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 Frecciarossa high-speed train, leaving Naples Centrale at 08:55 and arriving Turin Porta Susa at 15:08.

• Step 2, travel from Turin to Paris by high-speed TGV, leaving Turin Porta Susa at 16:11 daily and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 22:32.  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.

  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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

  The easiest way to buy Naples to Paris tickets is using Raileurope.com as you can book your tickets in one place in plain English.

  Raileurope.com can book Naples to Paris as one transaction because it connects to the French SNCF and Italian Trenitalia ticketing systems to sell the Frecciarossa ticket & the TGV ticket together at the cheapest prices with a print-at-home or show-on-mobile ticket for the TGV and ticketless for the Frecciarossa - you just quote the booking reference on board.  It can also sell Italo tickets.  You can use Raileurope.com wherever you live as it accepts international credit cards, you can pay in €, £ or $.  A small booking fee applies.

  Booking tips:  Go to Raileurope.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.thetrainline.com.  This can be used by anyone from any country with international credit cards accepted, and you can specify forward-facing seats & other seating options, and it issues print-at-home tickets.  Recommended!  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 14:30 reaching Turin Porta Susa at 19:59, or later, 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 Hotel Torino Porta Susa or Hotel Diplomatic or the small Al Porta Susa B&B, all right next to Turin Porta Susa station with good or great reviews.

• Day 2, travel from Turin to Paris by TGV, taking either the 07:36 TGV from Turin Porta Susa arriving Paris Gare de Lyon 13:14, or have a leisurely breakfast and take the 10:06 from Turin Porta Susa arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 16:12.  Or have a day in Turin and take the 16:07 TGV from Turin Porta Susa to Paris, arriving at 22:12.  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 Raileurope.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 Raileurope.com wherever you live in the world as it accepts all international credit cards.

  Booking tips:  Go to Raileurope.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.thetrainline.com.  This can be used by anyone from any country with international credit cards accepted, and you can specify forward-facing seats & other seating options, and it issues print-at-home tickets.  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.

Naples to Turin by Frecciarossa...

A Frecciarossa 1000 at Milan Centrale.  More information on Frecciarossas & explanation of the 4 classes.

Standard class seats, 2+2 across width.  Larger photo.		Executive class, 1+1 across width.  Larger photo.

Business class seats 1+2 across car width, with tables for 2 and tables for 4 and complimentary prosecco. Larger photo.		In business class you can order a meal at your seat, around €18.  More information about Frecciarossas.

Turin to Paris by high-speed TGV...

A Milan-Turin-Paris TGV at Paris Gare de Lyon.  There's no check-in, just be on board at departure time...

Step 2, travel from Turin to Paris by high-speed TGV...  Above left, the cafe-bar serving drinks, snacks & hot dishes  Above right, the cheese platter from the cafe-bar.  Larger bar photo.

A table for four in 2nd class on the TGV to Paris.  360 degree photo.		1st class seats on the Turin-Paris TGV.  360 degree photo.

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, 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 €29 booked at www.thetrainline.com.  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, leave Naples Centrale at 05:45 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 15:53, Antibes 16:13, Cannes 16:26 & Marseille St Charles at 18:31.  This Thello train has a cafe counter & power sockets at all seats.

• Option 2, leave Naples Centrale at 09:55 every day 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 19:51.  Change in Nice for local trains to Antibes & Cannes.

• These 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 Antibes, 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 Raileurope.com rather than ItaliaRail or Trenitalia, as Raileurope.com 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 Thello train from Milan to Nice & Marseille about to leave Milan Centrale.  See more information about these Thello trains.		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.

View from the train, along the Ligurian coast between Milan and Nice.  Courtesy of Lucas Martin.

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 raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use) 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.  I suggest the Hotel Torino Porta Susa or Hotel Diplomatic or the small Al Porta Susa B&B, all right next to Turin Porta Susa station with good or great reviews.

• Step 2, use raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com to book either of the two morning TGVs at 07:36 & 10:06 from Turin Porta Susa to Paris Gare de Lyon from just €29 in 2nd class or €44 in 1st class.  You can print out your ticket or select mobile ticket to show it on your smartphone.  It's a comfortable and scenic journey, see the video here.  See here for Milan-Paris timetable, fares & photos.

