The Nightjet sleeper train from Munich, arrived at Venice Santa Lucia.  See more nightjet information, photos & video.

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

Sunrise as the Munich-Venice Nightjet crosses the causeway over the lagoon into Venice.  Courtesy of Andreas Wiedenhoff.

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Munich to Sicily

Option 1, day train then 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 21:05 (21:31 on some days) 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, sleeper train then day train...

• 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 09:22 next morning.  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.

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Munich to Barcelona, Madrid & Spain...

Option 1:  Munich to Barcelona in a day, by high-speed train...

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Paris by TGV Duplex, leaving Munich Hbf at 06:46 (06:23 Sundays) arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 12:38 (12:15 Sundays).

  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.

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

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

• 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 15:08 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 21:46.

  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, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  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 en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly, no fee).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your smartphone.

Option 3:  Munich to Barcelona with overnight stop in Geneva...

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Geneva, leaving Munich Hbf at 12:55 by EuroCity train, changing at Zurich HB and arriving Geneva at 19:47.

  The bullet-nosed EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  A later 14:55 departure is also available.

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

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Geneva to Barcelona by train.  Usually you'll find a TER regional train leaving Geneva at 11:30, change trains at Lyon Part Dieu (arrive 13:25, depart 14:28) onto a direct AVE-S100 high-speed train arriving Barcelona Sants at 19:33.

  It's a comfortable & scenic journey.  Between Valence & Barcelona you'll follow the same route taken by the Paris-Barcelona TGVs, see the photos & video on the Paris to Barcelona page.  You'll pass the Chateau de Montfaucon on the river Rhone, Béziers cathedral, flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Montpelier and Perpignan, the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks, with great views of the massive Mt Canigou in the Pyrenees, visible all the way from Perpignan to Girona.

  Geneva-Lyon costs a fixed-price €29.60.  Lyon-Barcelona starts at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class, these fares vary like air fares.

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

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

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

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

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

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Munich to San Sebastian...

Option 1, Munich to San Sebastian in a day...

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Paris by TGV Duplex, leaving Munich Hbf at 06:46 (06:23 Sundays) arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 12:38 (12:15 Sundays).

  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.

  Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €69 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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

• 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 15:52 and arriving Hendaye at 20:28.

  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, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  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 en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly, no fee).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your smartphone.

• Step 3, 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 station from the machines or staffed counter and hop on the next half-hourly Euskotren metro from Hendaye to San Sebastian Amara station, journey time 37 minutes.  See the Paris to San Sebastian page for more information, photos & tips.

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 15:47, change Stuttgart, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 22:24.

  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, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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

  How to change stations in Paris by metro or taxi. 

• Stay overnight in Paris...

  Hotels near Paris Gare du Nord with good reviews:  Libertel Gare du Nord Suede (5 min walk from Gare du Nord, 2-star), Mercure Terminus Nord (3-star, directly across the road from the Gare Du Nord);  Art Hotel (3-star);  Avalon Hotel (2-star);  Hotel Cambrai (1-star).

  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 on the Spanish border by TGV Duplex Océane, leaving Paris Montparnasse at 09:52, arriving Hendaye 14:28.

  The TGV Duplex Océane has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  There's also an 07:52 departure if you don't mind an early start.

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

  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 en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly, no fee).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your smartphone.

• Day 2, 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 station from the machines or staffed counter and hop on the next half-hourly Euskotren metro from Hendaye to San Sebastian Amara station, journey time 37 minutes.  See the Paris to San Sebastian page for more information, photos & tips.

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Munich to Lisbon & Portugal...

• Travel from Munich Hbf to Paris Gare de l'Est by any suitable afternoon departure as shown above, from €39.90 booked at www.bahn.de.

• Stay overnight in Paris, see suggested hotels near the Gare du Nord & Gare Montparnasse.

• Travel from Paris Montparnasse to Hendaye on the Spanish border by TGV then by Sud Express sleeper train to Lisbon as shown in the Paris to Lisbon section.

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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 06:46 (06:23 Sundays) arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 12:38 (12:15 Sundays).

  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.

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

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

• 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 13:52 arriving Toulouse Matabiau 18:10.

  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 €33.  There are 3 services every day run by Andbus, check times at www.andorrabybus.com.  I'd allow at least an hour between train and bus in Toulouse, just in case of delay.  There's normally a bus leaving Toulouse Matabiau station (bus stand 15) at 20:00 arriving Andorra at midnight.

