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      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 2023.

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 just buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and that old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or just buy a €35 point-to-point ticket online?".  Click here to understand how far ahead you can buy train tickets.

European train travel FAQ

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Munich to Berlin from €17.90.  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.  The ICE trains come with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Fares start at €17.90 in 2nd class or €26.90 in 1st class.  The Flexpreis is around €152 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 than this when the mid-December timetable change intervenes.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  

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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 information about when train booking opens.

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

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

  A seat reservation is usually optional for a small extra charge, around €4.90 per seat - if you don't want one you can sit in any unreserved seat.  You can choose your seat from a seating plan when booking a German IC or ICE train.

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

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

• Sleeper trains to Hamburg, Koblenz, Cologne, Dusseldorf

  There are Nightjet sleeper trains from Munich to Hamburg, Cologne & Dusseldorf, run by ÖBB (Austrian Railways) with sleeping-cars and couchettes.  Book these at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, bit more fiddly, same prices).  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 €29.90 if you book in advance, you print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or 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 full details of the 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 times, fares, how to buy tickets.

• Stay overnight in London, see suggested hotels near St Pancras.  It's a 10 minute walk from London St Pancras to London Euston.

• Day 2, travel from London Euston to Dublin on the morning train & ferry service, arriving Dublin Ferryport 17:25, see the London-Dublin page for times, fares & how to buy tickets.  Rail & Sail is an inexpensive, fun and interesting way to go, see an illustrated account of the journey.

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

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

• Stay overnight in Paris, see 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 €39.90

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

• A TGV Duplex links Munich with Paris every day, leaving Munich Hbf at 06:49 arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 12:33.

  The train 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).  I recommend 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:

  Munich Hbf depart 07:46, change at Stuttgart, Paris Gare de l'Est arrive 14:05.

  Munich Hbf depart 09:28, change at Mannheim, Paris Gare de l'Est arrive 16:54.

  Munich Hbf depart 11:47, change at Stuttgart, Paris Gare de l'Est arrive 18:05.

  Munich Hbf depart 13:47, change at Mannheim, Paris Gare de l'Est arrive 20:41.

  Munich Hbf depart 15:47, change at Stuttgart, Paris Gare de l'Est arrive 22:05.

  All these departures use a superb ICE with restaurant car, changing onto either an ICE3 or an impressive TGV Duplex with cafe-bar.  All trains have power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  On TGV Duplex the best seats are upstairs, any seat number greater than 60.

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

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

  Tip:  I'd change Transfer time from Normal to minimum 30 minutes.  That gives you a robust connection, avoiding 11-minute connections where a 10-minute delay would mean you'd be 2 hours late into Paris.  The train times shown above assume you do that!

  You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can always log in and check or re-print all your bookings.

• Tip:  You can also buy tickets at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com, but read this advice.

  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.  So I bought from www.sncf-connect.com!  Also, www.sncf-connect.com normally lets you choose an exact seat from a plan when travelling 1st class on a TGV, a feature not available when using int.bahn.de.

  But 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.

  And if you're changing in Stuttgart, it's 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 €39.90, 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 €39.90, but for Munich to Paris with a change in Stuttgart it adds the cost of two tickets, Stuttgart to Paris from €39 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 €39.90.  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 direct Nightjet sleeper train leaves Munich Ost at 00:04 on Tuesday, Friday & Sunday morning, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 09:43.

  Remember this means Monday, Thursday & Saturday nights!  Munich Ost is an easy 8-minute S-Bahn ride from Munich Hbf, see how to transfer.  This is a new Nightjet route, starting December 2021.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train 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 a couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and an ordinary seats car.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

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

• Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in plain English, in €, £ or $, overseas 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.

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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 train, leaving Munich Hbf at 11:02 and arriving Karlsruhe Hbf at 13:52.

  The 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 €49.90 in 2nd class or €79.90 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.

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

  Tip:  Before running the enquiry, change Transfer time from Normal to minimum 40 minutes for a robust connection in Karlsruhe with time for a coffee, rather than a risky 11-minute connection where a 10-minute delay would mean missing the once-daily direct train.

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

• Step 3, travel from Marseille to Cannes or Nice next day, fares from €15, check times & buy a ticket at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (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 the upper deck in car 4, serving tea, coffee, soft drinks, wine, beer, snacks & microwave-style hot dishes.		2nd class seats, this is upper deck seating.  There's a mix or tables for 4 and unidirectional seating.  360º photo.

1st class seats on the upper deck, 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

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Genoa by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Munich Hbf at 20:10 every day, arriving Genoa Piazza Principe 09:15.

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

  Fares start at €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 $, overseas 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.

• Step 2, travel from Genoa to Ventimiglia by Intercity train, leaving Genoa Piazza Principe at 12:58 arriving Ventimiglia 14:54.

  This is a lovely scenic ride along the Italian Riviera between Genoa & Ventimiglia.  There's a refreshment trolley.

  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.

• Step 3, travel from Ventimiglia to Monaco, Nice or Cannes by TER local train, leaving Ventimiglia at 15:16, arriving Monte Carlo 15:45, Nice Ville 16:11, Cannes 16:52.

  The fare is €8, though 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 a mobile ticket on your phone.

  You'll find full details of the journey from Milan to Nice with photos & tips on the Nice to Italy by train 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 EuroCity train, leaving Munich Hbf at 15:34 and arriving Verona Porta Nuova at 20:56.

  By all means take an earlier train for an afternoon or evening in Verona, for example the 11:32 or 13:34 from Munich.

  These EuroCity trains travel through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass scenery video here.

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

  Book this train at www.raileurope.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee, using Raileurope 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 laptop or 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, changing at the magnificent Milan Centrale onto a Intercity train, arriving Ventimiglia at 18:54.

  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 either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, this keeps all your bookings together in one place, small booking fee).  It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.  You can also book at www.trenitalia.com, but you'll need to use Italian-language city names.

• Day 2, travel from Ventimiglia to Menton, Monte Carlo, Nice, Antibes or Cannes by TER local train, leaving Ventimiglia at 19:16, arriving Monte Carlo at 19:45, Nice Ville at 20:11 & Cannes at 20:52.

  The fare is €8, though 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 a mobile ticket on your phone.  You can also book at the French Railways website, www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

  You'll find full details of the journey from Verona & Milan to Nice with photos & tips on the Nice to Italy by train page.

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Munich to Brussels or Bruges from €39.90

Option 1, Munich to Brussels by daytime trains

• Take a luxurious ICE train from Munich to Cologne and either another ICE to Brussels.  For example:

  Leave Munich Hbf at 06:48, change at Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen, arriving Brussels Midi at 13:35.

