Munich Hbf station guide

I want to go from Munich to...

      Select your destination... Somewhere else in Germany... A Coruna Aix en Provence Alicante Amsterdam Andorra Athens & Greece Avignon Barcelona Basel (Basle) Belgrade Berlin Bern (Berne) Bled (Lesce-Bled, Lake Bled) Bologna Brasov Bratislava Brno Brussels Bruges (Brugge) Bucharest Budapest Cannes Catania Český Krumlov Cologne Copenhagen Dublin & Ireland Dubrovnik Dusseldorf Florence Frankfurt Geneva Gothenburg Hallstatt Hamburg Helsinki Innsbruck Interlaken Istanbul Karlovy Vary Kosice Krakow Kyiv & Ukraine Lausanne Linz Lisbon Ljubljana London & UK Luxembourg Luzern (Lucerne) Lviv (Lvov) Madrid Malaga Malmo Marseille Milan Monaco - Monte Carlo Montreux Moscow Munich Naples Nice Oslo Ostrava Palermo Paris Poprad-Tatry Prague Riga Rome Rothenburg ob der Tauber St Moritz St Petersburg Salzburg San Sebastian Santiago de Compostela Seville Sicily Siracuse Sofia Split Stockholm Tallinn Valencia Venice Verona Vienna Vigo Vilnius Warsaw Zagreb Zurich Zermatt

      Click here for journeys starting in another city

      Munich Hbf station guide

      Recommended hotels in Munich

This page explains how to travel by train from Munich to other European cities and how to buy tickets the cheapest way.  Information current for 2025.

Tip:  For a beer or local Bavarian food before your train I recommend the Augustiner Keller (www.augustinerkeller.de) at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf, see walking map.

Before you buy your tickets

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

European train travel FAQ

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Munich to Berlin from €17.99.  See the video

• There's no excuse for flying!  A new section of high-speed line opened in December 2017, cutting the journey from Munich Hbf to Berlin Hbf to as little as 3h58 by luxurious ICE train.  From city centre to city centre it's as fast as flying and a lot less hassle, more comfortable and more civilised.  ICE trains come with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Fares start at €17.99 in 2nd class or €26.99 in 1st class.  The Flexpreis is around €150 if you buy on the day, 2nd class.

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

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, less when the mid-December timetable change intervenes.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.  Tips for using bahn.de

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Munich to other destinations in Germany

• Munich Hauptbahnhof is the main station right in the city centre, and all mainline trains normally leave from there.  Munich Ost is on the southern edge of the city centre, occasionally you'll find trains going from there.

• Cologne or Düsseldorf to any destination in Germany

  int.bahn.de will book trains from Munich to anywhere in Germany.

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

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

  However, if you book in advance there are advance-purchase Sparpreis (savings) fares for €19.99, €29.99, €39.99 etc. for mainline journeys.

  A seat reservation is usually optional for a small extra charge, €5.20 in 2nd class, €6.50 in 1st class, per seat - if you don't want one you can sit in any unreserved seat.  You can choose your seat from a seat map when booking a German IC or ICE train.

  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can always log in and check or re-print your bookings.

  You print your own tickets or can show it on your phone.  More tips for using bahn.de.

• Sleeper trains to Hamburg, Koblenz, Cologne, Düsseldorf

  There are Nightjet sleeper trains from Munich to Hamburg (daily) and Cologne (3 times a week), run by ÖBB (Austrian Railways) with sleeping-cars and couchettes.  Book these at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, bit more fiddly, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

• About train travel in Germany

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

Munich to Rothenburg ob der Tauber

• Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a much-visited Medieval town in northern Bavaria.

  Check times and buy a ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.  Avoid any departure shown as including a bus, go for departures involving IC or ICE to Nuremberg followed by regional trains, shown as RE or RB.

  Fares start at €29.99 if you book in advance, you print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Tip:  Consider a stopover in Nuremberg - the city has a pleasant old town, a railway museum and the thought-provoking Party Rally Grounds.  You can stop for several hours and still do the journey in a day.

Munich to Neuschwanstein, Bavaria's fairytale castle:  See here

Munich to Berchtesgaden for Eagles Nest:  See here

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Munich to London & UK

• See the London to Germany page for recommended routes, trains, fares & how to buy tickets.

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Munich to Dublin & Ireland

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

• Day 1, travel from Munich to London by high-speed train & Eurostar, see the London-Germany page for details.

• Stay overnight in London, see suggested hotels near St Pancras.  It's a 9 minute walk from St Pancras to Euston station.

• Day 2, travel from London to Dublin by train & ferry, arriving Dublin Ferryport 17:25, see the London-Dublin page for details.

  Rail & Sail is an inexpensive, interesting & fun way to go, see more about the journey.

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

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

  Fares start at €39.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend changing Transfer time from normal to 40 minutes.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

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

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

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

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Munich to Paris from €39.99

Option 1, Munich to Paris by direct TGV, every morning

• A TGV Duplex links Munich with Paris every day, leaving Munich Hbf at 06:51, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 12:32.

  The double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  It uses the TGV-Est high-speed line across France at up to 320 km/h (199 mph).  Book an upstairs seat for the best views, any seat number above 60 is upper deck.  Watch the sun rise and the morning mists clear, see the Munich-Paris TGV video.

Option 2, Munich to Paris by high-speed train, other departures

• Many other departures are possible with 1 easy change in Stuttgart or Mannheim, check at int.bahn.de.  For example:

  Leave Munich Hbf 07:46, change at Stuttgart, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 14:06.

  Leave Munich Hbf 09:27, change at Mannheim, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 16:52.

  Leave Munich Hbf 11:48, change at Stuttgart, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 18:15.

  Leave Munich Hbf 13:02, change at Karlsruhe, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 19:59.

  Leave Munich Hbf 13:47, change at Mannheim, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 20:43.

  Leave Munich Hbf 15:47, change at Stuttgart, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 22:14.

  All these departures use a superb ICE with restaurant car, changing onto either an ICE3 with restaurant car or an impressive double-deck TGV Duplex with cafe-bar, all with power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Exact times may vary.  On TGV Duplex the best seats are upstairs, any seat number above 60.

• Fares start at €39.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Tip:  I'd change Transfer time from normal to 40 minutes for a robust connection, avoiding 8-minute connections where a 10-minute delay means a 2 hour late arrival in Paris.  The train times shown above take this into account.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can always log in and check or re-print your bookings.  You print your own ticket or show it on your phone.

• Tip:  You can also buy tickets at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com, but which should you use?

  If you're using the direct Munich-Paris TGV, check both sites!  I've seen int.bahn.de want €44.90 non-refundable when www.sncf-connect.com wanted only €39 for exactly the same train, refundable less €15 up to 3 days before departure.  And www.sncf-connect.com would let me hold the ticket at that price without payment for a week while I completed my planning.  And www.sncf-connect.com lets you choose your seat from a seat map when travelling 1st class on a TGV, not possible using int.bahn.de.

  If you have kids, it's better to use int.bahn.de as then the more generous German child age limits apply, under 6 free, under 15 child rate.  Furthermore, DB have a permanent offer, children under 15 go free when accompanied by a parent, grandparent or guardian using a Sparpreis advance-purchase fare.  If you buy from the French, under 4s go free, under 12 get the child rate and there's no kids-go-free deal.

  If you're changing in Stuttgart, it's also better to use int.bahn.de as the Germans sell through tickets from almost anywhere in Germany to Paris for one inclusive price, so Munich-Paris always starts from €39.99, it makes no difference whether you use the direct TGV or a departure with a change in Stuttgart.  The French ticketing system charges for each train, so Munich-Paris by direct TGV starts at €39.99, but for Munich to Paris with a change in Stuttgart it adds the cost of two tickets, Stuttgart to Paris from €39.99 plus perhaps another €40 for the Munich-Stuttgart connecting train making it significantly more expensive than buying from DB where the whole journey starts at €39.99.  It's just the different way the French & German ticketing systems work!

Option 3, Munich to Paris by sleeper train - 3 times a week

• A Nightjet sleeper train leaves Munich Ost at 23:16 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 09:39.

  Munich Ost is an easy 8-minute S-Bahn ride from Munich Hbf, see how to transfer.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet has two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars each 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 two couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes.  See the guide to Nightjet accommodation.

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

• Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in plain English, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways www.oebb.at (more fiddly, in €, same fares).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.  Child under 6?  See here.

• Tip:  You can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, then search for NJ 468.

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Munich to Lyon, Avignon, Marseille, Cannes, Nice, Monaco

Option 1, Munich to Lyon, Avignon, Aix or Marseille in a day with one easy change in Frankfurt - the easiest option!

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Karlsruhe by ICE, leaving Munich Hbf at 11:02, arriving Karlsruhe Hbf 13:52.

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

• Step 2, travel from Karlsruhe to France by TGV Duplex, leaving Karlsruhe Hbf at 15:12 every day arriving Lyon Part Dieu 19:56, Avignon TGV 21:09, Aix en Provence TGV 21:31 & Marseille St Charles 21:46.

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

• Fares from Munich to Lyon, Avignon or Marseille start at €49.99 in 2nd class or €79.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Before running the enquiry, change Transfer time from normal to 40 minutes to ensure a robust connection in Karlsruhe with time for a coffee, not a risky 11-minute connection with the once-a-day direct train.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can always log in and check or re-print your bookings.  You print your own ticket or show it on your phone.

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

• Step 3, travel from Marseille to Cannes or Nice on any departure you like, trains leave every hour.

  Fares start at €15.  Buy a ticket at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).  Booking for French trains opens up to 4 months ahead.

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

The cafe-bar on upper deck in car 4 (or 14), serving tea, coffee, wine, beer, snacks & microwaved hot dishes.		2nd class seats, this is upper deck seating.  There's a mix or tables for 4 and unidirectional seating.  360º photo.

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

Option 2, Munich to Monaco, Nice & Cannes using the Munich-Milan sleeper then a scenic coastal ride

• Day 1, travel from Munich to Milan by Nightjet, leaving Munich Hbf at 20:08, arriving Milan Rogoredo 07:42 (07:58 29 Sept-13 Dec 2025).

  Important: This sleeper is cancelled from 17 November 2024 to 13 July 2025 due to work in the Tauern Tunnel in Austria.

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

  Fares start at €59.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €69.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

• Transfer from Milan Rogoredo to Milan Centrale by metro or local train, as shown here.

• Day 2, travel from Milan to Ventimiglia by Intercity train, leaving Milan Centrale at 11:10, arriving Ventimiglia 14:54.

  This is a lovely scenic ride along the Italian Riviera between Genoa & Ventimiglia.  There are vending machines, or bring your own food & drink.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €26.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy a ticket at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.

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

• Day 2, travel from Ventimiglia to Monaco, Nice or Cannes by TER local train, leaving Ventimiglia at 15:18, arriving Monte Carlo 15:48, Nice Ville 16:14, Cannes 16:53.

  The fare is €9.20, promotional fares of €5 or €7.50 are sometimes available.  2nd class only.

  Buy a ticket at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.

  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  There's more about the journey from Milan to Nice on the Nice to Italy page.

Option 3, Munich to Nice & the South of France with an overnight stop in Verona - a scenic trip with mountains and coastline

• Day 1, travel from Munich to Verona by railjet, leaving Munich Hbf at 15:33, arriving Verona Porta Nuova 20:59.

  By all means take an earlier train and spend a pleasant afternoon or evening in Verona, for example the 11:32 or 13:33 from Munich.

  This swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st & business class a steward takes restaurant orders and serves you at your seat.  The train travels through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the photos & video on the Brenner Pass page.

  Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €47.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee, using these sites allows you to book everything in one place) or at the German Railways website int.bahn.de (in €, no booking fee).

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

• Stay overnight in Verona.  Hotels near the station with good or great reviews include the Corte Merighi Rooms & Breakfast, Novo Hotel Rossi, Guesthouse Verona or (a little closer to the centre but with fab reviews) the Relais Empire.  Enjoy a morning in Verona.

• Day 2, travel from Verona to Ventimiglia on the French border, leaving Verona Porta Nuova at 13:02, change at the magnificent Milan Centrale onto the 15:10 Intercity train, arriving Ventimiglia at 18:59.

  It's a lovely scenic ride along the Italian Riviera between Genoa and Ventimiglia, through Savona and San Remo.

  Fares start at €38.90 in 2nd class or €59.80 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this journey at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, this keeps all your bookings together in one place, small booking fee) or at www.trenitalia.com (in €, uses Italian-language city names).  It's ticketless, you print your booking reference or show it on your phone.

• Day 2, travel from Ventimiglia to Menton, Monte Carlo, Nice, Antibes or Cannes by TER local train, leaving Ventimiglia at 19:48, arriving Monte Carlo at 20:19, Nice Ville at 20:45 & Cannes at 21:25.