• How to buy tickets...

  Check train times & buy a ticket from 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 en.oui.sncf (more fiddly, in €, no 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, using the Paris-Toulouse-l'Hospitalet overnight train...

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Paris by EuroCity & ICE train, leaving Munich Hbf at 11:47, change Stuttgart Hbf, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 18:16.

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

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

• 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 couchette train leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 22:12 and arriving l'Hospitalet pres l'Andorre at 08:46.

  This train has 1st class 4-berth couchettes, 2nd class 6-berth couchettes & reclining seats. 

  Fares start at €35 including a couchette.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (more fiddly, in €, no 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 night train, leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 22:12 and arriving Toulouse Matabiau at 06:00.  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 11:00, arriving Andorra la Vella bus station at 15:00. This is also explained in more detail on the London to Andorra page.

The intercité de nuit overnight train from Paris to Latour de Carol has 1st class 4-berth & 2nd class 6-berth couchettes, each with lightweight sleeping-bag & mineral water...

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Munich to Salzburg from €17.90...

Trains link Munich with Salzburg at least twice an hour all day.  However, there are three different types of train, Austrian railjet trains (marked RJX), EuroCity trains (marked EC), and slower regional trains run by the Bayerische Regiobahn marked BRB.  I'll explain each type below...

Option 1, by Austrian railjet train or EuroCity train in 1h30...

• The express trains leave every hour, one hour it'll be a smart Austrian railjet train (RJX) with restaurant car, WiFi & power sockets at all seats taking 1h29, the following hour it'll be a comfortable Austrian EuroCity train (EC) with restaurant car taking 1h42.

• Fares start at €17.90 in 2nd class or €26.90 in 1st class if you book ahead.  These fares vary like air fares, specified train only, no changes to travel plans, limited or no refunds.  If you buy on the day, the Flexpreis is €32 (EuroCity) or €36 (railjet), good for any train, reservation optional.

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

Option 2, by Bayerische Regiobahn regional train in 1h47...

• Regional trains run by the Bayerische Regiobahn run every hour, shown on www.bahn.de as 'BRB'.  They take longer, but they're cheaper and more flexible than the express trains.  They have one fixed-price flexible fare, around €31.60 one-way, good for any regional train that day, no advance reservation necessary or possible, it cannot sell out.  Turn up, buy a ticket, get on, sit where you like and go!  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

• But for regional trains you'd usually buy a Bayern Ticket:  In practice, you'd only ever buy a €31.60 full-price ticket for the regional trains if you needed to leave before 09:00 on weekdays, because at all other times it's cheaper to buy a Bayern Ticket which gives a day's unlimited travel on regional trains across the whole of Bavaria including Salzburg, after 09:00 weekdays or any time at weekends.  This costs just €25 for the first traveller + €7 for each additional traveller in your party up to maximum 5 people.

  For details & online sales see www.bahn.de/en/view/offers/regional/regional-day-tickets.shtml.

  This would even allow you to make a same-day round trip from Munich to Salzburg!  You can buy a Bayern Ticket online and show it on your smartphone or laptop or you can buy at the station on the day.

Pleasant Bavarian scenery between Munich & Salzburg...

Your first view of Salzburg will be from the train, right hand side.  This is the view of the Fortress Hohensalzburg as the railjet crosses the River Salzach & approaches Salzburg station....

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Munich to Hallstatt from €29.90...

• For Hallstatt, travel from Munich to Salzburg as shown above, then take a train to Attnang Puchheim for the local train to Hallstatt, total journey time as little as 4h08.

• Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class, €37.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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

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

• 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,

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Munich to Vienna from €27.90...

Option 1, Munich to Vienna by railjet train - the fastest way...

• Smart Austrian railjet trains run from Munich Hbf to Linz & Vienna Hbf at 06:23, 07:23, 09:29 then every two hours until 17:30.  Munich to Vienna takes only 4 hours city centre to city centre, with a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

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

  A reserved seat is optional and costs an extra €3-€4.  In business class seat reservation is compulsory, but included in the fare.

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or smartphone.  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 at bahn.de, book 1st class then use the Show seats seat selection feature to select a seat in the low-density Business class car, usually seats 13-55 in car 27 - although they don't label it as business class so you have to engage brain!  It should then add the €15 Business class upgrade to the first class fare when you pay.  You can also buy using www.thetrainline.com.

