Option 1, Naples to Paris in a single leisurely day, by high-speed trains from €58 - fastest & cheapest option...

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Turin by high-speed train.  A Trenitalia Frecciarossa train leaves Naples Centrale at 09:40 and arrives Turin Porta Susa around 14:52.  The train calls at Milan's magnificent Centrale station on the way, a landmark in its own right, so watch out for it!  Alternatively, a competing Italo high-speed train leaves Naples Centrale at 08:25 and arrives at Turin Porta Susa at 14:13.

• Step 2, now travel from Turin to Paris by high-speed TGV, leaving Turin Porta Susa at 16:11 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 22:31 (22:37 on Saturdays).  It's a scenic & relaxing run, at slow speed through the mountains then a high-speed dash to Paris at up to 186mph, see the Paris-Milan TGV video guide showing both the scenery and what it's like on board the train.  For detailed train times, fares & other information see the Paris-Milan by TGV page.  Bring a good book and a bottle of wine, and make it a relaxing afternoon with your feet up, although some scenery will be in darkness depending on the time of year, so consider option 2 below.

• How much does it cost?

  Naples to Turin starts at just €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.

  Turin to Paris by TGV starts at just €29 in 2nd class or €44 in 1st class.

• How to buy tickets...  

  Booking usually opens 120 days ahead. 

  The easy way to buy Naples to Paris tickets is using the excellent www.loco2.com.  Loco2 can book Naples to Paris by daytime trains as one simple transaction as it connects to both the French SNCF ticketing system and the Italian Trenitalia system to sell both the Frecciarossa ticket and the TGV ticket together in the same place at the cheapest prices with a print-at-home ticket for the TGV and ticketless for the Frecciarossa - you just quote the booking reference on board the train.  You can use www.loco2.com wherever you live in the world as it accepts all international credit cards.

  Booking tips:  Go to www.loco2.com and book from Naples Centrale to Paris (any station) as one journey, with desired departure time set to 10:00.  Important, you must click More options and enter Turin Porta Susa leaving the stopover time as zero, otherwise it won't find this journey - don't ask me why!  In the search results, look for an option shown with just 1 change.

• Alternatively, you can book each train separately, like this.... 

  Step 1, book the Frecciarossa train from Naples Centrale to Turin Porta Susa at either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises familiar English-language place names and they'll refund the €3.50 booking fee if you email seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference) or www.trenitalia.com (you'll need to use Italian place names).  Both sites charge the same price and both allow ticketless travel - you just quote the booking reference on board the train. 

  Step 2, book the TGV from Turin to Paris at www.trainline.eu.  This can be used by anyone from any country with international credit cards accepted, no booking fee, and you can specify forward-facing seats & other seating options, and it issues print-at-home tickets.  Recommended!  For the record, you can also book at www.raileurope.com (US & Canadian residents, in US$, no seating options and booking fee added) or www.raileurope-world.com (residents of Australia, Canada, Asia, Africa, South America, no seating options, booking fee added).  You can no longer buy tickets for the Milan-Turin-Paris TGVs at the Trenitalia website or at Italian stations as since December 2011 these trains have been operated entirely by French railways on an 'open access' basis with no Trenitalia involvement.

Option 2, to see all the scenery in daylight, use high-speed trains from €58 with an overnight stop in wonderful Turin - the option I'd recommend!

• Day 1, travel from Naples Centrale to Turin Porta Susa by Frecciarossa high-speed train, using any afternoon or evening train you like.  You can leave Naples by direct train at 14:05 reaching Turin Porta Susa at 19:30, or as late as 17:10 with a change in Milan, but trains run regularly and I'd take an earlier one as Turin is well worth a longer stop.  It's possibly one of Italy's most under-rated cities, even if you're not a fan of the 1969 Michael Caine film The Italian Job!  Competing high-speed train operator Italo also runs direct Naples to Turin Italo trains, it's worth checking their times & prices at www.italotreno.it.

• Stay overnight in Turin.  I suggest the excellent Turin Palace Hotel in the centre right next to Turin's main Porta Nuova terminus where the trains from Naples terminate (they call briefly at Turin Porta Susa but end their journey at Turin's main Porta Nuova station).  Next morning it's a 7 minute taxi ride or 20 minute walk to Porta Susa station where the TGV departs.  Or try the small Al Porta Susa B&B right next to Porta Susa station.

• Day 2, travel from Turin to Paris by TGV, taking either the 07:39 TGV from Turin Porta Susa arriving Paris Gare de Lyon 13:19, or have a leisurely breakfast and take the 10:11 from Turin Porta Susa arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 16:11.  Or have a day in Turin and take the 16:11 TGV from Turin Porta Susa to Paris, arriving at 23:31 (22:37 on Saturdays).  Whichever train you choose, take a good book and enjoy a scenic ride through the mountains, see the Paris-Milan TGV video guide showing both the train  itself and the scenery.  For more information see the Paris-Milan by TGV page.

• How much does it cost? 

  Naples to Turin starts at just €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.

  Turin to Paris by TGV starts at just €29 in 2nd class or €44 in 1st class.

• How to buy tickets...   Booking usually opens 120 days ahead. 

  The easy way to buy Naples to Paris tickets is using the excellent www.loco2.com, as it connects to both the French SNCF ticketing system and the Italian Trenitalia system and Italo's system to sell both the Frecciarossa or Italo ticket and the TGV ticket together in the same place at the cheapest prices with a print-at-home ticket for the TGV and ticketless for the Frecciarossa & Italo - you just quote the booking reference on board the train.  You can use www.loco2.com wherever you live in the world as it accepts all international credit cards.

  Booking tips:  Go to www.loco2.com and book from Naples Centrale to Turin Porta Susa, ideally selecting a direct train with 0 changes, adding this to your basket.  Then book from Turin (any station) to Paris (any station).  In the search results, look for the direct TGVs with 0 changes.  Add this to your basket and check out.  Simples!

• Alternatively, you can book each train separately, like this.... 

  Step 1, book the Frecciarossa train from Naples Centrale to Turin Porta Susa at either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises familiar English-language place names and they'll refund the €3.50 booking fee if you email seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference) or www.trenitalia.com (you'll need to use Italian place names).  Both sites charge the same price and both allow ticketless travel - you just quote the booking reference on board the train.  If you want to try an Italo train instead of Trenitalia, book at www.italotreno.it.

  Step 2, book the TGV from Turin to Paris at www.trainline.eu.  This can be used by anyone from any country with international credit cards accepted, no booking fee, and you can specify forward-facing seats & other seating options, and it issues print-at-home tickets.  Recommended!  For the record, you can also book at www.raileurope.com (US & Canadian residents, in US$, no seating options and booking fee added) or www.raileurope-world.com (residents of Australia, Canada, Asia, Africa, South America, no seating options, booking fee added).  You can no longer buy tickets for the Milan-Turin-Paris TGVs at the Trenitalia website or at Italian stations as since December 2011 these trains have been operated entirely by French railways on an 'open access' basis with no Trenitalia involvement.

Step 1, travel from Florence SMN to Turin Porta Susa by Frecciarossa ETR500 high-speed train...		Business class, all seats with power sockets, complimentary coffee, juice or prosecco included.

Premium class (= premium 2nd class) on a AV ETR500 Frecciarossa train.  All seats have power sockets for laptops & mobiles.		All trains have a cafe-bar, some have a restaurant car.  A 3-course lunch costs around €32, ½ bottle of wine €9, credit cards accepted.

Step 2, travel from Turin to Paris by high-speed TGV...  Above left, the cafe-bar serving drinks, snacks & hot dishes  Above right, the TGV at Paris Gare de Lyon.

A table for four in 2nd class on the TGV to Paris...		1st class seats on the Turin-Paris TGV...

Take a good book, a bottle o' red, and enjoy the scenery from Italy to Paris with your feet up.  These are mountains in France...  Watch the Paris-Milan TGV video guide.

