Option 1, Naples to Paris in one leisurely day by high-speed train - fastest & cheapest, runs every day...

• 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.

  Frecciarossas have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the Frecciarossa page.

• Step 2, travel from Turin to Paris by high-speed TGV, leaving Turin Porta Susa at 16:07, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 22:12.

  The TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's a scenic & relaxing run, at slow speed through the mountains then a high-speed dash to Paris at up to 300 km/h (186 mph), see the Paris-Milan TGV video guide.  For more 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.

• How much does it cost?

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

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

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

• How to buy tickets...

  Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com as this connects to both the Trenitalia and SNCF ticketing systems so you can book all your tickets together in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $.  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  There's a small booking fee.

  Book from Naples Centrale to Paris (any station) as one journey, with desired departure time set to 08:00.

  Tip:  Before running the enquiry, click More options, enter Turin Porta Susa and set stopover time to at least 45 minutes.  This ensures a robust connection.  In the search results, look for an option shown with just 1 change.  If you'd like longer in Turin, increase the stopover duration and set an earlier departure time.

  The Italian train is ticketless, you simply quote the booking reference on board.  For the French TGV, you print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your smartphone.

  You can also book at www.thetrainline.com if you prefer, this also connects to both the Italian & French systems.  However, it doesn't have a stopover duration feature, so I'd book each stage separately to ensure at least 45 minutes between trains in Turin.

• How to buy tickets, advanced...

  Alternatively, you can book each train separately, more work, more fiddly, same fares, but saves the booking fee.

  Step 1, book the Frecciarossa train from Naples Centrale to Turin Porta Susa at 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).  It's ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on the train. 

  Step 2, book the TGV from Turin to Paris at the French Railways website en.oui.sncf.  You print your own tickets or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

Option 2, Naples to Paris with an overnight stop in Turin - the option I'd recommend, with all the scenery in daylight...

• Day 1, travel from Naples Centrale to Turin Porta Susa by Frecciarossa high-speed train on any afternoon or early evening train you like.

  You can leave Naples at 14:30 reaching Turin Porta Susa at 19:59, or even 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, leaving Turin Porta Susa at 07:36 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon 13:14.

  Or have a leisurely breakfast and leave Turin Porta Susa at 10:06 arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 16:12.

  Or spend the day in Turin and leave Turin Porta Susa at 16:07, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 22:12.

  The TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Take a good book and enjoy a scenic ride through the mountains, see the Paris-Milan TGV video guide.  For more information & tips see the Paris-Milan by TGV page.

• How much does it cost? 

  Naples to Turin starts at €29.90 in 2nd class (standard) or €39.90 in 1st class (business).

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

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets...

  Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com, as this connects to both the Trenitalia, Italo and SNCF ticketing systems so you can book all your tickets together in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $.  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  There's a small booking fee.

  First book from Naples to Turin and add to basket.  Then book from Turin to Paris for the following day, add to basket & check out.

  The Italian train is ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on board.  For the TGV, you print your own tickets or can select a mobile ticket to show on your smartphone.

• How to buy tickets, advanced...

  Alternatively, you can book each train separately, more work, more fiddly, same fares, but saves the booking fee.

  Step 1, book the Frecciarossa train from Naples Centrale to Turin Porta Susa at either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English-language place names, they'll refund the €3.50 booking fee if you email seat61@italiarail.com afterwards) or www.trenitalia.com (you'll need to use Italian place names).  It's ticketless, 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 French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €).  You print your own tickets or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

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.  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 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 from Naples Centrale to Milan Centrale on any Frecciarossa high-speed train you like.

• Stay overnight in Milan.

• 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 HB, arriving 19:53.  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 really special, the 5-star Hotel Schweizerhof is one of my favourite hotels anywhere, just across the road from the station.  They'll even send a uniformed commissionaire to meet you & carry your bags from the train.  For something cheaper, also next to the station with great reviews, try the 4-star Hotel St Gotthard or the excellent 3-star Hotel St. Josef, 7 minutes walk from the station, see walking map.  If you're on a tight budget you can book private rooms in a one-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station at www.hostelworld.com.  Alternatively, you could stop overnight in the pleasant town of Chur instead.

• Day 3, travel from Zurich to Paris by TGV-Lyria high-speed train, leaving Zurich HB at 07:34 arriving Paris Gare de Lyon 11:38, or leaving Zurich HB at 09:34 arriving Paris Gare de Lyon 13:38.  Or there are later trains.  Your call!

  TGV-Lyria trains have 3 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the TGV-Lyria page for photos & information.

  Fares start at €29 in 2nd class or €79 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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

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

The Bernina Express descends from the Bernina Pass...

• There are several departures from Naples to Nice & the Côte d'Azur every day.

  Take a Frecciarossa high-speed train from Naples Centrale to the magnificent Milan Centrale in 4h33, an Intercity or Frecciabianca train from Milan to Ventimiglia on the French border in 3h45, then a TER local train from Ventimiglia to Menton, Monte Carlo, Nice, Antibes & Cannes taking another hour or so.  It's a lovely journey along the Ligurian coast between Genoa & Ventimiglia, and along the scenic Côte d'Azur between Ventimiglia, Nice & Cannes.

• Fares start at around €58 in 2nd class or €75 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• See the Italy to Nice page for full details with schedules, fares, photos, tips & how to buy tickets.

Step 1, take a high-speed Frecciarossa from Naples to Milan in 4h33 at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  This is a Frecciarossa 1000 at Milan Centrale.  More information about Frecciarossas & explanation of the 4 classes.

Standard class, 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.

Step 2, take an Intercity or Frecciabianca train from Milan to Ventimiglia in around 3h45.  Here, a Frecciabianca is boarding at the magnificent Milan Centrale...

2nd class.  Larger photo.		1st class.  Larger photo.

Step 3, take a TER local train from Ventimiglia to Monaco, Nice & Cannes.  Ventimiglia to Nice takes an hour along the coast.  Here, a TER rolls into Juan les Pins station, between Nice & Cannes.

Coastal scenery from the upper deck of the TER from Ventimiglia to Nice & Cannes...

Option 1, by TGV via Paris, with an overnight stop in Turin...

• Day 1, travel from Naples to Turin by Frecciarossa, leaving Naples Centrale at 16:55 arriving Turin Porta Susa 23:20.

  Or by all means take an earlier train and spend a pleasant evening in Turin, trains run regularly.  High-speed Frecciarossa trains have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the Frecciarossa page.

• 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 Porta Susa to Paris Gare de Lyon on either of the two morning TGV high-speed trains, see the timetable here.