  The fare is €9.20.  Promotional fares of €5 or €7.50 are sometimes available.  2nd class only.

  Buy a ticket at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.

  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.  You can also book at the French Railways website, www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

  You'll find more about the journey from Verona to Nice on the Nice to Italy page.

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Munich to Brussels or Bruges from €39.99

Option 1, Munich to Brussels by daytime trains

• Take a luxurious ICE from Munich to Cologne and another ICE to Brussels.

  Leave Munich Hbf 06:47, change at Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen, arriving Brussels Midi 13:35.

  Leave Munich Hbf 08:47, change at Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen, arriving Brussels Midi 15:35.

  Leave Munich Hbf 10:48, change at Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen, arriving Brussels Midi 17:35.

  Leave Munich Hbf 12:47, change at Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen, arriving Brussels Midi 19:35.

  Leave Munich Hbf 14:47, change at Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen, arriving Brussels Midi 21:35.

  ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Fares start at €39.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  You can book from Munich to Brussels, Bruges or any station in Belgium.

  Tip:  Click Stopovers and enter Brussel Noord with length of stay left as 00:00.  This removes Eurostar (formerly Thalys) trains from the search results as these don't call here, leaving only DB-run ICE trains on which DB can sell through tickets at inclusive prices.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can always log in and check or re-print your bookings.  You print your own ticket or show it on your phone.

An ICE3neo at Brussels Midi.  More about ICE trains.  Photo courtesy of Christian Hunt.

Option 2, Munich to Brussels by Nightjet sleeper train - the time-effective option, 3 times a week

• A Nightjet sleeper leaves Munich Ost at 23:16 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays, arriving Brussels Midi 09:55.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet has two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet.  There's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The train has two couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes.  See the guide to Nightjet accommodation.

  Tip:  For dinner before boarding the sleeper with traditional Bavarian food & beer, try the Haidhauser-Augustiner Bavarian restaurant, (www.haidhauser-augustiner.de) 5 minutes walk from Munich Ost north side main exit, see walking route.

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

• Book at either www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.  Child under 6?  See here.

• Tip:  You can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations and search for NJ 40468.

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Munich to Amsterdam from €37.99

Option 1, Munich to Amsterdam by daytime trains

• A direct Munich-Amsterdam ICE leaves Munich Hbf at 16:28 every day, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 23:29.

  This ICE3neo train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, a chill-out journey with a good book.

• Or there are other departures with a change of train, also by ICE:

  Leave Munich Hbf at 05:14, change at Hannover, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 14:00.

  Leave Munich Hbf at 07:47, change at Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 15:29.

  Leave Munich Hbf at 09:51, change at Düsseldorf, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 17:29.

  Leave Munich Hbf at 12:47, change at Düsseldorf, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 20:29.

  Leave Munich Hbf at 13:51, change at Cologne Messe/Deutz, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 21:59.

  Leave Munich Hbf at 15:51 (not Saturdays), change Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen, Amsterdam Centraal arrive 23:29.

  These ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, a chill-out journey with a good book.

• Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can always log in and check or re-print your bookings.  You print your own ticket or show it on your phone.  Suggested hotels in Amsterdam.

An ICE3neo at Amsterdam Centraal.  More about ICEs.

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Munich to Luxembourg from €37.99

• You can travel from Munich to Luxembourg by train from €37.99.

  You'll see a couple of good 1-change journeys, although times vary:

  Leave Munich Hbf 08:27, change at Düsseldorf, arriving Luxembourg 17:48.

  Leave Munich Hbf 16:18, change at Koblenz, arriving Luxembourg 00:35.

  The afternoon departure takes you along the Rhine Valley, past castles, vineyards, river boats and the legendary Lorelei Rock, a real treat, see the Rails Down the Rhine page.  The Rhine will be on the right hand side going north to Koblenz.

  Both departures take you from Koblenz to Luxembourg along the Moselle valley past river boats and vineyards.  For the best river views, sit on the left hand side when going west from Koblenz (the train leaves Koblenz station heading north before turning west).

  There are plenty of other departures with 2 changes, check times at int.bahn.de.

• Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Before running the enquiry, click Stopovers and enter Igel, leaving length of stay 00:00.  This eliminates buses from the search results, the trains all call here, the buses don't!

  If you want the recommended 1-change options shown above, also change Transfer time from normal to 30 minutes.

  In the search results, look for journeys with just 1 change at Koblenz.  If you find none, look for a maximum of 2 changes.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can always log in and check or re-print your bookings.  You print your own ticket or show it on your phone.

Koblenz to Luxembourg by double deck regional train.  This is a CFL double-decker at Luxembourg.

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

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

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Munich to Zurich, Luzern, Geneva or anywhere in Switzerland from €18.99

• See the Munich to Zurich page for times, fares & tickets.

  Munich-Zurich frequency was doubled in 2020 to 6 trains a day each way & journey time cut to 4 hours.  In 2021, journey time was further cut to 3h32.  All services are now operated by bullet-nosed ETR610 trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Fares start at €18.99 in 2nd class or €49.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  You can buy through tickets from Munich to Geneva, Luzern, Bern, Interlaken, St Moritz or almost any station in Switzerland this way, at one inclusive price, much cheaper than buying a separate onward ticket at expensive Swiss prices.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can always log in and check or re-print your bookings.  You print your own ticket or show it on your phone.

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Munich to Venice, Milan, Florence, Rome & Italy from €27.99

Option 1, Munich to anywhere Italy by daytime trains through the scenic Brenner Pass

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Verona, Bologna, Verona or Venice by railjet train, see the timetable here:

  Departures from Munich Hbf to Verona Porta Nuova are at 07:32, 09:33, 11:32, 13:33 & 15:33, journey time 5h25.

  The 07:32 from Munich Hbf runs through to Venice Mestre every day, extended to Venice Santa Lucia Saturdays & Sundays arriving 14:25.

  The 09:33 from Munich Hbf runs through to Bologna Centrale every day arriving 16:08 (extended to Rimini & Ancona May to September)

  The 11:32 from Munich Hbf runs through to Venice Santa Lucia every day, arriving 18:25.

  These swish Austrian railjet trains have 2nd, 1st & business class, a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st & business class a steward takes restaurant orders and serves them at your seat.

  They travel through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass video here.  More about the Brenner railjet trains.

• Step 2, change at Verona or Bologna for an onward Italian train.  I'd allow at least 45 minutes between trains.

  If you left Munich at 09:33, you can leave Bologna Centrale at 17:02, arriving Florence SMN 17:39, Rome Termini 19:25 & Naples Centrale 20:48.

  If you left Munich at 09:33, you can leave Verona Porta Nuova at 16:02, arriving Milan Centrale 17:15.

  You travel by high-speed Frecciarossa, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• How much does it cost?

  Fares to Verona start at €27.99 2nd class or €39.99 1st class.

  Fares to Bologna or Venice by direct train start at €37.99 2nd class or €47.99 1st class.

  Verona to Milan start at €19.90 in standard (2nd) or €29.90 in business (1st).

  Bologna to Florence, Rome or Naples start at €29.90 in standard (2nd) or €39.90 in business (1st).

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets

  Buy tickets to anywhere in Italy as one seamless transaction at www.raileurope.com:

  Set up an enquiry from Munich to your Italian destination.  Click More options, enter Verona (any station) (or if taking the 09:33 from Munich and heading for Florence, Rome Naples, enter Bologna Centrale) and set stopover duration to 45 minutes.  Then run the enquiry.

  You can pay in €, £ or $, overseas cards no problem, small booking fee.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead for the railjets, up to 4 months ahead for onward Italian trains.  You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.

• Another way to buy tickets

  Step 1, buy tickets for the railjet at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print your tickets at any time.  You print your own ticket or show it on your phone.

  Step 2, buy an onward Italian ticket from Verona Porta Nuova or Bologna Centrale to Florence SMN, Rome Termini, Milan Centrale or Naples Centrale at either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, the small booking fee will be refunded if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (more fiddly, requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it).  Allow at least 45 minutes to change in Verona Porta Nuova in case of delay.

A new generation railjet at Verona Porta Nuova, showing a low-floor section for easy boarding.  More about these railjets.

Option 2, Munich to Milan, Florence, Rome & Venice by sleeper train

• A Nightjet sleeper train leaves Munich Hbf at 20:08 every night.

  One portion arrives Bologna Centrale 05:38, Florence Campo di Marte 06:48 & Rome Tiburtina 10:05.

  Another portion arrives Verona Porta Nuova 05:51 & Milan Rogoredo 07:42.

  Important: This sleeper is cancelled from 17 November 2024 to 13 July 2025 due to work in the Tauern Tunnel in Austria.

  Important:  From 29 September to 13 December 2025, both portions of this train are cancelled due to trackwork and replaced by a single train, leaving Munich Hbf at 20:08, arriving Bologna Centrale 05:38 & Milan Rogoredo 07:58.  Change in Bologna or Milan for Florence, Rome & Naples.

  The portion to Bologna, Florence & Rome is a new generation Nightjet with 1 & 2 bed sleepers all with shower & toilet, 4-berth comfort couchettes, individual mini cabins and ordinary seats, see the new generation Nightjet page for a guide to accommodation.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers, couchettes & mini cabins.

  The portion to Milan 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.  See the Nightjet guide.

• Fares for the new-generation nightjet start at €59.90 in a mini cabin or 4-berth couchettes, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Fares for the original Nightjet 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 $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.  Child under 6?  See here.

• Tip:  Dinner before boarding your sleeper?  For a typically Bavarian dinner & beer or two before boarding at Munich Hbf, I recommend the Augustiner Keller (www.augustinerkeller.de) at Arnulfstrasse 52, 9 minutes walk away on the north side of the station, see walking map.

• Tip:  You can check the formation for this train, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled at www.vagonweb.cz.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Germany & click nj.

Option 3, Munich to Venice by sleeper train

• A Nightjet sleeper train leaves Munich Ost at 23:54 every night, arriving Venice Santa Lucia 08:34.

  Important: This sleeper is cancelled from 17 November 2024 to 13 July 2025 due to work in the Tauern Tunnel in Austria.

  The Nightjet 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.  See the guide to Nightjet accommodation.

• 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 $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.  Child under 6?  See here.

• Tip:  Dinner before boarding your sleeper?  For a dinner & a beer or two near Munich Ost, try the Haidhauser-Augustiner Bavarian restaurant, (www.haidhauser-augustiner.de) 5 minutes walk from the station exit on the north side of Munich Ost, see walking route.  Feedback appreciated.

• Tip:  You can check the formation for this train, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled at www.vagonweb.cz.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Germany & click nj.

Option 4, Munich to Florence & Rome with overnight stop - as option 1 but a time-effective 'sleeper' version with overnight stop in Verona.

• Day 1, travel from Munich to Verona by railjet, leaving Munich Hbf at 15:33, arriving Verona Porta Nuova 20:59.

  This swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st & business class a steward takes restaurant orders and serves you at your seat.  The train travels through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the photos & video on the Brenner Pass page.

  Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €47.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee, using these sites allows you to book everything in one place) or at the German Railways website int.bahn.de (in €, no booking fee).

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

• Stay overnight in Verona.  Hotels near the station with good or great reviews include the Corte Merighi Rooms & Breakfast, Novo Hotel Rossi, Guesthouse Verona or (a little closer to the centre but with fab reviews) the Relais Empire.

• Day 2, travel from Verona by Frecciarossa, leaving Verona Porta Nuova at 06:52, arriving Florence SMN 08:24 & Rome Termini 10:15.

  The high-speed Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  By all means book a later train if you prefer, they leave every hour.

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

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee, using these sites allows you to book everything in one place) or at the Italian Railways website www.trenitalia.com (in €, you'll need to use Italian-language place names).

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Munich to Sicily

Option 1, Munich to Sicily using a Rome-Sicily sleeper

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Rome as shown in Munich to Italy section above.

  You leave Munich Hbf at 09:33, change at Bologna Centrale, arriving Rome Termini 19:25.  Buy tickets as shown above.

• Step 2, take one of the two daily sleeper trains from Rome Termini direct to Messina, Taormina, Catania, Siracuse, Cefalù or Palermo as shown on the Trains to Sicily page, arriving next morning.  You'll usually find one leaving Rome Termini at 20:31 and another at 23:00.

  These trains are shunted onto a ferry to cross the Straits of Messina, the only remaining place in Europe that trains go onto ships and a unique experience, see the video.  Buy tickets as shown on the Trains to Sicily page.

Option 2, Munich to Sicily with overnight stop in Rome

• Day 1, travel from Munich to Rome as shown in Munich to Italy section above.

  You leave Munich Hbf at 09:33, change at Bologna Centrale, arriving Rome Termini 19:25.  Buy tickets as shown above.