...And these are mountains in Italy between Oulx and Turin...  Courtesy of www.discoverbyrail.com.

Option 3, by high-speed train from Naples to Milan, then Thello sleeper train from Milan to Paris - the most time-effective option...

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Milan Centrale by high-speed Frecciarossa train.  They leave every hour or so through the day, taking just 4h15 with fares from €29.90.  You can leave Naples as late as 17:10, but I suggest taking an earlier train to give time for dinner in Milan.

  Milan Centrale's station bistro shuts at 21:30, so try the excellent inexpensive Italian restaurant Noblesse Oblige just 5 min walk outside the station, book a table at www.ristorantenoblesseoblige.com.

• Step 2, take the Thello sleeper train leaving Milan Centrale at 23:05 every night and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 09:55 next morning.  It's a time-effective way to travel, although not the most modern sleeper train there is, see the Man in Seat 61's opinion of Thello.  it has 1, 2 & 3 bed sleepers with washbasin, 6-berth & 4-berth couchettes and a restaurant car.  Realistic expectations are key to enjoying your trip on Thello, see the video guide here.  See the Thello sleeper train page for the Rome-Milan-Paris timetable, photos, information.

• Fares for the sleeper train start at €35 with a couchette in a 6-berth compartment, €55 with a couchette in a 4-berth compartment, €95 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €115 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.

• You can book from Naples to Paris as one transaction at either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, small booking fee will be refunded if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference) or at www.thello.com.  Make sure the system gives you at least an hour between trains in Milan, just in case of any delay as you can't afford to miss a sleeper train!

• Personally I'd take an earlier train from Naples and have dinner in Milan.  So I'd first use www.italiarail.com to book the sleeper train from Milan to Paris, then I would use www.italiarail.com again to book a suitable train from Naples Centrale to Milan Centrale, picking one which got into Milan Centrale at two or three hours before the sleeper train left.

• You can also book this journey at www.loco2.com, at the same prices also with ticketless travel - you just quote your booking reference on board each train.

A sleeping-car on the Thello sleeper train from Milan to Paris...		1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper, beds folded away, sofa folded out.		The same sleeper with beds folded out.  More Thello info here.

Couchettes...  This is a 4 or 6 berth couchette compartment.  It's a lot more comfortable with just 4 people.		A couchette car on the overnight Thello train, seen at Paris Gare de Lyon.  More Thello info here

Option 4, Naples to Paris via the Bernina Express & Swiss Alps from €106 - much slower, but the ultimate Alpine scenic experience...

• This journey is longer and costs a bit more, but it will be a highlight of your whole trip.  If time isn't pressing and you want the ultimate train ride through the Alps, I'd strongly recommend considering this option!

• Day 1, travel on any Frecciarossa high-speed train you like from Naples Centrale to Milan Centrale.

  Day 2, take the 10:20 Italian regional train along the shores of Lake Como to Tirano, then the absolutely fabulous Bernina Express narrow-gauge panoramic train through the Alps to Chur, then by Swiss train to Zurich, arriving roughly 20:00.  It's a longish day, but worth it.

  See the Bernina Express page for full details of this journey & how to buy tickets.   Watch the video.

• Stay overnight in Zurich.  For something special, book the wonderful Hotel Schweizerhof located right next to Zurich station.  One of my favourite hotels, they'll even send a uniformed commissionaire to meet you at the station and carry your bags across the road.  For something cheaper but also near the station with great reviews, try the Hotel du Théatre or Hotel St Gotthard.  If you're on a budget you can book inexpensive private rooms in a one-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station using www.hostelworld.com.  Alternatively, you could stop overnight in the pleasant town of Chur instead.

• Day 2, take a TGV-Lyria high-speed train from Zurich to Paris in just 4h05 from €25 booked at www.trainline.eu.  If take the 07:34 you can be in central Paris at 11:38.  Or the 09:34 arrives Paris at 13:38.  Your call!  TGV-Lyria trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats, and first class fares include snacks & drinks served at your seat, see the TGV-Lyria page for photos & information.

Bernina Express 1st class seats...		the Bernina Express uses panoramic carriages...

The Bernina Express descends from the Bernina Pass...

Option 1:  Using new Thello trains from Milan direct to Nice, Cannes, Marseille - the best option, if the timings suit you...

• You can leave Naples Centrale at 06:40 Mondays-Fridays only by high-speed Frecciarossa train, make one simple change at Milan's magnificent Centrale station onto an air-conditioned Thello train leaving Milan Centrale at 11:10 and arriving Nice Ville 16:02.  This Thello train uses smart Frecciabianca carriages with cafe counter & power sockets at all seats.

• Or you can leave Naples Centrale at 09:40 Mondays-Fridays or 09:00 weekends by high-speed Frecciarossa train and make one simple change at Milan Centrale into a daily Thello train leaving Milan Centrale at 15:10 and arriving Nice Ville 20:04.  It extends to Cannes at 20:34, and Marseille St Charles at 22:42 every day until 30 September 2016, then on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays.  This Thello train also uses Frecciabianca carriages with cafe counter & power sockets at all seats.

• The Thello trains run along the coast between Genoa and Nice, an enjoyable & scenic ride - if you get any good coastal scenery photos I'd love to see them.  Thello is a subsidiary of Trenitalia, their trains enter France as 'open access' trains under EU 'open competition' laws.  Tickets for Thello are not sold by French Railways!

• How much does it cost?  Naples to Milan starts at €29.90, then Milan to Nice starts at €15.  Milan to Marseille on the direct train starts at €30.  It's cheapest to pre-book, if you buy on the day much higher fares apply.  If you have to change at Nice onto a connecting French train, you'll need a separate ticket for the French train.

• How to buy tickets...

  You can book from Naples to Nice or (using the direct Thello train) Naples to Cannes or Marseille all in one go at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, 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 (sometimes more fiddly to use, requires Italian language place names, no booking fee, read this advice on using it first).  Look for a cheap super-economy or economy fare.  It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board the train.

  If your journey involves a change in Nice onto an onward French train, I'd suggest using www.loco2.com rather than ItaliaRail or Trenitalia, as Loco2 has a direct connection to both French & Italian ticketing systems so you can book journeys involving a combo or both Italian and French trains all in one place.  It also offers ticketless travel on Italian trains & Thello, and print-at-home or collect-at-station tickets for most French trains.

The Milan-Nice-Cannes-Marseille Thello train at Milan...  It uses comfortable air-conditioned Frecciabianca carriages.		1st class seats on Thello.  All seats have power sockets.  Plenty of room for luggage on racks & between seat backs...

2nd class seats on the Thello train.  All seats have power sockets, with plenty of luggage space on racks and between seat backs.		The small cafe-bar counter on the Milan to Nice & Marseille Thello train serving tea, coffee, wine, beer, soft drinks and snacks.

Option 2:  Using Italian trains to Ventimiglia, and a French local train - if Thello's timings don't suit you...

• If option 1 using the new Thello train doesn't suit, no problem...  Take a high-speed 175mph Frecciarossa train from Naples Centrale to Milan or Turin and a connecting InterCity train along the scenic coastline of the Italian Riviera to Ventimiglia on the French border.  Local trains then run from Ventimiglia to Monte Carlo, Nice & Cannes every 30 minutes or so throughout the day, journey time 48 minutes from Ventimiglia to Nice.  Change in Nice for trains to Marseille, Avignon and beyond.  Take a picnic, bottle of wine and a good book and enjoy the journey.

• There are various possible daily departures... 

  For example, you could leave Naples around 06:40, change in Milan, arriving Ventimiglia at 15:04, then a local train would get you to Nice by around 16:10. 

  Or you could leave Naples around 10:00 changing at Milan, arriving Ventimiglia at 19:04, a local train would get you to Nice by around 20:10. 