  Tip:  It's worth checking www.thetrainline.com as well, as this links to the Austrian system.  Although fares also start from €27.90 I've often seen significantly cheaper fares on the Austrian system than bahn.de on the same date & train.

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

Railjet first class, with black leather seats...		Business class...		The restaurant...

A railjet boarding at the impressive modern Vienna Hbf.  More photos & information about Railjet trains		Economy class on railjet, in open saloons with large windows.  Some seats around tables, most unidirectional.

Pleasant Bavarian scenery between Munich & Salzburg...

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

Pleasant farmland scenery between Salzburg & Vienna...

Option 2, Munich to Vienna by Regional train & Westbahn - slower, but more flexible, cheaper at short notice...

• The excellent fast railjet trains take just 4 hours with fares from €27.90 if you book in advance and commit to a specific train with limited refunds & no changes to travel plans allowed.  What if you don't want to stay flexible & not commit to a specific departure way in advance?  Or all the cheap railjet tickets have sold out as you've left it too late?  On railjets, full-price paid on the day is around €95.  Ouch!

• The solution?

  Every hour a regional train runs from Munich Hbf to Salzburg, fare just €25 with a Bayern Ticket (not valid before 09:00 on weekdays) + €7 for each additional passenger.  This connects with an hourly double-deck Westbahn train from Salzburg to Vienna Westbahnhof for €33.50 per person (€1 more if you pay on board).

  The journey is slower at 4h28 overall but the cost is only around €58.50 in total any day, any train, even bought on the day.  Worth knowing about if you need to stay flexible but affordable!

  You can check Westbahn prices & times at www.thetrainline.com or www.westbahn.at, regional train times & prices at www.thetrainline.com or www.bahn.de.  The Munich-Salzburg regional trains are the ones marked BRB in the search results.

• You can buy the Bayern Ticket at the station in Munich on the day or you can buy it online as shown here.  The Westbahn fare can be paid to the conductor on board the train, or you can save €1 by using a Westbahn ticket machine at Salzburg station or by buying online at www.thetrainline.com.  All these tickets have unlimited availability at these prices - they cannot sell out!

Stairs to upper deck...		WESTbahn double-decker train to Salzburg at Vienna Westbahnhof...

Food vending area, 4 in each trainset...		Upper deck seats...

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Munich to Innsbruck from €18.90...

Option 1, the fast mainline route in 1h44 from €18.90...

• Every couple of hours, comfortable EuroCity trains link Munich Hbf with Innsbruck Hbf in just 1h44 Most of these trains have a restaurant car and are on their way to Italy.  This is the fast comfortable option via Kufstein, and it's scenic enough. 

• Fares start at €18.90 in 2nd class or €27.90 in 1st class, these fares vary like air fares so book ahead.  It costs around €42 full-flex in 2nd class bought on the day.

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

Option 2, the slower but much more scenic route in 2h51 for €27 bought on the day, no reservation necessary...

• If you feel like something different, there's a slower but very scenic route using regional trains every hour or two.  Several regional trains per day now run direct from Munich Hbf to Innsbruck Hbf via this route, others involve one simple change at either Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Mittenwald or Seefeld in Tirol.

• The regular full-price fare is a fixed-price €37.30 in 2nd class or €61.20 in 1st class, unlimited availability, it cannot sell out.

  However, www.bahn.de will usually offer you a cheaper €27 ticket, marked Regio-Ticket Werdenfels plus Innsbruck.  With this, up to 3 children under 15 go free, a real bargain.

• To check train times & buy tickets, go to the German Railways website www.bahn.de, click Add intermediate stops and put Mittenwald in the via box, or simply use this link to Bahn.de which I've set up for you.

  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  No reservation or advance-purchase is necessary, so you can buy tickets at the station on the day if you like, same price, can't sell out.

  You sit where you like on regional trains, going south you'll find the best views on the right hand side of the train.

• You can read about the Mittenwald Railway here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mittenwald_Railway.

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Munich to Copenhagen from €39.90...

Option 1, 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 17:33.

  Munich Hbf depart 10:22, change at Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen at 21:33.

  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 Danish Intercity 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, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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

Option 2, using the Munich-Hamburg sleeper train...