  The TGVs have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's a comfortable & scenic journey, at low speed through the Alps, then a final dash along the high-speed line to Paris, see the video here.  Bring a good book and a bottle of wine, and make it a relaxing afternoon with your feet up.  For more information see the Paris-Milan by TGV page.

  Change trains & stations in Paris by taxi or metro.

• Day 2, travel from Paris Gare du Nord to Brussels Midi in 1h20 by Thalys high-speed train.

  Thalys trains have 3 classes, a cafe-bar, WiFi and power sockets at all seats, see more information about Thalys.  Make sure you allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris, preferably a bit more.

• Summary...

  Day 1, leave Naples Centrale 16:55, arrive Turin Porta Susa 23:08 or by all means take an earlier train.

  Day 2, leave Turin Porta Susa 07:36, change trains & stations in Paris, arrive Brussels Midi 17:17.

  Day 2 leave Turin Porta Susa 10:06, change trains & stations in Paris, arrive Brussels Midi 18:47.

• How much does it cost? 

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

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

  Paris to Brussels starts at €29.

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

• How to buy tickets...

  The easiest place to buy tickets is at www.raileurope.com as it connects to both the Trenitalia and SNCF ticketing systems so you can book all your tickets together in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $.  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  There's a small booking fee.

  First book Naples to Turin and add to basket.  Then book Turin to Brussels for the following day, add to basket & check out.

  Tip:  Before running the Turin to Brussels enquiry, click More options and enter Paris (any station) as a via point with a stopover duration of at least 1 hour to ensure a robust connection.  If you don't do this, the system allows cross-Paris connections as tight as 40 minutes, which I consider too tight.

  The Italian train is ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on board.  For the two French trains, you print your own tickets or can select a mobile ticket to show on your smartphone.

• How to buy tickets, advanced...

  Alternatively, you can book each train separately, more work, more fiddly, same fares, but saves the booking fee.  First book the Italian train at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, $ or £, they'll refund the €3.50 booking fee to seat61 users if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com afterwards) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly, requires Italian-language place names, see advice on using it), then book the TGV & Thalys at the French Railways website en.oui.sncf.

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

• Step 1, travel from Naples Centrale to Rome Termini in 1h10 on any afternoon Frecciarossa train you like.  There are many possible departures, just make sure you reach Rome at least an hour before the sleeper leaves, in case of any delay.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class (standard) or €29.90 in 1st class (business).  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, they'll refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (a bit more fiddly, requires Italian language place names, in €).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on board. 

• Step 2, travel from Rome to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Rome Termini at 20:17 & arriving Munich Hbf 09:21.

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

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

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, more fiddly, in €). Booking opens 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 Brussels by ICE train, leaving Munich Hbf at 10:45, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi at 17:35. ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

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

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

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 Centrale to Rome Termini in 1h10 on any afternoon Frecciarossa train you like.  There are many possible departures, just make sure you reach Rome at least an hour before the sleeper leaves, in case of any delay.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class (standard) or €29.90 in 1st class (business).  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, they'll refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (a bit more fiddly, requires Italian language place names, in €).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on board. 

• Step 2, travel from Rome to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Rome Termini at 20:17 and arriving Munich Hbf at 09:21.

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

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

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, a bit more fiddly, in €). Booking opens 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, leaving Munich Hbf at 11:45, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 20:28.

  You travel by comfortable ICE train, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

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

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

  Tip:  Before running the enquiry, change Duration of transfer from standard to at least 45 minutes.  See suggested hotels in Amsterdam.

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 Centrale to Milan Centrale by high-speed Frecciarossa train in 4h40, then Milan Centrale to Zurich HB by EuroCity train in 3h17.  It's a lovely ride along Lake Maggiore and through the Alps, see the Milan to Zurich video here.

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

  Milan to Zurich starts at €29 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Check times and buy tickets as one journey at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (a little more fiddly as requires Italian place names, in €).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.

  You can leave Naples Centrale as late as 13:40 arriving Zurich HB at 23:27, but by all means take an earlier train for an evening in Zurich.

• Stay overnight in Zurich.  For something really special, the 5-star Hotel Schweizerhof is one of my favourite hotels anywhere, just across the road from the station.  They'll even send a uniformed commissionaire to meet you & carry your bags from the train.  For something cheaper, also next to the station with great reviews, try the 4-star Hotel St Gotthard or the excellent 3-star Hotel St. Josef, 7 minutes walk from the station, see walking map.  If you're on a tight budget you can book private rooms in a one-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station at www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2, travel from Zurich to Amsterdam, leaving Zurich HB at 08:00, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 17:28.

  You travel on superb ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  By all means choose an earlier or later departure.

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

Naples to Luxembourg...

Option 1, Using the Rome to Munich Nightjet sleeper train, then daytime trains to Luxembourg...

• Step 1, travel from Naples Centrale to Rome Termini in 1h10 on any afternoon Frecciarossa train you like.  There are many possible departures, just make sure you reach Rome at least an hour before the sleeper leaves, in case of any delay.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class (standard) or €29.90 in 1st class (business).  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, they'll refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (a bit more fiddly, requires Italian language place names, in €).  It's ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on board. 

• Step 2, travel from Rome to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Rome Termini at 20:17 every night and arriving Munich Hbf at 09:21.

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

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

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, more fiddly, in €).  Booking opens 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 Luxembourg, leaving Munich Hbf at 10:28 by ICE train, change at Mannheim, Saarbrucken & Trier, arriving Luxembourg at 17:24.

  Fares start at €32.90.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, allowing at least 1 hour between trains in Munich.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  Tip:  To avoid buses and get an all-train journey, click Add intermediate stops and enter Igel as a via station.

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 Florence to Munich.  More information about Nightjets.

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

Option 2, by daytime trains with overnight stop in Zurich...

• Day 1, travel from Naples to Milan by Frecciarossa & Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train as shown in the Naples to Switzerland section below.

  You can leave Naples Centrale as late as 13:55, but an earlier train will give you more of an evening in Zurich.  Check times and buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee.  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you simply quote the booking reference on board.

• Stay overnight in Zurich.  For something really special, the 5-star Hotel Schweizerhof is one of my favourite hotels anywhere, just across the road from the station.  They'll even send a uniformed commissionaire to meet you & carry your bags from the train.  For something cheaper, also next to the station with great reviews, try the 4-star Hotel St Gotthard or the excellent 3-star Hotel St. Josef, 7 minutes walk from the station, see walking map.  If you're on a tight budget you can book private rooms in a one-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station at www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2, travel from Zurich to Luxembourg on any service you like.

