• There are several departures from Naples to Nice & the Côte d'Azur every day, see the Italy to Nice page for details.

  Take a high-speed Frecciarossa train from Naples Centrale to the magnificent Milan Centrale in 4h33, an Intercity 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, 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 schedules, fares & 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 Rome Termini.  More about Frecciarossas their 4 classes.  Click the images below for larger photos.

Standard class, seats 2+2 across width.		Premium class, seats 2+2 across width.

Business class, seats 1+2 across car width.		Executive class, with food & drink included.

Step 2, take an Intercity train from Milan to Ventimiglia.  Above, a train 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, Naples to Brussels using the Rome-Munich Nightjet sleeper - easy & time-effective, avoids crossing Paris

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Rome by Frecciarossa train, leaving Naples Centrale at 17:25 arriving Rome Termini 18:35.

  The Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  By all means book an earlier train and spend some time in Rome.  Just make sure you allow at least an hour between trains in Rome when catching a sleeper.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class (standard) or €29.90 in 1st class (business).  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 simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. 

• Step 2, travel from Rome to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Rome Termini at 20:17 & arriving Munich Hbf 09:22.

  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.  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 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, leaving Munich Hbf at 10:48, change at Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen, arriving Brussels Midi 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, so book ahead.

  Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

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

Rome to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train.  More about Nightjets.

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.

Nightjet couchette car.		6-berth couchettes.		4-berth couchettes.

Munich to Brussels by ICE with one easy change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf.  ICEs have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Above, an ICE3M at Brussels Midi.  More about ICE trains.

2nd class seats on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.		1st class seats on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.

Proper china, metal cutlery.  I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier!  See current month's menu.		Restaurant car:  This is the small 12-seat restaurant area on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.

Option 2, Naples to Brussels with overnight stop in Lyon - easy & time-effective

• Day 1, travel from Naples to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Naples Centrale at 09:58 arriving Milan Centrale at 14:50.

  High-speed Frecciarossa trains have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about Frecciarossas.

• Day 1, travel from Milan to Lyon by Frecciarossa, leaving Milan Centrale at 15:53 and arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 20:23.

  The Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's a scenic & relaxing run, at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) on the high-speed line from Milan to Turin, then a slow meander on the classic line through the alps to Lyon.  Bring a good book and 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.  More information, photos & tips about the Milan-Lyon-Paris Frecciarossa.

  Update:  The direct Milan-Lyon-Paris line via Modane was blocked by a landslide in August 2023, and remains blocked in 2024.  Until further notice, all direct Milan-Lyon trains are cancelled.  Please use alternative routes.  More information.

• Stay overnight in Lyon, The Ibis Budget Lyon Centre - Gare Part Dieu is affordable & right next to Lyon Part Dieu station with good reviews, the Radisson Blu Hotel, Lyon also gets great reviews and is just a few minutes walk away.

• Day 2, travel from Lyon to Brussels by direct TGV, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi:

  On Mondays to Saturdays you can leave Lyon Part Dieu at 05:50 arriving Brussels Midi at 09:43.

  Or on any day of the week you can leave Lyon Part Dieu at 08:30 arriving Brussels Midi at 12:11

• How much does it cost?

  Naples to Milan starts at €29.90 in standard class, €39.90 in business class or €154.90 in executive class.

  Milan to Lyon starts at €25 in standard class, €32 in business class or €149 in executive class.

  Lyon to Brussels starts at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets

  Buy tickets for each of these trains at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (whichever you prefer).  Book each train individually, adding it to your basket, then check out.

  www.raileurope.com and www.thetrainline.com connect to both the Italian and French booking systems so you can book all these trains in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $.  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  There's a small booking fee.

  The Italian trains are ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.  For the TGV, you print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.

• How to buy tickets, advanced

  Alternatively, you can book each train separately, more work, more fiddly, same fares, but no booking fee.  First book the Italian trains at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, $ or £, seat choice from a seat map, they'll refund their small 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 Lyon-Brussels TGV at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com.

Milan to Lyon by Frecciarossa:  A Frecciarossa 1000 at Milan Centrale.  Interior photos courtesy of Nicholas Brooke.

Standard class, with seats arranged 2+2 across the car width.  Larger photo.		Premium class, identical to Standard but in leather.  Sold as Standard on this route.  Larger photo.

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

Executive class at one end of the train.  Larger photo.		The Executive class meeting room.  Larger photo.

Take a good book, a bottle o' red, and enjoy the scenery from Milan to Lyon with your feet up.  These are mountains in Italy, between Turin and Lyon, courtesy of www.discoverbyrail.com.

And these are mountains in France.

Option 3, Naples to Brussels with overnight stop in Turin

• Day 1, travel from Naples Centrale to Turin Porta Susa on any afternoon or evening train you like.

  You can leave Naples as late as 17:25 arriving Turin 22:59, but I'd take an earlier train as Turin is well worth a stopover.  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.

  You can take an Italo high-speed train or a Trenitalia Frecciarossa, two competing operators, choose whichever you like the look of.

• Stay overnight in Turin.  I recommend the Hotel Torino Porta Susa or Hotel Diplomatic, Best Quality Hotel Dock Milano or Al Porta Susa B&B, all all 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 at 13:16.