  Or you could leave Rome around 12:00, change at Milan, arriving Ventimiglia at 21:07, then a local train would get you to Nice by around 22:10. 

  Or spend the night in Milan:  Then you could leave Naples as late as 19:00 arriving Milan 23:40 (by all means travel earlier!), stay overnight, then take any morning train from Milan to Ventimiglia and onwards to Nice, arriving late morning.  A time-effective option! 

  All these times are just examples, simply go online and check for your date of travel following the how to buy tickets advice below.

• How much does it cost? 

  Naples to Ventimiglia starts at just €38 in 2nd class or from €58 in 1st class if pre-booked with a Super-economy or Economy advance-purchase fare.  Ventimiglia to Nice costs just €7 or so, bought at the station on the day.

• How to buy tickets...  The trick is just to book to Ventimiglia!!

  Step 1, book from Naples to Ventimiglia (you can book this all in one go) using either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, 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 (sometimes more fiddly to use, requires Italian language place names, no booking fee, read this advice on using it first).  Look for a cheap super-economy or economy fare.  It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board the train.

  Step 2, you can't pre-book the Ventimiglia to Nice, Cannes or Monte Carlo local train, and you don't need to, you can simply turn up at Ventimiglia and buy a ticket at the station, no reservation necessary or possible, and hop on the next train.  Easy!  If you want to check train times from Ventimiglia to Monte Carlo, Nice or Cannes just do this using www.bahn.de.

  It's not essential, but if you want to pre-buy your Ventimiglia-Nice ticket simply to save time at the ticket office and to save a euro (as it's only €6 if bought online, €7.50 bought at the station) you can do this at https://paca.shop.ter-sncf.mobi.  Just buy a ticket from  'Vintimille' (the French name for Ventimiglia) to 'Nice Ville' and select 'plein tariff' (= full fare with no railcard reductions).  You get a pdf-format ticket which you can print or show to the conductor on your laptop or smartphone.  The site won't give train times, a ticket bought online for a specific date is valid on any Ventimiglia-Nice train that day.  You'll still need to look up train times at www.bahn.de!

  Step 3, if you want an onward train from Nice to Marseille, Avignon, Perpignan and so on, pre-book this at either www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu with print-at-home or collect-at-station tickets, and cheap fares from €15 if you pre-book.  Just make sure you allow plenty of time to connect in Ventimiglia and in Nice in case of any delay, as your ticket from Nice onwards will only be valid on the specific train you book.

Italian InterCity trains link Milan with Ventimiglia on the French/Italian border.  Most cars are of the traditional side-corridor type with 6-seater compartments (pictured above).				Double-decker regional trains like this link Ventimiglia with Monte Carlo, Nice & Cannes every 30 minutes.

Option 1, by daytime TGV via Paris, with overnight stop in Milan...

• Step 1, book any afternoon or evening Frecciarossa train you like from Naples Centrale to Turin Porta Susa from €29.90 at either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, 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 (sometimes more fiddly to use, requires Italian language place names, no booking fee, read this advice on using it first). 

• Stay overnight in Turin.

• Step 2, use www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu to book either of the two morning TGVs at 07:39 & 10:11 from Milan Porta Garibaldi or Turin Porta Susa to Paris Gare de Lyon from just €29 in 2nd class or €44 in 1st class.  You'll get a print-at-home e-ticket.  It's a comfortable and scenic journey, see the video here.  See here for Milan-Paris timetable, fares & photos.

• Step 3, use www.b-europe.com to book a Thalys high-speed train from Paris Gare du Nord to Brussels Midi from just €29 in 2nd class or €79 in 1st class.  Thalys trains all have a cafe-bar, WiFi and power sockets at all seats, and the first class fare includes food & drink served at your seat, see the Thalys information page.  Make sure you allow at least 60 minutes, preferably more to change trains and stations in Paris.

• You can also do this same trip with an overnight stop in Paris, just book a late morning Frecciarossa train to Turin Porta Susa and the 16:11 TGV from Turin Porta Susa to Paris arriving 23:31 (22:37 on Saturdays).  Stay overnight in Paris, then catch a morning Thalys train to Brussels in 1h22, they leave every hour or so.

Option 2, using the Rome-Munich Nightjet sleeper train - an easy and time-effective option, and avoids crossing Paris... 

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Rome in 1h10 by high-speed Frecciarossa train on any afternoon train you like, from €19 booked at www.italiarail.com.  I'd allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Rome, perhaps longer to have dinner.

• Step 2, travel from Rome to Munich on the excellent Austrian Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Rome Termini at 19:04 and arriving Munich at 08:19. 

• Fares start at €59 with a couchette in 6-berth, €69 with a couchette in 4-berth, €99 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper, or €139 with a bed in a single-bed sleeper.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.

• Book this at the German Railways site www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.  You can also book at Austrian Railways www.oebb.at.

• Step 3, travel from Munich to Brussels by luxurious ICE train & Thalys from €29+€19, leaving Munich at 10:55, change in Frankfurt, arriving Brussels Midi at 17:35.

  Book this at either the Belgian Railways site www.b-europe.com or the German Railways site www.bahn.de, you print your own ticket.

2-berth regular sleeper with washstand...		The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper...		A Comfortline sleeping-car, as now used on the Austrian Nightjet train from Rome to Munich.  More information about Nightjets.

Austrian couchette car or liegewagen...		6-berth couchettes...		4-berth couchettes...

Option 3, by high-speed train from Naples to Milan, overnight sleeper to Paris & high-speed Thalys train to Brussels... 

• Step 1, book the Thello sleeper train from Milan Centrale to Paris Gare de Lyon at either www.italiarail.com or www.thello.com, looking for a Smart or Go fare from just €35 including a couchette or €145 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper, see the Thello sleeper train page for fares, train times and details of couchette and sleeper on board.

• Step 2, now add a ticket from Naples to Milan by high-speed Frecciarossa train in as little as 4h15 from €29.90 using either www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.  Allow at least 60 minutes to change trains in Milan in case of any delay.  If you use www.italiarail.com they'll refund their small booking fee if you email your PNR to seat61@italiarail.com.

• Step 3, now book a high-speed Thalys train from Paris Gare du Nord to Brussels Midi at www.b-europe.com, this journey takes just 1 hour 20 minutes from €35.  Allow at least 90 minutes to change trains and stations in Paris. 

Option 1, Naples to Amsterdam using the Rome-Munich Nightjet sleeper train - an easy and time-effective option... 

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Rome in 1h10 by high-speed Frecciarossa train on any afternoon train you like, from €19 booked at www.italiarail.com.  I'd allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Rome, perhaps longer to have dinner.

• Step 2, travel from Rome to Munich on the excellent Austrian Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Rome Termini at 19:04, arriving Munich at 08:19. 

  Fares from €59 with couchette, €99 per person in a cosy 2-bed sleeper or €139 in a single-bed sleeper, deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower are also available.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.

  Book this at the German Railways site www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.  You can also book at Austrian Railways www.oebb.at.

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Amsterdam by luxurious ICE train from €39 in 2nd class or €69 in 1st class, leaving Munich Hbf at 09:55 with one easy change in Frankfurt, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 17:58.

  Book this at either the Belgian Railways site www.b-europe.com or the German Railways site www.bahn.de, you print your own ticket.

2-berth regular sleeper with washstand...		The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper...		A Comfortline sleeping-car, as now used on the Austrian Nightjet train from Rome to Munich.  More information about Nightjets.

Austrian couchette car or liegewagen...		6-berth couchettes...		4-berth couchettes...

Option 2, Naples to Amsterdam by day trains with overnight stop in Zurich - if you prefer day trains to sleepers...

• Day 1, travel from Naples to Milan by high-speed Frecciarossa train in 4h40 from €29.90 then from Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train through the Alps in 3h26 from €9 upwards.  It's a lovely ride through the Alps.

  Check times and buy tickets as one journey at either www.loco2.com or www.trenitalia.com.