  Leave Munich Hbf at 08:48, change at Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen, arriving Brussels Midi at 15:35.

  Leave Munich Hbf at 10:51, change at Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen, arriving Brussels Midi at 17:35.

  Leave Munich Hbf at 12:50, change at Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen, arriving Brussels Midi at 19:35.

  Leave Munich Hbf at 14:51, change at Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen, arriving Brussels Midi at 21:35.

  The ICE trains all have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Times may vary, so check online.  A change at Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen couldn't be easier, you get off, remain on platform 7, the onward train normally uses the same platform.

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

• Buy tickets from Munich to Brussels, Bruges or elsewhere in Belgium 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 laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Option 2, Munich to Brussels using the Munich-Cologne sleeper train - the time-effective option

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Cologne by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Munich Hbf at 22:52 & arriving Cologne Messe-Deutz at 06:53.

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

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

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

  Transfer from Cologne Messe-Deutz across the Rhine bridge to Cologne Hbf by frequent S-Bahn train.

• Step 2, travel from Cologne to Brussels by high-speed ICE train leaving Cologne Hbf at 07:42 and arriving Brussels Midi at 09:35.

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

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

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

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

• Change in Brussels for an Intercity train to Bruges, these run twice an hour, no reservation needed.  You can book through from Cologne to Bruges or anywhere in Belgium as one ticket at int.bahn.de.

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Munich to Amsterdam from €37.90

Option 1, Munich to Amsterdam by Nightjet sleeper train - the most time-effective option

• An excellent Nightjet sleeper train leaves Munich Hbf at 22:52 every night arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 09:59 next morning.

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

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

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Dutch Railways website www.nsinternational.nl (in €, no fee).

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

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

  Tip:  For a Bavarian dinner & beer before boarding, I recommend the Augustiner Keller (www.augustinerkeller.de) at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf, see walking map.

Option 2, Munich to Amsterdam by daytime trains

• Superb German ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi link Munich Hbf with Amsterdam Centraal several times a day with one easy change of train, either in Hanover onto an InterCity train or at Frankfurt or Dusseldorf onto another ICE.  It's a chill-out journey with a good book and a restaurant car for your meals.  For example:

  Leave Munich Hbf at 05:53, change at Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 13:29.

  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 Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 17:29.

  Leave Munich Hbf at 12:50, change at Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 20:28.

  Leave Munich Hbf at 14:47, change at Mannheim Hbf, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 21:59.

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

  But times may vary, so check your date at int.bahn.de and see.  A change at Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen couldn't be easier, you get off, remain on platform 7, the onward train normally uses the same platform.

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

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

  Tip:  Click Add intermediate stop and enter Frankfurt (Main) Flugh as a via station, leaving duration zero.  By default, the system will make you change at Dusseldorf, this way it'll show a change at Frankfurt airport station instead, which is an easier same-platform interchange.

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

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Munich to Luxembourg from €37.90

• You can travel from Munich to Luxembourg by train from just €37.90.

  The journey from Munich to Koblenz takes you long 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.

  The line from Koblenz to Luxembourg then takes you along the Moselle valley past more 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).

• Check times & buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. 

  In the search results, look for journeys with just 1 change at Koblenz.  Avoid any journey involving a bus.  You can eliminate buses from the search results by clicking Stopovers and entering Igel as a stopover, leaving length of stay zero.

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

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

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

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

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Munich to Zurich, Luzern, Geneva or anywhere in Switzerland from €18.90

• See the Munich to Zurich by train page for timetable, fares, travel tips & how to buy tickets.

  With the timetable change on 13 December 2020, Munich-Zurich frequency was doubled to 6 trains per day each way & journey time cut to 4 hours, From 12 December 2021, journey time is 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 €18.90 in 2nd class or €49.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Buy tickets from Munich to any Swiss town or city 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 laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  You can book tickets from Munich to Geneva, Luzern, Bern, Interlaken, Zermatt, St Moritz or almost any station in Switzerland this way, at one inclusive cheap price if you pre-book, a lot cheaper than buying a separate onward ticket from Zurich at expensive Swiss domestic prices.

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Munich to Venice, Milan, Florence, Rome & Italy from €39.90

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

• Every couple of hours, a comfortable EuroCity train run by German & Austrian Railways links Munich and Verona via the scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass scenery video here.  More photos & information about these EuroCity trains.

  Departures from Munich Hbf to Verona Porta Nuova are at 07:34, 09:34, 11:32, 13:34 & 15:34, journey time 5h24.

  The 07:34 from Munich runs beyond Verona to Bologna Centrale on weekdays, to Venice Santa Lucia on weekends arriving 14:25.

  The 09:34 from Munich runs beyond Verona to Bologna Centrale every day arriving 16:19 (extended to Rimini 25 May to 9 September 2023)

  The 11:32 from Munich runs beyond Verona to Venice every day, arriving Venice Santa Lucia in central Venice at 18:25.

  Change at Verona Porta Nuova for Milan Centrale.

  Change at Verona Porta Nuova (or on the 09:34, at Bologna) for Florence SMN, Rome Termini and Naples Centrale.

• Fares from Munich to Verona or (on the direct trains) Bologna or Venice start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• To buy tickets from Munich to anywhere in Italy as one seamless transaction, use www.raileurope.com as follows:

  Set up an enquiry from Munich to your Italian destination.  Click More options, enter Verona (any station) (or if taking the 09:34 from Munich and heading for Florence, Rome Naples, enter Bologna) and set stopover duration to 45 minutes.  Then run the enquiry.  www.raileurope.com can be used by anyone from any country, overseas credit cards no problem, you can pay in £ or €.  There's a small booking fee. 

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead for the German/Austrian EuroCity train and up to 4 months ahead for Italian trains.  You print your own tickets or can show them on your laptop or phone.

• Alternatively, you can buy tickets in two stages as follows:

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

  Step 2, 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 to use, requires Italian language place names, read this advice before using it).  I recommend allowing at least 45 minutes to change in Verona Porta Nuova in case of any delay.

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

• There are two excellent Nightjet sleeper trains from Munich to Italy:

  The first Nightjet leaves Munich Hbf at 20:10 with a portion arriving Verona Porta Nuova 05:51, Milan Rogoredo 07:42, Genoa Piazza Principe 09:38 & La Spezia 11:10, another portion arriving Bologna Centrale 05:15, Florence 06:52 & Rome Termini 09:10.

  In 2024, arrival in Florence & Rome varies:  Monday-Thursday mornings it arrives Florence Campo di Marte 06:52 & Rome Termini 09:10.  Friday & Sunday mornings it arrives Florence SMN 06:57, Rome Termini 10:30.  Saturday mornings it arrives Florence SMN 06:18, Rome Termini 09:10.