  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.  More about the Paris-Milan TGVs.

  Update:  The direct Milan-Turin-Paris line via Modane was blocked by a landslide in August 2023, and remains blocked in 2024.  Until further notice, all direct Turin-Paris trains are cancelled.  Please use alternative routes.  More information.

  Change trains & stations in Paris by taxi or metro.

• Day 2, travel from Paris to Brussels by Eurostar (formerly Thalys), leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 14:22 and arriving Brussels Midi at 15:44.

  These trains have 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).  Make sure you allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris, preferably a bit more.

• How much does it cost? 

  Naples to Turin by Frecciarossa 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 in 2nd class or €55 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets

  The easiest place to buy tickets is at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, whichever you prefer.

  These connect to both the Trenitalia, Italo & 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 Centrale to Turin Porta Susa and add to basket.  Then book from Turin Porta Susa to Brussels Midi for the following day, add to basket & check out.

  Tip:  Before running the Turin to Brussels enquiry at www.raileurope.com, 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 simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.  For the two French trains, you print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.

• How to buy tickets, advanced

  Alternatively, you can book each train separately, more work, more fiddly, same fares, but no booking fee.  First book the Italian train at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, $ or £, they'll refund their small 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 & Eurostar at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com.

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Naples to Amsterdam from €64

Option 1, Naples to Amsterdam using the Zurich-Amsterdam Nightjet sleeper train - scenic & time-effective

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Milan by high-speed Frecciarossa 1000, leaving Naples Centrale at 10:40 and arriving Milan Centrale at 15:50.

  Frecciarossas have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more about Frecciarossas.

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

  Book from Naples to Milan at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee).  Booking usually opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

  A later departure is theoretically possible, but you should allow plenty of time in both Milan and Zurich when connecting with a sleeper train.  Take some time to look around the magnificent Milan Centrale - can you spot Mussolini?

• Step 2, travel from Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train through the Alps, leaving Milan Centrale at 17:10 arriving Zurich HB at 20:27.

  The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & fee WiFi.  It's a lovely ride across Switzerland through the Alps past various lakes including Lake Lugano, see the Milan to Zurich video.  Have your camera ready!

  On arrival in Zurich you've time for dinner, I recommend steak-frites and a beer or two at the Brasserie Federal on the main concourse.

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

  Book from Milan to Zurich at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee).  Booking usually opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

  Important: A freight train derailed in the Gotthard Base Tunnel in August 2023, in 2024 trains are still being diverted over the original (very scenic) Gotthard line taking an extra hour and with fewer departures.  Until further notice, you'll need to leave Milan Centrale earlier, at 15:10 arriving  Zurich HB 19:27.  And that means you also currently need to leave Naples Centrale 2 hours earlier, at 08:40.

• Step 3, travel from Zurich to Amsterdam by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Zurich HB at 21:59, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 09:14.

  This comfortable Nightjet train has an air-conditioned AB33 sleeping-car with 1 & 2 berth compartments with washbasin.  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.

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

  Book this sleeper train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Dutch Railways international site www.nsinternational.nl (in €, no booking fee).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

Steps 1 & 2, travel from Naples to Milan by high-speed train & Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train.  Above, a Milan-Zurich EuroCity is seen at Bellinzona.  The train passes through the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world's longest rail tunnel, though the transit takes just 20 minutes.

Giruno, 1st class.  Larger photo.		Restaurant car with bar counter. Larger photo.

Giruno 2nd class.  Larger photo		Level boarding. Note the destination screen in the door.

Lake Lugano, seen from the Milan-Zurich EuroCity train on the Gotthard route.

Step 3, Zurich to Amsterdam by Nightjet sleeper train.  More about Nightjets.

Single-bed sleeper with washbasin.  Larger photo.		Breakfast next morning.  Larger photo.

4 or 6 berth couchette compartment.  Larger photo.		Couchette car.

Option 2, Naples to Amsterdam using the Rome-Munich Nightjet sleeper train - another easy & time-effective option

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Rome by Frecciarossa train, leaving Naples Centrale at 17:25 arriving Rome Termini 18:35.

  The Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  By all means book an earlier train and spend some time in Rome.  Just make sure you allow at least an hour between trains in Rome when catching a sleeper.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class (standard) or €29.90 in 1st class (business).  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 simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. 

• Step 2, travel from Rome to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Rome Termini at 20:17 and arriving Munich Hbf 09:22.

  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.  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 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 by ICE, leaving Munich Hbf at 11:51, change Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 20:29.

  ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Exact times may vary.

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

  Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.  Tip:  Change Transfer time from normal to 40 minutes. 

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

Rome to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train.  More about Nightjets.

Deluxe sleeper.  Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room.  Larger photo.  Video of deluxe room		Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out.  Larger photo.		Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, soap & towels 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.

Nightjet couchette car.		6-berth couchettes.		4-berth couchettes.

Munich to Amsterdam by ICE with one easy change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf.  ICEs have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Above, an ICE3M at Amsterdam Centraal.  More about ICE trains.

2nd class seats on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.		1st class seats on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.

Proper china, metal cutlery.  I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier!  See current month's menu.		Restaurant car:  This is the small 12-seat restaurant area on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.