  You can leave Naples Centrale as late as 13:00 arriving Zurich 22:28, but by all means take an earlier train for an evening in Zurich.

• Stay overnight in Zurich.  For something special, look no further than the superb five-star Hotel Schweizerhof, just across the road from Zurich station - they'll even send a uniformed commissionaire to meet you at the station and carry your bags from the train.  For something cheaper but also near the station with great reviews, try the Hotel du Théatre or Hotel St Gotthard.  If you're on a tight budget you can book inexpensive private rooms in a one-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station using www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2, travel from Zurich to Amsterdam by superb ICE train with one easy change in Frankfurt, leaving Zurich at 08:00 and arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 17:57 - or by all means choose an earlier or later departure. 

  You can check times and buy tickets as one transaction at www.loco2.com, or you can book direct with German Railways at www.bahn.de but now you need to book Zurich-Frankfurt and Frankfurt-Amsterdam as two separate bookings.

ETR610 EuroCity train, as used on all Milan-Switzerland routes.		2nd class seats on the stylish ETR610 EuroCity train...

Restaurant car on an ETR160...		Lunch!

This is Lake Maggiore, seen from the restaurant car of the 11:25 Milan to Basel EuroCity train over an excellent lunch of salmon tagliatelle & excellent Swiss red wine...

This is Lake Leman, seen from a Geneva-Milan EuroCity train on a wintry day.

Option 2, Naples to St Moritz, Chur, Zurich via the Bernina route.  This route may be much slower and a little more fiddly to book, but it's an amazing experience, arguably the best train ride of them all through the Swiss Alps...

• This is a slow local route, with part of the journey on the fabulous narrow-gauge Bernina Railway.  But it's one of the most scenic routes in the Alps, or anywhere for that matter.  See video of a Milan to Zurich journey via the wonderful Bernina route here.

• Step 1, take an early high-speed Frecciarossa train from Naples to Milan Centrale, arriving any time before 09:40.  Pre-book this at either www.italiarail.com & www.trenitalia.com.

• Step 2, take a local train from Milan Centrale to Tirano.  These run every 2 hours throughout the day, fare around €11, you can check train times at www.trenord.it.  No reservation is necessary or even possible, you just buy a ticket to Tirano from the self-service machines at Milan Centrale and hop on the next train.  At Tirano, the Italian railways station is right next to the Rhätische Bahn one on the same town square.  The 10:20 from Milan connects with the Bernina Express itself, with time for a sandwich and beer in Tirano, see the Bernina Express page.

• Step 3, now take one of the regular Rhätische Bahn trains from Tirano to St Moritz & Chur.  This is the fabulous Bernina Express route over the Bernina Pass.  You can check times & prices from Tirano to St Moritz, Chur or Zurich at the main Swiss Railways website www.sbb.ch.  If you take one of the regular normal local trains, no reservation is necessary or possible, just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on.  Only if you want to use the once or twice daily Bernina Express with its special all-reserved panoramic carriages do you need a seat reservation, see www.rhb.ch and the seat61 Bernina Express page.

  How to buy a cheap ticket from Tirano to Zurich from €39...  Normal Swiss fares are expensive, so see my instructions for buying a cheap advance-purchase ticket from Tirano to Chur or Zurich here.

• Step 4, on arrival in Chur, simply cross the platform to the waiting half-hourly InterCity or InterRegional train to Zurich.  Again, no reservation necessary or possible, if you're bound for Zurich simply buy a ticket to Zurich in Tirano.  You can check times and fares from Tirano to Zurich at www.sbb.ch.

Bernina Express 1st class seats...		the Bernina Express uses panoramic carriages...

The Bernina Express descends from the Bernina Pass...

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Naples to Barcelona & Spain...

Option 1, by daytime trains with overnight stop in Marseille - usually the cheapest & most direct option...

• Day 1, travel from Naples to Marseille, using the 10:00 Frecciarossa high-speed train from Naples Centrale to Milan Centrale from €29.90 then the 15:10 Thello train from Milan Centrale to Marseille from €30, arriving Marseille St Charles at 22:31.

  The 15:10 Thello train from Milan to Marseille runs on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays all year round, and runs on every day of the week from early April to mid-September plus some other dates.

  On days when it doesn't run, meaning Monday-Thursday until April and from mid-September onwards, you'll need to leave Naples Centrale at 06:40 and change in Milan onto the earlier 11:10 Thello train to Nice, then change in Nice for a French train along the scenic Cote d'Azur to Marseille, arriving around 19:35.  On the plus side, you now have more of an evening in Marseille...

  This is a very pleasant journey with fabulous coastal scenery through Genoa, San Remo, Nice & Cannes.  By all means take an earlier train and stop off in Nice or spend an afternoon in Marseille, a great city to visit

• 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 Barcelona & Madrid by direct AVE high-speed train, leaving Marseille St Charles at 08:05 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 12:38 and Madrid Atocha at 15:45.  Fares for this leg start at €49.

• Day 2 afternoon, change in Barcelona for Spanish high-speed trains to Valencia or Alicante, or the 15:50 direct AVE to Cordoba, Malaga or Seville arriving in the evening.

• To buy tickets the easy way, simply go to www.loco2.com.  Book Naples to Marseille on day 1 and add it to your basket.  Then book Marseille to Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Alicante, Seville, Malaga or wherever for day 2 as one booking, add it to your basket and check out.  www.loco2.com connects directly to the Italian, French and Spanish rail ticketing systems, so you can buy all these tickets at the cheapest prices all in one place.  All international credit cards are accepted.  Tickets within Spain & for the Barcelona-Marseille train will be print-at-home, the Florence-Marseille trains are ticketless, you just quote your booking reference to the conductor on board.

• Alternatively, you can book each leg separately like this, although the extra work doesn't usually make it any cheaper...

  Step 1, book from Naples Centrale to Marseille St Charles using either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, English place names, and they'll refund the small booking fee to seat61 users if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR) or Italian Railways' own site www.trenitalia.com (you'll need to use Italian language place names).  It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference to the conductor on board the train.

  Step 2, book from Marseille to Barcelona or Madrid at www.trainline.eu (in €).  You print your own ticket.

  Step 3, book any onward trains within Spain at www.renfe.com (see this advice on using it) or (if you have any problems) www.loco2.com.  You print your own tickets.

The Milan-Marseille Thello train at Milan Centrale...  It uses comfortable air-conditioned Frecciabianca carriages.		1st class seats on Thello.  All seats have power sockets.  Plenty of luggage room on racks & between seat backs...

2nd class seats on the Thello train.  All seats have power sockets, with plenty of luggage space on racks and between seat backs.		The small cafe-bar counter on the Milan to Nice & Marseille Thello train serving tea, coffee, wine, beer, soft drinks and snacks.

View from the train between Nice & Marseille...

Marseille to Barcelona & Madrid by Spanish S100 AVE train...		2nd class seats, all with power sockets.  Luggage goes on the racks at the car ends or above the seats.  Panorama photo of 2nd class

Cafe-bar on an S100 AVE serving tea, coffee, beer, wine, soft drinks, snacks & hot dishes...		1st class seats on an S100 AVE.  Panorama photo of 1st class

Option 2, by daytime high-speed trains with hotel in Geneva...

• This is a pleasant way to go, with interesting scenery on the way and a chance to spend some time in Geneva.  Leave Naples in the afternoon, sleep soundly in a hotel in Geneva, spend a pleasant morning in Geneva next day, then take an afternoon high-speed TGV to Barcelona arriving in the evening.

• Step 1, travel from Naples Centrale to Milan Centrale by Frecciarossa high-speed train and onwards from Milan Centrale to Geneva by EuroCity train.  You can leave Naples at 12:00, change Milan, arriving Geneva at around 21:21.  Or leave Naples around 14:40, change Milan, to arrive Geneva around 23:21.  Fares start at just €29.90 Naples-Milan + €9 upwards for Milan-Geneva, you can book these trains together as one Naples to Geneva transaction at www.italiarail.com.