  The second Nightjet leaves Munich Ost at 23:54 for Venice Santa Lucia, arriving 08:34.

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

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

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

• 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.  If boarding at Munich Ost, try the Haidhauser-Augustiner Bavarian restaurant, (www.haidhauser-augustiner.de) 5 minutes walk from the main station exit on the north side of the station, see walking route.  Feedback appreciated.

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

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Munich to Sicily

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

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Rome by EuroCity train and Frecciarossa via the scenic Brenner Pass as shown in Munich to Italy section above, leaving Munich Hbf at 09:34 and changing at Bologna to reach Rome Termini around 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, Cefalu 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.

  This train is 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 here.  Buy tickets as shown on the Trains to Sicily page.

Option 2, Munich to Sicily using the Munich-Rome sleeper

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Rome by Nightjet sleeper train as shown in Munich to Italy section above, leaving Munich Hbf at 20:10 and arriving Rome Termini at 09:10 next morning (10:30 on some days).  Buy tickets as shown above.

• Step 2, travel from Rome Termini to Messina, Taormina, Catania, Siracuse, Cefalu or Palermo on the 11:26 Intercity train arriving in the evening, as shown on the Trains to Sicily page.

  This train is 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 here.  Buy tickets as shown on the Trains to Sicily page.

Option 3, Munich to Sicily with overnight stop in Rome

• Day 1, travel from Munich to Rome by daytime trains through the Brenner Pass as shown above and buy tickets as shown.

• Stay overnight in Rome.

• 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 here.  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

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Paris by TGV Duplex, leaving Munich Hbf at 06:49, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 12:33.

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

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 14:42 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 21:27.

  This impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's a comfortable & scenic journey, book an upper deck seat for the best views, click here for the sights to see from the train on the way.

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

  Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit 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 select a mobile ticket to show on your phone.

• Stay overnight in Barcelona.  The Hotel Barcelo Sants is the top choice here, it's part of Barcelona Sants station so easy to use when arriving & departing by train, with great reviews & good feedback from Seat61 users.  See other suggested hotels near the station.

• Step 3, take an onward high-speed train from Barcelona Sants next morning, check times & book at www.raileurope.com.  Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but it varies.

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

  For Granada:  Leave Barcelona Sants at 06:45 by AVE S112 high-speed train arriving Granada at 13:10.

  For Malaga:  Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE-S112 high-speed train arriving Malaga Maria Zambrano at 14:51.

  For Cordoba & Seville:  Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE-S112 high-speed train arriving Cordoba 13:42 & Seville Santa Justa 14:32.

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

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

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 and 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 at 15:12 every day 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 from Munich to Marseille start at €49.90 in 2nd class or €79.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Important:  Before running the enquiry, change Transfer time from Normal to minimum 40 minutes.  This gets you a robust connection in Mannheim with time for a coffee, rather than a risky 11-minute connection.

• 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 S100, leaving Marseille St Charles at 08:04, arriving Barcelona Sants 12:38 & Madrid Atocha 15:45.

  This comfortable Spanish high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Look out for Béziers cathedral on the right, colonies of flamingos on the étangs in southern France, the Fort de Salses on the right approaching Perpignan and great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees.  More information about AVE S100 & this journey.

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

  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 this journey 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 €, 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 a mobile ticket 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 normally opens 60 days ahead, but it varies.  I'd 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 14:55 by EuroCity train, changing at Zurich HB and arriving Geneva at 21:18.

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

  Book Munich to Geneva 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 laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

• 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 Barcelona, leaving Geneva at 07:14, change Lyon Part Dieu & Montpelier St-Roch, arriving Barcelona Sants 16:31.

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

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

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

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

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

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

  A fast EuroMed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 18:15 arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 21:07 & Alicante 23:40.

  For Granada, Seville, Cordoba & Malaga, stay in Barcelona overnight, I recommend the Hotel Barcelo Sants inside the station.  Next morning direct high-speed AVE trains leave Barcelona Sants at 06:45 for Granada and 08:35 for Cordoba, Seville Santa Justa & Malaga Maria Zambrano.

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

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

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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 06:49 and arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 12:31.

  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 >60 is upper deck.  Watch the sun rise and the morning mists clear, see the Munich-Paris TGV video.

  Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €69 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.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

• Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi.  Always allow at least 70 minutes between trains in Paris.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Hendaye by TGV Duplex Océane, leaving Paris Montparnasse at 16:11 arriving Hendaye at 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 sites easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas 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 select a mobile ticket to show on your phone.

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

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

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

• Day 1, travel from Munich to Paris by EuroCity & TGV Duplex, leaving Munich Hbf at 15:51, change Stuttgart, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 22:05.

  There are earlier departures if you'd like more of an evening in Paris.  The TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

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

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the German Railways website int.bahn.de (in €, no fee).   Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  How to change stations in Paris by metro or taxi. 

• 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 Gare Montparnasse at 10:11 and arriving Hendaye 14:47.

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

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

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

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

• Day 2, transfer from Hendaye to San Sebastian by Euskotren metro, every 30 minutes, journey time 37 minutes.

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

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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 above.

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

  Check times & buy 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 laptop or phone.

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by 320 km/h TGV Duplex leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 09:42 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 16:31.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  Alternatively, travel from Madrid to Porto & on to Lisbon as shown on the Trains from Madrid 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 06:49, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 12:33.

  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 Munich-Paris TGV video.

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

  Book this train at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

• Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi.  Always allow at least 70 minutes between trains in Paris.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Toulouse by TGV, there's usually one leaving Paris Montparnasse at 15:11 arriving Toulouse Matabiau 19:23.

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

• Step 3, travel from Toulouse Matabiau station to Andorra la Vella by bus, taking 4 hours, fare €36.

  There are 3 services every day run by Andbus, check times at www.andorrabybus.com.  There's normally a bus leaving Toulouse Matabiau station (bus stand 15) at 20:00 arriving Andorra at midnight.

• How to buy tickets

  Check train times & buy a ticket from Frankfurt to Toulouse Matabiau at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).   If necessary, book Frankfurt-Paris & Paris-Toulouse separately, to get sufficient time between trains in Paris.

  Booking for Munich-Paris opens up to 6 months ahead, for Paris-Toulouse only 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can choose a mobile ticket.

  Buy the bus ticket at www.andorrabybus.com.

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

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Paris by EuroCity & ICE train, leaving Munich Hbf at 11:51, change Stuttgart Hbf, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 18:05.

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

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the German Railways website int.bahn.de (in €, no fee).