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

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

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

  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 Danish IC3 Intercity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 12:53 and arriving Copenhagen at 17:33.

  Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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

The late afternoon Hamburg-Copenhagen IC3 leaving platform 5 at Hamburg Hbf on a busy summer day.  The yellow stripe above the windows indicates first class, located at one end of both 3-car units.  More information about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.

Boarding a Danish IC3 train at Hamburg Hbf...		1st class seats on an IC3 train.  Larger photo.

2nd class seats on a IC3 train.  Larger photo.		An IC3 train to Copenhagen at Hamburg.

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Munich to Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö or Oslo...

Option 1, by daytime trains with an overnight stop in Hamburg:  Munich to Stockholm, Malmö or Gothenburg from just €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 Reichshoff Hamburg is just 200m from the station, features art deco-based design and gets great reviews.  Other hotels next to 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, private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf start at around £33 for one person or £49 for two people booked at www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by Danish IC3 Intercity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:55 and arriving Copenhagen at 13:33. 

• For Stockholm, take a 200 km/h X2000 train leaving Copenhagen at 14:19 and arriving Stockholm Central at 19:36.

• For Malmö or Gothenburg, Öresund Link trains run from Copenhagen to Gothenburg every hour taking 3h53 and every half hour or better from Copenhagen to Malmö taking 39 minutes.

• For Oslo & Norway, travel as far as Copenhagen, then take the overnight cruise ferry with bars, restaurants and en suite cabins to Oslo, she sails from Copenhagen daily around 16:30, arriving in Oslo around 09:45, see www.dfds.co.uk for times, prices & online tickets.

• How to check times, prices & buy tickets...

  If you want to keep things simple, you can book the straightforward way.  Go to www.bahn.de and book from Munich to Hamburg on day 1.  Then use www.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 smartphone.  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 www.bahn.de and enter Munich to Stockholm (or Malmo or Goteborg Central).  Select a mid-afternoon departure time, click Add intermediate stops, enter Hamburg Hbf in the via box and a time of say 11:00 in the hh:mm stopover box.  This will give you an 11-hour stopover in Hamburg.  Click here for a link to bahn.de which I've set up for you.  Adjust the departure time and stopover duration as necessary to get the trains you want. 

  If you're going to Norway, add a connecting Gothenburg to Oslo S ticket using either www.vy.no or www.sj.se.

Option 2, by daytime trains with an overnight stop in Copenhagen:  Munich to Stockholm, Malmö or Gothenburg from €39.90...

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

  You'll usually find departures from Munich Hbf at 06:14 arriving Copenhagen at 17:33, or at 10:22 arriving Copenhagen at 21:33.  Take a bottle of wine and a good book and put your feet up!

• Stay overnight in Copenhagen...  Hotels in Copenhagen near the station with good reviews:  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 125mph X2000 train in around 5h11, there are regular departures.  For example there's usually one around 08:19 arriving Stockholm Central 13:35, or have a leisurely breakfast and take a later one.

• Day 2, if travelling to Gothenburg or Oslo:  Travel from Copenhagen to Gothenburg (= Goteborg Central) on any of the hourly Öresund trains, journey time 3h53.  For Oslo, take the 09:27, change at Gothenburg and arrive Oslo Sentral (= Oslo S) at 17:51.

• How much does it cost?  You can buy German Railways' Sparpreis tickets from Munich to Malmö, Gothenburg or Stockholm from €56.90.  The fare varies, book ahead for the best prices.

• How to check times & buy tickets...

  If travelling to Stockholm or Gothenburg, go to www.bahn.de and book from Munich to Stockholm or Goteborg Central with a morning departure selected, but to see these cheap fares you must click Add intermediate stops, enter Copenhagen in the via box and a time of (say) 12:00 in the hh:mm stopover box.  This will give you a 12-hour stopover in Copenhagen.  Click here for a link to bahn.de which I've set up for you.  Adjust the overnight stopover time as necessary to get the trains you want.

  If travelling to Oslo, go to www.bahn.de and book from Munich to Gothenburg with a morning departure selected, but to see the cheap fares you must click Add intermediate stops enter Copenhagen in the via box and a time of say 12:00 in the hh:mm stopover box.  Click here for a link to bahn.de which I've set up for you.  Adjust the overnight stopover time as necessary to get the trains you want.  Now add a connecting Gothenburg to Oslo S ticket using either www.vy.no or www.sj.se.