  For example, leaving Zurich HB at 07:59, changing at Mannheim & Trier, arriving Luxembourg at 15:24.

  Or have a leisurely breakfast and take the easiest departure with just 1 change, leaving Zurich HB at 10:59 by direct EuroCity train EC8 to Koblenz, time for coffee in Koblenz, then the 17:06 from Koblenz direct to Luxembourg arriving 19:24.

  These are all comfortable air-conditioned trains and they all head along the scenic Rhine Valley route between Mainz and Koblenz past vineyards, castles, river boats & the legendary Lorelei Rock - see the Rails Down the Rhine page - then along the pretty Moselle river to Trier.  The whole journey is made on a through ticket, so no worries about connections, they normally go like clockwork.  There are earlier or later departures, too, just check online.

  Tip:  The EuroCity train EC8 has a Swiss 1st class panorama car, to book it, see the advice on the Rails Down the Rhine page.

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

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

  Tip:  To get an all-train journey and avoid journeys with a bus, click Add intermediate stops and enter Igel as a via station.

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EuroCity train, as used on Milan-Switzerland routes.  More information about these EuroCity 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 is much slower and a little more fiddly to book, but it's an amazing experience, arguably the best Swiss Alps train ride of them all...

• 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.

• Step 1, take an early high-speed Frecciarossa train from Naples Centrale to Milan Centrale, arriving any time before 09:45.  Book this at either www.italiarail.com & www.trenitalia.com.

• Step 2, take a local train from Milan Centrale to Tirano.  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.  However, these trains 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. 

• 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...

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Naples to Barcelona & Spain...

Option 1, by daytime trains with overnight stop in Marseille...

• Day 1, travel from Naples to Ventimiglia, leaving Naples Centrale at 05:45 by Frecciarossa high-speed train, changing at Milan Centrale onto the 11:10 train to Ventimiglia, arriving around 15:00.  This is a lovely journey with great coastal scenery between Genoa & Ventimiglia.

  Update:  Due to Covid-19 there is currently no train from Milan to Ventimiglia at 11:10.  Without it, this journey no longer works, so please use option 2, or add another overnight stop in (say) Nice.

• Day 1, travel from Ventimiglia to Marseille by TER local train, leaving Ventimiglia at 16:55, change at Nice Ville, arriving Marseille St Charles 21:03.  There's more great coastal scenery between Ventimiglia and Toulon.

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

• Day 2, travel from Marseille to Spain by AVE-S100, leaving Marseille St Charles 08:02, arriving Barcelona Sants 12:34 & Madrid Atocha 15:41.

  The AVE-S100 high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You'll pass Béziers cathedral, flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Montpelier & Perpignan, the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks, and get great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, see the photos & information here.

• Day 2, travel from Barcelona to other Spanish cities by high-speed train:  There are regular trains from Barcelona Sants to Valencia or Alicante, there's a 15:50 direct AVE from Barcelona Sants to Cordoba, Malaga & Seville arriving in the evening, and a 15:30 Alvia train from Barcelona Sants to Pamplona & San Sebastian, arriving in the evening.

• How much does it cost?

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

  Milan to Ventimiglia starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €26.90 in 1st class.

  Ventimiglia to Marseille by TER costs a fixed-price €41, but a promotional fare of €25 is sometimes offered.

  Marseille-Barcelona starts at €25 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class.  Marseille-Madrid starts at €35 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.

  Barcelona to Malaga or Seville starts at around €45.  Barcelona to Pamplona or San Sebastian starts at around €28.

  All these fares (except for TERs) vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Buy tickets the easy way...

  Go to either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.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.

  www.thetrainline.com & www.raileurope.com both connect to the Italian, French & Spanish rail ticketing systems, so you can buy all these tickets together in one place, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem.  If you have any problems, break the journey down into stages, if necessary booking each train separately.

  Booking for Trenitalia trains, French trains & the Marseille-Spain AVE normally opens up to 4 months ahead.  Booking for Spanish domestic trains opens 60 days ahead, but this varies.

  Italian Frecciabianca trains are ticketless, you just quote your booking reference to the conductor on board.  For the AVE and TER trains, you print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.  For Spanish trains & Italian regional trains, you print your own ticket.

• Alternatively, you can book each train separately like this, although it's more work and the fares should be the same...

  Step 1, book from Florence to Ventimiglia using either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, English place names, and they'll refund their €3.50 booking fee 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 Ventimiglia to Marseille at the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly).  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

  Step 3, book from Marseille to Barcelona or Madrid for day 2 at the French Railways website en.oui.sncf.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

  Step 4, book any onward trains within Spain at the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see this advice on using it, it's a lot easier to use www.thetrainline.com).  You print your own tickets.

By TER local train from Ventimiglia to Nice.  Here, a TER rolls into Juan les Pins station, between Nice & Cannes.

Coastal scenery from the upper deck of the TER from Ventimiglia to Nice & Cannes...

Marseille to Barcelona by AVE.  This is an AVE-S100 at Barcelona Sants.

1st class seats on an AVE S100.  360º photo of 1st class.		Cafe-bar...

These S100 AVE trains operate the TGV/AVE services from Madrid to Marseille, Barcelona to Lyon, Toulouse.  This is an AVE-S100 at Barcelona Sants.		2nd class seats on the S100 AVE, all with power sockets.  Luggage goes on the racks at the car ends or above the seats.  360º photo of 2nd class More photos & info about AVE S100.

Mt Canigou & the Pyrenees...  Seen from the train and one of the highest peaks in the mighty Pyrenees, the 2,784m (9,137 feet) high Mt Canigou dominates the skyline all the way from Girona to Perpignan...

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 see Geneva...

• Day 1, travel from Naples to Geneva, leaving Naples Centrale at 12:30, change at Milan Centrale, arriving Geneva at 21:21. 

  Or you can leave Naples Centrale at 14:30, change at Milan Centrale, arriving Geneva at 23:54.

  You travel from Naples to Milan by Frecciarossa high-speed train with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then from Milan to Geneva by ETR610 EuroCity train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In summer when it's light in the evening you can enjoy the Alpine scenery along the famous Simplon route.

  Fares start at €29.90 for Naples to Milan and at €29 for Milan to Geneva.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book from Naples to Geneva at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee), using either of those websites means all your tickets can be booked together in one place.  Or book at www.italiarail.com in €, £ or $, the small fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com.

  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you simply quote the booking reference on the train.