• Stay overnight in Rome.  Hotels near Roma Termini with good or great reviews include the Hotel Diocleziano, Hotel Le Petit & guesthouse Madonna delle Neve.

• Day 2, travel from Rome to Messina, Palermo, Catania or Siracuse on one of two daily Intercity trains, see the Rome-Sicily timetable here.

  These trains are shunted onto a ferry to cross the Straits of Messina, one of the few places in the world that trains go onto ships, and a unique experience, see the video.  Fares start at just €19.90, buy tickets as shown on the Trains to Sicily page.

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Munich to Barcelona, Madrid & Spain

Option 1, Munich to Barcelona in a singe day

• Day 1, travel from Munich to Paris by TGV Duplex, leaving Munich Hbf at 06:51, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 12:32.

  The TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  It uses the TGV-Est high-speed line across France at up to 320 km/h (199 mph).  Book an upstairs seat for the best views, any seat number greater than 60 is on the upper deck.  Watch the sun rise and the morning mists clear, see the Munich-Paris TGV video.

  Fares start at €39.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can always log in and check or re-print your bookings.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Cross Paris by metro or taxi to the Gare de Lyon.  Have lunch, I recommend the celebrated Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon.

• Day 1, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 14:42, arriving Barcelona Sants 21:29.

  The impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has 1st & 2nd class, a café-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Book an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number above 60 is upper deck.

  The train speeds along the Rhône valley past pretty villages & picturesque churches, then past Béziers cathedral, flamingos on the étangs (lakes) in southern France, the Fort de Salses approaching Perpignan and the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou in the Pyrenees.  More about the journey.

  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 (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas payment cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Stay overnight in Barcelona.  The Hotel Barcelo Sants is 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.

• Day 2, travel from Barcelona to other Spanish destinations:

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

  For Granada:  Leave Barcelona Sants at 06:45 by AVE 112 high-speed train, arriving Granada at 13:11.

  For Malaga:  Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE S103 high-speed train, arriving Malaga Maria Zambrano 15:05.

  For Cordoba & Seville:  Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE S103 high-speed train, arriving Cordoba 13:27 & Seville Santa Justa 14:32.

  For Valencia & Alicante:  Euromed trains link Barcelona Sants with Valencia & Alicante regularly through the day, for example one leaves Barcelona Sants at 07:15 Mondays-Saturdays arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 10:10 & Alicante 12:38 or at 10:15 every day arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 13:13 & Alicante 15:32.

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

  Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.  Booking for Spanish trains opens anything from 15 days to 9 months ahead.

Option 2, Munich to Barcelona & Madrid with overnight stop in Marseille

• Day 1, travel from Munich to Karlsruhe by ICE train, leaving Munich Hbf at 11:02, arriving Karlsruhe Hbf 13:52.

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

• Day 1, travel from Karlsruhe to Marseille by TGV Duplex, leaving Karlsruhe Hbf at 15:12, arriving Marseille St Charles 21:46.

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

• Fares start at €49.99 in 2nd class or €79.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book from Munich to Marseille at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Before running the enquiry, change Transfer time from normal to 40 minutes.  This gets you a robust connection.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can always log in and check or re-print your bookings.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

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

• Day 2, travel from Marseille to Spain by AVE, leaving Marseille St Charles at 08:04, arriving Barcelona Sants 12:38 & Madrid Atocha 15:45.

  This comfortable AVE S100 high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Look out for Béziers cathedral, colonies of flamingos on the étangs (lakes) in southern France, the Fort de Salses on the right approaching Perpignan and the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees.  More about this journey.

  Fares from Marseille to Barcelona start at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class.

  Fares from Marseille to Madrid start at €44 in 2nd class or €54 in 1st class. 

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book from Marseille to Spain at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or using Renfe's own website www.renfe.com (in €, much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it).

  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Day 2, take a high-speed train from Barcelona to Valencia & Alicante or from Madrid to Cordoba, Seville, Granada, Malaga.

  A fast Euromed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 16:10 arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 19:02 & Alicante 21:34.

  An AVE high-speed train leaves Madrid Atocha at 16:35 every day, arriving Cordoba 18:34 & Malaga Maria Zambrano 19:43.

  An AVE high-speed train leaves Madrid Atocha at 16:30 daily except Saturdays arriving Seville Santa Justa at 19:03.  Or on any day of the week you can leave Madrid Atocha at 18:00 arriving Seville Santa Justa at 20:43.

  An AVE high-speed train leaves Madrid Atocha at 20:05 every day, arriving Granada 23:36.

  AVE & Euromed trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

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

  Booking for Spanish trains opens anything from 15 days to 9 months ahead.  Allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Barcelona or Madrid.

Option 3, Munich to Barcelona & Spain with overnight stop in Geneva

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Geneva, leaving Munich Hbf at 14:54 by EuroCity train, change at Zurich HB, arriving Geneva 21:25.

  The bullet-nosed EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Or travel earlier for more of an evening in Geneva.

  Fares start at €39.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book from Munich to Geneva at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can always log in and check or re-print your bookings.  You print your own ticket or show it on your phone.

• Stay overnight in Geneva.  Hotels with good reviews near the station include Hotel Cornavin Geneve, Hotel Les Arcades, ibis Styles Geneva Gare.

• Day 2, travel from Geneva to Lyon by TER regional train, leaving Geneva at 09:30, arriving Lyon Part Dieu 11:22.

  It's a pleasant journey on spacious former inter-city cars along the river Rhône.

  The fare is a fixed-price €33.40 in 2nd class, €50.80 in 1st class.

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Have dinner in Lyon, see suggested restaurants near the station.

• Day 2, travel from Lyon to Barcelona by AVE, leaving Lyon Part Dieu at 14:35, arriving Barcelona Sants 19:33.

  This comfortable AVE S100 high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  It passes Béziers cathedral, flamingos on the étangs (lakes) in southern France, the Fort de Salses approaching Perpignan.  Look out for the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees.  More about the journey.

  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.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or Spanish railways own site www.renfe.com (in €, much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it).

• 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.

• Day 3, travel from Barcelona to other destinations in Spain:

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

  For Granada:  Leave Barcelona Sants at 06:45 by AVE 112 high-speed train, arriving Granada at 13:11.

  For Malaga:  Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE S103 high-speed train, arriving Malaga Maria Zambrano 15:05.

  For Cordoba & Seville:  Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE S103 high-speed train, arriving Cordoba 13:27 & Seville Santa Justa 14:32.

  For Valencia & Alicante:  Euromed trains link Barcelona Sants with Valencia & Alicante regularly through the day, for example one leaves Barcelona Sants at 07:15 Mondays-Saturdays arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 10:10 & Alicante 12:38 or at 10:15 every day arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 13:13 & Alicante 15:32.

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

  Buy tickets using www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or Spanish railways own site www.renfe.com (in €, much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it) or www.petrabax.com (in $, small mark-up).  You print your own ticket.  Booking opens anything from 15 days to 9 months ahead.

TGV Duplex at Paris Gare de Lyon. These 320 km/h double-deckers link Paris with Barcelona.  See the TGV Duplex video.

Cafe-bar on the upper deck in car 4 (or 14), serving tea, coffee, wine, beer, snacks & microwaved hot dishes..		2nd class seats on the is upper deck.  There's a mix or tables for 4 and unidirectional seating.  360º photo.

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

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

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Munich to San Sebastian

Option 1, Munich to San Sebastian in a day

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Paris by TGV Duplex, leaving Munich Hbf at 06:51, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 12:32.

  The 320 km/h (199 mph) TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Book an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number above 60 is upper deck.  Watch the sun rise and the morning mists clear, see the Munich-Paris TGV video.

  Fares start at €39.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can always log in and check or re-print your bookings.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Change stations by metro or taxi from the Gare de l'Est to the Gare Montparnasse.  Allow at least 70 minutes between trains.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Hendaye by TGV Duplex Océane, leaving Paris Montparnasse at 16:11, arriving Hendaye 20:47.

  The 16:11 doesn't run on Saturdays, on Saturdays you leave Paris Montparnasse at 14:06 arriving Hendaye 18:47.

  The double-deck TGV Duplex Océane has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

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

  Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Step 3, travel from Hendaye to San Sebastian Amara by Euskotren, every 30 minutes, journey 37 minutes, fare €2.75.

  Simply walk out of Hendaye station and turn right, the little Euskotren station is just 50m away.  Buy a ticket at the Euskotren station from the machines or staffed counter with cash or card and hop on the next half-hourly Euskotren to San Sebastian Amara.  Check Euskotren times at www.euskotren.eus.

  More about the Paris to San Sebastian journey.

Option 2, Munich to San Sebastian with overnight stop in Paris

• Day 1, travel from Munich to Paris, leaving Munich Hbf at 15:47, change at Stuttgart, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 22:14.

  The Stuttgart-Paris TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  There are earlier departures if you'd like more time in Paris.

  Fares start from €39.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  I'd change Transfer time from normal to 30 minutes.

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

  Change stations by metro or taxi from the Gare de l'Est to the Gare Montparnasse.

• Stay overnight in Paris.

  Hotels near Paris Gare Montparnasse with good reviews:  Mercure Paris Gare Montparnasse (150m from the station, 4-star);  Best Western Sevres Montparnasse (15 minute walk from station, 3-star);  La Maison Montparnasse (10 min walk from station, 2-star);  Hotel du Maine (5 min walk from station, 2-star).

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

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

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

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

  Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Day 2, travel from Hendaye to San Sebastian Amara by Euskotren, every 30 minutes, journey 37 minutes, fare €2.75.

  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 at the Euskotren station from the machines or staffed counter with cash or card and hop on the next half-hourly Euskotren to San Sebastian Amara.  Check Euskotren times at www.euskotren.eus.

  More about the Paris to San Sebastian journey.

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Munich to Lisbon & Portugal

• Day 1, travel from Munich Hbf to Paris Gare de l'Est by any suitable afternoon departure, as shown in the Munich-Paris section.

  Fares start at €39.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

  Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi from the Gare de l'Est to the Gare de Lyon.

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

• Day 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 07:42, arriving Barcelona Sants 14:29.

  The impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has 1st & 2nd class, a café-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Book an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number above 60 is upper deck.

  The train speeds along the Rhône valley past pretty villages & picturesque churches, then past Béziers cathedral, flamingos on the étangs (lakes) in southern France, the Fort de Salses approaching Perpignan and the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou in the Pyrenees.  More about the journey.

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Madrid by AVE, leaving Barcelona Sants at 15:25 Mondays-Fridays, arriving Madrid Atocha 17:55.

  Or on any day of the week, leave Barcelona Sants at 16:00 by AVE, arriving Madrid Atocha 19:12.

  These comfortable AVE S103 high-speed trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Fares start at €17.05 in standard class or €68.05 in comfort class.  Fares work like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. 

  Booking for Spanish trains opens anything from 15 days to 9 months ahead.

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

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Munich to Andorra

Option 1, Munich to Andorra in a day

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Paris by TGV Duplex, leaving Munich Hbf at 06:51, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 12:32.

  The TGV Duplex 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.  Book an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number above 60 is upper deck.  Watch the sun rise and the morning mists clear, see the video.

  Fares start at €39.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

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

  In Paris, change stations by metro or taxi to the Gare Montparnasse.  Allow at least 70 minutes between trains in Paris.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Toulouse by TGV, leaving Paris Montparnasse at 15:07, arriving Toulouse Matabiau 19:41.

  The TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

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

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).   You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Have dinner in Toulouse.

• Step 3, travel from Toulouse Matabiau to Andorra la Vella by bus, leaving Toulouse Matabiau at 21:45 arriving Andorra 01:45.

  Check times at Andbus.net or Omio.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 in the Gare Routière (bus station) 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, see the photos below.

  The fare is €36.

  Book the bus at Andbus.net or Omio.com.

Option 2, Munich to Andorra using the Paris-Toulouse/l'Hospitalet overnight train

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Paris, leaving Munich Hbf at 11:47, change Stuttgart Hbf, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 18:15.

  Fares start from €39.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de

  Before running the enquiry, change Transfer time from normal to 40 minutes.

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

  Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi.  I'd allow at least 90 minutes between trains in Paris when catching a sleeper.  Perhaps have dinner at the amazing 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 Toulouse by Intercité de Nuit, leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 22:13 arriving Toulouse Matabiau 07:44.

  This train has 1st class 4-berth couchettes, 2nd class 6-berth couchettes & 2nd class seats.  More about Intercité de Nuit.

  Fares start at €29 in a 2nd class couchette or €59 in a 1st class couchette.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead, but this train has an annoying habit of opening late for booking, less than the expected 4 months ahead, so don't be impatient.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Tip:  On arrival in Toulouse, I recommend the breakfast buffet at the nearby Pullman Hotel.