A Danish IC3 train at Copenhagen station...  Hamburg-Copenhagen trains are now EuroCity trains worked by Danish IC3 units like the one above.

A 125 mph X2000 train from Copenhagen to Stockholm.		2nd class seating on the X2000.  All seats have power sockets for laptops & mobiles...		Self-service buffet car on the X2000 to Stockholm. More info on X2000 trains

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Munich to Oslo & Norway...

Option 1, via Hamburg & Copenhagen - by train all the way...

• See above.

Option 2, Munich to Oslo via the Kiel-Oslo Color Line cruise ferry - the most comfortable way to Oslo...

• Day 1, travel from Munich to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Munich Hbf at 22:50 & arriving Hamburg Hbf at 08:47.

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

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

  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.

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

This photo is taken from the exit of Kiel station, so you can see how close the ferry is.  It's a 5-6 minute walk across the harbour, with a street lift up to a connecting walkway which takes you to the ferry terminal. If you have reserved one of what Color Line call their "5 star suites", check in at the desk rather than the machines and you'll be directed to a special lounge to wait with free tea, coffee, juice, snacks & WiFi.  You'll also have priority boarding of the ship.  Photos courtesy of Andrew Leo.

Boarding the Color Line ferry to Oslo in Kiel...

A 5 Star Suite on the ferry...		More cruise liner than ferry!  The restaurant.

Wake up to this....

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Munich to Helsinki & Finland...

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

• Day 1, travel from Munich to Hamburg, leaving Munich Hbf at 13:18, arriving Hamburg Hbf 18:53 (times may vary).

  Fares start at €23.90 in 2nd class or €33.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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

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

  Finnlines sail from Travemünde in northern Germany to Helsinki every day, boarding from 22:30 to 24:00 and arriving Helsinki Vuosaari ferry terminal at 09:00 2 nights later (Day 3 from Munich).

  Check sailing dates, times & 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.

One of Finnlines 3 star class ferries to Helsinki.  Courtesy of Finnlines.		Cabin on the ferry...

Option 2, by train to Stockholm, then ferry to Helsinki...

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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 www.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...

• 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 www.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 smartphone.

  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 smartphone.

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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 www.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 smartphone.

  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 smartphone.

• 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 smartphone.

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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 www.bahn.de.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your smartphone.

  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 smartphone.

  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 4h00, change at Vienna Hbf for the hourly regional express train to Bratislava Hlavna taking 1h07.

  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, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Buy a ticket at the German Railways website www.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.

The hourly regional express train from Vienna to Bratislava Hlavna, about to leave from Vienna Hauptbahnhof.  More about these Vienna-Bratislava trains.

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Munich to Poprad-Tatry & Kosice from €46.90...

Option 1, in a day...

• There are several possible departures from Munich Hbf early & late morning by smart modern railjet train to Vienna Hbf, hourly regional train to Bratislava Hlavna and air-conditioned Slovakian express train with restaurant car along the scenic route to Poprad Tatry & Kosice, arriving in the evening.

• Fares start at €46.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Tip:  You can use the Add intermediate stops feature to give yourself a few hours stopover (or even an overnight stopover) at Vienna or Bratislava, for the same price.

Option 2, 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 smartphone.

  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 an evening wander around Prague's old town?  See my restaurant suggestions in Prague.

• Step 2, travel from Prague to Poprad-Tatry & Kosice by sleeper train Slovakia, leaving Prague Hlavni at 22:15 and arriving Poprad-Tatry around 06:40 & Kosice around 08:25 next morning.

  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.

  Tip:  You can check the formation of this train with car numbers, photos & floorplans at www.vagonweb.cz.  Click en for English, then click Train formations and search for EN443 Slovakia.

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Munich to Budapest from €39.90...

Option 1, by daytime railjet train: 

• Smart Austrian railjet trains leave Munich Hbf for Budapest Keleti at 07:23, 09:29, 11:29 & 13:29 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 station.  See more information about railjet trains.

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

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

A railjet to Budapest about to leave Munich Hbf...

Railjet first class, with black leather seats...		Business class...		The restaurant...

A railjet boarding at the impressive modern Vienna Hbf.  More photos & information about railjet trains		Economy class on railjet, in open saloons with large windows.  Some seats around tables, most unidirectional.