• Stay overnight in Geneva.  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.

• Day 2, travel from Geneva to Barcelona, leaving Geneva at 11:30 by TER regional train, change trains at Lyon Part Dieu (arrive 13:25, depart 14:28) onto the afternoon AVE-S100 high-speed train to Barcelona, arriving Barcelona Sants at 19:33.

  The AVE train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You'll pass Béziers cathedral, flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Montpelier & Perpignan, the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks, and get great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, see the photos & information here.

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

  Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly, no fee).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

• Stay overnight in Barcelona.  Hotels close to Barcelona Sants station with good or great reviews:  Hotel Barcelo Sants (4-star, great reviews, directly above Barcelona Sants station itself, recommended), AC Hotel Sants by Marriott (4-star, just 50m from the station), Hotel Catalonia Roma (3-star), Hostal Baler (2-star), Hotel Transit (1-star), Meeting Point Hostel (inexpensive private rooms & dorm beds).

• Day 3, travel from Barcelona to other Spanish cities high-speed train.

  For Madrid:  AVE-S103 high-speed trains link Barcelona Sants with Madrid Atocha every hour or two in as little as 2h30 from €35, check times at www.raileurope.com.

  For Cordoba & Seville:  Take the direct AVE-S112 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:30 arriving Cordoba 13:12 & Seville Santa Justa at 14:02.  Fares start at €53.  Alternatively, spend a morning in Barcelona and take the 15:50 AVE S112 high-speed train to Cordoba & Seville.

  For Malaga:  Take the 09:00 AVE high-speed train to Madrid Atocha arriving 11:45, then the 13:00 AVE high-speed train to Malaga Maria Zambrano, arriving 16:05.  Alternatively, spend a morning in Barcelona and take the direct 15:50 AVE S112 high-speed train to Malaga.

  For Granada:  A direct AVE S112 high-speed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 08:30 arriving Granada at 14:52.

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

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

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it).  Spanish trains normally open for booking 60 days ahead, but it varies.

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, see the Direct Ferries website 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...

Option 1, using the Madrid-Lisbon sleeper...

• 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.

Gran Clase sleeper, in evening mode with the seats folded out...		...return from dinner to find the attendant has made up the beds...		Gran Clase sleepers have toilet & shower...		The trainhotel Lusitania from Madrid to Lisbon is an articulated Spanish Talgo train.  Seen here at Madrid Chamartin station.

The trainhotel's café-bar serves drinks & food.  Grab a barstool early, it gets crowded later on!		4-berth tourist class sleepers (Turista Cama), cosy & inexpensive.  They convert from beds to seats.

Option 2, Naples to Faro & the Algarve using a bus from Seville...

• Day 1, travel from Naples to Barcelona as shown above.

• Stay overnight in Barcelona.  Hotels close to Barcelona Sants station with good or great reviews:  Hotel Barcelo Sants (4-star, great reviews, directly above Barcelona Sants station itself, the recommended option), AC Hotel Sants by Marriott (4-star, just 50m from the station), Hotel Catalonia Roma (3-star), Hostal Baler (2-star), Hotel Transit (1-star), Meeting Point Hostel (inexpensive private rooms & dorm beds).

• Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Seville by AVE-S112 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:30 and arriving Seville Santa Justa at 14:02.

  Fares start at around €46, book this at www.raileurope.com (easiest, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, only in €, may reject some international credit cards).

• Day 2, travel from Seville to Faro by bus.  Buses run from Seville Plaza de Armas to Faro several times daily, journey time around 3h40, fare around €16-€20.

  Buses are run by Damas, Eva-Bus & Alsa amongst others, you can check times & buy tickets for various bus companies all in one place at Omio.com.  You print your own ticket.

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Naples to Andorra...

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Marseille as shown in the Naples to Nice & Marseille section above.

  Book this at either www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.

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

• Step 2, travel from Marseille to Toulouse by Intercité leaving Marseille St Charles around 09:31 & arriving Toulouse Matabiau at 13:14.

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

  Book this train at either www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly).

  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

• Step 3, travel from Toulouse Matabiau station to Andorra la Vella by bus.  Andbus run several buses per day taking 4 hours, fare €33.  There's a bus leaving Toulouse Matabiau station (bus stand 15) at 15:00 arriving Andorra 19:00.  Check times & book the bus at www.andorrabybus.com.  I'd allow at least an hour between train and bus in Toulouse, just in case of delay.

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Naples to Munich, Berlin & Germany from €39...

Option 1, using the Rome-Munich sleeper & onward train to Frankfurt, Hamburg, Berlin or anywhere in Germany - the time-effective option...

• Step 1, travel from Naples Centrale to Rome Termini in 1h10 on any late afternoon Frecciarossa train you like.  There are many possible departures, just make sure you reach Rome at least an hour before the sleeper leaves, in case of any delay.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd (standard) class or €29.90 in 1st (business) class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, they'll refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (a bit more fiddly, requires Italian language place names, in €).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on board. 

• Step 2, travel from Rome to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Rome Termini at 20:17 and arriving Munich Hbf at 09:21 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, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, a bit more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  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 anywhere in Germany, for example leaving Munich Hbf 10:51 by ICE train arriving Berlin Hbf at 15:29.

  Book from Munich to any German destination at the German Railways website www.bahn.de with fares from €18.90 upwards, allowing at least 1 hour between trains in Munich.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or 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 2, Naples to Hamburg or Berlin using the Zurich-Hamburg/Berlin sleeper - another time-effective option...

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Naples Centrale at 09:25 and arriving Milan Centrale at 14:00.

  Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.  The Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it).  It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.

• Step 2, travel from Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train, leaving Milan Centrale at 15:10 and arriving Zurich HB at 18:27.

  The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's a lovely run through the Alps, past Italian and Swiss lakes and passing through the world's longest railway tunnel, the Gotthard Base Tunnel.  Have dinner in Zurich, I can recommend the steak-frites and a beer at the Brasserie Federal on the main concourse at Zurich HB.

  Fares start at €29 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it).  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.

• Step 3, travel from Zurich to Germany by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Zurich HB at 19:59 & arriving Hamburg Hbf 07:53 or Berlin Hbf 07:38.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has portions.  The Hamburg portion  has two air-conditioned double-deck sleeping-cars (1 & 2 bed compartments with washbasin, 1 & 2 bed deluxe compartments with shower & toilet, plus a few 3-berth compartments with washbasin), couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments & ordinary seats.  The Berlin portion has a 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.  The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee in the morning, See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, tips, photos & video.