• Step 3, travel from Toulouse to Andorra by bus, leaving Toulouse Matabiau at 09:45, arriving Andorra la Vella bus station at 14:00.

  The bus is run by Andbus, check times at Andbus.net.

  The bus leaves from bus stand 15 in the Gare Routière (bus station) outside Toulouse Matabiau railway station.  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, see the photos below.

  The fare is €36 one-way.  Book the bus at Andbus.net.

• A better route, Fri/Sat/Sun, daily June-September:

  On Friday, Saturday & Sunday nights and every day from June to September, the same 22:13 Intercité de Nuit from Paris conveys 1st & 2nd class couchettes & reclining seats direct to Andorre-l'Hospitalet, the nearest station to Andorra, arriving 09:43.

  Book this Paris to Andorre-l'Hospitalet sleeper at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no fee).

  A bus run by Hife (www.hife.es) leaves l'Hospitalet station at 10:15, arriving Andorra La Vella bus station 11:30.

  The bus fare is €24, pre-book the bus at www.hife.es.

  Alternatively, a taxi from l'Hospitalet costs around €80 for up to 4 passengers, taking 47 minutes for the 38 km drive.  Pre-book a taxi to meet the train, call Altitud Taxis, 00 376 856255 or 00 33 561644714.  This is a nicer and faster option than the bus from Toulouse, when running.

Paris to Toulouse or l'Hospitalet by Intercité de Nuit.  More about Intercités de Nuit.

2nd class 6-berth couchettes.		A cosy 2nd class couchette.

1st class couchette, made up for the night.		1st class 4-berth couchettes.

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

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

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

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

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Munich to Salzburg from €17.99

• Trains link Munich Hbf with Salzburg Hbf at least twice an hour from early until late. 

• However, there are 3 different types of train, see the Munich to Salzburg page for times, fares & how to buy tickets.

A railjet to Salzburg, Linz & Vienna at Munich Hbf:  More about Munich to Salzburg trains.

A BRB regional train at Munich Hbf:  More about Munich to Salzburg trains.

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Munich to Hallstatt from €29.99

• Step 1, travel from Munich Hbf to Salzburg Hbf as shown on the Munich to Salzburg page.

• Step 2, then take a train to Attnang Puchheim and a local train to Hallstatt.  Total journey time from Munich is as little as 4h08.

• Step 3, Hallstatt Bahnhof is on the other side of the lake from the town.  A small local ferry called the Stefanie links Hallstatt Bahnhof (Hallstatt station)  with Hallstatt Markt (Hallstatt town marketplace) in connection with most train departures, see www.hallstattschifffahrt.at for a timetable.  You pay for the ferry separately at the quayside before boarding, about €3 per crossing,

• Fares from Munich to Hallstatt Bahnhof start at €27.99 in 2nd class, €37.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can always log in and check or re-print your bookings.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Tip:  It's worth checking www.thetrainline.com as well, this links to the Austrian system and can sometimes be cheaper.

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Munich to Vienna from €27.99

Option 1, Munich to Vienna by railjet - fastest & most frequent

• Smart Austrian railjet trains run from Munich Hbf to Linz & Vienna Hbf at 06:22, 07:23, 09:29 and every two hours until 17:30.

  Munich to Vienna takes only 4 hours city centre to city centre, with a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Fares start at €27.99 in 2nd class, €37.99 in 1st class or €52.99 in business class (premium 1st) if you pre-book.

  A reserved seat is optional and costs an extra €5 or so.  In business class seat reservation is compulsory, but included in the fare.

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

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can always log in and check or re-print your bookings.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Tip:  If you want a business class ticket, book at www.thetrainline.com as this connects to the Austrian Railways ticketing system.

A railjet to Vienna about to leave Munich Hbf.  More about railjets.

Business class.  About.		Restaurant car.

First class.		Economy class.

Pleasant Bavarian scenery between Munich & Salzburg.

This is the view of Salzburg's Fortress Hohensalzburg on your right hand side as the railjet crosses the River Salzach & approaches Salzburg Hbf.

Pleasant farmland scenery between Salzburg & Vienna.

Option 2, Munich to Vienna by competing Westbahn train - up to 6 per day, cheaper at short notice, great double-deck trains

• Private operator Westbahn operates up to 6 daily trains from Munich Hbf to Vienna Westbahnhof.

  Their swish modern double-deck trains compete directly with the ÖBB's railjets, they have 1st class, comfort class and 2nd class.  There are power sockets at seats & free WiFi.  There's no restaurant car, but there are self-service areas with vending machines for tea & coffee.  In WESTbahn first class, food & drink orders are taken and served at your seat.

• Fares start at €23.99 if you book in advance.

• Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com, this will show both the railjets and Westbahn trains.

WESTbahn double-deck train on platform 8 at Munich Hbf.

First class seats, upper deck.  Seats arranged 2+1 across the car width.  Larger photo.		Comfort class, upper deck.  Almost identical to 2nd class, a bit more legroom & all seats are around tables. Larger photo.

Food vending area, 4 per trainset.    You can buy snacks, drinks, tea & coffee with contactless bank cards.  Larger photo.		2nd class seats, upper deck.  Seats arranged 2+2 across the car width.  Larger photo.

Option 3, Munich to Vienna by sleeper train

• The daytime journey only takes 4 hours and most people travel by day.  But there's also a sleeper on its way to Budapest, it's only a 7 hour journey even by night.

• The sleeper train Kalman Imre leaves Munich Ost at 23:54, arriving Vienna Hbf 06:34.

  This is a Hungarian sleeper train en route from Stuttgart to Budapest, it has an air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and an air-conditioned Hungarian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments.  In the sleeping-car, a light breakfast is included.  See the Hungarian sleeping-car video.

  You can transfer from Munich Hbf to Munich Ost by frequent S-Bahn train, taking 8 minutes.

• Fares start at €49.90 with couchette in 6-berth, €59.90 with couchette in 4-berth, €89.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper, or €129.90 with a bed in a single-bed sleeper.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international 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 3 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

• Tip:  For dinner and a beer or two whilst waiting for your sleeper, try the Haidhauser-Augustiner Bavarian restaurant, (www.haidhauser-augustiner.de) just 5 minutes walk from the station exit on the north side of Munich Ost, see walking route.  Feedback appreciated.

The Hungarian sleeper train.  More about this sleeper train.

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

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Munich to Innsbruck from €18.99

• Trains link Munich Hbf & Innsbruck Hbf regularly, there's a mainline route via Kufstein and a slower regional route through Garmisch-Partenkirchen.  For details, see the Munich to Innsbruck page.

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Munich to Copenhagen from €37.99

Option 1, Munich to Copenhagen by daytime trains

• You can travel from Munich to Copenhagen by train in a single day:

  Leave Munich Hbf 06:12, change at Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen 17:38.

  Leave Munich Hbf 08:17, change at Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen 19:38.

  Leave Munich Hbf 10:20, change at Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen 21:38.

  These trains also call at Kolding (for Legoland) and Odense.

  Munich to Hamburg is by ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, Hamburg to Copenhagen is by EuroCity train with power sockets at all seats & refreshment trolley.  Take a good book, sit back and enjoy the ride.  More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.

• Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can always log in and check or re-print your bookings.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Step 1, Munich to Hamburg by ICE with restaurant car & free WiFi, seen here at Hamburg Hbf.  More about ICE trains.

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

Bar counter at the other end of the kitchen.		2nd class seats on an ICE4.

Step 2, Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train.  From June 2023, these trains are temporarily being operated by former German Railways intercity cars and a Danish electric locomotive, until new trains being built by Talgo arrive in 2025-2026.  The current trains have 1st & 2nd class, power sockets at seats, but no catering so bring your own food & drink.  More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.

2nd class seats are almost all open-plan like this.  There are a handful of 6-seat 2nd class compartments in one of the coaches, but only a few.

The 1st class car has 6-seater compartments like this. Larger photo.  Larger photo.

Option 2, Munich to Copenhagen using the Munich-Hamburg sleeper

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Hamburg by Nightjet, leaving Munich Hbf at 22:52, arriving Hamburg Hbf 08:47.

  This is a new generation Nightjet train with 1 & 2 bed sleepers all with shower & toilet, 4-berth comfort couchettes, individual mini cabins and ordinary seats, see the new generation Nightjet page for a guide to accommodation.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers, couchettes & mini cabins.

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 10:53, arriving Copenhagen 15:38.

  Fares start at €27.99 in 2nd class or €59.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can always log in and check or re-print your bookings.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Step 1, Munich to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train.  Above, a new generation Nightjet ready to leave.  More about new-generation Nightjets.

Comfort Plus sleeper with shower & toilet.		Comfort sleeper with shower & toilet

4-berth couchettes.		Mini-cabins - enclosed individual capsules.

Step 2, Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train.  From June 2023, these trains are temporarily being operated by former German Railways intercity cars and a Danish electric locomotive, until new trains being built by Talgo arrive in 2025-2026.  The current trains have 1st & 2nd class, power sockets at seats, but no catering so bring your own food & drink.  More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.

2nd class seats are almost all open-plan like this.  There are a handful of 6-seat 2nd class compartments in one of the coaches, but only a few.

The 1st class car has 6-seater compartments like this. Larger photo.  Larger photo.

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Munich to Stockholm & Sweden

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

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Hamburg by ICE, leaving Munich Hbf at 13:17, arriving Hamburg Hbf 18:56.

  The ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Always allow at least an hour when connecting with a sleeper train, ideally more.  Have dinner in Hamburg, see suggested restaurants near the station.

  Fares start at €29.99 in 2nd class or €39.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

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

• Step 2, travel from Hamburg to Stockholm by sleeper, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 22:03, arriving Stockholm Central 09:55.

  Run by SJ (Swedish Railways), this EuroNight sleeper train has one or two sleeping-cars with compact 1 & 2 berth compartments with washbasin, several 1, 2 or 3 bed deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower, couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  A bistro car is attached between Malmö and Stockholm.  More about the Hamburg-Stockholm sleeper train.

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

  Book tickets at SJ's website www.sj.se.

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

Option 2, Munich to Malmö, Gothenburg & Stockholm with overnight stop in Hamburg

• Day 1, travel from Munich Hbf to Hamburg Hbf by ICE train in as little as 5h34.  For example:

  Leave Munich Hbf 13:17 arriving Hamburg Hbf 18:56.

  Leave Munich Hbf 14:20 arriving Hamburg Hbf 19:54.

  Leave Munich Hbf 15:17 arriving Hamburg Hbf 20:58.

  Leave Munich Hbf 17:16 arriving Hamburg Hbf 22:55.

  ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

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

• Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:50, arriving Copenhagen 13:38.

  The EuroCity train has power sockets at all seats and a refreshment trolley.  More about this journey.

• Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Sweden:

  For Malmö, hop on the next Öresund train from Copenhagen to Malmö Central, these leave every 15 minutes taking 40 minutes.

  For Gothenburg, hop on the next Öresund train from Copenhagen to Göteborg Central, these leave every hour taking 3h50.

  For Stockholm, travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000, leaving Copenhagen at 14:19, arriving Stockholm Central 19:37.

  SJ's X2000 trains have a bistro, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  They use the impressive Öresund fixed link from Sweden to Denmark,

  Update 2025:  Unfortunately, SJ is short of X2000s and until further notice you'll need to change at Malmö:

  On Mondays-Fridays, leave Copenhagen 15:59, change at Malmö Central, arriving Stockholm Central 21:33.

  On Saturdays & Sundays, leave Copenhagen 14:59, change at Malmö Central, arriving Stockholm Central 20:36.

• How much does it cost?

  Munich to Copenhagen starts at €39.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.

  Copenhagen to Stockholm starts at 280 SEK (€28).

  There are through fares from Munich to Malmö & Gothenburg from €56.99 in 2nd class, €79.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets

  If you're going to Malmö or Gothenburg, book from Munich to Malmö Central or Göteborg Central with German Railways at int.bahn.de.

  If you're going to Stockholm, first book from Munich to Copenhagen using int.bahn.de.

  To get the overnight stop in Hamburg, click Stopovers and enter Hamburg Hbf with a suitable length of stay, say 10 hours.  Adjust departure time and length of stay to get the trains you want either side of Hamburg.  A little trial & error may be needed!

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

  Then book from Copenhagen to Stockholm using www.sj.se (in SEK) or using Omio.com (in SEK, €, £ or $, small booking fee).

Option 3, Munich to Malmö, Gothenburg & Stockholm with overnight stop in Copenhagen

• Day 1, travel from Munich to Copenhagen with a choice of departures:

  Leave Munich Hbf depart 06:12, change at Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen 17:38.

  Leave Munich Hbf depart 08:17, change at Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen 19:38.

  Leave Munich Hbf depart 10:20, change at Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen 21:38.