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

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

• Step 2, take the Intercité de Nuit leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 21:40 and arriving Andorre-l'Hospitalet at 09:42.

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

  Fares start at €29 in a 2nd class couchette or €60 in a 1st class couchette.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or 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 choose a mobile ticket.

• Step 3, take a taxi or taxi+bus from l'Hospitalet station to Andorra La Vella as explained on the London to Andorra page - just disregard the London-Paris part.

• Alternatively, you can travel from Paris to Toulouse on the same Intercité de Nuit, leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 21:40 and arriving Toulouse Matabiau at 06:30.  Have breakfast in Toulouse (I can recommend the breakfast buffet at the Pullman Hotel around the corner from the station), then take a bus to Andorra la Vella.  A bus run by Andbus (www.andorrabybus.com) leaves from outside Toulouse Matabiau station (bus stand 15) at 09:45, arriving Andorra la Vella bus station at 14:00. This is also explained in more detail on the London to Andorra page.

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Munich to Salzburg from €17.90

Trains link Munich Hbf with Salzburg Hbf at least twice an hour from early until late.  However, there are three different types of train, railjet trains (marked RJX or RJ), EuroCity trains (marked EC), and slower regional trains run by the Bayerische Regiobahn marked BRB.  See the Munich to Salzburg page for times, fares, advice & how to buy tickets.

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Munich to Hallstatt from €29.90

• Step 1, travel from Munich Hbf to Salzburg Hbf as shown above.

• 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 €27.90 in 2nd class, €37.90 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.  You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

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

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Munich to Vienna from €27.90

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

• 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 4h02 city centre to city centre, with a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class, €37.90 in 1st class or €52.90 in business class (= premium 1st) if you pre-book.

  A reserved seat is optional and costs an extra €4-€5.  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.  You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

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

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

• On 8 April 2022, private operator Westbahn started operating up to 6 daily trains from Munich Hbf  to Vienna Westbahnhof.

  Their swish modern double-deck trains will compete directly with the ÖBB's railjet trains, with 1st class, comfort class and 2nd class, see the photos below.  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.  On-board staff can serve you snacks.  In WESTbahn first class, food & drink orders are taken and served at your seat.

• Advance-purchase fares start at €23.99 if you book ahead, the full-flex fare is €79.90 on any train, any date, paid on the day.

• Check times & buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com, this will show both the railjets and Westbahn.

Option 3, Munich to Vienna by sleeper train

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

• The sleeper train Kalman Imre leaves Munich Ost at 23:54 and arrives Vienna Hbf 06:29.

  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.  See the Hungarian sleeping-car video & see photos of the sleeper & couchettes on this train in the Budapest to Munich section.

• 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 $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same fares).  Booking opens up to 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 main station exit on the north side of Munich Ost, see walking route.  Feedback appreciated.

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Munich to Innsbruck from €18.90

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

• For details, see the Munich to Innsbruck page.

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Munich to Copenhagen from €39.90

Option 1, Munich to Copenhagen by daytime trains

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

  Munich Hbf depart 06:14, change at Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen at 17:34.

  Munich Hbf depart 08:20, change at Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen at 19:34.

  Munich Hbf depart 10:21, change at Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen at 21:34.

  Take a good book, sit back and enjoy the ride.  You travel from Munich to Hamburg by ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train, see photos, tips & information for the Hamburg to Copenhagen journey.  These trains also call at Kolding (for Legoland) and Odense.

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

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

  I'd change Transfer time from Normal to minimum 40 minutes.  Look for journeys with just 1 change at Hamburg.

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

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

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

  Until 9 December 2023, this comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

  From the timetable change on 10 December 2023 this train is due to be operated by 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 on-board accommodation, travel tips & photos.  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 €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

• Step 2, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 10:53 and arriving Copenhagen at 15:34.

  Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 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.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Hamburg to Copenhagen by 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 2024.  The current trains have 1st & 2nd class, power sockets at seats, but no catering so bring your own food & drink.  More information 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, Gothenburg or Malmö

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

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Hamburg by ICE train, leaving Munich Hbf at 13:18 and arriving Hamburg Hbf at 19:55.

  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 you don't want to miss.  Have dinner in Hamburg, see suggested restaurants near the station.

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

  Book this train at 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 laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

• Step 2, travel from Hamburg to Stockholm by sleeper train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 22:03, arriving Stockholm Central 09:57 next morning.

  Procured by the Swedish government and run by SJ (Swedish Railways), the train has sleeping-cars with compact 1 & 2 berth compartments with washbasin, several 1, 2 or 3 bed deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower, couchette cars with 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  The sleeping-cars are former Austrian Railways AB32s, refurbished.  More information about the Hamburg-Stockholm sleeper train.

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

  Book tickets at 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 Sweden with an overnight stop in Hamburg from €56.90

• Day 1, travel from Munich Hbf to Hamburg Hbf by ICE train in as little as 5h49.  There are regular departures right up until early evening.

• 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 and arriving Copenhagen at 13:34.

• For Malmö, Öresund trains run from Copenhagen to Malmö Central taking 39 minutes, no reservation necessary or possible.

• For Gothenburg, Öresund trains run from Copenhagen to Gothenburg Central every hour taking 3h53, no reservation necessary or possible.

• For Stockholm, take a 200 km/h X2000 train leaving Copenhagen at 14:19 and arriving Stockholm Central at 19:37.

• How to check times, prices & buy tickets

  If you want to keep things simple, you can book the straightforward way.  Go to int.bahn.de and book from Munich to Hamburg on day 1.  Then use int.bahn.de again to book from Hamburg to Malmö, Gothenburg or Stockholm on day 2.

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

  However, it's usually cheaper to buy a through ticket from Munich to Stockholm, Malmö or Gothenburg from €56.90, which you can easily do if you pre-programme the overnight stop in Hamburg like this:

  Go to int.bahn.de and enter Munich to Stockholm (or Malmo or Goteborg Central).  Enter a mid-afternoon departure time, click Stopovers, enter Hamburg Hbf and a length of stay of say 11:00.  This will give you an 11-hour stopover in Hamburg.  Adjust the departure time and length of stay to get the trains you want.

Option 3, Munich to Sweden with an overnight stop in Copenhagen from €56.90

• Day 1, travel from Munich to Copenhagen by ICE train & EuroCity train with one easy change at Hamburg Hbf.

  You'll usually find departures from Munich Hbf at 06:14 arriving Copenhagen 17:34, at 08:20 arriving 19:34 or at 10:21 arriving 21:34.

  Take a bottle of wine and a good book and put your feet up!  Check times for your date using int.bahn.de.