• Step 3, use raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.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 have 3 classes, a cafe-bar, WiFi and power sockets at all seats, 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 Gare de Lyon arriving 23:32.  Stay overnight in Paris, then catch a morning Thalys train from Paris Gare du Nord to Brussels Midi 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 €19.90 booked at www.thetrainline.com.  I'd allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Rome, perhaps longer to have dinner.

• Step 2, travel from Rome to Munich by excellent Austrian Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Rome Termini at 18:58 & arriving Munich Hbf 08:19.

  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, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself, all prices per person per berth.

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

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

• Step 3, travel from Munich to Brussels by luxurious ICE train from €39.90, leaving Munich Hbf at 10:51, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi at 17:35.

  Book this at either www.thetrainline.com or the German Railways site www.bahn.de and print your own ticket or load it into the DB Navigator app & show on your smartphone

2-berth regular sleeper with washstand.  Larger photo.		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 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.thetrainline.com.  I'd allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Rome, perhaps longer to have dinner.

• Step 2, travel from Rome to Munich by excellent Austrian Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Rome Termini at 18:58, arriving Munich Hbf 08:19.

  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, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself, all prices per person per berth.

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Amsterdam by luxurious ICE train, leaving Munich Hbf at 09:51 with one easy change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 17:28.  These ICE trains have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

  Book this at either www.thetrainline.com or the German Railways site www.bahn.de and print your own ticket or load it into the DB Navigator app & show on your smartphone.

2-berth regular sleeper with washstand.  Larger photo.		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...

An ICE3 at Amsterdam Centraal platform 2...		ICE3 2nd class seats.  Larger photo.

ICE3 1st class, with leather seats.  Larger photo.		ICE3 bistro.  See this month's menu.

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 Centrale by high-speed Frecciarossa train in 4h40 from €29.90 then from Milan Centrale to Zurich HB by ETR610 EuroCity train along Lake Maggiore and through the Alps in 3h25 from €29 upwards.  It's a lovely ride through the Alps, see the video here.

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

  You can leave Naples Centrale as late as 13:40 arriving Zurich HB 22:50, 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 at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, leaving Zurich HB at 08:00 and arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 17:28 - or by all means choose an earlier or later departure. 

  You can check times and buy tickets as one transaction at Raileurope.com, or you can book direct with German Railways at www.bahn.de.

ETR610 EuroCity train, as used on all Milan-Switzerland routes.  More information about ETR610 trains.		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 Lugano, seen from a Milan-Zurich EuroCity train...

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 €12, 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 €29.90...  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...

Back to top

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 05:45 Frecciarossa high-speed train from Naples Centrale to Milan Centrale with fares from €29.90, then the 11:10 Thello train from Milan Centrale to Marseille St Charles from €30, arriving at 18:31.

  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-S100 high-speed train, leaving Marseille St Charles at 08:02 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 12:34 and Madrid Atocha at 15:41.  Fares for this leg start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.

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

• To buy tickets the easy way...

  Go to Raileurope.com, book from Naples to Marseille on day 1 and add it to your basket.  Then book from Marseille to Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Alicante, Seville, Malaga or wherever for day 2, add it to your basket and check out.  Raileurope.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.thetrainline.com (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) Raileurope.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.  See more photos & information about these AVE-S100 high-speed trains.		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 a TER regional train to Lyon and high-speed AVE to Barcelona arriving in the evening.

• Step 1, travel from Naples Centrale to Milan Centrale by Frecciarossa high-speed train & Milan Centrale to Geneva by ETR610 EuroCity train.

  You can leave Naples at 12:30, change Milan, arriving Geneva at around 21:21.  Or leave Naples around 14:30, change Milan, to arrive Geneva around 23:29.  Fares start at just €29.90 Naples-Milan + €29 upwards for Milan-Geneva.

  Book from Florence to Geneva as one transaction at Raileurope.com (in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (in €, £ or $, the small fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com).  However, booking at Raileurope.com means all your ticket to be booked together in one place.

• 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 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.  Fares start at around €69 in 2nd class.

  Book this at Raileurope.com (can be used by anyone, small booking fee) or www.thetrainline.com (can be used by anyone, small 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 Raileurope.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or Spanish railways own website www.renfe.com (in €, can be much more fiddly to use, but no fee) or www.petrabax.com (in US$, small mark-up).  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 page, 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, Berlin & Germany from €39...

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

• Step 1, a Nightjet sleeper train leaves Rome Termini at 18:58 every night and arrives at Munich Hbf at 08:19 next morning.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There 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, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself, all prices per person per berth.