Option 3, Naples to Amsterdam with overnight stop in Zurich - if you prefer day trains & hotel to sleepers

• Day 1, travel from Naples Centrale to Milan Centrale by Frecciarossa high-speed train in 4h40, then Milan Centrale to Zurich HB by EuroCity train in 3h17.  It's a lovely ride along Lake Lugano and through the Alps, see the Milan to Zurich video here.

  You can leave Naples Centrale as late as 13:40 arriving Zurich HB at 22:27, but by all means take an earlier train for an evening in Zurich.

  Update: A freight train derailed in the Gotthard Base Tunnel in August 2023, in 2024 trains are still being diverted over the original (very scenic) Gotthard line taking an extra hour with fewer departures.  Whilst this continues, you'll have to leave Naples Centrale at 12:55 arriving Zurich HB 22:27 or there are earlier departures, check times online.

  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.

  Buy tickets from Naples to Zurich at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly, you need to use Italian-language place names).

  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

• 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 07:59, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 17:29.

  By all means choose an earlier or later departure.  Exact times may vary.  ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (in €, £ or $, small booking fee), or direct from German Railways at int.bahn.de (in €, no booking fee).

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

Option 4, Naples to Amsterdam with overnight stop in Paris - the route to use if you want to stop off in Paris

• Day 1, travel from Naples to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Naples Centrale at 09:40 arriving Milan Centrale at 14:50.

  High-speed Frecciarossa trains have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about Frecciarossas.

• Day 1, travel from Milan to Paris by Frecciarossa, leaving Milan Centrale at 15:53 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 22:34.

  Update:  The direct Milan-Paris line via Modane was blocked by a landslide in August 2023, and remains blocked in 2024.  Until further notice, all direct Milan-Paris trains are cancelled.  Please use alternative options.  More information.

  The Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's a scenic & relaxing run, at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) on the high-speed line from Milan to Turin, then a slow meander on the classic line through the alps, then another high-speed dash on the French high-speed line to Paris.  Bring a good book and 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.  For more information, photos & tips, see the Paris-Milan by train page.

  Change trains & stations in Paris by taxi or metro.

• Stay overnight in Paris.  If you want a hotel room on arrival at the Gare de Lyon, I suggest the Mercure Paris Gare De Lyon as it's part of the station complex.  If you'd prefer to stay near the Gare du Nord I suggest the excellent 25 Hours Terminus Nord, directly across the road from the Gare du Nord with great reviews & great feedback from Seat61 users.  See other suggested hotels near the Gare de Lyon or Gare du Nord.

• Day 2, travel from Paris to Amsterdam in 3h19 next morning by Eurostar (formerly Thalys) high-speed train, on any departure you like.

  For example, the 07:25 from Paris Gare du Nord arrives Amsterdam Centraal at 10:44, but by all means book a later train, they leave every hour or so.  Eurostar trains have 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).

• How much does it cost?

  Naples to Milan starts at €29.90 in standard class or €39.90 in business class.

  Milan to Paris starts at €29 in standard class, €36 in business class or €165 in executive class.

  Paris to Amsterdam starts at €35 in 2nd class or €79 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets

  Buy tickets for each of these trains at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (whichever you prefer).  Book each train individually, adding it to your basket, then check out.

  www.raileurope.com and www.thetrainline.com connect to both the Italian and French booking systems so you can book all these trains in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $.  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  There's a small booking fee.

  The Italian trains are ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.  For the Eurostar, you print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.

• How to buy tickets, advanced

  Alternatively, you can book each train separately, more work, more fiddly, same fares, but no booking fee.  First book the Italian trains at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, $ or £, seat choice from a seat map, they'll refund their small 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 Eurostar train at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com.

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Naples to Luxembourg

Option 1, Naples to Luxembourg using the Rome-Munich Nightjet sleeper train

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Rome by Frecciarossa train, leaving Naples Centrale at 17:25 arriving Rome Termini 18:35.

  The Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  By all means book an earlier train and spend some time in Rome.  Just make sure you allow at least an hour between trains in Rome when catching a sleeper.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class (standard) or €29.90 in 1st class (business).  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 simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. 

• Step 2, travel from Rome to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Rome Termini at 20:17 every night and arriving Munich Hbf 09:22.

  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.  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 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 Luxembourg, leaving Munich Hbf at 11:28 by ICE, change Mannheim & Trier, arriving Luxembourg 18:23.

  ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  From Koblenz to Luxembourg it's a scenic run along the Moselle valley.

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

  Book from Munich to Luxembourg at the German Railways website int.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 phone.  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 Stopovers and enter Igel as a stopover, leaving length of stay as 00:00.

Rome to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train.  More about Nightjets.

Deluxe sleeper.  Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room.  Larger photo.  Video of deluxe room		Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out.  Larger photo.		Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, soap & towels 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.

Nightjet couchette car.		6-berth couchettes.		4-berth couchettes.

Option 2, Naples to Luxembourg 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 print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

• 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, leaving Zurich HB at 07:59, changing at Mannheim & Trier, arriving Luxembourg at 15:23.

  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 19:23.

  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.  They then run 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, so book ahead.

  Book from Zurich to Luxembourg at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

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

  Tip:  To avoid journeys involving a bus, click Stopovers and enter Igel as a stopover, leaving length of stay as 00:00.