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

• Day 2, if travelling to Stockholm:  Travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by 200 km/h X2000 train in around 5h15, there are regular departures.  There's usually one around 08:21 arriving Stockholm Central 13:35, or have a leisurely breakfast and take a later one.

• Day 2, if travelling to Gothenburg:  Travel from Copenhagen to Gothenburg (= Goteborg Central) by hourly Öresund train, journey time 3h53.

• How much does it cost?

  German Railways sells Sparpreis tickets from Munich to Malmö, Gothenburg or Stockholm from €56.90. 

  The fare varies, book ahead.

• How to check times & buy tickets

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

  Book from Munich to Stockholm or Goteborg Central with a morning departure time entered, but to see these cheap fares you must click Stopovers, enter Copenhagen as a stopover station with a length of stay of (say) 12:00.  This will give you a 12-hour stopover in Copenhagen.  Adjust the length of stay (and Munich departure time) as necessary to get the trains you want.  A little trial and error may be needed.

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

  Tip:  If you want to travel 1st class and don't see any affordable 1st class fares, book Munich to Copenhagen at int.bahn.de, then book Copenhagen to Gothenburg or Stockholm at the SJ website www.sj.se or Omio.com.

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 2024.  The current trains have 1st & 2nd class, power sockets at seats, but no catering so bring your own food & drink.  More information 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 train, leaving in the morning.

  The journey takes around 7h27, you'll typically find a direct train leaving Munich Hbf at around 07:50.  However, you should book the ferry first and confirm ferry times, then book a train that arrives at Kiel Hbf around 2 hours before the ferry sails.

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

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

  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 may 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 Goteborg Central station, see walking map.

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Munich to Oslo & Norway

Option 1, Munich to Oslo via Hamburg & Copenhagen - by train all the way

• Day 1, travel from Munich to Copenhagen by train as shown above.

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

• Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Oslo, leaving Copenhagen at 09:30, change at Gothenburg Central, arriving Oslo Sentral 17:44.

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

  Alternatively, spend the day in Copenhagen and take the DFDS overnight ferry to Oslo with a comfortable private cabin with shower & toilet, sailing from Copenhagen at 16:30 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.co.uk.

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

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

  Until 9 December 2023, this comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

  From the timetable change on 10 December 2023 this train is due to be operated by 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 on-board accommodation, travel tips & photos.  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 €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

• Day 2, travel from Hamburg Hbf to Kiel Hbf by regional train, these leave several times each hour taking 1h10, fixed-price fare around €23.

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

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

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

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

  Money-saving tip:  It appears that 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 Chrome translation 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 modern Color Line terminal about 2 km from the city centre.  Color Line provide transfer buses to Oslo Sentral station costing 55 krone, or there are plenty of taxis.  If you have little luggage it's possible to walk.  See map of Oslo showing ferry terminal.

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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 11:56, arriving Hamburg Hbf 17:57 (times may vary).

  On some dates you'll find a direct ICE to Lübeck leaving Munich Hbf at 12:20 & arriving Lübeck Hbf 19:29.

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

  Fares start at €23.90 in 2nd class or €33.90 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.  You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  Tip:  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 €15 - or €35 in 1st class

• See the Munich to Prague by train page for details of the train service from Munich to Prague, now increased from 4 to 7 trains per day, now all air-conditioned with minibar & free WiFi in most cars.

• Fares start at €15 in 2nd class or €35 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.

• Don't use the German Railways website int.bahn.de on this route, as it cannot sell the cheap €15 fares for these trains, only the more expensive Prague Special and expensive full-flex prices.

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Munich to Český Krumlov from €16.55

Option 1, Munich to Cesky Krumlov via Plzen - cheapest & easiest to book, but 2 hours slower than via Linz.

• This is the cheapest route, although it's the slower one.  For example, at the time I write this, you could leave Munich Hbf at 08:44 and arrive Cesky Krumlov at 18:57 all for €16.55, with time for a Pilsner beer at the station bar in Plzen and a wander round Ceske Budejovice!

  Earlier & later departures are available.  The train from Munich to Plzen is a Munich-Prague Zapadni Express, see the photos & travel tips on the Prague-Munich page.  This train is air-conditioned with a refreshment trolley, power sockets and free WiFi.

• Step 1, go to the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz, switch it to English and set up an enquiry from Munich Hbf to Ceske Budejovice.

  Now the science bit:  Before running the enquiry, click More options then Travel via and enter Plzen Hl.n. as a via station.  I also recommend clicking Connection parameters then Transfers and reducing the maximum number of connections from 4 to 1.

  In the search results, you should now see various departures with 1 easy change at Plzen Hlavni (Hl.n. = Hlavni = main station).  Plzen - or Pilsen in English - is of course the city where Pilsner beer originates.

  Cheap First Minute fares from Munich to Ceske Budejovice start at just €15, or about 367 CZK, a bargain.  First Minute fares are limited-availability advance-purchase fares, they are only good for the specific train you book, limited or no refunds or changes to travel plans.  If you buy at the station on the day you pay significantly more for a full-flex ticket good for any train.

  Buy this and print out your ticket.  You're now booked all the way from Munich to Ceske Budejovice on one ticket for one inclusive price.  You now just need to add the local train from Cesky Krumlov to Ceske Budejovice.

• Step 2, now check train times from Ceske Budejovice to Cesky Krumlov at jizdnirady.idnes.cz/vlaky/spojeni.  10 minutes is plenty to change trains, if you miss it you can always have a coffee and catch the next one.  The little green-&-orange GWTR local trains run every hour or so, journey time 44 minutes.  It has luggage space, a toilet, power sockets and free WiFi, it's a leisurely journey on a winding single track branch line past farmland & forest.

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

Option 2, Munich to Cesky Krumlov via Linz - faster, but more expensive, must be booked in 3 stages

• This is the fastest and most direct route, with the swisher trains.  For example, at the time I write this, you can leave Munich Hbf at 09:29 and arrive Cesky Krumlov at 16:57, all from €40, with time for a beer in Linz.  Earlier & later departures also available.

• How to check train times.

  Check train times from Munich to Cesky Krumlov at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.  This holds timetable data for GWTR & for Czech, Austrian & German railways so it'll show times for the whole journey, although not fares or tickets.  To buy tickets, read on...

  Tip:  I recommend at least 40 minutes between trains in Linz.  When the search results appear, choose the departure you want and click Show details.  If the interchange time is much less than 40 minutes, click Adjust the transfer time against the change of train in Linz and select Later departure from Linz, and at least 40 minutes.

• The journey

  Step 1, travel from Munich Hbf to Linz Hbf in 2h45 by swish Austrian railjet train with restaurant car, power sockets at seats & free WiFi.