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

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  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 Switzerland & click nj.

Option 3, Naples to Munich & Germany via the Brenner route - a scenic daytime option...

• Take a high-speed train from Naples to Bologna, then take a smart modern Austrian EuroCity train with restaurant car from Bologna to Munich via the Brenner Pass in 5h10.  It's a lovely run up the Brenner over a meal in the restaurant car, see the Brenner Pass scenery video here.

  Leave Naples Centrale at 06:47 every day, change at Bologna Centrale onto the 11:52 EuroCity train to Munich Hbf, arriving 18:27.

  Leave Naples Centrale at 11:09 Monday-Friday only, change at Bologna Centrale onto the 15:50 EuroCity train to Munich Hbf, arriving 22:27.

  Other departures are possible with changes in both Rome and Verona, as Verona-Munich trains leave every 2 hours.  But the departures shown above are the best ones to go for with just one change in Bologna.

• How much does it cost?

  Naples to Bologna or Verona starts at €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.

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

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets...

  Book from Naples Centrale to Munich or anywhere in Germany at www.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.  Then 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.

  www.raileurope.com connects to both the Italian and German ticketing systems so can source both tickets as one seamless booking.  You can pay in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, there's a small booking fee.

  Booking for Italian trains opens up to 4 months ahead, booking for the Austrian/German trains opens up to 6 months ahead.  The Italian train is ticketless, you quote the booking reference on board.  For Austrian/German trains you print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or smartphone.

  Alternatively, you can 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 Austrian;/German trains from Bologna or Verona to anywhere in Germany at the German Railways website 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 4, 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 2nd class (standard) or €39.90 in 1st class (business).  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  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.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book from Milan to anywhere in Germany at www.bahn.de (in €, no booking fee) or www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both in €, £ or $, small booking fee, keeps all your bookings together in one place), looking for the 11:20 departure.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

An ETR610 at Milan Centrale, as used on the direct Milan-Frankfurt EuroCity train.  More information about ETR610 trains.

Table for 4 in 2nd class, ideal for families...		1st class seats on the ETR610 EuroCity train...

Lake Maggiore, seen over lunch in the restaurant car...

The restaurant car on an ETR610...		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 Salzburg & Vienna - the safe, comfortable & time-effective option...

• Step 1, travel from Naples Centrale to Rome Termini in 1h10 on any afternoon Frecciarossa train you like.  There are many possible departures, just make sure you reach Rome at least an hour before the sleeper leaves, in case of any delay.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class (standard) or €29.90 in 1st class (business).  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, they'll refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (a bit more fiddly, requires Italian language place names, in €).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  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 20:17 every night, arriving Vienna Hbf at 08:52.  A separate portion arrives Salzburg Hbf at 06:49.

  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, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

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

The Nightjet sleeper at Vienna Hbf.  More information about Nightjet trains...

Deluxe sleeper.  Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room.  Larger photo.  Video of deluxe room		The same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out.  Larger photo.		Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided.  Larger photo.		Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open.  It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth.  Larger photo.

6-berth couchettes...		4-berth couchettes...		Couchette car on the Nightjet sleeper train...

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

• 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 and arriving Venice Santa Lucia 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!

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

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee, using Trainline means you can book all your tickets together in one place) or www.trenitalia.com (in €).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on board.

• Step 2, travel from Venice to Vienna by smart Austrian railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:52, 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 restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the Venice-Vienna information page.

  For Salzburg, change in Villach arriving Salzburg Hbf 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.

  Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class, €44.90 in 1st class or €59.90 in business class (= premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Bologna by Frecciarossa, leaving Naples Centrale at 07:09 and arriving Bologna Centrale at 11:00.

  The 300 km/h (186 mph) Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Step 2, travel from Bologna to Innsbruck by Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Bologna Centrale at 11:52 & arriving Innsbruck Hbf 16:36. 

  This train has an Austrian restaurant car and travels through the scenic Brenner Pass, treat yourself to a meal as the mountains glide by, see the Brenner Pass scenery video here.

• Step 3, travel from Innsbruck to Salzburg or Vienna by railjet train, leaving Innsbruck Hbf 17:14, arriving Salzburg Hbf 19:02 & Vienna Hbf 22:05.

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

• How much does it cost?

  Rome to Bologna starts at €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class.

  Bologna to Innsbruck, Salzburg, Vienna or anywhere in Austria starts at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

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

• How to buy tickets...

  First book the 11:52 from Bologna Centrale to Innsbruck, Salzburg, Vienna or anywhere in Austria using www.thetrainline.com (quickest & easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, in €, more fiddly).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

  Now add the connecting train from Naples Centrale to Bologna Centrale at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee, using Trainline means all your bookings are together in one place), or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, or $) 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.  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you simply quote the booking reference on the train.

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, Gothenburg & Stockholm...

Option 1, using the Zurich-Hamburg sleeper...

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Naples Centrale at 09:25 and arriving Milan Centrale at 14:00.

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

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

  Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.

• Step 2, travel from Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train, leaving Milan Centrale at 15:10 and arriving Zurich HB at 18:27.

  The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's a lovely run through the Alps, past Italian and Swiss lakes and passing through the world's longest railway tunnel, the Gotthard Base Tunnel.  Have dinner in Zurich, I can recommend the steak-frites and a beer at the Brasserie Federal on the main concourse at Zurich HB.

  Fares start at €29 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it).  It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.

• Step 3, travel from Zurich to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Zurich HB at 19:59 and arriving Hamburg Hbf at 07:53.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has two air-conditioned double-deck sleeping-cars (1 & 2 bed compartments with washbasin, 1 & 2 bed deluxe compartments with shower & toilet, plus a few 3-berth compartments with washbasin), couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments & ordinary seats.  The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee in the morning, see the Nightjet information page.

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

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly, same prices).  Booking opens 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 Switzerland & click nj.

• Step 4, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:55 & arriving Copenhagen at 13:33.

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

  Book from Hamburg to Copenhagen at the German Railways website www.bahn.de or www.raileurope.com

• Step 5, travel from Copenhagen to Sweden...

  For Stockholm, travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by 125mph X2000 train, leaving Copenhagen at 14:19 and arriving Stockholm at 19:36.  You should book from Hamburg to Stockholm as one transaction from €59.90 at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.

  For Malmo or Gothenburg, Öresund Link trains run hourly from Copenhagen to Gothenburg in 3h53 and every half hour or better from Copenhagen to Malmo in 39 minutes.  You should book from Hamburg to Malmo or Gothenburg (= Goteborg Central) as one transaction from €59.90 at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.