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

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

• Step 2, now book an onward train from Munich to anywhere in Germany at www.bahn.de from €19.90 upwards, allowing at least 1 hour between trains in Munich.  You print your own ticket.  For example, you can leave Munich Hbf at 09:54 by high-speed ICE train and arrive Berlin Hbf at 14:25.

• Step 3, now add a Naples to Rome ticket from €19.90 at www.thetrainline.com or www.trenitalia.com.  I'd allow at least one hour in Rome between trains.

2-berth regular sleeper with washstand.  Larger photo.		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 & Germany via the Brenner route - a 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 Brenner Pass scenery 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 Bologna/Verona starts at €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.

  Bologna/Verona to Munich or anywhere in Germany starts at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

• To buy tickets, book from Naples Centrale to Munich or anywhere in Germany at Raileurope.com, but (and this is important) click More options, enter Verona (any station) as a via station and a stopover duration of 45 minutes.  Look for journeys with just 1 change to Munich or 2 changes if going beyond Munich.  Now re-run the enquiry with Bologna (any station) as a via station also with 45 minutes stopover selected to see if this gives a cheaper or quicker 1-change journey, once or twice per day it does.

  Raileurope.com can be used by anyone from any country, in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies.  The Italian train is ticketless, you quote the reference on board.  The ticket for the EuroCity train can be printed out, or you can select a mobile ticket to show on your smartphone.

  Alternatively, book the Italian train at www.italiarail.com (in €, £ or $, the small fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com, then book the German train(s) from Bologna or Verona to anywhere in Germany at www.bahn.de.

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.  More photos & information about these Austrian EuroCity trains.

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 Frankfurt & Germany via the Gotthard route - another scenic daytime option...

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Milan by Frecciarossa high-speed train, leaving Naples Centrale at 05:45 arriving Milan Centrale at 10:50.

  Fares start at €29.90 in standard class or €39.90 in business.

  Book this at Raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, it's ticketless you just quote the reference on board.

• Step 2, travel from Milan to Frankfurt by ETR610 EuroCity train leaving Milan Centrale at 11:20 and arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 18:44.

  The train travels along Lake Maggiore and through the Swiss Alps via the famous Simplon & Lötschberg route.  Change in Frankfurt for Cologne, Dusseldorf and so on.  It's even possible to reach Hamburg or Berlin shortly after midnight!

  Fares from Milan to Germany start at €59.90 in 2nd class or €119.90 in 1st class.

  Book from Milan to anywhere in Germany at www.bahn.de or Raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, looking for the 11:20 departure.  You print your own ticket.

An ETR610 train at Milan.  One train per day runs direct to Frankfurt.  More information about ETR610 trains.		2nd class seats on the ETR610 EuroCity train.  Larger photo.

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

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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 leaves Rome Termini at 18:58 every night, arriving Vienna Hbf at 08:53.  A separate portion arrives Salzburg at 06:15.

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

  Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself, all prices per person per berth.

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

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

• Then add a Naples to Rome connecting ticket at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies), www.italiarail.com (easy to use, they'll refund the small booking fee if you email them after booking at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (can be more fiddly, no fee).

2-berth regular sleeper with washstand.  Larger photo.		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 €59, and how about lunch in Venice?

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Venice by Frecciargento high-speed train, leaving Napoli Centrale at 09:09, arriving Venice Santa Lucia at 14:34. 

  If you'd like lunch and a wander around Venice, simply book an earlier train - the Rialto Bridge is just 20 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia station, St Mark's Square just 27 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.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in multiple currencies) or www.trenitalia.com (in €).  It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.

• Step 2, travel from Venice to Vienna by smart Austrian railjet 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.  The railjet train has a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi, see the railjet information page.

  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 from Venice to Vienna or Salzburg from €29 in 2nd class, €44 in 1st class or €59 in business class (= premium 1st class, a real treat) at either www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, international payment cards no problem) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices, just a bit more fiddly).  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 Hbf around 16:30, Salzburg 19:00, Vienna Hbf 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 scenery 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 at Innsbruck Hbf 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 either www.thetrainline.com (easiest) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at.  You print your own ticket.  On oebb.at it can help to click via and enter Innsbruck.

  Now add a suitable connecting train from Naples Centrale to Bologna Centrale at www.thetrainline.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.

• 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.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at, then add a Naples to Verona ticket at www.thetrainline.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.  More photos & information about these Austrian EuroCity trains.