• Stay the night in Geneva, and spend next morning exploring this lakeside city.  Suggested hotels with good reviews near the station include Hotel Cornavin Geneve, Hotel Les Arcades, ibis Styles Geneva Gare.  Hotels in Switzerland can be expensive, if you're on a budget you can book budget private rooms in a one-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station using www.hostelworld.com.

• Step 2, travel from Geneva to Barcelona by TGV.  Usually you'll find a 200mph double-decker TGV Duplex leaving Geneva at 12:42, change trains at Valence (arrive 15:10, depart 16:21) onto another TGV Duplex arriving Barcelona Sants at 20:34.

  Book this at www.loco2.com (can be used by anyone, no booking fee, print-at-home tickets), www.raileurope.com (US residents), www.raileurope-world.com (residents of Australia, Canada, Asia, Africa, South America) or www.trainline.eu (can be used by anyone, no booking fee, with seating options).  You usually print your own ticket.

• Step 3, stay overnight in Barcelona (see suggested hotels near Barcelona Sants station) and book onward high-speed trains from Barcelona to Madrid, Seville, Malaga, Alicante etc, using either the Spanish railways website www.renfe.com or (if you have any problems) alternative site www.petrabax.com/renfe.  You'll find a direct AVE leaving Barcelona Sants at around 15:50 arriving Malaga, Cordoba & Seville in the evening.

Option 3, Italy to Barcelona by luxury cruise ferry...

• Another excellent option is the Grimaldi Lines cruise ferry from Civitavecchia (an hour by regional train north of Rome) and Barcelona.  The ferry sails daily at 22:15 and arrives at 18:15 next day.  To check times, fares, accommodation and to book online see the Seat61 ferry shop or go to www.grimaldi-lines.com.  Grimaldi Lines also run a ferry several times a week between Barcelona and Livorno, and between Salerno (near Naples) and Valencia.

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Naples to Lisbon & Portugal...

• Day 1, travel from Naples to Marseille, stay overnight, then take the morning AVE high-speed train from Marseille to Madrid on day 2 as shown in the Naples to Madrid section above.  You've an evening in Madrid.

• Day 2, take the excellent overnight sleeper train Trainhotel Lusitania overnight from Madrid to Lisbon as shown in the Madrid to Lisbon section, arriving at 07:30 on day 3.

• Change at Lisbon Oriente for trains to Porto & Faro, as shown in the Madrid to Lisbon section.

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Naples to Munich & Germany from €39...

Option 1, Using the Rome-Munich sleeper train - the time-effective option...

• There is an Austrian Nightjet sleeper train every night leaving Rome Termini at 19:04 and arriving Munich at 08:19, with onward connections by daytime ICE train to cities all over Germany.

• Fares from €59 in 6-berth couchettes, €69 in 4-berth couchettes, €99 per person in a 2-bed sleeper or €139 in a single-bed sleeper.  Deluxe sleepers with shower & toilet are also available.  In sleepers & couchettes a light breakfast is included, served in your compartment.

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de with print-at-home tickets.  It can book tickets from Rome or Naples to anywhere in Germany using a combination of this sleeper train and onward daytime connections.

• Then add a Naples to Rome ticket from €19 at www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.

2-berth regular sleeper with washstand...		The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper...		A Comfortline sleeping-car, as now used on the Austrian Nightjet train from Rome to Munich.  More information about Nightjets...

Austrian couchette car or liegewagen...		6-berth couchettes...		4-berth couchettes...

Option 2, Naples to Munich & anywhere in Germany by daytime trains via the Brenner Pass - the scenic daytime option...

• Take a high-speed train from Naples to Verona in as little as 4h25 with one easy change in Rome, then take a smart modern Austrian EuroCity train with restaurant car from Verona to Munich via the Brenner Pass in 5h10, see the video here.  The Verona-Munich EuroCity trains run every couple of hours, and it's a lovely run up the Brenner over a meal in the elegant restaurant car.

• Naples to Verona by Italian high-speed train starts at €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class, usually with an easy change of train in Rome.  Verona to Munich on these trains starts at €39 in 2nd class or €69 in 1st class.

• Naples to Munich or anywhere in Germany starts at €39 in 2nd class or €69 in 1st class.

• To buy tickets, first try booking direct from Naples to your chosen German destination at www.bahn.de.  You print your own ticket.

• If through fares appear, that's great.  This will be the cheapest option, with all trains on one ticket.  If for any reason no through fares appear, simply split the booking like this:  First book from Verona Porta Nuova to Munich or any other chosen German destination using the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Then book a suitable connecting train from Naples Centrale to Verona Porta Nuova at either www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com, making sure you allow at least 40 minutes to change at Verona in case of any delay (on a through ticket, less time than this is fine).

The restaurant car on a EuroCity to Munich, seen at Verona.  You don't need to book a table, just go along and sit down.  Dining on the move as the scenery glides by is one of the pleasures of travelling on trains like this...

Second class seats, mostly in 6-seat compartments with side-corridor like this, but some cars are open-plan saloons...				First class leather seats.  On a few trains you'll find 6-seat compartments too....

Watch out for hilltop fortresses...  See the Brenner Pass scenery video here.

Vineyards, mountains and castles south of Brenner as the train heads from Verona to Innsbruck...

Mountains on the Brenner route...

Option 3, Naples to Germany by daytime trains via Zurich & the Gotthard Pass.  Another scenic option...

• High-speed trains link Naples Centrale with Milan Centrale.  Regular EuroCity trains link Milan Centrale with Zurich in around 3h45 through the scenic Gotthard Pass in the Swiss Alps from just €19. Then regular direct ICE trains link Zurich with cities all over Germany from €39.

• Step 1, book a ticket from Naples to Zurich using www.italiarail.com, as this will happily book both trains as one transaction.  You collect your tickets from the self-service ticket machines at any main Italian station.  If you want a safer connection in Milan or just want to stop off there for a while, simply split the booking into Rome-Milan then Milan-Zurich.  Allow at least 60 minutes in Zurich for connections, in case of any delay.

• Step 2, now book from Zurich HB (HB=Hauptbahnhof) to anywhere in Germany at www.bahn.de.  You print your own ticket.

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Naples to Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck & Austria from €68..

Option 1, using the Nightjet sleeper train from Rome to Vienna - the safe, comfortable & time-effective option...

• An excellent Nightjet sleeper train called the Allegro Tosca leaving Rome Termini at 19:04 every night, arriving Vienna Hauptbahnhof at 08:46.  A separate portion arrives Salzburg at 06:27.

• Fares start at just €59 with couchette, €99 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €139 in a single-bed sleeper.  Deluxe sleepers with en suite shower & toilet are also available.  A Naples to Rome ticket starts from €19.  In sleepers & couchettes, a light breakfast is included, served in your compartment.

• Buy tickets for the Rome to Vienna sleeper train at Austrian Railways site www.oebb.at and print your own ticket. 

• Then add a Naples to Rome connecting ticket at either www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.

• Alternatively, you can book from Naples to Vienna as one transaction at www.trenitalia.com, collecting tickets from the self-service machines at any main station in Italy.

2-berth regular sleeper with washstand...		The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper...		A Comfortline sleeping-car, as now used on the Austrian Nightjet train from Rome to Vienna or Salzburg.  More info about Nightjet trains.

Austrian couchette car or liegewagen...		6-berth couchettes...		4-berth couchettes...

Option 2, Naples to Salzburg or Vienna by daytime trains with lunch in Venice - the daytime option to Vienna...

• You can travel from Naples to Vienna by train in a single chill-out day from €58, and how about lunch in Venice?

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Venice by Frecciarossa high-speed train, leaving Napoli Centrale at 09:30, arriving Venice S. Lucia at 14:35. 