Zurich to Hamburg by Nightjet...  This is a double-deck sleeping-car at Zurich HB. Courtesy of DiscoverbyRail.com.

2-berth sleeper on lower deck...		Stairs down to pair of lower compartments...		1 or 2-bed sleeper on lower deck with washbasin, viewed through window.  Set up as 1-bed.  Note how compact the compartment is...

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

Option 2, using the Rome-Munich sleeper...

• Step 1, travel from Naples Centrale to Rome Termini in 1h10 on any afternoon Frecciarossa train you like.  There are many possible departures, just make sure you reach Rome at least an hour before the sleeper leaves, in case of any delay.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class (standard) or €29.90 in 1st class (business).  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, they'll refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (a bit more fiddly, requires Italian language place names, in €).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on board.

• Step 2, travel from Rome to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Rome Termini 20:17, arriving Munich Hbf 09:21.

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

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

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, more fiddly, in €).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  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 10:22, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving in Copenhagen at 21:33.

  You travel from Munich to Hamburg by luxurious ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then from Hamburg to Copenhagen by comfortable Danish IC3 intercity train.  Treat this as a chill-out day with a good book and a glass or two of wine...

  If you're only going as far as Copenhagen, book from Munich to Copenhagen from €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class at the German Railways site www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

• Step 4 if you're going to Malmo, simply take the next available Öresund train from Copenhagen to Malmö, these leave twice an hour taking 39 minutes.  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 €56.90 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, then travel from Copenhagen to Oslo by train as explained here.  Departure from Copenhagen is usually around 08:27 arriving around 16:52, but check current times online.  Alternatively, spend a morning in Copenhagen, and after lunch take the DFDS overnight ferry to Oslo with a comfortable private cabin with shower & toilet, sailing from Copenhagen at 14:15 and arriving Oslo at 09:15 on day 3, as also shown here.  This is remarkably affordable, and saves a hotel bill.  Book the ferry at www.dfds.co.uk.

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 Oslo & Norway...

Option 1, by train all the way, with overnight stops Munich & Copenhagen...

• Day 1, travel from Naples to Munich by daytime trains via the scenic Brenner Pass as shown in Naples-Germany option 3 above.

• Stay overnight in Munich.  I suggest the Sofitel Munich Beyerpost, Eden Hotel Wolff, InterCity Hotel or (budget) the Pension Locarno, all right next to the station with good or great reviews.

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Copenhagen by train, leaving Munich Hbf at 10:22, 1 easy change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen at 21:33. 

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

  Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone. 

• Stay overnight in Copenhagen.  Hotels near the station with good reviews include the Nimb Hotel (5-star luxe), Radisson Blu Royal Hotel (5-star), Axel Guldsmeden (4-star), Andersen Boutique Hotel, First Hotel Mayfair (3-star), Hotel Ansgar (3-star), City Hotel Nebo (2-star).

• Day 3, travel from Copenhagen to Oslo by train as explained here.  Departure from Copenhagen is usually around 08:27 arriving around 16:52, but check current times online.

  Alternatively, spend a morning in Copenhagen, and after lunch take the DFDS overnight ferry to Oslo with a comfortable private cabin with shower & toilet, sailing from Copenhagen at 14:15 and arriving Oslo at 09:15 on day 4, as also shown here.  This is remarkably affordable, and saves a hotel bill.  Book the ferry at www.dfds.co.uk.

Option 2, using the Zurich-Hamburg sleeper & Kiel-Oslo ferry - the most luxurious way to Norway...

• Day 1, travel from Naples to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Naples Centrale at 09:25 and arriving Milan Centrale at 14:00.

  Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.  The Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it).  It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.

• Day 1, travel from Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train, leaving Milan Centrale at 15:10 and arriving Zurich HB at 18:27.

  The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's a lovely run through the Alps, past Italian and Swiss lakes and passing through the world's longest railway tunnel, the Gotthard Base Tunnel.  Have dinner in Zurich, I can recommend the steak-frites and a beer at the Brasserie Federal on the main concourse at Zurich HB.

  Fares start at €29 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it).  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.

• Day 1, travel from Zurich to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Zurich HB at 19:59 and arriving Hamburg Hbf at 07:53.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has two air-conditioned double-deck sleeping-cars (1 & 2 bed compartments with washbasin, 1 & 2 bed deluxe compartments with shower & toilet, plus a few 3-berth compartments with washbasin), couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments & ordinary seats.  The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee in the morning, see the Nightjet information page.

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

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly, same prices).  Booking opens 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 Switzerland & click nj.

• Day 2, take a regional train from Hamburg Hbf to Kiel then the overnight Color Line cruise ferry to Oslo.  The ferry sails from Kiel around 14:00, arriving in Oslo around 10:L00 on day 3 from Rome.  For full details of this Hamburg to Oslo journey, see Hamburg-Oslo option 2 on the trains from Hamburg page.

Option 3, using the Zurich-Hamburg sleeper & Frederikshavn-Oslo ferry - a cheaper option, more changes, slightly quicker...

• Day 1-2, travel from Rome to Hamburg as shown in option 2 above.

• Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Frederikshavn in the north of Denmark by train, and take the comfortable DFDS overnight ferry from Frederikshavn to Oslo.  This is a cheaper option than the Color Line ferry from Kiel, although Hamburg to Frederikshavn involves 2 changes and the ferry doesn't sail until very late at night.  For full details of this Hamburg to Oslo journey, see Hamburg-Oslo option 3 on the train from Hamburg page.

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Naples to Helsinki & Finland...

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

• Day 1, travel from Naples Centrale to Rome Termini in 1h10 on any afternoon Frecciarossa train you like.  There are many possible departures, just make sure you reach Rome at least an hour before the sleeper leaves, in case of any delay.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class (standard) or €29.90 in 1st class (business).  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, they'll refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (a bit more fiddly, requires Italian language place names, in €).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on board. 

• Day 1, travel from Rome to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Rome Termini at 20:17 and arriving Munich Hbf at 09:21. 

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

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

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, more fiddly, in €).  Booking opens 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.

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Hamburg by ICE4 train, leaving Munich Hbf at 10:22 and arriving Hamburg Hbf 15:54.

  Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €56.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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

• Day 2, transfer from Hamburg Hbf to the Travemünde ferry terminal by local train+bus and sail from Travemünde to Helsinki with Finnlines, as shown in detail on the Trains from Hamburg page.  Finnlines sail from Travemünde in northern Germany to Helsinki every day, boarding from 22:30 to 24:00 and arriving Helsinki Vuosaari ferry terminal at 09:00 2 nights later (Day 4 from Naples).  Check sailing dates, times & book the ferry at www.finnlines.com.