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 €19.90.  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 by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Rome Termini 18:58, arriving Munich Hbf 08:19.

  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, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself, all prices per person per berth.

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

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

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

• Step 3, travel from Munich to Copenhagen, leaving Munich Hbf at 10:21 by luxurious ICE train, making one easy change in Hamburg Hbf onto a comfortable Danish IC3 intercity train arriving in Copenhagen at 21:33.  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.

  If you're just going to Copenhagen, book Munich to Copenhagen from €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 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 39 minutes, these leave twice an hour.  You can book through from Munich to Malmö from €39.90 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 3h53 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.  Larger photo.		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...

All Hamburg-Copenhagen intercity trains are Danish IC3 trains like this...

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 a 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.  There are frequent departures, but I'd allow at least an hour in Rome just in case of delay.

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in various currencies, a small booking fee applies), www.italiarail.com (in €, £, $, small booking fee but they'll refund it if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (more fiddly, no fee).  It's ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on board.

• Step 2, travel from Rome to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train leaving Rome Termini at 18:58 & arriving Vienna Hbf 08:53.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There 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, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself, all prices per person per berth.

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

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

  Tip:  If you have a sleeper ticket and/or 1st class ticket for the onward train to Prague you can use the ÖBB lounge in Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.

• Step 3, travel from Vienna to Prague by smart modern Czech Railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 11:10 & arriving Prague Hlavni at 15:13.

  Fares start at just €14 in 2nd class, €29 in 1st class or €44 in business class (= premium 1st class).

  These swish railjet trains have a bistro-restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the railjet train information page.

  Why not book book a later railjet & spend some time exploring Vienna?  Railjets to Prague leave every two hours, see the timetable here.  Left luggage lockers are available in Vienna.  In Prague, you arrive in the city centre walking distance from the old city square.

  Book this train at either www.thetrainline.com 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!  You can also book at www.oebb.at.

2-berth regular sleeper with washstand.  Larger photo.		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 the magnificent Milan Centrale station onto a bullet-nosed ETR610 EuroCity train along Lake Maggiore and through the Swiss Alps arriving in Zurich at 18:50.  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 Raileurope.com, www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.  Naples to Milan starts at €29.90 then Milan to Zurich starts at €29.  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 €45 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €59 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €112 in a single-bed sleeper.

  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.

• 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.  More information about ETR610 trains.		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 €19.90 booked at either www.thetrainline.com or www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.  It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.  Allow at least an hour between trains in Rome.

• Step 2, take the excellent Nightjet sleeper train leaving Rome Termini at 18:58 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 08:53.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There 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, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself, all prices per person per berth.

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

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

  Tip:  If you have a sleeper ticket you can use the ÖBB lounge in Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.

• Step 3, when you reach Vienna, simply buy a ticket for €11.20 and hop on the next hourly Regional Express train from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna, no reservation necessary or possible, journey time 1 hour 6 minutes.  You can check times using www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.

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Naples to Budapest from €98...

• 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.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in various currencies, a small booking fee applies) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee but they'll refund this if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (a bit more fiddly, in €, no booking fee).  It's ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on board.  There are frequent departures, but allow at least an hour in Rome in case of any delay.

• Step 2, travel from Rome to Vienna by comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train leaving Rome Termini 18:58 & arriving at Vienna Hbf 08:53.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There 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, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself, all prices per person per berth.

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

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

  Tip:  If you have a sleeper ticket and/or 1st class ticket for the onward train to Budapest you can use the ÖBB lounge in Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.

• Step 3, travel from Vienna to Budapest by smart Austrian railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 09:42 & arriving Budapest Keleti 12:19.

  Fares start at €19 in 2nd class, €29 in 1st class or €44 in business class (= premium 1st class).

  These swish railjet trains have a bistro-restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the railjet train information page.  Tip:  With a 1st or business class ticket you can use the ÖBB lounge in Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & 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.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.  You print your own ticket.  Easy!

2-berth regular sleeper with washstand.  Larger photo.		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 & 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 Keleti at 19:10 and arriving Brasov at 09:54 & Bucharest Gara de Nord at 12:33 next day.  This comfortable train has 4 & 6 berth couchettes and a modern air-conditioned sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 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.

• Alternatively, 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.  Next day, take a daytime train across Transylvania to Cluj, Timisoara, Simeria, Brasov or Bucharest see details here.  These daytime trains are also bookable from €29 at www.mavcsoport.hu.