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Naples to Geneva, Zurich, Luzern, Basel & Switzerland from €59

Choose between fast, comfortable & scenic (option 1, using mainline trains) and slow, comfortable, fabulous world-class highlight-of-your-trip scenic (option 2, via the Bernina Express).  There are no longer any sleeper trains between Italy & Switzerland, although a Rome-Zurich sleeper is on the cards in a few years' time.

Option 1, Naples to Switzerland by high-speed train

• Step 1, travel from Naples Centrale to Milan Centrale by Frecciarossa with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi in 4h30.

• Step 2, travel from Milan Centrale to Switzerland by fast EuroCity train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  There are hourly EuroCity trains from Milan Centrale to Lugano & Zurich HB (3h17).

  And regular EuroCity trains from Milan Centrale to Brig, Montreux, Lausanne & Geneva (4h00).

  And several daily EuroCity trains from Milan Centrale to Bern, Lucerne, Spiez and Basel SBB.

  The Milan-Zurich EuroCity trains use the new Gotthard Base Tunnel, the longest rail tunnel in the world.  Look out for great scenery on the routes from Italy into Switzerland, past beautiful lakes and mountains.  Watch the video:  Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train.

Update: A freight train derailed in the Gotthard Base Tunnel in August 2023, in 2024 trains are still being diverted over the original (very scenic) Gotthard line taking an extra hour and with fewer departures.  Check times online.

• Step 3, take a Swiss connecting train if necessary, for example from Brig to Zermatt or from Spiez to Interlaken.

• How much does it cost?

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

  Milan to Zurich, Geneva, Bern & other Swiss cities start at €29 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class when using a direct train.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead

• How to buy tickets

  Buy tickets from Naples to anywhere in Switzerland at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

  Both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee.  Booking for Italian domestic trains & the international EuroCity trains normally opens 4 months ahead.

  Italian high-speed trains & the EuroCity trains are ticketless, you print your booking reference or can show it on your phone.  Swiss domestic tickets can be printed out or a mobile ticket can be shown on your phone.

• How to buy tickets, advanced

  Now for the science bit.  Trenitalia's ticketing system can sell tickets for the international EuroCity trains between Italy & Switzerland, and obviously for its own trains within Italy, but cannot access SBB's ticketing system so cannot sell any journey involving a Swiss domestic train.

  Meanwhile, the Swiss ticketing system can sell Swiss domestic tickets & tickets for the international EuroCity trains to Italy which it jointly runs with Trenitalia, but it cannot access Trenitalia's ticketing system so cannot sell Trenitalia's cheap fares within Italy.

  Step 1, run an enquiry on the all-Europe online timetable provided by German Railways at int.bahn.de.  Look for a suitable journey, ideally with as few changes as possible.  Note down the trains you want, identifying the Italian train, the EuroCity train and any Swiss domestic train.

  For example, say you ran an enquiry from Venice to Zermatt.  You'd pick a journey that suits you:  A high-speed Frecciarossa from Venice to Milan, a EuroCity (EC) train from Milan to Brig, then a Swiss train from Brig to Zermatt.  Then you'd split the booking like this:

  Step 2, book the Italian train and EuroCity train using the Italian ticketing system at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both 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 afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly, requires Italian-language place names, see advice on using it).

  In our example, you'd book from Venice to Brig.  Booking opens 90 days ahead.  Italian high-speed trains and the EuroCity are ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

  Step 3, now add a Swiss domestic ticket separately using either www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in CHF, €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Swiss Federal Railways site www.sbb.ch (in €, no fee).  Regular Swiss tickets are fixed-price, cannot sell out, and are good for any train that day, so this bit isn't as crucial.  You could buy at the station on the day if you like!

  In our example, you'd book from Brig to Zermatt.  Booking opens 60 days ahead (if necessary, wait to book this bit).  You print your own ticket.

An EuroCity train to Switzerland at Milan Centrale.  More about these EuroCity trains.

1st class seats.  Larger photo.		Restaurant car.  Larger photo.

Lunch in the restaurant car.		2nd class.  Larger photo.  360 degree photo.

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 scenic narrow-gauge Bernina route

• This is much slower and takes more effort to book, but it's the best Swiss Alpine train ride of all, an amazing experience.  Watch the video.

• Step 1, travel from Naples Centrale to Milan Centrale on a Frecciarossa train, arriving before 09:45.  That means a 5am departure, by all means travel the day before and stay overnight in Milan.

  Book this at either www.thetrainline.com or www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.

• Step 2, travel from Milan Centrale to Tirano by Trenord local train.

  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, check train times at www.thetrainline.com or www.trenord.it. 

  No reservation necessary or even possible, just buy a ticket to Tirano from the self-service machines at Milan Centrale & hop on the next train.

  In Tirano, the Italian Trenord station is right next to the Rhätische Bahn one on the same town square.

• Step 3, travel from Tirano to St Moritz & Chur on the Rhätische Bahn.

  This is the fabulous Bernina Express route over the Bernina Pass.  Check times & prices from Tirano to St Moritz, Chur or Zurich at www.thetrainline.com or the 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 the Bernina Express page.

• Step 4, travel from Chur to Zurich.