  Munich to Hamburg is by ICE with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, Hamburg to Copenhagen is by EuroCityn with power sockets at all seats & refreshment trolley.  Take a good book, sit back and enjoy the ride.  More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.

  If you're going to Malmö, hop on the next Öresund train to Malmö Central, these run every 15 minutes, taking 40 minutes.

  If you're going to Gothenburg, hop on the next Öresund train to Göteborg Central, these run every hour, taking 3h50.

  You can check times from Munich to Malmö or Gothenburg at int.bahn.de, look for journeys with just 2 changes.

• 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 Stockholm by X2000, leaving Copenhagen at 08:21, arriving Stockholm Central 13:34.

  SJ's X2000 trains have a bistro, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  They use the impressive Öresund fixed link from Sweden to Denmark.

  Update 2025:  Unfortunately, SJ is short of X2000s and until further notice you'll need to change at Malmö:

  On Mondays-Fridays, leave Copenhagen 08:59, change at Malmö Central, arriving Stockholm Central 14:39.

  On Saturdays & Sundays, leave Copenhagen 08:44, change at Malmö Central, arriving Stockholm Central 14:32.

  Or there are earlier & later departures, check times at www.sj.se or Omio.com.

• How much does it cost?

  Munich to Copenhagen starts at €49.99 in 2nd class or €79.99 in 1st class.

  Copenhagen to Stockholm starts at 280 SEK (€28).

  There are through fares from Munich to Malmö & Gothenburg from €56.99 in 2nd class, €79.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets

  If you're going to Malmö or Gothenburg, book from Munich to Malmö Central or Göteborg Central at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  If you're going to Stockholm, book from Munich to Copenhagen at int.bahn.de.  Then book from Copenhagen to Stockholm for the following day using www.sj.se (in SEK) or using Omio.com (in SEK, €, £ or $, small booking fee).

  I'd change Transfer time from normal to 40 minutes or more.

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

Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train.  From June 2023, these trains are temporarily being operated by former German Railways intercity cars and a Danish electric locomotive, until new trains being built by Talgo arrive in 2025-2026.  The current trains have 1st & 2nd class, power sockets at seats, but no catering so bring your own food & drink.  More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.

2nd class seats are almost all open-plan like this.  There are a handful of 6-seat 2nd class compartments in one of the coaches, but only a few.

The 1st class car has 6-seater compartments like this. Larger photo.  Larger photo.

Option 4, Munich to Gothenburg using Stena Line's Kiel-Gothenburg overnight ferry

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Kiel by ICE, leaving Munich Hbf at 08:17, arriving Kiel Hbf 15:17.

  ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  But book the ferry first and confirm times, then book a train that arrives at Kiel Hbf at least 2 hours before the ferry sails.

  Book the train at the German Railways site int.bahn.de.

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

  In Kiel, the ferry terminal is 750m from the station, a 9-minute walk, see walking map.

• Step 2, sail overnight from Kiel to Gothenburg by Stena Line ferry.

  The ferry normally sails at 18:45 and arrives around 09:15, but times vary so check online.

  The ferry is a floating hotel with restaurants & bars, all passengers travel in a cosy private cabin with en suite toilet & shower.  You can add dinner & breakfast to your ticket when you book.

  Fares vary, you might pay €39 per passenger as basic fare plus €75-€89 per cabin for a private 1 or 2 bed room.

  Book the ferry at www.stenaline.com and print your own ticket or show it on your phone.

  In Gothenburg, the ferry terminal is a short taxi ride (or 4.3 km 53-minute walk) from Göteborg Central station, see walking map.

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Munich to Oslo & Norway

Option 1, Munich to Oslo with overnight stop in Hamburg - by train all the way

• Day 1, travel from Munich Hbf to Hamburg Hbf by ICE train, for example:

  Leave Munich Hbf 13:17 arriving Hamburg Hbf 18:56.

  Leave Munich Hbf 14:20 arriving Hamburg Hbf 19:54.

  Leave Munich Hbf 15:17 arriving Hamburg Hbf 20:58.

  Leave Munich Hbf 17:16 arriving Hamburg Hbf 22:55.

  ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Fares start at €17.99 in 2nd class or €23.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy a ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Gothenburg by EuroCity train & Öresund train:

  Leave Hamburg Hbf 08:50, arriving Copenhagen 13:38.  Leave Copenhagen at 14:30, arriving Göteborg Central 18:20.

  The EuroCity train from Hamburg to Copenhagen has power sockets at all seats & a refreshment trolley.  More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.  The Öresund train from Copenhagen to Gothenburg has power sockets & free WiFi, but bring your own food & drink.

  Have an early dinner in Gothenburg.

  Fares from Hamburg to Gothenburg start at €56.99.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy a ticket from Hamburg to Gothenburg at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

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

  Tip:  If you're clever, you can book a through ticket all the way from Munich to Gothenburg using int.bahn.de.  To get the overnight stop in Hamburg, click Stopovers and enter Hamburg Hbf with a suitable length of stay, say 10 hours.  Adjust departure time and length of stay to get the departure from Brussels you want and the 08:50 departure from Hamburg next morning.

  Tip:  If you don't see any through fares (which may be the case if you want 1st class), split the booking:  First book Hamburg to Copenhagen at int.bahn.de.  Then buy a ticket from Copenhagen to Göteborg Central at www.oresundstag.se.

• Day 2, travel from Gothenburg to Oslo by Norwegian train, leaving Göteborg Central at 20:10, arriving Oslo Sentral at 23:47.

  The smart modern Norwegian train is run by Vy, it has power sockets & free WiFi, but bring your own food & drink.

  Fares start at 249 Krone (€24) if you book a few weeks ahead.

  Book this at the Vy website www.vy.no or at www.entur.no.

Option 2, Munich to Oslo with overnight stop in Copenhagen - by train all the way

• Day 1, travel from Munich to Copenhagen with a choice of departures:

  Leave Munich Hbf depart 06:12, change at Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen 17:38.

  Leave Munich Hbf depart 08:17, change at Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen 19:38.

  Leave Munich Hbf depart 10:20, change at Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen 21:38.

  Munich to Hamburg is by ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, Hamburg to Copenhagen is by EuroCity train with power sockets at all seats & refreshment trolley.  Take a good book, sit back and enjoy the ride.  More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.

• 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 07:30, change at Gothenburg Central, arriving Oslo Sentral 15:47.

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

  Alternatively, spend the day in Copenhagen and take the overnight ferry to Oslo with a comfortable private cabin with shower & toilet, sailing from Copenhagen at 16:30 (15:00 some days) and arriving Oslo at 10:00 on day 3, as shown here.  This is remarkably affordable, and saves a hotel bill.  Book the ferry at www.dfds.com.

• How much does it cost?

  Hamburg to Göteborg Central starts at €56.99.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Göteborg Central to Oslo starts at 249 Krone (€24) if you book a few weeks ahead.

• How to buy tickets

  Step 1, buy a ticket from Munich to Göteborg Central at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  To get the overnight stop in Copenhagen, click Stopovers and enter Copenhagen with a suitable length of stay, say 12 hours.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.  If you have any problems, split the booking into Munich-Hamburg and Hamburg-Göteborg Central.  And if all else fails, book Copenhagen to Göteborg Central separately at www.oresundstag.se.

  Step 2, book the Göteborg Central to Oslo train at the Vy website www.vy.no or at www.entur.no.

Option 3, Munich to Oslo via the Kiel-Oslo cruise ferry - the most luxurious way to Oslo

• Day 1, travel from Munich to Hamburg by Nightjet, leaving Munich Hbf at 22:52, arriving Hamburg Hbf 08:47.

  This is a new generation Nightjet sleeper train with 1 & 2 bed sleepers with shower & toilet, 4-berth comfort couchettes, individual mini cabins and ordinary seats, see the new generation Nightjet page for a guide to accommodation.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers, couchettes & mini cabins.

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Hamburg Hbf to Kiel Hbf by regional train, these leave several times each hour taking 1h10, fixed-price fare around €27.

  In Kiel it's a 7 minute 450m walk from Kiel Hbf to the Color Line ferry terminal, see walking map.  But always allow several hours between trains and ferry for the ferry check-in and in case of any delay.

• Day 2, sail from Kiel to Oslo by luxurious Color Line ferry, with a full range of cabins, suites, bars, restaurants & lounges. 

  The m/v Magic or m/v Fantasy normally sails at 14:00 arriving Oslo 10:00 next morning (day 3).

  Check times & buy tickets at the Direct Ferries website or www.colorline.com.

  Money-saving tip:  It's considerably cheaper to book on Color Line's Norwegian website www.colorline.no in Norwegian Krone, for example a €274 fare becomes the equivalent of €164.  You'll need to use Google to translate the Norwegian.  You are still able to enter a UK or other European address and contact details.  Feedback appreciated.

  Make sure you're on deck next morning as the ship sails through spectacular scenery up Oslo Fjord.  The ship docks at the 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.  Map of Oslo showing ferry terminal.

Step 2, sail from Kiel to Oslo with Color Line.  It's just a 6 minute walk across from Kiel Hbf to the Color Line terminal.  There's a lift up to a connecting walkway which takes you to the ferry terminal.  If you've booked one of Color Line's 5 star suites, check in at the desk rather than the machines to be directed to a VIP lounge with free tea, coffee, juice, snacks & WiFi.  You'll have priority boarding & free access to the on-board spa.  Photos courtesy of Philip Dyer-Perry except where shown.

Above left, cabin with TV, shower & toilet, luxury suites are also available.  Above right, restaurant with a view.

Restaurant and lounge on the Kiel-Oslo ferry.

Wake up to lovely scenery sailing up Oslo Fjord.

The Color Line ferry, arrived at Oslo.  Above right, there's a transfer bus to Oslo Sentral, photo courtesy of Andrew Leo.

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Munich to Helsinki & Finland

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

• Day 1, travel from Munich to Hamburg by ICE, leaving Munich Hbf at 12:20, arriving Hamburg Hbf 17:53.

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

  Fares start at €23.99 in 2nd class or €33.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can always log in and check or re-print your bookings.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Tip:  You should book from Munich Hbf to Skandinavienkai Terminal, Lübeck as one transaction as this gets you a through ticket to the ferry terminal covering the train to Hamburg, the regional train to Lübeck and the bus to the Skandinavienkai Terminal.

  If you'd like time for dinner in Lübeck (see suggested restaurant here), click Stopovers and enter Lübeck Hbf with a length of stay of (say) 2 hours, select departure around 10:00.

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg Hbf to Lübeck by regional train then take a bus to the Skandinavienkai ferry terminal in Travemünde.

  Sail from Travemünde to Helsinki by Finnlines ferry.  Finnlines sail from Travemünde 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 Munich).

  For full details of the transfer, check-in arrangements & ferry crossing, see the Hamburg page.

  Book the ferry using the Direct Ferries website or at www.finnlines.com.

• 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, Munich to Helsinki by train to Stockholm, then ferry

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Munich to Prague from €16

• There are 7 trains per day from Munich to Prague, see the Munich to Prague page.

• Fares start at €16 in 2nd class or €39 in 1st class.

  These are limited-availability advance-purchase fares.

• Buy Munich-Prague train tickets at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz.

  For English change the Czech flag for the UK flag at top right.  Booking normally opens 3 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

  The German Railways website int.bahn.de cannot sell these cheap €16 fares for these trains, only the more expensive Prague Special and expensive full-flex prices.  Suggested hotels in Prague.

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Munich to Český Krumlov from €16.55

Option 1, Munich to Český Krumlov via Linz - fastest, from €34.99

• You can travel from Munich to Český Krumlov  with just 2 changes, at Linz and České Budějovice.

  Leave Munich Hbf 06:21, change Linz Hbf & České Budějovice, arriving Český Krumlov 12:54.

  Leave Munich Hbf 07:22, change Linz Hbf & České Budějovice, arriving Český Krumlov 16:07.

  Leave Munich Hbf 11:27, change Linz Hbf & České Budějovice, arriving Český Krumlov 18:56.

  Leave Munich Hbf 13:28, change Linz Hbf & České Budějovice, arriving Český Krumlov 20:55.

  Munich to Linz is by swish Austrian railjet with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Linz to České Budějovice is either by local train or EuroCity train with bistro.  České Budějovice to Český Krumlov is by local train run by GWTR.

• Fares start at €34.99 in 2nd class, €46.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  But before running the enquiry, you need to set the parameters like this:

  For the 06:21 & 13:28, click Stopovers, enter Linz Hbf with length of stay 00:00.  Change Transfer time to 15 minutes.

  For the 07:22 & 11:27, click Stopovers, enter Linz Hbf with length of stay 01:15.  Change Transfer time to 15 minutes.