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Naples to Ljubljana & Zagreb...

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

• Direct trains from Italy to Slovenia were restored in September 2018!  Two modern air-conditioned trains now run from Trieste to Ljubljana every day, with connections from Venice.  Just €22 or so gets you from Venice to Ljubljana, any day, any date, no prior reservation necessary, it cannot sell out, just buy at the station on the day.  Change in Ljubljana for Zagreb.  And if you've ever wondered where prosecco comes from, you'll find out on this route!

  Click here to see full details of times & fares from Venice to Ljubljana & Zagreb, including photos & an account of the journey.

• Add a ticket from Naples Centrale to Venice by Frecciarossa high-speed train from €29.90 at either www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.

The hourly regional train from Venice to Trieste.  No reservation necessary, turn up & go!  You sit where you like.

Scenery in Slovenia, seen from the train from Trieste to Ljubljana...

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

Until 3 October 2020, to both Ljubljana & Zagreb..

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Venice by Frecciargento high-speed train, leaving Napoli Centrale at 09:09, arriving Venice S. Lucia at 14:34. 

  If you'd like lunch and a wander around Venice, simply book an earlier train - the Rialto Bridge is just 20 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia, St Mark's Square just 27 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 railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Villach at 19:11.  Book this from €19 at www.thetrainline.com or from 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 Lesce-Bled 07:28, Ljubljana at 08:11 and Zagreb at 10:49.  Buy this ticket at the station, likely to be around €20 to Ljubljana, €40 to Zagreb.

From 4 October 2020, only to Zagreb...

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Venice by Frecciargento high-speed train, leaving Napoli Centrale at 09:09, arriving Venice S. Lucia at 14:34. 

  If you'd like lunch and a wander around Venice, simply book an earlier train - the Rialto Bridge is just 20 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia, St Mark's Square just 27 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 Bruck an der Mur in Austria by comfortable Austrian railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Bruck an der Mur at 21:44.  Book this from €19 at either www.thetrainline.com (easiest) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at.  You print your own ticket.

• Stay overnight in Bruck an der Mur - try the Hotel Landskron, 14 minutes walk from the station.

• Step 3, travel from Bruck to Zagreb by train, leaving Bruck an der Mur at 06:20 and arriving Zagreb at 11:27.  2nd class only, bring your own food & drink along.  Book this from €29 at either www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.

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Naples to Belgrade & Sofia...

Until 3 October 2020, with overnight stop in Villach, Austria - the cheapest and simplest option...

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Venice by Frecciargento high-speed train, leaving Napoli Centrale at 09:09, arriving Venice S. Lucia at 14:34. 

  If you'd like lunch and a wander around Venice, simply book an earlier train - the Rialto Bridge is just 20 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia station, St Mark's Square just 27 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 railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Villach at 19:11.  Book this from €19 at www.thetrainline.com or 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 train, leaving Villach at 06:25, switching trains at Zagreb (arrive 10:49, depart 11:03) and arriving Belgrade Centar station at 18:07.  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, pre-book a Villach to Zagreb advance-purchase sparschiene ticket from €29 at either www.thetrainline.com or the Austrian Railways site 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 €29, 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.  Travel from Belgrade to Sofia by daytime train, see the Belgrade to Sofia page for full details.  Buy this ticket at the station for €20.60, there are always places available, even on the day.  It cannot be booked online, and there's no need.

From 4 October 2020 onwards, with overnight stop in Bruck an der Mur Austria - the cheapest and simplest option...

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Venice by Frecciargento high-speed train, leaving Napoli Centrale at 09:09, arriving Venice S. Lucia at 14:34. 

  If you'd like lunch and a wander around Venice, simply book an earlier train - the Rialto Bridge is just 20 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia station, St Mark's Square just 27 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 Bruck an der Mur in Austria by comfortable Austrian railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Bruck an der Mur at 21:44.  Book this from €19 at either www.thetrainline.com (easiest) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at.  You print your own ticket.

• Stay overnight in Bruck an der Mur - try the Hotel Landskron, 14 minutes walk from the station.

• Step 3, travel from Bruck to Zagreb by train, leaving Bruck an der Mur at 06:20 and arriving Zagreb at 11:27.  2nd class only, bring your own food & drink along.  Book this from €29 at either www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.