  If you'd like lunch and a wander around Venice, simply book an earlier train - the Rialto Bridge is just 15 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia station, St Mark's Square just 25 minutes walk, see map of Venice showing station.  There's a left luggage office at the station.  Of course if you haven't been to Venice before, I'd recommend an overnight stop, not just a few hours!

  Book this train from €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €).  Italiarail will refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference.  It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.

• Step 2, travel from Venice to Vienna by comfortable Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55, arriving Vienna Hbf 23:35.

  This train takes the wonderfully scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route, you might see something of the landscape at least in summer when it's light until ten.

  For Salzburg, change in Villach arriving Salzburg around 21:48.  Don't worry about the 5-minute interchange at Villach, this is a recognised connection which many people make, it's a simple cross-platform switch from platform 2 to platform 3.  In any case you will have a through ticket so will be looked after if there's missed connection.

  Book Venice to Salzburg or Vienna from €29 at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.  You print your own ticket.

Option 3, Naples to Innsbruck, Salzburg or Vienna by day trains in a single day via the Brenner Pass - the scenic daytime option...

• You can travel from Naples to Austria by train in a single chill-out day via the Scenic Brenner Pass from €68.

  For example, if you left Naples Centrale around 07:30 you'd reach Innsbruck around 16:30, Salzburg around 19:00, Vienna around 21:30.

• Step 1, take a fast Frecciarossa from Naples Centrale to Bologna Centrale from €29.90.  There's usually one around 07:30.

• Step 2, take a comfortable Austrian EuroCity train with restaurant car leaving Bologna at 11:52 for Innsbruck via the scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass video here.  Fares from Bologna to anywhere in Austria start at €39.  Treat yourself to a meal in the restaurant car as the mountains glide by...  Change in Innsbruck for regular trains to Salzburg, Linz & Vienna.

• To buy tickets, first book the 11:52 from Bologna Centrale to Innsbruck, Salzburg, Vienna or anywhere in Austria using the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.  You print your own ticket.  It may help to click via and enter Innsbruck.

  Now add a suitable connecting train from Naples Centrale to Bologna Centrale at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €), making sure you have at least 40 minutes between trains in Verona in case of any delay.  If you use Italiarail they'll refund the small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference.

• Earlier or later departures are possible, but with a change in Verona Porta Nuova rather than Bologna, as trains link Verona and Innsbruck every 2 hours, only one or two a day start back in Bologna.  In this case, you'd first book Verona to Austria using www.oebb.at, then add a Naples to Verona ticket at www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com, again making sure you allowed at least 40 minutes between trains in Verona.

The restaurant car on a EuroCity to Munich, seen at Verona.  You don't need to book a table, just go along and sit down.  Dining on the move as the scenery glides by is one of the pleasures of travelling on trains like this...

Second class seats, mostly in 6-seat compartments with side-corridor like this, but some cars are open-plan saloons...				First class leather seats.  On a few trains you'll find 6-seat compartments too....

Watch out for hilltop fortresses...  See the Brenner Pass scenery video here.

Vineyards, mountains and castles south of Brenner as the train heads from Verona to Innsbruck...

Mountains on the Brenner route...

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

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Rome on any afternoon Frecciarossa you like in 1h10 from €19.  Book this at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €), allowing at least 60 minutes between trains in Rome just in case of any delay.  If you use Italiarail they'll refund the small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference.

• Step 2, travel from Rome to Munich on the excellent Austrian Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Rome Termini at 19:04, arriving Munich at 08:19. 

  Fares start at €59 in 6-berth couchettes, €69 in 4-berth couchettes, €99 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139 in a single-bed sleeper.  Deluxe sleepers with en suite toilet & shower are also available,  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.

  Book this at the German Railways site www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.

  If you'd prefer a daytime journey with overnight stop in Munich, simply use the Rome to Munich in a single day option above.

• Step 3, travel from Munich to Copenhagen, leaving Munich at 10:22 by luxurious ICE train, making one easy change in Hamburg onto a EuroCity train (a comfortable Danish IC3 train, see the photos below) arriving in Copenhagen at 22:19.

  Treat this as a chill-out day with a good book and a glass or two of wine - there's a bistro-restaurant car for lunch.  The Hamburg to Copenhagen EuroCity train goes onto a ferry between Puttgarten & Rødby, one of the few places in Europe where trains still get shunted onto ships.  It's an interesting experience in its own right - you must leave the train and go upstairs into the ship's passenger accommodation during the 50-minute crossing, but you can leave your luggage on the train.

  If you're just going to Copenhagen, book Munich to Copenhagen from €39 in 2nd class or €69 in 1st class at the German Railways site www.bahn.de and print your own ticket. 

• Step 4 if you're going to Malmo, simply take a regular Öresund train from Copenhagen to Malmö in 52 minutes with passport check off-train at Kastrup, these leave twice an hour.  You can book through from Munich to Malmö from €39 at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.

• Step 4 if you're going to Stockholm or Gothenburg, stay overnight in Copenhagen then travel to Stockholm in just 5h15 by X2000 high-speed train or to Gothenburg in 4:05 by hourly Öresund train.

  You can book tickets from Copenhagen to anywhere in Sweden at the Swedish Railways site www.sj.se, but there's a cleverer way to book if you are coming from Munich.  Use this special link to bahn.de to book from Munich to Stockholm from €39 with an overnight stop in Copenhagen programmed in using the Add intermediate stops feature - just enter your date of travel from Munich.  Adjust the intermediate stopover time as necessary to get the trains you want, or if no fares show up initially, it may take a bit of trial & error to get the trains you want.  This method works to book from Munich to Gothenburg, too - you'll find bahn.de lists Gothenburg as Göteborg Central.

• Step 4 for Oslo, stay overnight in Copenhagen and travel from Copenhagen to Oslo by train next day as shown here.  Or spend the day in Copenhagen and take the overnight DFDS cruise ferry to Oslo as also shown here.

2-berth regular sleeper with washstand...		The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper...		A Comfortline sleeping-car, as now used on the Austrian Nightjet train from Rome to Munich.  More info about Nightjet trains...

Austrian couchette car or liegewagen...		6-berth couchettes...		4-berth couchettes...

Most Hamburg-Copenhagen trains are Danish IC3 trains like this, although one or two departures are Danish-owned German-designed ICE-TD trains.

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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Naples to Prague from €87...

Option 1, Naples to Prague via Vienna...

• Step 1, take any late afternoon high-speed Frecciarossa train you like from Naples Centrale to Rome Termini in 1h10 from €19.90 in 2nd (standard) class or €29.90 in 1st (business) class.

  Book this at www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.  It's ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on board.  There are frequent departures, but I'd allow at least an hour in Rome just in case of delay.

• Step 2, travel from Rome to Vienna overnight on the comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train leaving Rome Termini at 19:04 and arriving at Vienna Hauptbahnhof at 08:46 next morning.

  Fares start at €59 in 6-berth couchettes, €69 in 4-berth couchettes, €99 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139 in a single-bed sleeper.  Deluxe sleepers with en suite toilet & shower are also available,  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.

  Book this train online at Austrian Railways www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.  Alternatively, you can buy tickets at www.trenitalia.com, collecting tickets from the self-service machines at any main station in Italy.

• Step 3, travel from Vienna to Prague by smart modern Czech Railjet train from just €19 in 2nd class or €29 in 1st class, leaving Vienna Hbf at 11:10 and arriving at Prague Hlavni at 15:06, in the city centre walking distance from the old city.

  If you buy a 1st class ticket you can use the ÖBB lounge in Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments and free WiFi.

  Why not book book a later Railjet & spend some time exploring Vienna?  Trains to Prague leave every two hours, left luggage lockers are available.

  Book this train at either www.oebb.at or www.cd.cz - check prices on both sites as one is often cheaper than the other for the same train.  You print your own ticket.  Easy!