  At Linz Hbf, changing trains simply means stepping off one train, walking to another train and stepping on, but as you will be on separate tickets I'd allow at least 40 minutes between trains in case of delay.

  Step 2, travel from Linz Hbf to Ceske Budejovice in around 2h02 by comfortable air-conditioned express, with power sockets at seats.  There may be a refreshment trolley, but it's best to take you own food & drink for this bit.

  At Ceske Budejovice you simply step off one train and walk to the other train, if necessary via the underpass between platforms.  Changing trains only takes 3 minutes, if you miss one you have a beer and catch the next one.

  Incidentally, Ceske Budejovice might sound more familiar by its former Germanic name, Budweis.  That's right, where the name of the beer comes from!  The town is worth a look around in its own right.  Why not take an earlier train and have a wander into the old town?

  Step 3, travel from Ceske Budejovice to Cesky Krumlov on the little green-&-orange GWTR local train.  This runs every hour or so, journey time 44 minutes.   The GWTR local train has luggage space, a toilet, power sockets and free WiFi, it's a leisurely journey on a winding single track branch line past farmland & forest.

• How much does it cost?

  (1)  Munich to Linz:  Cheap Sparschiene fares start at €27.90.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  (2)  Linz to Ceske Budejovice:  Cheap advance-purchase fares called Sparschiene by ÖBB Austrian Railways or First Minute by CD Czech Railways start at just €9.

  (3)  Ceske Budejovice to Cesky Krumlov costs 40 CZK, about €1.55.

  Sparschiene & First Minute fares are limited-availability advance-purchase fares, they are only good for the specific train you book, limited or no refunds or changes to travel plans - hence the advice to allow 40 minutes between trains in Ceske Budejovice!  If you buy at the station on the day you'll pay the standard price which costs significantly more, but has unlimited availability and is good for any train that day.

• How to buy tickets

  (1)  Munich to Linz:  Buy tickets using either www.thetrainline.com (easiest, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.oebb.at (in €, same prices, a bit more fiddly) and print your own ticket.

  (2)  Linz to Ceske Budejovice:  Buy tickets using www.thetrainline.com, or Austrian Railways www.oebb.at or Czech Railways www.cd.cz and print your own ticket - buy from whichever is cheaper, they all sell tickets for the same trains.

  Booking should open 6 months ahead on Thetrainline & oebb.at, 90 days ahead on cd.cz, less than this when the mid-December timetable change is approaching.  But you only need to book days or weeks ahead to get the cheap fares, no need to book many months ahead.

  (1)  Ceske Budejovice to Cesky Krumlov:  The local trains on this line are now run by private operator GWTR, so you need to buy this ticket separately, either at the station at Cesky Krumlov on the day or simply hop on the train and buy from the on-board ticket machines which accept cash or (reportedly) contactless Visa & MasterCard.  No reservation is necessary or possible, just turn up and go.

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

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Munich to Brno

• There are two possible routes, Munich-Prague-Brno or Munich-Vienna-Brno, both of which can be done with just 1 change.  The fastest route is via Vienna, total journey time in the region of 6h.

• Now the catch:  None of the booking sites can book the whole trip at cheap prices.  So you split the booking like this:

  First use the German Railways website int.bahn.de to book from Munich to Vienna.  A fast modern railjet train with restaurant car & free WiFi leaves Munich Hbf every 2 hours, taking 4h to reach Vienna Hbf, with fares from €19.90.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Then use the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz to book from Vienna to Brno, allowing at least 45 minutes between trains at Vienna Hbf.  A fast modern railjet train leaves Vienna Hbf every 2 hours, taking 1h27 to reach Brno hl.n. (= Brno main station).  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

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Munich to Ostrava

• The fastest route is Munich-Vienna by railjet train in 4h, Vienna to Ostrava by EuroCity train in 2h50, total journey time in the region of 7h30.

• Now the catch:  None of the booking sites can book the whole trip at cheap prices.  So you split the booking like this:

  First use the German Railways website int.bahn.de to book from Munich to Vienna.  A fast modern railjet train with restaurant car & free WiFi leaves Munich Hbf every 2 hours, taking 4h to reach Vienna Hbf, with fares from €19.90.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Then use the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz to book from Vienna to Ostrava, allowing at least 40 minutes between trains at Vienna Hbf.  An air-conditioned EuroCity train with restaurant car leaves Vienna Hbf several times a day, taking 2h50 to reach Ostrava hl.n (= Ostrava main station).  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• You can also take a Munich to Prague express then a Prague-Ostrava train, although this takes longer than going via Vienna.  To book this route, you'd first book from Munich to Prague from €15 at Czech Railways www.cd.cz, then use it again to book Prague to Ostrava.  You can in fact book Munich to Ostrava in one go, but you need to click Travel via then add Prague as a via station before running the enquiry.  Then look for journeys with just 1 change.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

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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 €18.90.

• Check times & buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  You can also book at the Czech Railways site www.cd.cz, again you simply print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Tip: 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. 

  Tip:  The journey can in fact be done with just 1 change, via Plzen (where Pilsner beer comes from) but this takes longer, around 7h25, fares from €20.  If you'd like to go this way, book at the Czech Railways site www.cd.cz, but click Travel via and enter Plzen hl.n. as a via station before running the enquiry.  Look for journeys with just 1 change.

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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 just 4h02, change at Vienna Hbf for the hourly regional express train to Bratislava Hlavna taking 1h09.

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

• Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €49.90 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.  You print your own ticket, but in this case can't show it on a mobile device, it must be printed out.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  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 in a day

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Vienna by smart modern railjet train, leaving Munich Hbf at 09:29 and arriving Vienna Hbf 13:32.

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

  Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class, €37.90 in 1st class or €52.90 in business class (= premium 1st) if you pre-book.

  A reserved seat is optional and costs an extra €4-€5.  In business class seat reservation is compulsory, but included in the fare.

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

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

  This comfortable Slovakian Intercity train has a restaurant car.

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

  Book this train at the Slovakian Railways website www.zssk.sk.  Booking opens 60 days ahead. 

  Switch it to English by clicking EN top right.  It's a little fiddly, but it works.  You print your own ticket.  You can also book at Austrian Railways www.oebb.at but fares are usually considerably higher.

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.

Option 2, Munich to Poprad-Tatry or Kosice using the Prague-Slovakia sleeper - time-effective, with dinner in Prague

• Step 1, take an afternoon train from Munich Hbf to Prague Hlavni in just over 5h30 from €15, booked at Czech Railways www.cd.cz.

  The trains have comfortable air-conditioned cars, power sockets at seat & free WiFi.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.  See the Munich to Prague by train page for timetable photos, tips and more information. 