Pleasant Bavarian scenery between Munich & Salzburg...

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

Pleasant farmland scenery between Salzburg & Vienna...

Between Vienna & Budapest it's largely flat, with more wind turbines than you can shake a stick at, allegedly over 200.  This photo pretty much sums up that section of line!

The railjet has landed...  A railjet has arrived spot on time in Budapest's historic Keleti station, built 1881-1884

Option 2, using the Munich-Budapest sleeper train Kalman Imre: 

• The EuroNight sleeper train Kalman Imre leaves Munich Hbf at 23:20 and arrives at Budapest Keleti at 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.

• 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.

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

• 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.

The Kalman Imre, about to leave Munich Hbf.  More information about the sleeper train Kalman Imre.		2-bed sleeper. Larger photo

6-berth couchettes...		4-berth couchettes		Hungarian couchette car at Munich Hbf...

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Munich to Sighisoara, Brasov & Bucharest from €79...

Option 1, by railjet to Budapest and sleeper train Ister to Brasov & Bucharest...  Easily booked online with cheap advance-purchase fares.

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

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Budapest to Romania by sleeper train Ister leaving Budapest Keleti at 19:10 and arriving Brasov at 09:54 & Bucharest Gara de Nord at 12:33 next day.

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

  Fares start at €39 with a couchette, €59 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €86 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper.

  Buy a ticket at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see advice for using it.  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  You show your ticket on the MAV app on your smartphone.

  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, by railjet to Vienna and daily sleeper train Dacia Express to Sighisoara, Brasov & Bucharest.

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Munich Hbf at 13:29 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 17:30.

  Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €49.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Romania on the EuroNight sleeper train Dacia Express, leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:42 every evening and arriving next day in Sighisoara 10:34, Brasov 13:35 & Bucharest Gara de Nord at 16:04.

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

  Fares start at €49 with a couchette in a 6-berth compartment, €69 with a bed in a 3-berth sleeper, €89 with a bed in a 3-berth sleeper or €149 with a bed in a single-berth sleeper, all to yourself.

  Book this train at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.  Booking normally opens 92 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.

  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.

The Dacia Express boarding at Vienna Hbf.  Always book a couchette, not just a seat.  Couchettes convert from bunks at night to seats for day use.		4 or 6 berth couchettes.  Larger photo.

A 1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper with washbasin.  Larger photo.		The sleeping-car of the Dacia Express arrived at Sighisoara.  Sleepers convert from beds to private sitting rooms for day use.  Courtesy of Philip Dyer-Perry.

Enjoy breakfast in the bar-bistro eastbound, or an evening beer westbound, as a bar-bistro is attached in Romania to both the Ister & Dacia Express.  Bar-bistro photos courtesy of Philip Dyer-Perry.

Option 3, by daytime trains with overnight stop in Budapest...

• Day 1, travel from Munich to Budapest Keleti in 6h46 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, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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

• Stay overnight in Budapest.  For an inexpensive hotel with great reviews right next to Keleti Station, try the Royal Park Boutique Hotel or the inexpensive Baross City Hotel just across the road or the Elit Hotel two minutes walk away.  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 60 days ahead.  You show your ticket in the MAV app on your smartphone.

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Munich to Ljubljana, Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik from €37.90...

Option 1, by daytime trains, the wonderful scenic option...

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

  The morning train leaves Munich Hbf at 08:17, 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  12:18, this is a direct air-conditioned train with restaurant car to Lesce-Bled, Ljubljana & Zagreb.

  There's a third departure from Munich Hbf at 14:18 to Lesce-Bled & Ljubljana.

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

  Tip:  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.

• Important:  Engineering work affecting the Munich-Ljubljana-Zagreb route until at least 10 July 2021...  Major engineering work has closed the Karawanks Tunnel between Austria & Slovenia until at least 10 July 2021, and normal train service is suspended.  To find alternatives, run a Munich-Ljubljana or Munich-Zagreb enquiry at the German Railways site www.bahn.de.  You'll find Munich-Ljubljana services with 1 change at Villach onto a rail replacement bus.  You'll find Munich-Zagreb journeys by train via the alternative Maribor route with 1 or 2 changes.

• 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.

The 08:17 departure is a smart Austrian railjet from Munich to Villach, on the Austrian-Slovenian border...  This is a railjet about to leave Munich Hbf...