  Why is this necessary?  If you don't do this, you get journeys with 3 or more changes and risky 8-minute connections.  So you increase the transfer time to get more robust journeys.  It sometimes finds privately-run Westbahn trains which it can't sell, so we force it to find its own trains by extending the connection in Linz so it can sell a through ticket.  The result is a journey with 2 changes & robust connections.  Got it?

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can always log in and check or re-print your bookings.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• See more about visiting Český Krumlov including photos & info on taxis from the station to Český Krumlov old town.

Option 2, Munich to Český Krumlov via Plzen - 2h slower, but cheaper

• You can also travel from Munich to Český Krumlov  with 2 changes at Plzen & České Budějovice.

  Leave Munich Hbf 06:44, change Plzen hl.n. & České Budějovice, arriving Český Krumlov 14:46.

  Leave Munich Hbf 08:44, change Plzen hl.n. & České Budějovice, arriving Český Krumlov 16:56.

  Leave Munich Hbf 10:44, change Plzen hl.n. & České Budějovice, arriving Český Krumlov 18:56.

  Leave Munich Hbf 12:44, change Plzen hl.n. & České Budějovice, arriving Český Krumlov 20:55.

  Leave Munich Hbf 14:44, change Plzen hl.n. & České Budějovice, arriving Český Krumlov 23:46.

  The train from Munich to Plzen is a Munich-Prague Bavorský Express, see the photos & tips on the Prague-Munich page.  This train is air-conditioned with a refreshment trolley, power sockets & free WiFi.

  You have time for a Pilsner beer at the station bar in Plzen - or Pilsen in English - which is of course the city where Pilsner beer originates!  Plzen to České Budějovice is by air-conditioned express train with refreshment trolley.  České Budějovice to Český Krumlov is by GWTR local train.

• Fares start at 483 CZK (€19.90) in 2nd class, 1061 CZK (€43) in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  For English, change the flag at the top.

  Click More options then Add intermediate (Via) and enter Plzen hl.n.

  I also recommend clicking Connection parameters then Transfers and reducing the maximum number of connections from 4 to 2.

• See more about visiting Český Krumlov including photos & info on taxis from the station to Český Krumlov old town.

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Munich to Brno

Option 1, Munich-Brno via Vienna - fastest, from €34.99

• You travel from Munich Hbf to Vienna Hbf by railjet, then Vienna to Brno by railjet.

  Departures at 07:22, 09:28, 11:27, 13:28, 15:28, journey time 7h10 with 1 change in Vienna.

• Fares start at €34.99 in 2nd class, €46.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• To book the route via Vienna, use the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Click Stopovers and enter Vienna with length of stay 30 minutes (or longer, if you want to stop off).

  In the search results, look for a 1-change journey with a price in € shown.  Ignore journeys shown as Determine price.

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

Option 2, Munich-Brno via Prague - slower, from €27

• You travel from Munich Hbf to Prague by Bavorský Express, then Prague to Brno by Czech express train.

  Departures at 06:44, 08:44, 10:44, 12:44, 14:44, journey time 8h35 with 1 change in Prague.

• Fares start at around €27 in 2nd class, €51 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  For English, change the flag at the top.

  Click More options then Add intermediate (Via) and enter Praha hl.n.

  I also recommend clicking Connection parameters then Transfers and reducing the maximum number of connections from 4 to 1.

  Booking on cd.cz only opens 2-3 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  If you want a stopover in Prague, book Munich-Prague then book Prague-Brno.

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Munich to Ostrava

Option 1, Munich-Ostrava via Vienna - fastest, from €34.99

• You travel from Munich Hbf to Vienna Hbf by railjet, then Vienna to Ostrava by express train.

  Departures at 07:22, 09:28, 11:27, journey time 7h35 with 1 change in Vienna.

• Fares start at €34.99 in 2nd class, €46.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• To book the route via Vienna, use the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Click Stopovers and enter Vienna with length of stay 30 minutes (or longer, if you want to stop off)

  In the search results, look for a 1-change journey with a price in € shown.  Ignore journeys shown as Determine price.

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

Option 2, Munich-Ostrava via Prague - slower, from €28

• You travel from Munich Hbf to Prague by Bavorský Express, then Prague to Ostrava by Czech express train.

  Departures at 06:44, 08:44, 10:44, 12:44, journey time 10h with 1 change in Prague.

• Fares start at around €28 in 2nd class, €51 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  For English, change the flag at the top.

  Click More options then Add intermediate (Via) and enter Praha hl.n.

  I also recommend clicking Connection parameters then Transfers and reducing the maximum number of connections from 4 to 1.

  Booking on cd.cz only opens 2-3 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  If you want a stopover in Prague, book Munich-Prague then book Prague-Ostrava.

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Munich to Karlovy Vary

• There are various departures from Munich Hbf to Karlovy Vary taking between 4h16 and 5h10, with changes of train at Nuremberg & Cheb.  Advance-purchase Sparpreis fares start at €18.99.

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

  Look for journeys with 2 changes, and avoid ones with 3 or more.  Check for tight connections in Nuremberg, a 7 minute connection is a bit risky if the Munich-Nuremberg ICE is late, so you might want to use the Adjust transfer time feature to make it show an earlier ICE with a longer more robust connection in Nuremberg, I'd prefer at least 20 minutes in case of delay. 

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

• You can also book at the Czech Railways site www.cd.cz.

  The journey can in fact be done with just 1 change, via Plzen (where Pilsner beer comes from) but this takes around 7h25, fares from €20.  If you'd like to go this way, click Add intermediate (Via) and enter Plzen hl.n. before running the enquiry.  Then look for journeys with 1 change.

  Booking on cd.cz only opens 2-3 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

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Munich to Bratislava from €40

• Every hour or two, a smart Austrian railjet train links Munich Hbf with Vienna Hbf in 4h02, change at Vienna Hbf for the hourly regional express train to Bratislava Hlavna taking 56 minutes.  Important: If travelling before 5 July 2025, see the update here.

  Tip:  If you have a 1st class ticket for Munich-Vienna train, you can use the ÖBB lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & WiFi.

• Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €49.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Buy a ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

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

  Tip:  To avoid it putting you on a train to the less-convenient Bratislava Petrzalka station, select the specific station Bratislava hl. st. as your destination rather than the generic BRATISLAVA.  Then it'll show you trains & tickets to the more central Bratislava Hlavna station.

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Munich to Poprad-Tatry & Kosice

Option 1 Munich to Poprad-Tatry or Kosice using the Prague-Slovakia sleeper - time-effective, with dinner in Prague

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Prague, leaving Munich Hbf at 14:44, arriving Prague Hlavni 20:22.

  The train has comfortable air-conditioned cars, power sockets at seat & free WiFi.  More about these Munich to Prague trains.

  By all means book the earlier 12:44 and have dinner in Prague and a wander to the old town, see my restaurant suggestions.

  Fares start at €16 in 2nd class or €39 in 1st class.

  Book this with Czech Railways www.cd.cz.

  Booking opens 2-3 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Step 2, travel from Prague to Slovakia by sleeper train Slovakia, leaving Prague Hlavni at 22:16, arriving Poprad-Tatry 06:14 & Kosice 08:12.

  The Slovakia has Slovakian 4 & 6 berth couchettes, a modern Slovakian air-conditioned sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and several modern air-conditioned Czech sleeping-cars with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, 1, 2 & 3 bed deluxe compartments with en suite shower & toilet.

  Book this at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz

  Booking normally opens 3 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or show it on your phone.

Option 2, Munich to Poprad-Tatry or Kosice in a day

• Daytime services between Munich and Poprad-Tatry & Kosice are a bit of a dog's dinner while the Vienna-Bratislava main line is closed for electrification.  It can be done, but via multiple routes with multiple changes, no obvious easy option.

• Check times and prices at either German Railways int.bahn.de or Czech Railways www.cd.cz.

Slovakian Intercity train at Bratislava Hlavna.

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

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

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Munich to Budapest from €39.99

Option 1, Munich to Budapest by daytime trains

• Smart Austrian railjet trains link Munich with Budapest:

  Leave Munich Hbf 07:22, arriving Budapest Keleti 14:19.

  Leave Munich Hbf 09:28, arriving Budapest Keleti 16:19.

  Leave Munich Hbf 11:27, arriving Budapest Keleti 18:19.

  Leave Munich Hbf 13:28, arriving Budapest Keleti 20:19.

  Leave Munich Hbf 17:29, arriving Budapest Keleti 00:19.

  The trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st & business class restaurant car orders are taken and food served at your seat, treat yourself to lunch or dinner with some beer or wine.

  Look out for views of Salzburg citadel on the right as the train crosses the Rover Salzach approaching Salzburg Hbf.  More about railjets.

• Fares start at €39.99 in 2nd class, €69.99 in 1st class or €84.99 in business class (premium 1st).

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  A reserved seat is optional and costs an extra few euros.  In business class it's included in the fare.

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

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can always log in and check or re-print your bookings.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  To book business class tickets use www.thetrainline.com instead.

Option 2, Munich to Budapest by sleeper train - the time-effective option

• The sleeper train Kalman Imre leaves Munich Ost at 23:54, arriving Budapest Keleti 09:19.

  The EuroNight sleeper train Kalman Imre has an air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and an air-conditioned Hungarian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments.  Sleeper fares include a light breakfast.  More about this sleeper train.

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

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

  If you have any problems (for example, you see no sleepers), try the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see advice on using it.

• Tip:  You can check the consist for this train, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations and search for Kalman Imre.

• Tip:  For dinner and a beer or two whilst waiting for your sleeper at Munich Ost, try the Haidhauser-Augustiner Bavarian restaurant, (www.haidhauser-augustiner.de) just 5 minutes walk from the station exit on the north side, see walking route.  Feedback appreciated.

The sleeper train Kalman Imre.  More about this sleeper train.

2 bed sleeper, can also be set up as 1 or 3 bed.		4-berth couchettes.		6-berth couchettes.

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Munich to Bucharest & Romania from €79

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

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Budapest by railjet train, leaving Munich Hbf at 09:29, arriving Budapest Keleti 16:19.

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

  Fares start at €39.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy a ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can always log in and check or re-print your bookings.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Step 2, travel from Budapest to Romania by sleeper train Ister leaving Budapest Keleti at 19:10, arriving Brasov 08:48 & Bucharest Nord 11:35.

  This comfortable train has an air-conditioned sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments.  There's no restaurant car, so take a picnic and bottle of wine.  There's wonderful almost Alpine scenery through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov and Bucharest, a real treat.

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

  Book this train at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.

  Click EN top right for English.  Booking opens 90 days ahead.  For Bucharest type Bucuresti.  It can book seats, couchettes or sleepers.  You print your own ticket.

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

  Tip:  You can check the consist for this train, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations and search for Ister.

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

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Vienna by railjet, leaving Munich Hbf at 13:28, arriving Vienna Hbf 17:32.

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

  Fares start at €27.99 in 2nd class or €49.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy a ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can always log in and check or re-print your bookings.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Romania by sleeper train Dacia Express, leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:42 every day, arriving next day in Simeria 07:17, Sighisoara 09:17, Braşov 12:50, Ploeşti Vest 14:47 & Bucharest Nord 15:26.

  The Dacia Express has modern & comfortable Romanian sleeping-cars (1, 2 & 3 bed compartments, including a couple of deluxe sleepers with shower & toilet) and couchettes (4-berth & 6-berth compartments).  There's wonderful almost Alpine scenery through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov and Bucharest, a real treat.

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

  Book this train at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.

  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  In the search results, look for the direct train marked D with no changes.  If it says not available you can't book it, but if a Sparschiene fare is shown you can.  You collect tickets from  an ÖBB ticket machine at Vienna Hbf.

  You can also book this train at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.

  Click EN top right for English.  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  For Vienna type Wien, for Bucharest type Bucuresti.  For Austria to Romania journeys you print your own ticket.  Tip:  Prices might be cheaper than oebb.at, so check both sites!

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

Option 3, Munich to Romania with overnight stop in Budapest - if you prefer day trains & hotel to sleepers

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Budapest by railjet, leaving Munich Hbf at 13:28, arriving Budapest Keleti 20:19.

  Or if you don't mind the late arrival, a later railjet leaves Munich Hbf at 17:29, arriving Budapest Keleti 00:19.

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

  Fares start at €39.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy a ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can always log in and check or re-print your bookings.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

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

• Day 2, take a comfortable air-conditioned Intercity train from Budapest Keleti to Cluj, Timisoara, Sibiu, Sinaia, Brasov or Bucharest.  It's an all-day daytime run right across Transylvania, see the Trains from Budapest page for details.

  Fares start at €26.30 in 2nd class or €40.50 in 1st class (where it's available).  These are limited-availability online fares.

  Check times & buy tickets at Hungarian Railways www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  You show your ticket in the MAV app on your phone.