2-berth regular sleeper with washstand...		The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper...		A Comfortline sleeping-car, as now used on the Austrian Nightjet train from Rome to Vienna.  More info about Nightjet trains...

Austrian couchette car or liegewagen.  Couchettes are the economical option, flat bunks with rug & pillow.		6-berth couchettes, the cheapest option...		4-berth couchettes, ideal for families...

Take a smart modern Railjet train from Vienna to Prague, with economy, first & business class, restaurant car, free WiFi and draught beer on tap...

Restaurant car...  Courtesy David Malone		Economy (2nd) class...  Courtesy Cortney Lollar

Option 2, Naples to Prague via Zurich - another time-effective option...

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Zurich by train, leaving Naples Centrale at 10:05 by 186mph Frecciarossa high-speed train, making one quick and easy change at Milan's magnificent Centrale station onto a bullet-nosed EuroCity train through the Swiss Alps arriving in Zurich at 18:51.  The Milan-Zurich train takes the scenic Gotthard route, although half an hour of this journey is now inside the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world's longest.

  Book from Naples to Zurich using either www.loco2.com, www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.  Naples to Milan starts at €29.90 then Milan to Zurich starts at €9.  Just make sure you have at least an hour in Zurich to change trains in case of any delay.  It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board each train.

  You've time for dinner in Zurich, I can recommend the steak & frites and a beer or two at the Brasserie Federal on the main station concourse.

• Step 2, now take the Zurich to Prague sleeper leaving Zurich at 21:40 every night and arriving next morning at Ceske Budejovice at 08:51 & Prague Hlavni at 10:57.  The train has a modern Czech sleeping-car, some deluxe sleepers have an en suite shower & toilet, there's a shower for standard sleeper passengers at the end of the corridor.  Morning tea & coffee is included in the sleeper fare.  There are no couchettes on this route.

  Fares start at €79 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €89 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129 in a single-bed sleeper.  Deluxe sleepers cost a bit more.

  Book this sleeper online at the Czech Railways site www.cd.cz and print out your own ticket.  Easy!  See my tips for using cd.cz.  For deluxe sleepers, select 1st class before running the enquiry.

• If you're going to Ceske Krumlov, get off the sleeper at Ceske Budejovice (its former name is Budweis, that's right, where the name of the beer comes from), have a coffee at the station then take the 10:13 express train to Ceske Krumlov arriving 10:50.  In this case you'd use www.cd.cz to book Zurich to Cesky Krumlov, of course looking for the 21:40 departure with 1 change.

ETR610 EuroCity train, as used on the Milan-Zurich route.		2nd class seats on the stylish ETR610 EuroCity train...

The restaurant car on an ETR610...		Dinner in the diner...

The sleeping-car to Prague, ready to leave Zurich HB.  Photo courtesy of Shaiq Ali Khan

Standard sleeper set up as a 2-berth, with blind down & washstand open.  Each room can be used with 1, 2 or 3 beds.		The same sleeper with berths folded away & seats folded out, washstand closed.  Very similar to a deluxe, but without the shower & toilet.		Deluxe sleepers are similar to standard ones, but with a bit more floorspace & compact shower & toilet instead of washstand.		Just like a hotel, the corridor in a Comfortline sleeping-car.  There's a shower at end of the corridor for standard sleeper passengers.

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Naples to Bratislava from €83...

• Step 1, take a Frecciarossa high-speed train from Naples Centrale to Rome Termini from €19 booked at www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.  It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.

• Step 2, take the excellent Nightjet sleeper train leaving Rome Termini at 19:04 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 08:46, fares from €59 with couchette or €99 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper or €139 in a single bed sleeper as shown in the Naples to Vienna section above.

  Book this train online at Austrian Railways www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.

• Step 3, when you arrive at Vienna Hbf simply buy a ticket for around €15 and hop on the next hourly local train to Bratislava, no reservation necessary or possible, journey time 1 hour 6 minutes.  You can check times using www.oebb.at.

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Naples to Budapest from €87...

• Step 1, take any late afternoon high-speed Frecciarossa train you like from Naples Centrale to Rome Termini in 1h10 from €19.90 in 2nd (standard) class or €29.90 in 1st (business) class.

  Book this at www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.  It's ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on board.  There are frequent departures, but I'd allow at least an hour in Rome, just in case of any delay.

• Step 2, travel from Rome to Vienna overnight on the comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train leaving Rome Termini at 19:04 and arriving at Vienna Hauptbahnhof at 08:46 next morning.

  Fares start at €59 in 6-berth couchettes, €69 in 4-berth couchettes, €99 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139 in a single-bed sleeper.  Deluxe sleepers with en suite toilet & shower are also available,  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.

  Buy tickets for this train online at Austrian Railways www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.  Alternatively, you can book at www.trenitalia.com, collecting tickets from the self-service machines at any main station in Italy.

• Step 3, travel from Vienna to Budapest by smart modern Austrian Railjet train from just €19 in 2nd class or €29 in 1st class, leaving Vienna Hbf at 09:42 and arriving at Budapest Keleti at 12:19.

  If you buy a 1st class ticket you can use the ÖBB lounge in Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments and free WiFi.

  Why not book book a later train & spend some time in Vienna?  Trains to Budapest leave every hour or two, left luggage lockers are available.

  Buy tickets for this train as a second transaction at www.oebb.at.  You print your own ticket.  Easy!

2-berth regular sleeper with washstand...		The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper...		A Comfortline sleeping-car, as now used on the Austrian Nightjet train from Rome to Munich.  More information about Nightjet trains...

Austrian couchette car or liegewagen.  Couchettes are the economical option, flat bunks with rug & pillow.		6-berth couchettes, the cheapest option...		4-berth couchettes, ideal for families...

Austrian Railjet train from Vienna to Budapest.  This is a RailJet at Budapest Keleti...  More photos, video & information about Railjets		Business class costs €15 more than normal 1st class...		Economy class on RailJet, comfortable open saloons with large picture windows.  Some seats around tables, some unidirectional.

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Naples to Bucharest, Brasov, Sighisoara & Romania...

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Budapest as shown in the Naples to Budapest section above, leaving Naples in the afternoon, using the Rome-Vienna Nightjet sleeper train then a fast Railjet train to Budapest, arriving at lunchtime.  You've an afternoon to explore Budapest.

• Step 2, now take the overnight EuroNight sleeper train Ister leaving Budapest at 19:10 and arriving Sighisoara at 06:56, Brasov around 09:30 & Bucharest at 12:00 next day.  This comfortable train has a restaurant car, 4 & 6 berth couchettes and a modern air-conditioned sleeping-car with 1, 2 and 3 bed compartments with washbasin, also deluxe sleepers with 1 or 2 beds and shower/toilet.  See the photos on the London to Romania page.

• You can book the Budapest to Bucharest sleeper train with fares from €49 in a 2-bed sleeper at the Hungarian railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, collecting your tickets from the yellow ticket machines at Budapest Keleti station.

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Naples to Ljubljana & Zagreb...

Option 1, by the direct route through Trieste...

• First the bad news.  There are now no trains across the Slovenian-Italian border, thanks to Trenitalia and EU policy - bring back the Iron Curtain!

• Now the good news, there's a cheap, scenic and comfortable alternative, Venice to Ljubljana twice daily by train-tram-train for just €22, Venice to Zagreb for around €40.  Click here to see full details and photos on the Venice to Ljubljana & Zagreb page. 

• You can add a Naples to Venice train ticket from €29.90 using either www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.

Option 2, with overnight stop in Villach, Austria - a useful alternative...

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Venice by Frecciarossa high-speed train, leaving Napoli Centrale at 09:30, arriving Venice S. Lucia at 14:35. 

  If you'd like lunch and a wander around Venice, simply book an earlier train - the Rialto Bridge is just 15 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia station, St Mark's Square just 25 minutes walk, see map of Venice showing station.  There's a left luggage office at the station.  Of course if you haven't been to Venice before, I'd recommend an overnight stop, not just a few hours!