  On arrival in Chur, 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.thetrainline.com or 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, Naples to Barcelona & Spain via Lyon - the easiest & usually cheapest option

• Day 1, travel from Naples Centrale to Milan Centrale on any afternoon or early evening train you like.

  It takes as little as 4h24, trains leave every hour, all these trains have cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Stay overnight in Milan:  Affordable hotels with good or great reviews just outside Milan Centrale include the Hotel Bristol, Hotel Bernina, 43 Station Hotel, B&B Hotel Milano Central Station, Guesthouse Teodora.  Pricier more upmarket hotels include HD8 Hotel, Glam Hotel, Made to Measure Business, Starhotel Echo or Starhotel Anderson.

• Day 2, travel from Milan to Lyon by Frecciarossa, leaving Milan Centrale at 06:25 & arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 11:10.

  Update:  The direct Milan-Lyon-Paris line via Modane was blocked by a landslide in August 2023, and remains blocked in 2024.  Until further notice, all direct Milan-Lyon trains are cancelled.  Please use another option.  More information.

  This is a lovely ride at low speed snaking through the Alps, see the photos & information here.  The train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, sit back and enjoy the ride.

• Have lunch in Lyon, see suggested brasserie near Lyon Part Dieu.

• Day 2, travel from Lyon to Barcelona by AVE S100 high-speed train, leaving Lyon Part Dieu at 14:32 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 19:34.

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

• Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Madrid by AVE-S103 high-speed train, leaving Barcelona Sants at 21:20, arriving Madrid Atocha at 23:50.

  Earlier departures may be available with other operators, but I recommend allowing at least an hour between trains in Barcelona and it's better to stick with the same operator if you can when making connections, in this case Renfe.

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

• Day 3, travel from Barcelona to anywhere else in Spain by 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.

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

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

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

  For Valencia & Alicante:  EuroMed trains link Barcelona Sants with Valencia & Alicante regularly through the day, for example one leaves Barcelona Sants at 07:15 Mondays-Saturdays arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 10:10 & Alicante 12:38 or at 10:15 every day arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 13:13 & Alicante 15:32.

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

• How much does it cost?

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

  Milan to Lyon starts at €25 in standard (2nd), €32 in business (1st) or €149 in executive class (premium 1st).

  Lyon to Barcelona starts at €39 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class.

  Barcelona to Madrid starts at around €35.  Barcelona to Seville or Malaga starts at around €45.

  All these fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets

  The easiest way to buy tickets is to use either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (whichever you prefer) as you can buy all the tickets together in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee.  Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead.  About Raileurope.  About Thetrainline.

  Step 1, book an afternoon or evening train from Naples to Milan Centrale for day 1 and add this to your basket. 

  Step 2, book the direct morning train from Milan Centrale to Lyon Part Dieu for day 2 and add to your basket. 

  Step 3, book the afternoon train from Lyon Part Dieu to Barcelona for day 2 and add to your basket. 

  Step 4 if going beyond Barcelona, book a train from Barcelona to your Spanish destination for day 3, add to basket & check out.

  The Frecciarossa is ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.  For TGVs you can print your ticket or select a mobile ticket to show on your phone.  For AVE and other Spanish trains you print your own ticket.

• How to buy tickets, advanced

  You can of course book each train separately with the relevant operator, with no booking fee.  This means more work and it won't necessarily make it any cheaper.

  Step 1, buy tickets from Naples to Milan and from Milan to Lyon at either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in plain English, allows seat choice from a seat map, they'll refund seat61 users their booking fee if you email seat61@italiarail.com afterwards) or Trenitalia's own website www.trenitalia.com, for that you'll need to use Italian-language place names, see this advice on using it.  It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. 

  Step 2, if using the direct train from Lyon to Barcelona run by Renfe, book at the Spanish Railways website, www.renfe.com (in €, fiddly, see advice on using it).  If using the alternative trains run by SNCF, book these at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com.

  Step 3, book onward trains in Spain at www.renfe.com (in €, fiddly, see advice on using it).

Option 2, Naples to Barcelona & Spain with overnight stop in 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, so book ahead.

  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 print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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, Naples to Lisbon via Madrid

• Day 1, travel from Naples to Geneva, stay overnight, then take trains to Barcelona and on to Madrid on day 2 as shown in the Naples to Spain section above.

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

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

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Seville by AVE-S112 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:35 and arriving Seville Santa Justa at 14:32.

  Fares start at around €45.

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, 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 at 07:25 & arriving Toulouse Matabiau at 11:18.

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

  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 www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

  Booking for French trains opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.

• Step 3, travel from Toulouse Matabiau station to Andorra la Vella by bus.  Andbus run several buses per day taking 4 hours, fare €36.  There's a bus leaving Toulouse Matabiau station (bus stand 15) at 13:45 arriving Andorra 17:45.  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 Berlin or anywhere in Germany - the time-effective option

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Rome by Frecciarossa, leaving Naples Centrale at 17:25 arriving Rome Termini 18:35.

  The Frecciarossa high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  By all means book an earlier train and spend some time in Rome.  Just make sure you allow at least an hour between trains in Rome when catching a sleeper.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class (standard) or €29.90 in 1st class (business).  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 simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. 

• Step 2, travel from Rome to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Rome Termini at 20:17 and arriving Munich Hbf 09:22 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.  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 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:  You can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.

