is very scenic, at least in summer when it's light, the line runs along the Moselle valley past river boats and vineyards. For the best river views, sit on the right hand side when going east from Luxembourg.
The fare is €26 in 2nd class or €53.40 in 1st class, fixed price, always available.
Tip: Alternatively, you could take the 17:33 from Luxembourg to Cologne (changing at Koblenz) with advance-purchase fares from €27.90. Then you can board the sleeper earlier, at 22:16.
-
Step 2, travel from Koblenz to Munich or Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Koblenz at 23:46 and arriving Vienna Hbf 09:14. Another portion of this train goes to Munich Hbf arriving 07:09.
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 €, a bit more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
-
For Bratislava, book the nightjet to Vienna, then take a regional express train from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna, these leave every hour taking 1h06, fare €10.20, you can buy this at the station on the day or at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.
-
For Budapest, book the nightjet to Vienna, then take the 10:42 EuroCity train from Vienna Hbf to Budapest Keleti arriving 13:19. Add a Vienna-Budapest ticket from €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at. You print your own ticket.
-
For Ljubljana or Zagreb, book the nightjet to Munich and add a Munich-Ljubljana or Munich-Zagreb ticket from €39.90 at www.bahn.de. There's usually a train leaving Munich Hbf at 08:16 for Ljubljana & Zagreb. Change in Zagreb for Split & Dubrovnik, see details here.
-
For Bucharest & Romania, first travel to Budapest as shown above, then take the sleeper train Ister to Brasov & Bucharest as shown here.
![]() |
Step 1, Luxembourg to Koblenz by double deck regional train. |
![]() |
Step 2, Koblenz to Munich or Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train. More information about Nightjet trains. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|||
Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room |
The same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo. |
Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo. |
Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo. |
Option 2, Luxembourg to Budapest, Ljubljana, Zagreb by sleeper from Stuttgart...
-
Step 1, travel from Luxembourg via Koblenz to Stuttgart.
Check times and buy a ticket from €37.90 at the German Railways website www.bahn.de. Make sure you have no tight connections and arrive in Stuttgart at least an hour before the sleeper leaves, ideally 2 hours. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.
-
Step 2, take the 20:29 sleeper train from Stuttgart to Budapest, or from Stuttgart to Ljubljana & Zagreb. Both sleepers have a sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and couchettes with 4 & 6 berth compartments. See the Stuttgart-Budapest page for more details of the sleeper to Budapest.
Book the sleeper at 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 fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Luxembourg to Belgrade, Sofia, Montenegro...
-
Step 1, travel from Luxembourg via Koblenz to Stuttgart. Check times and buy a ticket from €37.90 at the German Railways website www.bahn.de. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.
-
Step 2, take the 20:29 sleeper train from Stuttgart to Zagreb and the daytime train from Zagreb to Belgrade, as explained in the Munich to Belgrade section. Stay overnight an travel to Sofia next day, on the daytime train service shown here.
-
For Montenegro, change in Belgrade and if necessary stay there overnight. See the timetable from Belgrade to Podgorica and Bar here.
Luxembourg to Warsaw & Krakow from €37.90...
Option 1, Luxembourg to Warsaw in a day...
-
Leave Luxembourg at 06:18, change at Cologne Hbf and Berlin Ostbahnhof, arriving Warsaw Centralna at 21:16.
Luxembourg to Cologne is by Luxembourg Railways double-deck air-conditioned regional train. Cologne to Berlin is by superb high-speed ICE2 train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Berlin to Warsaw is by air-conditioned EuroCity train with restaurant car.
-
Fares start at €49.90 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 to Poland opens 60 days ahead, you print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Option 2, Luxembourg to Warsaw or Krakow with an overnight stop in Berlin - breaks up the journey...
-
Step 1, travel from Luxembourg to Berlin Hbf by regional train then ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. You can leave Luxembourg as late as 14:32, but I'd choose an earlier train for a pleasant evening in Berlin.
Stay overnight in Berlin. Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station. If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com. Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.