• Step 4, travel from Zagreb to Belgrade on the daily train, leaving Zagreb at 13:04 and arrives Novi Beograd at 20:17 & Belgrade Centar at 20:25.  The fare is around €29, it cannot be bought online so buy at the station or on board the train.

• Step 5, if you're going to Sofia, spend the night in Belgrade, I recommend the historic Hotel Moskva.  Travel from Belgrade to Sofia by daytime train, see the Belgrade to Sofia page for full details.  From mid-June to mid-September there's a direct train called the Balkan which leaves Belgrade Topcider station at 09:12 and arrives Sofia Central Station at 20:30.  2nd class only, bring your own picnic and bottle of wine as there's no catering.  At other times of year you leave Belgrade Centar station at 06:10, change at Nis & Dimitrovgrad arriving Sofia at 19:00.  Buy this ticket at the station for €20.60, there are always places available, even on the day.  It cannot be booked online, and there's no need.

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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 18:58 Nightjet sleeper train from Rome Termini to Vienna Hbf arriving 09:46, as shown in the Naples to Vienna section above.

  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, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself, all prices per person per berth.

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

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

  Tip:  If you have a sleeper ticket and/or 1st class ticket for the onward train to Poland you can use the ÖBB lounge in Vienna Hbf, with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.

• Step 3, spend a morning in Vienna, then take the EuroCity train leaving Vienna Hbf at 14:10 and arriving Warsaw Centralna at 21:24.  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 & Moscow...

• Day 1, travel from Naples to Vienna by Rome-Vienna Nightjet sleeper train as shown in the Naples to Vienna section above, leaving Naples Centrale late afternoon and arriving at Vienna Hbf next morning.

• Enjoy the best part of a day in Vienna, left luggage lockers are available.

• Day 2, travel from Vienna to Lviv or Kiev by direct Ukrainian sleeping-car. leaving Vienna Hbf at 16:42 every day and arriving next day (day 3) at Lviv at 10:14 & Kiev at 17:21.  Introduced in December 2017, this train has a Ukrainian sleeping-car with comfortable 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, see the photos below.  At Chop on the other side of the border the through sleeping-car is jacked up to have its wheelsets changed from European standard gauge (4'8½") to Russian gauge used in Ukraine (5').

  Book the train from Vienna to Lviv or Kiev online at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.  This will only book one-way or round trip starting in Vienna because tickets need to be collected from an ÖBB station in Austria.  They cannot be collected in Ukraine.  Booking this way you pay no fee or mark-up, just the official fare.  The sleeper has become popular, it can sell out.

  If you have any problems or want a one-way ticket starting in Ukraine, 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.

• Day 3, take a sleeper train from Kiev to Moscow.  Train 6 leaves Kiev at around 19:36 and arrives Moscow Kievskaya at around 10:09 next day (day 4 from Italy).  Taking the route via Kiev avoids Belarus, so no need for a Belarus visa!

  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 book tickets starting in Kiev at the Ukrainian Railways site https://booking.uz.gov.ua/en/ booking from Kyiv to Moskva Kievskaya.  You collect tickets at the station in Kiev.  Feedback appreciated!

  Change in Moscow for fast trains to St Petersburg, see the train travel in Russia page.

Ukrainian sleeping-car... Courtesy of Alessandro		A sleeper compartment...		...with washbasin.

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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 & VPN

Always take out travel insurance...

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

In the UK, reliable insurers include Columbus Direct.

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

You can use Confused.com to compare prices & policies from many different insurers.

        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.

A Curve card saves on foreign transaction fees...

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then charge you a currency conversion fee.  A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month at time of writing.  The balance goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.

How it works:  1. Download the app for iPhone or Android.  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to most European addresses including the UK.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, just like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance onto whichever of your debit or credit cards you choose.  You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I have a Curve Blue card myself - I get some commission if you sign up to Curve, but I'm recommending it here because it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card - they'll give you £5 cashback through that link, too.

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  VPNs & why you need one explained...

When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure.  A VPN means your connection to the internet is encrypted & always secure, even using unsecured WiFi.  In countries such as China where access to Twitter & Facebook is restricted, a VPN gets around these restrictions.  And lastly, you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geographic restrictions which some websites apply - for example one booking site charges a booking fee to non-European visitors but none to European visitors, so if you're not located in Europe you can avoid this fee by browsing with a UK IP address using a VPN.  VPNs & why you need one explained.  ExpressVPN is a best buy and I use it myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription, and I get a small commission to help support this site.

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