  • Step 3, travel from Munich to anywhere in Germany, for example leaving Munich Hbf 10:55 by ICE train and arriving Berlin Hbf at 15:29.

    Book from Munich to anywhere in Germany at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

    Allow at least 1 hour between trains in Munich, ideally more.

    Fares start at €18.90 upwards.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.   I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

Rome to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train.  More about Nightjets.

Deluxe sleeper.  Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room.  Larger photo.  Video of deluxe room		Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out.  Larger photo.		Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, soap & towels 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.

Nightjet couchette car.		6-berth couchettes.		4-berth couchettes.

Option 2, Naples to Berlin using the Zurich-Berlin sleeper

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Naples Centrale at 08:40 and arriving Milan Centrale 13:50.

  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.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 normally opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

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

  Important: A freight train derailed in the Gotthard Base Tunnel in August 2023, in 2024 trains are still being diverted over the original (very scenic) Gotthard line taking an extra hour and with fewer departures.  Until this is resolved, you'll need to leave Milan Centrale at 13:10 and arriving Zurich HB 17:27.  That means leaving Naples earlier, at 06:40.

  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 recommend 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, 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.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

• Step 3, travel from Zurich to Berlin by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Zurich HB at 19:59 & arriving Berlin Hbf 07:20.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train 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 sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  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.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

Option 3, Naples to Hamburg using the Zurich-Hamburg sleeper

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Naples Centrale at 08:40 and arriving Milan Centrale 13:50.

  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.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 normally opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

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

  Important: A freight train derailed in the Gotthard Base Tunnel in August 2023, in 2024 trains are still being diverted over the original (very scenic) Gotthard line taking an extra hour and with fewer departures.  Until this is resolved, arrival in Zurich HB is at 19:27.

  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 recommend 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, 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.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it).

  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

• Step 3, travel from Zurich to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Zurich HB at 20:59 & arriving Hamburg Hbf 07:54.

  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 sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  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.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

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

Option 4, 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 from Bologna to Munich via the Brenner Pass in 5h10.  It's a lovely run up the Brenner, see the Brenner Pass scenery video here.

  Leave Naples Centrale at 06:55 every day, change at Bologna Centrale onto the 11:52 EuroCity train to Munich Hbf, arriving 18:28.

  Leave Naples Centrale at 11:30 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 simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.  For Austrian/German trains you print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone.

  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 int.bahn.de.

A EuroCity train at Munich Hbf.  More about these Austrian EuroCity trains.

2nd class seats, some in open-plan saloons like this, some in 6-seat compartments.		1st class leather seats.  You'll also find seats in classic 6-seat compartments.

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 5, 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 06:30 arriving Milan Centrale at 10:58.

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

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

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

  Update: A freight train derailed in the Gotthard Base Tunnel in August 2023, in 2024 trains are still being diverted over the original (very scenic) Gotthard line taking an extra hour and with fewer departures.  Until this is resolved, the direct Milan-Frankfurt train is not running.

  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 int.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 phone.

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

1st class seats.  Larger photo.		Restaurant car.  Larger photo.

Lunch in the restaurant car.		2nd class.  Larger photo.  360 degree photo.

Lake Maggiore, seen over lunch in the restaurant car.

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

Option 1, Naples to Salzburg & Vienna using the Rome-Austria sleeper train - safe, comfortable & time-effective

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Rome by Frecciarossa, leaving Naples Centrale at 17:25 arriving Rome Termini 18:35.

  The Frecciarossa high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  By all means book an earlier train and spend some time in Rome.  Just make sure you allow at least an hour between trains in Rome when catching a sleeper.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class (standard) or €29.90 in 1st class (business).  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 simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. 

• Step 2, travel from Rome to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Rome Termini at 20:17 every night, arriving Vienna Hbf at 09:04.  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.  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 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:  You can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.

Nightjet sleeper at Vienna Hbf.  More about Nightjet trains.

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

6-berth couchettes.		4-berth couchettes.		Nightjet couchette car.

Option 2, Naples to Salzburg or Vienna in a single day, with lunch in Venice - the scenic option

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Venice by Frecciarossa, leaving Napoli Centrale at 08:09 and arriving Venice Santa Lucia 13:34.

  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, 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 simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

• Step 2, travel from Venice to Vienna by smart Austrian railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55, arriving Vienna Hbf 23:36.

  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 travels through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass scenery video here.

• Step 3, travel from Innsbruck to Salzburg or Vienna by railjet, leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 17:14, arriving Salzburg Hbf 19:02 & Vienna Hbf 21:32.

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

• How much does it cost?

  Naples 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, so book ahead

• How to buy tickets

  First book the 11:52 from Bologna Centrale to Innsbruck, Salzburg, Vienna or anywhere in Austria using www.thetrainline.com (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 print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

A EuroCity train at Munich Hbf.  More about these Austrian EuroCity trains.

2nd class seats, some in open-plan saloons like this, some in 6-seat compartments.		1st class leather seats.  You'll also find seats in classic 6-seat compartments.

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, Naples to Copenhagen, Gothenburg & Stockholm using the Zurich-Hamburg sleeper

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Naples Centrale at 08:40 and arriving Milan Centrale at 13:50.

  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.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 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you print your booking reference or show it on your phone.