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

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Munich to Ljubljana, Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik from €37.99

Option 1, Munich to Ljubljana & Zagreb by daytime trains - the scenic option

• Several trains a day link Munich with Ljubljana & Zagreb:

  The morning train leaves Munich Hbf at 08:16, this is smart Austrian railjet train from Munich to Villach on the Austrian/Slovenian border where there's a simple 10-minute change onto a waiting Slovenian & Croatian train to for Lesce-Bled, Ljubljana & Zagreb.

  The afternoon train leaves Munich Hbf at 12:17, this is an air-conditioned EuroCity train with restaurant car from Munich to Villach on the Austrian/Slovenian border where there's a simple 10-minute change onto a waiting Slovenian & Croatian train to for Lesce-Bled, Ljubljana & Zagreb.

  The journey is wonderful, a chance to relax as you cross through the mountains of Austria, then between Ljubljana and Zagreb the train wends its way through the hills along the lovely River Sava, see the photos below.  Highly recommended!

  Important update:  The closure of the Tauern Tunnel affects this route between 17 November 2024 & 13 July 2025, check times at int.bahn.de.

• Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class if you book ahead.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can always log in and check or re-print your bookings.  You print your own ticket or show it on your phone.

  Tip:  If you don't see any cheap fares from Munich to Zagreb using bahn.de (for example, if it says No special fares available), try going to the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at and booking from Salzburg to Zagreb on the same train (it will leave Salzburg about 1h55 after leaving Munich), then using www.oebb.at again to add a ticket from Munich to Salzburg on the same train.

• Onwards to Split & Dubrovnik.  Trains link Zagreb & Split from where buses run to Dubrovnik, for details see here.

• Suggested hotels in Zagreb & Split, suggested hotel in Ljubljana.

Option 2, Munich to Ljubljana & Zagreb by sleeper train - the time-effective option

• A sleeper train called the Lisinski leaves Munich Ost at 23:54, arriving Lesce-Bled 07:13, Ljubljana 08:09 & Zagreb 10:39.

  The Lisinski has an excellent air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car (1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin), a modern air-conditioned Croatian couchette car (4 & 6 berth compartments) and ordinary seats (not recommended).  Watch the Croatian sleeper video.  There's no catering car, so take your own supplies.  Morning tea or coffee is included in sleepers.  There's lovely scenery next morning as the train runs along the River Sava from Ljubljana to Zagreb.

  Tip:  For dinner and a beer or two whilst waiting for your sleeper at Munich Ost, try the Haidhauser-Augustiner Bavarian restaurant, (www.haidhauser-augustiner.de) just 5 minutes walk from the main station exit on the north side, see walking route.  Feedback appreciated.

  Important: This sleeper train is diverted via Graz due to work in the Tauern Tunnel and won't call at Lesce-Bled or Ljubljana from 17 November 2024 to 13 July 2025.  Arrival in Zagreb is at 11:33.  For Ljubljana, either use another option or get off the sleeper at Celje in northern Slovenia at 09:47 then take a local train leaving Celje at 11:36 arriving Ljubljana 12:43.  Check times for the local train at potniski.sz.si/en.

• How much does it cost?

  Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €66.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €86.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares so bo0opk ahead.

• How to buy tickets

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

• Onwards to Split & Dubrovnik.  Trains link Zagreb & Split, from where buses run to Dubrovnik, for details see here.

Option 2, Munich to Split & Dubrovnik using the Budapest-Split sleeper train Adria, runs June-September

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Budapest by railjet, leaving Munich Hbf at 09:28, arriving Budapest Keleti 16:19.

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

  Fares start at €39.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy a ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. 

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

  Allow at least an hour between trains in Budapest.

• Step 2, travel from Budapest to Split by sleeper train Adria.

  This runs on Tuesdays, Fridays & Sundays from mid-June to early September, leaving Budapest Keleti at 18:45, arriving Split at 09:44.

  It has a comfortable Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments and a couchette car with 4 & 6 bunk compartments.

  The fare is around €79 with couchette or from €92 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper.

  Book at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.

• For Dubrovnik, take a bus from Split.  There are buses every hour or even every half hour, run by several companies.  Journey time between 3h45 and 4h35, fare around €13-€17.  Buy a ticket at the bus station in Split.

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Munich to Belgrade & Montenegro

Option 1, Munich to Belgrade using the Munich-Budapest sleeper - due to start 8 December 2024 but postponed, see updates.

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Budapest by EuroNight sleeper train, as shown above.

  You leave Munich Ost at 23:54, arriving Budapest Keleti 08:29.

  Transfer from Keleti to Nyugati station by metro, tram or taxi as shown here.

• Step 2, travel from Budapest to Belgrade, leaving Budapest Nyugati at 11:50, changing at Szeged & Subotica, arriving Belgrade Centar 18:38.

  You take a Hungarian Intercity train from Budapest to Szeged, a local train across the border to Subotica and a 200 km/h SOKO train to Belgrade, for details see the Budapest to Belgrade page.

  Fares start at around €23, see more about fares.

  Buy tickets as shown on the Belgrade to Budapest page.

Option 2, Munich to Belgrade with overnight stop in Budapest - due to start 8 December 2024 but postponed, see updates.

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Budapest by railjet train, leaving Munich Hbf at 13:28, arriving Budapest Keleti 20:19.

  Or if you don't mind the late arrival, a later railjet leaves Munich Hbf at 17:29, arriving Budapest Keleti 00:19.

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

  Fares start at €39.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy a ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can always log in and check or re-print your bookings.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Transfer from Keleti to Nyugati station by metro, tram or taxi as shown here.

• Stay overnight in Budapest.  Top choice for an inexpensive stay next to Budapest Keleti is the Intercity Hotel just across the square in front of the station.  If you prefer to stay near Budapest Nyugati, look no further than the 3-star  T62 Hotel just across the road, a traveller's favourite with funky interior design.  The cheaper 3-star Star Inn Budapest Centrum is a few minutes walk away, also with good reviews.  The 4-star Radisson Blu Béke Hotel is one block along the road from the station.  Of course, if you want to push the boat out, the luxurious Corinthia Hotel opened in 1896 was almost certainly the inspiration for the 2014 film The Grand Budapest Hotel.

• Day 2, travel from Budapest to Belgrade, leaving Budapest Nyugati 05:50, changing at Szeged & Subotica, arriving Belgrade Centar 12:38.

  Or if you'd prefer a later departure, leave Budapest Nyugati 11:50, changing at Szeged & Subotica, arriving Belgrade Centar 18:38.

  You take a Hungarian Intercity train from Budapest to Szeged, a local train across the border to Subotica and a 200 km/h SOKO train to Belgrade, for details see the Budapest to Belgrade page.

  Fares start at around €23, see more about fares.

  Buy tickets as shown on the Belgrade to Budapest page.

Option 3, Munich to Zagreb by sleeper, onwards to Belgrade - currently involves a bus

• Day 1, travel from Munich to Zagreb by sleeper train, leaving Munich Ost at 23:54, arriving Zagreb 10:39 (arrives 11:33 until 13 July 2025)

  The Lisinski has an excellent air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car (1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin), a modern air-conditioned Croatian couchette car (4 & 6 berth compartments) and ordinary seats (not recommended).  Watch the Croatian sleeper video.  There's no catering car, so take your own supplies.  Morning tea or coffee is included in sleepers.  There's lovely scenery next morning as the train runs along the River Sava from Ljubljana to Zagreb.

  Tip:  For dinner and a beer or two whilst waiting for your sleeper at Munich Ost, try the Haidhauser-Augustiner Bavarian restaurant, (www.haidhauser-augustiner.de) just 5 minutes walk from the station exit on the north side, see walking route.  Feedback appreciated.

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Zagreb to Belgrade by train, leaving Zagreb at 11:04, arriving Novi Beograd 18:04 & Belgrade Centar 18:12.

  This train was suspended due to Covid-19 and remains suspended in 2024.

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

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

  While the train is suspended, take a bus from Zagreb to Belgrade

  It's a 17-minute 1.3 km walk from Zagreb station to Zagreb bus station, see walking map.

  A Flixbus leaves Zagreb bus station at 14:00, arriving Belgrade bus station at 19:30.

  The fare is around €20, buy a ticket at www.flixbus.com.

• If you're going to Montenegro:

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

Option 4, Munich to Belgrade with overnight stop in Zagreb

• Day 1, travel from Munich to Zagreb using either of the options shown in the Munich to Zagreb section.

  It's a scenic ride across the mountains of Austria on the Tauern route, then great scenery along the Sava River between Ljubljana & Zagreb.

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

• Day 2, travel from Zagreb to Belgrade by train, leaving Zagreb at 11:04, arriving Novi Beograd 18:04 & Belgrade Centar 18:12.

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

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

  The fare is around €30 bought at the station in Zagreb or paid on board the train, but tickets cannot be bought online.

  While the train is suspended, take a bus from Zagreb to Belgrade

  It's a 17-minute 1.3 km walk from Zagreb station to Zagreb bus station, see walking map.

  A Flixbus leaves Zagreb bus station at 09:00, arriving Belgrade bus station at 14:30.

  The fare is around €21, buy a ticket at www.flixbus.com.

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Munich to Sofia & Bulgaria

Option 1, Munich to Sofia via Budapest & Bucharest - currently the most viable option

• Day 1, travel from Munich to Vienna by railjet, leaving Munich Hbf at 13:28, arriving Vienna Hbf 17:32.

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

  Fares start at €27.99 in 2nd class or €49.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy a ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can always log in and check or re-print your bookings.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Day 1, travel from Vienna to Bucharest by sleeper train Dacia Express, leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:42, arriving Bucharest Nord 15:26 (day 2).

  The Dacia Express has modern & comfortable Romanian sleeping-cars (1, 2 & 3 bed compartments, including a couple of deluxe sleepers with shower & toilet) and couchettes (4-berth & 6-berth compartments).  There's wonderful almost Alpine scenery through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov and Bucharest, a real treat.

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

  Book this train at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.

  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  In the search results, look for the direct train marked D with no changes.  If it says not available you can't book it, but if a Sparschiene fare is shown you can.  You collect tickets from  an ÖBB ticket machine at Vienna Hbf.

  You can also book this train at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.  Click EN top right for English.  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  For Vienna type Wien, for Bucharest type Bucuresti.  For Austria to Romania journeys you print your own ticket.  Tip:  Prices might be cheaper than oebb.at, so check both sites!

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

• Day 2, stay overnight in Bucharest.  The Euro Hotel Grivita, Hotel MyContinental Bucuresti Gara de Nord & Hello Hotels Gara de Nord are all just a 5 minute 350m walk from the station, inexpensive with good or great reviews.  Other hotels in Bucharest.

• Day 3, travel from Bucharest to Sofia by daytime train as shown in the Bucharest-Sofia section of the Trains from Bucharest page.

  You leave Bucharest Nord at 10:11 and arrive Sofia Central at 20:35 after a pleasant day meandering across the Danube and through the river valleys of Bulgaria.  In summer it's direct, in winter you have to switch trains at Ruse.  There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink.

  The fare is around €34.

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

Option 2, Milan to Sofia via Belgrade

• Not currently viable with the Zagreb-Belgrade and Belgrade-Sofia trains suspended.

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Munich to Warsaw & Krakow from €39.99

Option 1, Munich to Krakow & Warsaw by sleeper train - the time-effective option

• The EuroNight sleeper train Chopin leaves Munich Hbf at 18:35, arriving Krakow Glowny 06:20 & Warsaw Centralna 09:08.

  The EuroNight sleeper train Chopin has two comfortable air-conditioned Polish sleeping-cars with 1, 2 or 3 beds per compartment.  Each car also has two 1 or 2 bed deluxe compartments with shower & toilet, see the photos below.  It also has ordinary seats, but no couchettes.  In the sleepers, a light breakfast with tea or coffee is included.

• Fares start at €53.50 in a 3-bed sleeper, €68.20 in a 2-bed sleeper, or €126.70 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.  All prices per person per bed as berths are sold individually.  Prices vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

• Tip:  If you're getting off in Krakow, the sleeper arrives at an early hour.  Leave the station through the shopping centre and you'll find the Hotel Puro Stare Miasto on the other side of the road and to the right.  You can join their excellent breakfast buffet from 7am for around €16.  Of course, your own hotel may let you join their breakfast buffet on the morning of arrival.  Suggested hotels in Krakow.

Munich to Krakow & Warsaw by sleeper train.  This is the modern Polish sleeping-car on the EuroNight train Chopin, seen at Vienna Hbf.

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

Option 2, Munich to Warsaw & Krakow by daytime trains

• You can travel from Munich to Warsaw or Krakow in a single day, for example,

  Leave Munich Hbf 06:51 daily, change at Berlin Hbf, arrive Warsaw Centralna 17:00.