  Make sure you allow at least 1.5 hours between trains in Prague. 

  Tip:  Why not allow time for dinner and a wander around Prague's old town?  See my restaurant suggestions in Prague.

• Step 2, travel from Prague to Slovakia by sleeper train Slovakia, leaving Prague Hlavni at 22:13 & arriving Poprad-Tatry 06:35 & Kosice 08:33.

  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 and print your own ticket.  Booking normally opens 3 months ahead.

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Munich to Budapest from €39.90

Option 1, Munich to Budapest by daytime trains

• Smart Austrian railjet trains leave Munich Hbf for Budapest Keleti at 07:23, 09:29, 11:29, 13:29 & 17:30 taking 6h50 city centre to city centre.

  Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class, €69.90 in 1st class or €84.90 in business class (= premium 1st ).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  A reserved seat is optional and costs an extra €3-€4.  In business class it's automatically included in the fare.

  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, so treat yourself to lunch or dinner.  Look out for a great view of Salzburg citadel on the right as the train crosses the Rover Salzach approaching Salzburg Hbf.  See more information about railjet trains.

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

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

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

• The EuroNight sleeper train Kalman Imre leaves Munich Ost at 23:54 & arrives at Budapest Keleti 09:19.

  It has a comfortable air-conditioned Hungarian couchette car & sleeping-car.  The sleeper fare includes morning tea or coffee, see more information about the sleeper train Kalman Imre.

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

• Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, 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), also try the Hungarian Railways site at www.mavcsoport.hu - see my advice on using it first.

• Tip:  If you like, you can check the consist for this train, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Germany & click EN, then look 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 main station exit on the north side, see walking route.  Feedback appreciated.

Sleeper train Kalman Imre, boarding on platform 12 at Munich Hbf.  More information about this 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 Sighisoara, Brasov & Bucharest 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 €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 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.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

• Step 2, travel from Budapest to Romania by sleeper train Ister leaving Budapest Keleti at 19:10, arriving Brasov 08:50 & Bucharest Nord 11:30.

  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 (although a bar-bistro is attached within Romania) so take a picnic and bottle of wine.  There's wonderful almost Alpine scenery through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov and Bucharest, a real treat.

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

  Book this train at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.  Click EN top right for English.  Booking opens 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 my advice on using it.  For Bucharest type Bucuresti.  You show your ticket in the MAV app on your phone.

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

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 train, leaving Munich Hbf at 13:29 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 17:32.

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

  Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €49.90 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.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Romania on the EuroNight sleeper train Dacia Express, leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:42 every day & arriving next day in Simeria 07:10, Sighisoara 09:13, Braşov 12:36, Ploeşti Vest 14:28 & Bucharest Nord at 15:06.

  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.

  The Dacia Express also conveys a portion from Vienna to Cluj Napoca, also leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:42 and arriving Cluj Napoca at 10:47.  This portion has a Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments, and ordinary seats.

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

  Book this train at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.

  In the search results, look for the direct train marked D with no changes.  If it says not available you can't book it, but if a Sparschiene fare is shown you can.  You collect tickets from  an ÖBB ticket machine 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.  It can book seats, couchettes or sleepers.  For Austria to Romania journeys you now print your own ticket.  Tip:  Prices might be cheaper than on 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

• Day 1, travel from Munich to Budapest Keleti in 6h50 on any railjet train you like.

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

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

• Stay overnight in 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 full 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 €37.90

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 cross-platform 10-minute change onto a 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 cross-platform 10-minute change onto a 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!

• Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 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.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  Tip:  If you 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.  There are daytime trains and a sleeper between Zagreb and 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 and arrives 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.

  From 11 December to 8 January, 22 March to 8 April & 9 May to 29 September 2024, there's a direct Croatian sleeping-car for Rijeka, leaving Munich Ost at 23:54 & arriving Rijeka 11:17.

  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.

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

• Onwards to Split & Dubrovnik.  There are daytime trains and a sleeper between Zagreb and 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 train leaving Munich Hbf at 09:29 and arriving Budapest Keleti at 16:19.

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

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

  Buy a ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

  Make sure you allow at least an hour in Budapest between trains to be on the safe side.

• Step 2, travel from Budapest to Split by direct sleeper train called the 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.

  Check to see if it is bookable online at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it.  If not, you will need to book at the station or by phone with a ticketing agency in your home country.

• 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, Sofia & Montenegro

Option 1, Munich to Zagreb by sleeper, onward train to Belgrade

• Day 1, travel from Munich to Zagreb by sleeper train, leaving Munich Ost at 23:54 and arriving 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.

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

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same 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 and arriving Novi Beograd 18:04 & Belgrade Centar at 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 Sofia:

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

  Day 3, take a daytime train from Belgrade to Sofia, see the Belgrade to Sofia page for timetable, fares, tips & photos.

• If you're going to Montenegro:

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

Option 3, Munich to Sofia via Bucharest - currently the only viable option for Sofia

• Day 1, travel from Munich to Budapest by railjet train, leaving Munich Hbf at 07:23 and arriving Budapest Keleti at 14:19.

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

  Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €49.90 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.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.  To book business class tickets use www.thetrainline.com instead.

• Day 1, travel from Budapest to Bucharest on the sleeper train Muntenia, leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:10 and arriving Bucharest Nord at 08:42.

  The Muntenia has 4 & 6-berth couchettes and ordinary seats.  A Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments is attached from Arad (depart 21:04) to Bucharest.  There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink.

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

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Bucharest to Sofia by daytime train as shown on the Trains from Bucharest page.

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

  The fare is around €34.

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

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Munich to Warsaw & Krakow from €39.90

Option 1, Munich to Krakow & Warsaw by sleeper train - starting 10 December 2023

• The EuroNight sleeper train Chopin leaves Munich Hbf at 18:35, arriving Krakow Glowny 05:59 & Warsaw Gdanska 08:48.

  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 $, overseas 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 in a day via Berlin

• You can travel from Munich to Warsaw in a single day, for example,

  Munich Hbf depart 07:55 daily, change at Berlin Hbf, arrive Warsaw Centralna at 19:28.

  Munich Hbf depart 09:55 daily, change at Berlin Hbf, arrive Warsaw Centralna at 21:16.

  Munich Hbf depart 11:56 daily except Saturdays, change at Berlin Hbf, arrive Warsaw Centralna 23:16.

  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 by comfortable Polish EuroCity train with restaurant car.  Take a good book, a bottle of wine and put your feet up.

• You can also travel from Munich to Krakow in a single day:

  Munich Hbf depart 05:56, change Berlin Hbf, arrive Krakow Glowny at 18:01.