• Book onward trains within Finland at www.vr.fi.

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

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

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Naples to Prague from €87...

Option 1, Naples to Prague via Vienna...

• Step 1, travel from Naples Centrale to Rome Termini in 1h10 on any afternoon Frecciarossa train you like.  There are many possible departures, just make sure you reach Rome at least an hour before the sleeper leaves, in case of any delay.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class (standard) or €29.90 in 1st class (business).  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, they'll refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (a bit more fiddly, requires Italian language place names, in €).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  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 20:17 & arriving Vienna Hbf 08:52.

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

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

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, a bit more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  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 15:38.

  Fares start at €14.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44.90 in business class (= premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  The swish railjet train has a restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more information about railjet.

  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 (in €, £ or $, Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, small booking fee) or the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz (in koruna, booking opens up to 3 months ahead) - 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 the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.

Rome to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train...  More information about Nightjet trains...

Deluxe sleeper.  Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room.  Larger photo.  Video of deluxe room		The same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out.  Larger photo.		Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided.  Larger photo.		Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open.  It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth.  Larger photo.

6-berth couchettes...		4-berth couchettes...		Couchette car on the Nightjet sleeper train...

Vienna to Prague by railjet, with economy, first & business class, restaurant car, free WiFi & 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 Frecciarossa high-speed train, making one quick & easy change at the magnificent Milan Centrale onto a EuroCity train along Lake Maggiore and through the Swiss Alps, arriving Zurich HB at 18:27.

  The Milan-Zurich EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It takes the scenic Gotthard route, although half an hour of this journey is now inside the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world's longest.

  Naples to Milan starts at €29.90, Milan to Zurich starts at €29.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book from Naples to Zurich at www.raileurope.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, $ or £, they'll refund the €3.50 booking fee to seat61 users if you email them after booking at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly, requires Italian-language place names, see advice on using it). 

  Just make sure you have at least an hour in Zurich to change trains in case of any delay.  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  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 at the Brasserie Federal on the main concourse at Zurich HB.

• Step 2, travel from Zurich to Prague by sleeping-car, leaving Zurich HB at 21:40 and arriving Ceske Budejovice 08:52 & Prague Hlavni 11:02.

  The sleeping-car to Prague is a modern Czech comfortline type with nine 1, 2 or 3 bed compartments with washbasin and three deluxe 1, 2 or 3 bed compartments with en suite toilet & shower.  There are toilets and a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  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 at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz.  Booking normally opens 90 days ahead and you print 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, travel from Naples Centrale to Rome Termini in 1h10 on any afternoon Frecciarossa train you like.  There are many possible departures, just make sure you reach Rome at least an hour before the sleeper leaves, in case of any delay.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class (standard) or €29.90 in 1st class (business).  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, they'll refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (a bit more fiddly, requires Italian language place names, in €).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  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 20:17 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 08:52.

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

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

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  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 1h07, see the timetable here.  You can check times at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.

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Naples to Budapest from €98...

• Step 1, travel from Naples Centrale to Rome Termini in 1h10 on any afternoon Frecciarossa train you like.  There are many possible departures, just make sure you reach Rome at least an hour before the sleeper leaves, in case of any delay.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class (standard) or €29.90 in 1st class (business).  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, they'll refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (a bit more fiddly, requires Italian language place names, in €).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  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 20:17 & arriving at Vienna Hbf 08:52.

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

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

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  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 €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44.90 in business class (= premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  The swish railjet train has a restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more information about railjets.

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

  Buy tickets for this train as a second transaction at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.  Easy!

Step 1, Rome to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train...  More information about Nightjet trains...

Deluxe sleeper.  Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room.  Larger photo.  Video of deluxe room		The same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out.  Larger photo.		Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided.  Larger photo.		Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open.  It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth.  Larger photo.

6-berth couchettes...		4-berth couchettes...		Couchette car on the Nightjet sleeper train...

Step 2, Vienna to Budapest by railjet, seen arrived on platform 9 at Budapest's historic Keleti station.  More information about railjets.

Economy (2nd) class...  Larger photo.		First class...  Larger photo.

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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.

  You leave Naples in the afternoon, using the Rome-Vienna Nightjet sleeper train then a railjet train to Budapest, arriving at lunchtime.  You've an afternoon to explore Budapest.

• Step 2, take the overnight sleeper train Ister leaving Budapest Keleti at 19:10 and arriving Brasov at 09:54 & Bucharest Nord at 12:33 next day. 

  This comfortable train has an air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, see the photos on the London to Romania page.

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

  Book at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.  Click EN top right for English.  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  For Bucharest type Bucuresti.  It can book seats, couchettes or sleepers.  For Hungary to Romania journeys you print your own ticket.

  You can also normally book at the Hungarian Railways website www.mav-start.hu, see my advice on using it.  For Bucharest type Bucuresti.  You show your ticket in the MAV app on your smartphone.  However, since MAV revamped its website in 2020, it can't book couchettes or sleepers, only seats, though this should be fixed at some point.

• 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 as shown on the Trains from Budapest page.  These daytime trains are also bookable from €26.30 at www.mavcsoport.hu.

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Naples to Ljubljana & Zagreb...

Option 1, using the Rome-Austria Nightjet sleeper train - the most time-effective option.

• Step 1, travel from Naples Centrale to Rome Termini in 1h10 on any afternoon Frecciarossa train you like.  There are many possible departures, just make sure you reach Rome at least an hour before the sleeper leaves, in case of any delay.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class (standard) or €29.90 in 1st class (business).  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, they'll refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (a bit more fiddly, requires Italian language place names, in €).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on board. 

• Step 2, travel from Rome to Bruck an der Mur by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Rome Termini at 20:17 and arriving Bruck/Mur at 06:39.

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

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

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, more fiddly, in €). Booking opens 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 Bruck an der Mur to Ljubljana by EuroCity train Emona, leaving Bruck/Mur at 09:59, and arriving Ljubljana at 13:59. 

  Change at Zidani Most for Zagreb, arriving 17:12.

  It's an enjoyable ride with some great scenery.  The Emona  has air-conditioned cars and a restaurant car, treat yourself to lunch.

  Fares start at €19.90.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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

Option 2, using daytime trains on 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!

  It's possible to travel from Naples to Ljubljana in a day this way, although you'll need to stay overnight & catch a train to Zagreb next morning.