Railjet is Austrian Railways premier train...  More photos & information about Railjet trains		Economy class on railjet, in open saloons with large windows.  Some seats around tables, most unidirectional.

Railjet first class, with black leather seats...		Business class...		The restaurant...

Through the Austrian Alps...  Clinging to the mountainside high in the Austrian Alps, the railjet snakes along between snow-capped mountains, absolutely wonderful.,, If you use the morning train from Munich, there's a quick & simple cross-platform change of train at Villach onto a Slovenian & Croatian train called the Sava...

...along the Sava river in Slovenia.  Now across the border in Slovenia, the EuroCity train runs along the pretty River Sava all the way to Ljubljana & Zagreb...		Comfortable seats:  The 2nd class seats in the Slovenian cars are arranged 2+1 abreast, the same as 1st class!

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

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

Option 2, by Munich-Zagreb sleeper train, the time-effective option...

• An excellent Croatian sleeper train called the Lisinski leaves Munich Hbf at 23:20 and arrives Ljubljana 05:57 & Zagreb 08:35.

  It has a smart air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments, and an air-conditioned Croatian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, see the Croatian sleeper video here.

  Important:  Munich-Ljubljana-Zagreb sleeper train cancelled until at least 10 July 2021...  Major engineering work has closed the Karawanks Tunnel between Austria & Slovenia until at least 10 July 2021, and the Munich-Zagreb sleeper train is temporarily cancelled.  Please use another option until this work is completed and the sleeper train resumes.

• 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.

• 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.

  If neither site works for you, you'll need to book by phone.  If you live in the UK call German Railways UK number, 00 49 (0)30 311 68 29 04.

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

• 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.

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

The couchette car on the Lisinski has modern air-conditioned 6-berth and 4-berth compartments.  Above right, the westbound train is seen boarding at Zagreb. See panorama photo.
Wake up to scenery like this between Ljubljana & Zagreb, along the river Sava...

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Munich to Belgrade, Sofia & Montenegro...

By sleeper to Zagreb, then day train - The fastest option, especially as the Budapest-Belgrade line is currently blocked by track upgrading work...

• Day 1, take the excellent overnight Croatian sleeper train Lisinski leaving Munich Hbf at 23:20 and arriving Zagreb at 08:35.

  It has a smart air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments, and an air-conditioned Croatian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, see the photos & sleeper video here.

  Important:  Munich-Ljubljana-Zagreb sleeper train cancelled until at least 10 July 2021...  Major engineering work has closed the Karawanks Tunnel between Austria & Slovenia until at least 10 July 2021, and the Munich-Zagreb sleeper train is temporarily cancelled.  Until this work is completed and the sleeper train resumes, check www.bahn.de for Munich-Zagreb daytime options and stay overnight in Zagreb.

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Zagreb to Belgrade by train.  Until 10 July 2021 it leaves Zagreb at 13:04 arriving Novi Beograd 20:17 & Belgrade Centar at 20:25.  From 11 July 2021 it leaves Zagreb at 11:04 arriving Novi Beograd 18:04 & Belgrade Centar at 18:12.

  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.

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

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.

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

The couchette car on the Lisinski has modern air-conditioned 6-berth and 4-berth compartments.  Above right, the westbound train is seen boarding at Zagreb. See panorama photo.
Wake up to scenery like this between Ljubljana & Zagreb, along the river Sava...

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Munich to Warsaw & Krakow from €39.90...

Option 1, by daytime trains via Berlin... 

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

  Munich Hbf depart 07:52, change Berlin Hbf, arrive Warsaw Centralna at 19:09.

  Munich Hbf depart 11:56, change Berlin Hbf, arrive Warsaw Centralna at 23:04.

  using a superb high-speed ICE train from Munich to Berlin then a comfortable EuroCity train from Berlin to Warsaw.  Total journey is around 11h50, a long day but take a good book, a bottle of wine and put your  feet up. 

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

• Buy a ticket at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking to Poland opens 60 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  Tip:  Although you're covered for a missed connection with a through ticket, I recommend adjusting the Duration of transfer on bahn.de from standard to at least 40 minutes to ensure a robust connection in Berlin even if there's a delay.  I have taken this into account in the times shown above.

Option 2, by daytime trains via Prague - cheaper, but takes a bit longer... 