  And from 10 December 2023, Munich Hbf depart 09:29, change at Vienna Hbf, arrive Krakow Glowny at 21:34  Tip: You can take the 11:28 from Munich if you like, but personally I'd take the earlier train to be on the safe side.  To get the 09:29 when booking at int.bahn.de, enter a stopover at Vienna with duration 1 hour.  If you have a 1st class ticket you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary tea, coffee & WiFi.

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

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

  Booking to Poland opens 60 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  Tip:  Although you're covered for a missed connection with a through ticket, I recommend changing Transfer time from Normal to minimum 40 minutes to ensure a robust connection even if there's a delay.  I have taken this into account in the times shown above.

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 information about ICE.

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 information about Berlin-Poland trains.

1st class compartment.		2nd class.  Some seats are in compartments.

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 - cheaper, but takes a bit longer

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Prague by air-conditioned express train leaving Munich Hbf at 06:44, arriving Prague Hlavni 12:22.

  Fares start at €15 in 2nd class or €35 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 14:02, arriving Warsaw Centralna 22:36.

  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.

Option 4, Munich to Krakow in a day via Vienna - starting 10 December 2023

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Vienna by swish modern railjet train, leaving Munich Hbf at 09:29 arriving Vienna Hbf at 13:32.

  The railjet has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You can take the 11:28 from Munich arriving Vienna Hbf 15:32 if you like, but personally I'd play safe and take the earlier train.

  Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class, €37.90 in 1st class or €52.90 in business class (= premium 1st) if you pre-book.

  A reserved seat is optional and costs an extra €4-€5.  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.  You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Krakow by EuroCity train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 16:10 arriving Krakow Glowny at 21:34.

  This comfortable EuroCity train has air-conditioned carriages and refreshments available.

  Fares start at €32.90 in 2nd class or from €42.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy tickets at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

Option 5, Munich to Krakow & Warsaw using the Vienna-Warsaw sleeper - runs until 9 December 2023

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Munich Hbf at 15:29 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 19:32.

  The train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You could take the 17:30 instead, but when catching a sleeper I'd play safe and take the earlier one with time for dinner in Vienna.

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

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

  The EuroNight sleeper train Chopin has a modern air-conditioned Polish sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, plus two deluxe 1 or 2 bed compartments with en suite toilet & shower, see the photos below.

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

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

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

Step 1, Munich to Vienna by railjet.  This is a railjet about to leave Munich Hbf.

Business class.  About.		Restaurant car.

First class.		Economy class.

Step 2, Vienna to Krakow & Warsaw by sleeper train.  This is the modern Polish sleeping-car on the Vienna-Krakow-Warsaw EuroNight train Chopin, boarding at Vienna Hbf.

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

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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 information.

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

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

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

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Munich to Lviv, Kyiv & Ukraine

Option 1, Munich to Lviv & Kyiv via Vienna - the easiest option

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Vienna by railjet train, for example, leaving Munich Hbf at 11:28 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 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 €29.90 in 2nd class or €49.90 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 laptop or phone. 

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Lviv or Kyiv by direct sleeping-car, leaving Vienna Hbf at 16:42, arriving Lviv at 10:20 next day & Kyiv 17:03.

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

  Book this train at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.  This will only book one-way or round trip starting in Vienna because tickets need to be collected from an ÖBB station in Austria.  They cannot be collected in Ukraine.  The sleeper has become popular, it usually sells out.

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

  Booked through oebb.at:

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

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

  Booked through Polrail:

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

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

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

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 Kyiv via Warsaw

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Warsaw as shown above, either by daytime trains and staying overnight or by railjet & sleeper train.  Either way, you then have a day to explore Warsaw.

• Step 2, travel from Warsaw to Kyiv on the Kyiv Express, leaving Warsaw Wschodnia at 17:49 & arriving Kyiv at 12:17 next day.

  This train has comfortable Ukrainian 1, 2 & 3 bed sleepers with washbasin.  There's no restaurant car, so take a picnic and perhaps some wine or beer.  The train is jacked up at the border to have its wheelsets changed from standard gauge to the slightly wider Russian/Ukrainian gauge.

  The fare is around €46 in a 3-bed sleeper if you manage to book via the Ukrainian Railways website.  If you book it through Polrail it costs around €57 including a bed in a 3-berth sleeper, €66 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €110 in a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.

  To buy tickets, first see if you can book online with Ukrainian Railways at booking.uz.gov.ua/en - but please, please, please read the important notes here which explain how to book this train using that website.  If that doesn't work for you, book with reliable Polish agency Polrail at booking.polrail.com. Booking opens 60 days ahead.  Tickets can be collected in Warsaw or (at extra charge) shipped to any address worldwide.  Polrail are also pretty good at arranging the return reservation back from Kyiv as they have close contacts with Ukrainian Railways.

• To book onward trains from Kyiv to Odessa & other places in Ukraine, see the Ukraine page.

Boarding in Warsaw.		1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper.		...with washbasin.

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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 and 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 €29.90 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 train, for example, leaving Munich Hbf at 11:28 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 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 €29.90 in 2nd class or €49.90 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 laptop or phone.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Kyiv by direct sleeping-car. leaving Vienna Hbf at 16:42 every day and arriving in Kyiv at 17:03 next day.

  Introduced in December 2017, this is a comfortable direct Ukrainian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin.

  Book this train at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.  Tickets must be collected from ÖBB in Vienna.  The sleeper has become popular, it can sell out.

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

  Booked through oebb.at:

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

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

  Booked through Polrail:

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

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

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

• 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, Corfu & Greece

Option 1, Munich to Athens by train & ferry via Italy - the leisurely option with an Adriatic cruise thrown in

• The best and most comfortable option is to pick up a ferry in Bari.  The whole scenic and relaxing journey from Munich to Athens will take around 2 nights & 3 days, depending how the connections work out on your particular date.

• Day 1, travel from Munich Hbf to Verona Porta Nuova through the scenic Brenner Pass with a restaurant car for lunch & dinner.  There are various departures, journey time 5h18, you can leave in the afternoon.

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

  Check times & book 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 laptop or phone.

• 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, leaving Verona Porta Nuova around 07:50.

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

  Book this at either www.italiarail.com (they'll refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com afterwards) or www.trenitalia.com.  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

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

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

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

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

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

  On Sundays the ship sails at 13:30, too early to make connections 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 - a rail adventure across the Balkans

• You can also travel overland by train from Munich to Athens via Belgrade & Thessaloniki.  It'll take 3 nights, with the romance and adventure of an epic train ride through the Balkans.  But it now only works properly from June to September, and not during the pandemic.

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

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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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