  Book this train from €29.90 at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €).  Italiarail will refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference.  It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.

• Step 2, travel from Venice to Villach in Austria near the Slovenian border by comfortable Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Villach at 19:11.  Book this from €19 at the Austrian Railways site www.oebb.at.

• Stay in Villach overnight - try the Hotel Goldenes Lamm or Hotel City, both near the station with great reviews.

• Step 3, travel from Villach to Ljubljana & Zagreb by direct train, leaving Villach at 06:25 and arriving Ljubljana at 08:12 and Zagreb at 10:46.  Buy this ticket at the station, likely to be around €20 to Ljubljana, €40 to Zagreb.

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Naples to Belgrade & Sofia...

With overnight stop in Villach, Austria - the cheapest and simplest option...

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Venice by Frecciarossa high-speed train, leaving Napoli Centrale at 09:30, arriving Venice S. Lucia at 14:35. 

  If you'd like lunch and a wander around Venice, simply book an earlier train - the Rialto Bridge is just 15 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia station, St Mark's Square just 25 minutes walk, see map of Venice showing station.  There's a left luggage office at the station.  Of course if you haven't been to Venice before, I'd recommend an overnight stop, not just a few hours!

  Book this train from €29.90 at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €).  Italiarail will refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference.  It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.

• Step 2, travel from Venice to Villach in Austria near the Slovenian border by comfortable Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Villach at 19:11.  Book this from €19 at the Austrian Railways site www.oebb.at.

• Stay in Villach overnight - try the Hotel Goldenes Lamm or Hotel City, both near the station with great reviews.

• Step 3, travel from Villach to Belgrade by direct train, leaving Villach at 06:25 and arriving Belgrade main station at 17:32.  There's lovely scenery along the River Sava between Ljubljana & Zagreb.  You can buy the ticket at Villach station, fare around €97 if bought on the day, there are always places available.  To reduce the cost you could pre-book a Villach to Zagreb advance-purchase sparschiene ticket from €29 at Austrian Railways www.oebb.at, but you'll then need to ask the Croatian conductor to sell you an onward ticket from Zagreb to Belgrade, likely to be about €35, or break your journey in Zagreb for a day to buy a new ticket.  Zagreb is a city well worth a stopover!

• Step 4, if you're going to Sofia, spend the night in Belgrade - I recommend the historic Hotel Moskva.  Take the daytime train called the Balkan to Sofia next day, leaving Belgrade station at 09:25 and arriving Sofia Central Station at 20:10.  Buy this ticket at the station for around €30, there are always places available, even on the day.  It cannot be booked online, and there's no need.  2nd class seats only.  There's no catering car so bring your own picnic and wine or beer.

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Naples to Warsaw, Krakow & Poland...

• Step 1, take a Frecciarossa high-speed train from Naples to Rome from €19.90 booked at www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.  It's ticketless.

• Step 2, take the 19:04 Nightjet sleeper train from Rome Termini to Vienna Hauptbahnhof arriving 09:48, with fares from €59 with couchette in 6-berth, €69 with couchette in 4-berth, €99 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper or €139 in a single-bed sleeper as shown in the Naples to Vienna section above.  Book this train at the Austrian Railways site www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.  Alternatively, you can also book a www.trenitalia.com, collecting tickets from the self-service machines at any main station in Italy.  Spend the day exploring Vienna. 

• Step 3, spend a morning in Vienna, then take the EuroCity train leaving Vienna Hbf at 14:10 and arriving Warsaw Centralna at 21:01.  From €29 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class booked with Austrian Railways at www.oebb.at.

• Or spend the day in Vienna, then take the overnight sleeper train from Vienna to Krakow or Warsaw as shown in the Austria to Poland page, booked online at www.oebb.at from €39 with couchette or €69 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper.

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Naples to Kiev, Lviv & Ukraine...

• Day 1, travel from Naples to Budapest as shown in the Naples to Budapest section above, leaving Naples in the afternoon and taking the Rome-Vienna Nightjet sleeper train, changing in Vienna onto a fast Railjet train to Budapest arriving at lunchtime on day 2.

• Spend the afternoon & evening in Budapest and stay overnight.  For an inexpensive hotel with great reviews right next to Keleti Station, try the Royal Park Boutique Hotel.  More hotels in Budapest.

Day 3, take the comfortable Ukrainian sleeper train Latorca leaving Budapest Nyugati station around 07:23, arriving Lviv late evening and Kiev early the following morning (day 4), as shown in the Budapest to Ukraine section.

The Budapest-Kiev train... Courtesy of Alessandro		A sleeper compartment...		...with washbasin.

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Naples to Moscow, St Petersburg & Russia...

• Step 1, take a Frecciarossa high-speed train from Naples to Rome from €19 booked at www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.  It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.

• Step 2, take the 19:04 Nightjet sleeper train from Rome Termini to Vienna Hbf arriving 08:46 with fares from €59 with couchette in 6-berth, €69 with a couchette in 4-berth, €99 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper or €139 in a single-bed sleeper as shown in the Naples to Vienna section above.

  Book this train at the Austrian Railways site www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.  Alternatively, you can also book a www.trenitalia.com, collecting tickets from the self-service machines at any main station in Italy, easy.  Spend the day in Vienna.

• Step 3, then take the direct Vienna to Moscow train running several days a week, see the Vienna to Moscow section for details.  You will need to book Vienna to Moscow by phone.

• Alternatively, you can also travel to Warsaw as shown above, then take the 3-times-a-week sleeper train Polonez from Warsaw to Moscow, see the Warsaw to Moscow section for details.

These modern sleeping-cars run from Vienna & Warsaw to Moscow...

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Naples to Athens & Greece...

• First, check and book a cruise ferry from Bari in southern Italy to Corfu or to Patras in mainland Greece at www.superfast.com.  Superfast operate good modern ships, they sail overnight leaving every day, usually in the evening.  You can book a basic deck place and sleep on deck, or you can book a reclining seat, or preferably a cabin berth, either in a shared cabin or your own private cabin.  You'll also find direct ferries to Greece from Ancona and Venice, see www.superfast.com & www.anek.gr.

• Now book trains from Naples to Bari Centrale from €19 at either www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.  It's usually ticketless, you simply quote the reference number on board the train.

• In Bari, it's a 25 minute walk or 5 minute taxi ride to the ferry terminal near the old town.  Allow at least 3 hours to connect between train and ship as there's a 2-hour ferry check-in. 

• Buses link Patras and Athens in just a few hours, see the London to Greece page for more details & photos.

• If you leave Naples around 09:00 you can have an afternoon beer in Bari, explore the city and check in in plenty of time for the 19:30 ferry to Patras.  You'll arrive in Patras at 13:00 next day, and a bus will get you to Athens by early evening.

2 or 4-berth cabin with private toilet & shower.		Relaxing on deck...
At sea, passing Cephalonia & Ithaca.  This is what travel to Greece should be like!

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Hotels in Naples & 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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Travel insurance & health card

Take out decent travel insurance, it's essential...

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

In the UK, try Columbus Direct or use Confused.com to compare prices & policies from many different insurers.

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

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

  If you live in the USA try Travel Guard USA.

Get a spare credit card, designed for travel with no currency exchange loading & low or no ATM fees...

It costs nothing to take out an extra credit card.  If you keep it in a different part of your luggage so you're not left stranded if your wallet gets stolen, this is a form of extra travel insurance in itself.  In addition, some credit cards are significantly better for overseas travel than others.  Martin Lewis's www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money explains which UK credit cards have the lowest currency exchange commission loadings when you buy something overseas, and the lowest cash withdrawal fees when you use an ATM abroad.  Taking this advice can save you quite a lot on each trip compared to using your normal high-street bank credit card!