  Leave Munich Hbf 08:51 daily, change at Berlin Hbf, arrive Warsaw Centralna 19:00.

  Leave Munich Hbf 10:51 daily, change at Berlin Hbf, arrive Warsaw Centralna 21:00.

  Leave Munich Hbf 12:52 daily except Saturdays, change Berlin Hbf, arrive Warsaw Centralna 23:00.

  Leave Munich Hbf 07:56, change Berlin Hbf, arrive Wroclaw 16:53, Katowice 19:12 & Krakow Glowny 20:06.

  Leave Munich Hbf 11:56, change Berlin Hbf, arrive Wroclaw 20:47, Katowice 22:54 & Krakow Glowny 23:47.

  You travel from Munich to Berlin by superb high-speed ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then from Berlin to Warsaw or Krakow by comfortable Polish EuroCity train with restaurant car.

  Treat yourself to dinner in the Polish restaurant car and a beer or two, I recommend the zurek soup and kotlet schabowy.

• A journey from Munich to Krakow is now also possible via Vienna:

  Munich Hbf depart 09:28, change at Vienna Hbf, arrive Krakow Glowny 21:34.

  If you have a 1st class ticket (but not a Super Sparpreis fare) you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & WiFi.

• Fares start at €39.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Buy a ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Although you're covered for a missed connection with a through ticket, I recommend changing Transfer time from normal to 40 minutes for a robust connection even if there's a delay.  I have taken this into account in the times shown above.

  Booking to Poland opens 60 days ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can always log in and check or re-print your bookings.  You print your own ticket or show it on your phone.

Step 1, Munich to Berlin by ICE with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Various types of ICE operate this route.  More about ICEs.

2nd class seats on an ICE3.  Larger photo.		1st class seats on an ICE3.  Larger photo.

Restaurant.		Dinner in the diner.

Step 2, Berlin to Warsaw or Krakow by EuroCity train, a Berlin-Warsaw train is seen here on platform 11 at Berlin Hbf.  More about Berlin-Poland EuroCity trains.

1st class compartment.		2nd class compartment.

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

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

Option 3, Munich to Warsaw in a day via Prague - can be cheaper, but takes longer

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Prague by express train leaving Munich Hbf at 06:44, arriving Prague Hlavni 12:22.

  Fares start at €16 in 2nd class or €39 in 1st class.  These are limited-availability advance-purchase fares.

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

• Step 2, travel from Prague to Warsaw by EuroCity train with restaurant car, leaving Prague Hlavni at 14:22, arriving Warsaw Centralna 22:48.

  Fares start at €19 in 2nd class or €39 in 1st class.  These are limited-availability advance-purchase fares.

  Book at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz and print your own ticket.  Booking normally opens 60 days ahead.

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Munich to Vilnius, Riga, Tallinn

Munich to Lithuania with overnight stop in Warsaw...

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

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

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

• Stay overnight in Vilnius.  Try the inexpensive Stay Vilnius hotel, a 6-minute walk from the station, or the Conti Hotel Vilnius, a 9-minute walk from the station towards the old town, both with excellent reviews.

• Day 3, travel from Vilnius to Riga (Latvia) or Tallinn (Estonia) by train, as shown on the Vilnius-Riga-Tallinn page.

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Munich to Kyiv & Ukraine

Option 1, Munich to Lviv & Kyiv via Vienna - fastest & most comfortable, but often fully-booked

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Vienna by railjet, for example, leaving Munich Hbf at 11:27, arriving Vienna Hbf 15:32.

  Personally, I'd take an earlier train and have more time in Vienna.  The railjets have a restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Fares start at €29.99 in 2nd class or €49.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy a ticket at the German Railways int.bahn.de.

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

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Ukraine by direct sleeping-car, leaving Vienna Hbf at 16:42 daily, arriving Lviv 09:59 & Kyiv 16:41 next day.

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

  Vienna to Lviv costs €71.20 in a 3-berth sleeper, €79.20 in a 2-berth sleeper or around €130 in a single sleeper.

  Vienna to Kyiv costs €89.60 in a 3-berth sleeper, €99.60 in a 2-berth sleeper or around €170 in a single sleeper.

  Book this train at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.

  Booking for these direct sleeping-cars opens 20 days ahead, but tickets sell out a day or two after booking opens, so book as soon as the booking period opens.  If the ÖBB website says Ticket not available within 20 days it means fully-booked, if it says that more than 20 days ahead it means booking isn't open yet.

  Tickets can now be printed out so you can book in either direction.  However, you must print the ticket, it cannot be shown on a mobile device.

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

Boarding the Vienna to Kyiv sleeping-car at Vienna Hbf.

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

The Vienna-Kyiv sleeping-car at Kyiv Pass.  Photos courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.

Option 2, Munich to Lviv & Kyiv via Budapest - comfortable, easy to book, with good availability

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Budapest by railjet, leaving Munich Hbf at 13:28, arriving Budapest Keleti 20:19.

  The smart Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all sears & free WiFi.  By all means book an earlier railjet at 09:28 or 11:27 for more of an evening in Budapest.

  Fares start at €39.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy a ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can always log in and check or re-print your bookings.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Step 2, travel from Budapest to Ukraine by sleeper train, leaving Budapest Keleti at 22:40, arriving Lviv 13:38 & Kyiv Pass 19:11 next day.

  The sleeper train Transcarpathia consists of up to 8 Ukrainian sleeping-cars, with one car of 1st class 2-berth compartments (spalny vagon), and up to 7 cars of 2nd class 4-berth compartments (kupé). 

  Bedding is provided, there are toilets & washrooms at the end of the corridor.  The sleeper attendants can provide snacks and delicious Ukrainian tea, but bring your own food as there's no catering car.  The train is jacked up at Chop on the Ukrainian border to have its bogies changed from standard gauge (4' 8½") to Ukrainian gauge (5').

  You can check the consist and car numbers for this train using www.vagonweb.cz.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, and search for Transcarpathia.

  Fares start at:

  €63.10 with a bed in a 2nd class 4-berth sleeper.

  €76.10 with a bed in a 2-berth 1st class sleeper.

  These are limited-availability fares book online in advance.

  Buy tickets at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my tips for using it.

  Booking opens 3 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone in the MAV app.

  Tip:  You should select 2-bed compartment (double) or sleeping-car, 4-bed compartment.  Single and triple options are shown, but result in a ticket without reservation.  If it says x Reservation not included, do not proceed.  Like I said, select double or 4-berth!

Above left, the Transcarpathia on its first day of operation.  Above right, a 1st class 2-bed sleeper.  Courtesy of Ukrainian Railways Укрзалізниця.

Option 3, Munich to Lviv & Kyiv via Prague - also easy to book with good availability

• Day 1, travel from Munich to Prague by express train, leaving Munich Hbf at 12:44, arriving Prague Hlavni 18:22.

  By all means book an earlier train if you'd like more time in Prague, see timetable.  Suggested restaurants for dinner in Prague.

  Fares start at €16 in 2nd class or €39 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Booking usually opens 90 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Day 1, travel from Prague to Przemysl by Regiojet sleeper train, leaving Prague Hlavni at 21:47 every day, arriving Przemysl 07:35 (day 2).

  A connecting Ukrainian Intercity train leaves Przemysl at 09:35, arriving Lviv 12:27 & Kyiv Pass at 19:57 (day 2).

  The Regiojet sleeper train has 3 & 4 berth couchettes set up with full bedding like a sleeping-car.  You can book an inexpensive berth in a shared compartment or you can book a whole compartment for sole occupancy if you like.  Refreshments are available from the train staff.

  The Ukrainian intercity train is comfortable and air-conditioned with cafe-bar.  Regiojet have an allocation of seats and a Regiojet ticket from Prague to Lviv or Kyiv includes a 2nd class seat on this train, booked as one combined ticket from Prague to Lviv/Kyiv.

  Prague to Lviv or Kyiv starts at €58 with a berth in a shared compartment, or €119.90 for sole occupancy of a 4-berth couchette compartment for 1 to 4 people.  Fares vary slightly according to demand.  The fare includes the sleeper and a 2nd class seat on the connecting Ukrainian train.

  Buy tickets from Prague to Lviv or Kyiv at www.regiojet.com.

  Booking opens 1-2 months ahead, so book your other trains first then book this one a month or two before travel.  There is usually plenty of availability 3+ weeks before departure, although it can sell out with a week or two to go.  You print your ticket or show it on your phone.

Prague to Przemysl by Regiojet sleeper train

Przemysl to Lviv & Kyiv by Intercity train.		1st class. Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com.

2nd class. Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.		Cafe counter. Courtesy DiscoverByRail.

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Munich to Moscow & Russia

Option 1, Munich to Moscow using the Warsaw-Moscow sleeper, every day - goes via Belarus

• Day 1, travel from Munich to Warsaw as shown above, and stay overnight.  Spend the next day exploring Warsaw.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Option 2, Munich to Moscow using the Berlin-Moscow sleeper train, twice a week - also goes via Belarus.

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Berlin from €29.99 in as little as 3h58.  For example, the 13:47 from Munich Hbf arrives Berlin Hbf at 18:25, but by all means take an earlier train and have dinner in Berlin.  Book this at int.bahn.de and print your own ticket.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Option 3, Munich to Moscow via Kyiv, avoiding Belarus with daily departures

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Vienna by railjet, for example, leaving Munich Hbf at 11:28, arriving Vienna Hbf 15:32.

  Personally, I'd take an earlier train and have a bit more time in Vienna.  The railjets have a restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Fares start at €29.99 in 2nd class or €49.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy a ticket at the German Railways int.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Ukraine by direct sleeping-car, leaving Vienna Hbf at 16:42 daily, arriving Lviv 09:59 & Kyiv 16:41 next day.

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

  Vienna to Lviv costs €71.20 in a 3-berth sleeper, €79.20 in a 2-berth sleeper or around €130 in a single sleeper.

  Vienna to Kyiv costs €89.60 in a 3-berth sleeper, €99.60 in a 2-berth sleeper or around €170 in a single sleeper.

  Book this train at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.

  Booking for these direct sleeping-cars opens 20 days ahead, but tickets sell out a day or two after booking opens, so book as soon as the booking period opens.  If the ÖBB website says Ticket not available within 20 days it means fully-booked, if it says that more than 20 days ahead it means booking isn't open yet.

  Tickets can now be printed out so you can book in either direction.  However, you must print the ticket, it cannot be shown on a mobile device.

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

• Step 3, travel from Kyiv to Moscow by sleeper train, for example Train 6 leaves Kyiv at 19:36 arriving Moscow Kievskaya around 10:09.

  Kyiv-Moscow trains were suspended due to Covid-19, and are now cancelled - and the lines blown up - due to the war in Ukraine

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

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

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Munich to Athens & Greece

Option 1, Munich to Athens by train & ferry via Italy - the leisurely option with an Adriatic cruise thrown in

• Day 1, travel from Munich to Verona by railjet, leaving Munich Hbf Hbf at 15:33, arriving Verona Porta Nuova 20:59.

  By all means take the earlier 13:33 or 11:32 for more of an evening in Verona, see the timetable here.  These trains head through the scenic Brenner Pass with a restaurant car for dinner, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  A treat!

  Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €47.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy a ticket at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same fares).

• Stay overnight in Verona.  Hotels near the station with good or great reviews include the Sole Hotel Verona right next to the station, Corte Merighi Rooms & Breakfast, Novo Hotel Rossi, Guesthouse Verona or (a little closer to the centre but with fab reviews) the Relais Empire.

• Day 2, travel from Verona to Bari by Frecciarossa, leaving Verona P. Nuova at 06:52, change at Bologna Centrale, arriving Bari Centrale 14:31.

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

  Book this at www.italiarail.com (they'll refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com afterwards) or www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names).

  Booking normally opens 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Private cabin with en suite toilet & shower.

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

The ferry approaches the new port of Patras.

Option 2, Munich to Athens overland by train via Munich & Belgrade

• There are no international trains to or from Greece, so this route is currently not viable.

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Munich to Istanbul & Turkey

• Day 1, travel from Munich to Bucharest as shown above.

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

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

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Hotels in Munich & other cities

For advice on hotels near the station or in the centre, see the hotels section on the Munich Hbf page.

My favourite hotel search: www.booking.com Booking.com is my favourite hotel booking site and I generally use it to book all my hotels in one place.  I've come to trust booking.com's review scores, you won't be disappointed with any hotel that scores 8.0 or more.  Crucially, booking.com usually lets you book with free cancellation, which means you can confirm accommodation risk-free before train booking opens and/or you can hold accommodation while you finalise your itinerary and alter your plans as they evolve - a feature I use all the time when planning a trip.  I never book hotels non-refundably!

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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