-
Step 2, travel from Berlin to Warsaw or Krakow by comfortable EuroCity train with restaurant car.
The EuroCity train Wawel leaves Berlin Hbf at 10:52 every day, arriving Wroclaw 14:50, Katowice 16:58 & Krakow Glowny 18:01.
A EuroCity train leaves Berlin Hbf at 05:52 on Mondays-Saturdays arriving Warsaw Centralna 11:16, or at 09:51 every day arriving Warsaw Centralna 15:22.
-
Fares from Luxembourg to Warsaw or Krakow start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
-
Book this as one journey at the German Railways website www.bahn.de. Booking to Poland opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
To get the overnight stop in Berlin, click Stopover, enter Berlin Hbf as a via station with a stopover duration of, say, 13 hours in the hh:mm box. Adjust the departure time from Luxembourg and the stopover duration to get the trains you want either side of Berlin. A little trial & error may be needed here!
Luxembourg to Vilnius, Riga, Tallinn...
-
Day 1, travel from Luxembourg to Warsaw by daytime trains as shown in the Luxembourg 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.
Luxembourg to Kyiv & Moscow...
-
Step 1, use the German Railways site www.bahn.de to book from Luxembourg to Berlin by regional train then fast ICE from €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class, avoiding any journey shown with 'bus' in the search results.
-
Stay overnight in Berlin. Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station. If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com. Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.
-
Step 2, travel from Berlin to Warsaw by comfortable EuroCity train, there's a departure at 05:52 Mondays-Saturdays or at 09:51 every day.
Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de. Booking to Poland opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.
-
For Kyiv, take the daily Warsaw-Kyiv sleeper train Kyiv Express as explained here.
-
For Moscow, take the daily Warsaw-Moscow sleeper train as explained here. Change in Moscow for St Petersburg. This takes you though Belarus, you may prefer to take the sleeper to Kyiv, then a sleeper from Kyiv to Moscow, avoiding Belarus and the need for a Belarus visa.
The Warsaw-Moscow train was suspended due to Covid-19 and it remains suspended due to sanctions & war in Ukraine.
Luxembourg to Athens & Greece...
-
Step 1, travel from Luxembourg to Paris by TGV, leaving Luxembourg at 10:10 and arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 12:20.
TGVs have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi from the Gare de l'Est to the Gare de Lyon.
-
Step 2, travel from Paris to Athens as shown in detail on the Trains from Paris page.
You take the afternoon TGV from Paris to Milan & stay overnight. Next day you take a morning train to Bari for the overnight ferry to Patras in Greece. A bus+train combo will get you to Athens on Day 3 from Luxembourg.
Luxembourg to Istanbul & Turkey...
-
Step 1, travel from Luxembourg to Paris.
-
Step 2, travel from Budapest to Bucharest and on to Istanbul as shown on the London to Istanbul page, just ignore the London to Budapest part.
Hotels in Luxembourg
For somewhere near the station with good reviews, try the City Hotel, Hotel Perrin or Park Inn by Radisson.
In the old town, try the Hotel Simoncini or the good old-school Grand Hotel Cravat.
Other hotel sites worth trying...
-
www.tripadvisor.com is the place to find independent travellers' reviews of all the main hotels.
Backpacker hostels...
-
www.hostelworld.com: If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels. Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in most cities at rock-bottom prices.
Travel insurance & VPN
Always take out travel insurance...
Never travel overseas without travel insurance from a reliable insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover. It should also cover cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible limit. An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself. Here are some suggested insurers. Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.
www.staysure.co.uk
offers enhanced Covid-19 protection & gets 4.7 out of 5 on
Trustpilot.
www.columbusdirect.com
is also a well-know brand.
If you live in the USA try
Travel Guard USA.
A Curve card saves 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.
Carry an Anker powerbank...
With so much now held on your mobile phone (tickets, reservations, vaccination records, etc) I recommend carrying an Anker powerbank. This can recharge your phone several times over if you're on the move and can't get to a power outlet. I never travel without one.