  Click here for timetable & fares between Venice, Ljubljana & Zagreb, with 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.

Inside the ETR563.  Larger photo.		The train to Ljubljana about to leave Trieste.  Courtesy of Marc Williams.

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

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

• 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!

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

  Book this train at 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.

  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  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 15:52 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 train, leaving Villach at 06:28, arriving Lesce-Bled 07:28, Ljubljana 08:11 & Zagreb 10:43.

  Buy this ticket at the station, likely to be around €20 to Ljubljana, €40 to Zagreb.

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Naples to Dubrovnik & Split...

Option 1, by train via Zagreb...

• Step 1, travel overland from Naples to Zagreb by train as shown above.

• Step 2, take a train from Zagreb to Split (daytime or sleeper) then a bus Split to Dubrovnik (4 hours, lots of buses). 

Option 2, it's more time-effective to take a train to Ancona or Bari, then a comfortable overnight ferry to Croatia.

• Step 1, book an overnight ferry with comfortable en suite cabin either from Ancona to Split or from Bari to Dubrovnik.  www.jadrolinija.hr sails on both routes several times a week, leaving 19:45-22:00 and arriving 07:00-08:00.  You can choose a private cabin or cheaper berth in a shared cabin.  There are also reclining seats, but I always recommend a bed in a cabin for a safe and secure night's sleep.  Make sure you're on deck with your camera ready as the ship approaches the beautiful Croatian coast!

• Step 2, now add a train ticket from Naples Centrale to either Ancona Centrale or Bari Centrale using 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. 

  You should choose a train which arrives in Bari or Ancona at least 3 hours before the ferry sails, to allow for transfer to the port and check-in.  In Bari it's a 25 minute walk via Bari's pleasant old town to the ferry terminal, or a 10 minute taxi ride.  In Ancona, take a taxi from station to ferry terminal.

Blue Line & Jadrolinija ferries in Split Harbour...  Above right, a deluxe cabin on the Blue Line ferry, which comes complete with an en suite jacuzzi...  Courtesy of Andrew Leo.

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Naples to Belgrade & Sofia...

• 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!

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

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (requires Italian language place names, in €).  Italiarail will refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com afterwards.  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.

• Step 2, travel from Venice to Villach in Austria by railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:52 & arriving Villach at 19:11.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

• Stay overnight in Villach.  The Hotel Goldenes Lamm or Hotel City are both near the station with great reviews.

• Step 3, travel from Villach to Zagreb by train, leaving Villach at 06:28 and arriving Zagreb at 10:43.

  2nd class only, there's no catering car so 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 by train, leaving Zagreb at 11:04 arriving Novi Beograd 18:04 & Belgrade Centar at 18:12.

  This train is still currently suspended due to Covid-19.

  The train is 2nd class only.  There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink along.

  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.  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...

Option 1, using the Rome-Vienna sleeper...

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Rome by Frecciarossa high-speed train from €19.90 booked at www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.

  It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.  There are lots of possible departures, just make sure you get to Rome at least an hour before the sleeper leaves, in case of any delay.

• Step 2, travel from Rome to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train leaving Rome Termini at 20:17 & arriving Vienna Hbf at 08:52.

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

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

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens 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.

  Spend the morning in Vienna...

• Step 3, travel from Vienna to Warsaw by EuroCity train with restaurant car, leaving Vienna Hbf at 14:10 and arriving Warsaw Centralna at 21:24.

  Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class booked at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.  You print your own ticket.

  For Krakow, change at Katowice, arriving Krakow Glowny at 21:10.  Book from Vienna to Krakow at www.oebb.at,

  Tip:  When booking Vienna to Krakow with a change in Katowice, it may sell you the whole journey in which case no problem.  However, if it says Ticket for section only and sells you just the Vienna-Katowice part, simply buy the onward Katowice-Krakow ticket at the station in Katowice, or buy it online at the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl and print it out.

• Alternatively, 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.

Option 2, by daytime trains with overnight stop in Vienna...

• Day 1, travel from Naples to Vienna in one day, either via Innsbruck or via Venice, as shown in the Naples to Vienna section above.

• Stay overnight in Vienna.  Hotels near the station with good reviews include the Motel One Vienna Hbf, GraetzlHotel, Hotel Schani Wien.

• Day 2, travel from Vienna to Warsaw or Krakow by comfortable EuroCity train, as shown in the Vienna-Poland section on the Vienna page.

 

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Naples to Kiev, Lviv & Moscow...

• Day 1, travel from Naples to Vienna using the 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...

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Bari Centrale by tilting Frecciargento train, an enjoyable and scenic ride across the spine of Italy.  Obviously, book the ferry first and work out a suitable connecting train afterwards.

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

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, easy to use, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly).  Italiarail will refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference.  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.

  On arrival at Bari Centrale, walk 25 minutes or take a taxi from Bari Centrale to the ferry terminal which is adjacent to Bari's pleasant old town.

  Always allow at least 3 hours between train arrival and ferry departure.

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

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

  The ship is modern and comfortable, with restaurants, bars, lounges and sun decks.  You can book a deck place (a nice cheap option in summer if you have your own sleeping bag) or a reclining seat or a berth in various types of cabin, including luxury cabins with private shower & toilet.  Strolling the decks in the morning sun as the ship cruises past the islands of Cephalonia and Ithaca is the nicest part of the trip, and it's a wonderful way to arrive in Greece.

  In Patras, the ferry arrives at the new South ferry terminal a few km from the town centre.  Bus number 18 links the port with the town bus station every hour on the hour, fare €1.20 or you can hop in a taxi for around €7, journey time 15-20 minutes.

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

• The Milan to Athens part of this journey is explained in detail on the London to Greece page, just ignore the London-Milan part of the journey.

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

My favourite hotel search site: www.booking.com www.booking.com is my favourite hotel booking site and I generally prefer booking my hotels all in one place here.  You can usually book with free cancellation - this allows you to confirm your accommodation at no risk before train booking opens.  It also means you can hold accommodation while you finalise your itinerary, and alter your plans as they evolve - a feature I use all the time when putting a trip together.  I never book hotels non-refundably.  I have also come to trust their review scores - you won't be disappointed with anything over 8.0. Tip:  It can pay to compare prices across multiple hotel sites:  HotelsCombined.com is a price comparison site which compares hotel prices on Booking.com, Hotels.com, Expedia, Accor, Agoda and many others.  Though if there's not much in it, I prefer keeping all my bookings together in one place at www.booking.com.

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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