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Prague by air-conditioned express train leaving Munich Hbf at 06:43 and arriving Prague Hlavni 12:21.

  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 3 months ahead.

• Step 2, travel from Prague to Warsaw by EuroCity train with restaurant car, leaving Prague Hlavni at 14:23 and arriving Warsaw Centralna 22:18.

  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 3, using the Prague-Krakow/Warsaw sleeper train - the time-effective option... 

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Prague by air-conditioned express train leaving Munich Hbf at 14:43 and arriving Prague Hlavni at 20:21.

  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 3 months ahead.

• Step 2, travel from Prague to Warsaw by EuroNight sleeper train leaving Prague Hlavni at 22:15 and arriving Krakow Glowny 05:41 & Warsaw Centralna 08:33.

  This train 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.  It also has a couchette car with economical 4 & 6 bunk compartments.

  Fares start at €39 with a couchette.

  Book this at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz and print your own ticket.  Booking normally opens 60 days ahead.

Option 4, using the Vienna-Krakow/Warsaw sleeper train - a similar time-effective option, a bit faster but a bit more expensive...

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Munich Hbf at 15:30 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 19:30.

  The train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You can also take the 17:30 from Munich, 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, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Poland by sleeper train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 22:10, arriving Krakow Glowny 05:41 & Warsaw Centralna 08:33.

  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.  It also has a couchette car with 4 & 6 bunk compartments.

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

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

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

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

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Boarding the Vienna to Kiev sleeping-car at Vienna Hbf.  Photo courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.

The Vienna-Kiev 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-Kiev sleeping-car at Kiev Pass.  Photos courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.

Option 2, via Warsaw...

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

• Step 2, travel from Warsaw to Kiev on the Kiev Express, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 18:20 and arriving Kiev at 11:00 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 Kiev as they have close contacts with Ukrainian Railways.

• To book onward trains from Kiev 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, using the Warsaw-Moscow sleeper train, 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 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, using the new Berlin-Moscow Strizh sleeper train, twice a week - also goes via Belarus...

Option 3, via Vienna & Kiev, avoiding Belarus with daily departures...

• Step 1, travel from Munich to Vienna by railjet train, for example, leaving Munich Hbf at 11:29 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 15:30.

  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, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Buy a ticket at the German Railways www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Kiev by direct sleeping-car. leaving Vienna Hbf at 16:42 every day and arriving in Kiev at 17:21 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-Kiev 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 Kiev 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 Kiev 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, Kiev 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 Kiev to Moscow by sleeper train, for example Train 6 leaves Kiev at 19:36 arriving Moscow Kievskaya around 10:09.

  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 Kiev 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 Kiev.  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 www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

• 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.

  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 normally opens 120 days ahead.  It's ticketless, you just quote the reference on the train.

  In Bari it's a 10 minute taxi ride or 25 minute walk to the ferry terminal next to Bari's pleasant old town.  I'd allow at least 3 hours between train and ferry in Bari, including the 2-hour ferry check-in.

• Day 2, sail from Bari to Patras with Superfast Ferries.  The ferry normally sails at 19:30 daily except Sundays arriving Patras at 13:00 the next day (day 3).  On Sundays the ship sails at 13:30, too early to make connections from Verona.

  Check ferry times, dates, prices & buy tickets using the Direct Ferries website or at www.superfast.com or www.ferriesingreece.com. 

  The ship is modern and comfortable, with restaurants, bars, lounges and sun decks.  You can book a deck place (a nice cheap option in summer if you have your own sleeping bag) or a reclining seat or a berth in various types of cabin, including luxury cabins 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 number 18 links the port with the town bus station every hour on the hour, fare €1.20 or you can hop in a taxi for around €7, journey time 15-20 minutes.

• Day 3, from Patras it's 3 hours to Athens by bus/train combo.  There's a bus/train combined timetable from Patras to Athens on www.trainose.gr but it takes a bit of finding.  Buy the bus ticket when you reach Patras, it costs around €18.

2 or 4-berth cabin with private toilet & shower.		Relaxing on deck...

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.

• 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...

• You can pick up the London-Bucharest-Istanbul route suggested on the London to Turkey page in Munich.

• See the London to Turkey page for full details, just ignore the London-Munich part.

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Find hotels in Munich & other cities

Other hotel sites worth trying...

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

Backpacker hostels...

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

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