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

  Update: A freight train derailed in the Gotthard Base Tunnel in August 2023, in 2024 trains are still being diverted over the original (very scenic) Gotthard line taking an extra hour.  Until this is resolved, arrival at Zurich HB is at 19:27.

  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, 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).  It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

• Step 3, travel from Zurich to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Zurich HB at 20:59 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.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, 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 08:50 & arriving Copenhagen at 13:34.

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

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

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

  For Stockholm, travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000 train leaving Copenhagen at 14:19 and arriving Stockholm Central at 19:37.

  For Gothenburg, travel from Copenhagen to Gothenburg by Öresund train, these leave every hour taking 3h50.

  For Malmo, travel from Copenhagen to Malmö Central by Öresund train every 20-30 minutes taking 39 minutes.

  All these trains cross the water from Denmark to Sweden over the impressive Öresund fixed link. 

  Fares from Hamburg to Sweden start at €56.90.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book from Hamburg to Stockholm, Gothenburg or Malmö as one transaction at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  Gothenburg is listed as Göteborg Central.  If you have any problems, for example if you don't see any affordable 1st class fares, split the booking, booking Hamburg to Copenhagen at int.bahn.de and booking Copenhagen to anywhere in Sweden at either Omio.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small fee) or www.sj.se (in SEK, has been known to reject some overseas credit cards).

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

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

2-berth sleeper on the 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.

Nightjet couchette car.		6-berth couchettes.		4-berth couchettes.

Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train.  From June 2023, these trains are temporarily being operated by former German Railways intercity cars and a Danish electric locomotive, until new trains being built by Talgo arrive in 2024.  The current trains have 1st & 2nd class, power sockets at seats, but no catering so bring your own food & drink.  More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.

2nd class seats are almost all open-plan like this.  There are a handful of 6-seat 2nd class compartments in one of the coaches, but only a few.

The 1st class car has 6-seater compartments like this. Larger photo.  Larger photo.

Copenhagen to Stockholm by tilting 200km/h X2000, seen at Stockholm Central.  More about X2000 trains.

1st class on an X2000.  Larger photo.		2nd class on an X2000.  Larger photo.

Bistro seating on an X2000 train. Larger photo.		Bistro on an X2000 train. Larger photo.

Crossing the impressive Öresund bridge from Denmark to Sweden.

Option 2, Naples to Copenhagen, Gothenburg & Stockholm using the Rome-Munich sleeper

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Rome by Frecciarossa, leaving Naples Centrale at 17:25 arriving Rome Termini 18:35.

  The Frecciarossa high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  By all means book an earlier train and spend some time in Rome.  Make sure you allow at least an hour between trains in Rome when catching a sleeper.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class (standard) or €29.90 in 1st class (business).  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 simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. 

• Step 2, travel from Rome to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Rome Termini 20:17, arriving Munich Hbf 09:22.

  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.  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 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:  You can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click 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 10:21, changing at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 21:34.

  Treat this as a chill-out day with a good book and a glass or two of wine (I can recommend DB's Spätburgunder red).  You travel from Munich to Hamburg by ICE train with restaurant car for lunch, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by comfortable EuroCity train, there's no catering car so bring your own food & drink.

  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 int.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

• Step 4 if you're going to Malmo, simply take the next available Öresund train from Copenhagen to Malmö Central, these leave twice an hour taking 39 minutes.  You can book through from Munich to Malmö from €39.90 at int.bahn.de and print your own ticket.

• Step 4 if you're going to Stockholm or Gothenburg, stay overnight in Copenhagen then travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm Central in around 5h15 by X2000 high-speed train or from Copenhagen to Gothenburg Central in 3h50 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 Stopover 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, leaving Copenhagen at 07:30, change at Gothenburg Central, arriving Oslo Sentral 15:47.  Earlier & later departures are available, see the Copenhagen-Oslo timetable & how to buy tickets here.

  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 16:30 and arriving Oslo at 10:00 on day 3, as also shown here.  This is remarkably affordable, and saves a hotel bill.  Book the ferry at www.dfds.co.uk.

Rome to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train.  More about Nightjets.

Deluxe sleeper.  Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room.  Larger photo.  Video of deluxe room		Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out.  Larger photo.		Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, soap & towels 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.

Nightjet couchette car.		6-berth couchettes.		4-berth couchettes.

Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train.  From June 2023, these trains are temporarily being operated by former German Railways intercity cars and a Danish electric locomotive, until new trains being built by Talgo arrive in 2024.  The current trains have 1st & 2nd class, power sockets at seats, but no catering so bring your own food & drink.  More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.

2nd class seats are almost all open-plan like this.  There are a handful of 6-seat 2nd class compartments in one of the coaches, but only a few.

The 1st class car has 6-seater compartments like this. Larger photo.  Larger photo.

Copenhagen to Stockholm by tilting 200km/h X2000, seen at Stockholm Central.  More about X2000 trains.

1st class on an X2000.  Larger photo.		2nd class on an X2000.  Larger photo.

Bistro seating on an X2000 train. Larger photo.		Bistro on an X2000 train. Larger photo.

Crossing the impressive Öresund bridge from Denmark to Sweden.

Option 3, Naples to Copenhagen, Gothenburg & Stockholm with overnight stops in 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.  The affordable Eden Hotel Wolff & NH Collection München are across the road from the station's north side exit with great reviews.  Or consider the more upmarket 25 Hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian, Excelsior by Giesel & Mercure City Center.  For a splurge, the luxurious Sofitel Munich Beyerpost occupies the former Royal Bavarian Post Office building of 1896-1900, at the station's south side exit.

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Copenhagen by train, leaving Munich Hbf at 08:20, 1 easy change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen at 19:34.

  Or there's a later departure  from Munich Hbf at 10:21, 1 easy change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen at 21:34.

  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 int.bahn.de.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. 

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

• Day 3, travel from Copenhagen to Gothenburg by hourly Öresund train in 3h50, or travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by fast X2000 train in around 5h15 with various departures to choose from, fares from around €28 upwards.  Book this at Omio.com or the Swedish Railways website www.sj.se.

  Tip:  You may be able to save money by buying a Munich-Stockholm or Munich-Gothenburg through ticket from German Railways like this:  Go to int.bahn.de, enter Munich-Stockholm or Munich-Gothenburg.  Before running the enquiry, click Stopovers and enter Copenhagen with a length of stay of (say) 12 hours.  It should then give you a Sparpreis fare with an overnight stop in Copenhagen, specified trains only, limited or no refunds.

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Naples to Oslo & Norway

Option 1, Naples to Oslo with overnight stops Munich & Copenhagen - by train all the way

• 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.  The affordable Eden Hotel Wolff & NH Collection München are across the road from the station's north side exit with great reviews.  Or consider the more upmarket 25 Hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian, Excelsior by Giesel & Mercure City Center.  For a splurge, the luxurious Sofitel Munich Beyerpost occupies the former Royal Bavarian Post Office building of 1896-1900, at the station's south side exit.

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Copenhagen by train, leaving Munich Hbf at 08:20, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 19:34.

  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 int.bahn.de.

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

• 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, leaving Copenhagen at 09:30, change at Gothenburg Central, arriving Oslo Sentral 17:44.

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

  Alternatively, spend 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 16:30 (15:00 some days) arriving Oslo at 10:00 on day 4, as shown here.  This is remarkably affordable, and saves a hotel bill.  Book the ferry at www.dfds.com.

Option 2, Naples to Oslo using the Kiel-Oslo cruise ferry - the most luxurious way to Norway

• Day 1, travel from Naples to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Naples Centrale at 08:40 and arriving Milan Centrale at 13:50.

  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 simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

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

  Update: A freight train derailed in the Gotthard Base Tunnel in August 2023, in 2024 trains are still being diverted over the original (very scenic) Gotthard line taking an extra hour and with fewer departures.  Until this is resolved, arrival in Zurich HB is at 19:27.

  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 recommend 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, 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.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it).  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

• Day 1, travel from Zurich to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Zurich HB at 20:59 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.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

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

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

• Day 2, sail from Kiel to Oslo by luxurious overnight Color Line ferry, with a full range of en suite cabins, suites, bars, restaurants and lounges.  The m/v Magic or m/v Fantasy normally sails at 14:00 arriving Oslo at 10:00 next morning (day 3).

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

  Money-saving tip:  It's considerably cheaper to book on Color Line's Norwegian website www.colorline.no in Norwegian Krone, for example a €274 fare becomes the equivalent of €164.  You'll need to use Google Chrome translation to translate the Norwegian.  You are still able to enter a UK or other European address and contact details.  Feedback appreciated.

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

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

2-berth sleeper on the 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.

Nightjet couchette car.		6-berth couchettes.		4-berth couchettes.

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

Boarding the Color Line ferry to Oslo in Kiel.

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

Wake up to this...

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Naples to Helsinki & Finland

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

• Day 1, travel from Naples to Rome by Frecciarossa, leaving Naples Centrale at 17:25 arriving Rome Termini 18:35.

  The Frecciarossa high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  By all means book an earlier train and spend some time in Rome.  Just make sure you allow at least an hour between trains in Rome when catching a sleeper.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class (standard) or €29.90 in 1st class (business).  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 simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. 

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

  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.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or 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:  You can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Switzerland & click nj.

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Hamburg by ICE4 train, leaving Munich Hbf at 10:21 and arriving Hamburg Hbf 15:55.  Times may vary.

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

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

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

• 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 at 23:30, sailing at 02:45 (the exact time varies) and arriving at Helsinki's Hansa Terminal in Vuosaari at 09:15 2 nights later (Day 4 from Naples).  Check sailing dates, times & book the ferry at www.finnlines.com.

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

Finnlines operate the Finnstar, Finnmaid & Finnlady on the Travemünde-Helsinki route.  Photo courtesy of Hubert Bartkowiak.  Photos below courtesy of Chris Russell.

Standard cabin.  Larger photo.		Gym with a view.		Sauna.

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

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Naples to Prague from €87

Option 1, Naples to Prague using the Rome-Vienna sleeper - safe, comfortable, time-effective

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Rome by Frecciarossa, leaving Naples Centrale at 17:25 arriving Rome Termini 18:35.

  The Frecciarossa high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  By all means book an earlier train and spend some time in Rome.  Just make sure you allow at least an hour between trains in Rome when catching a sleeper.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class (standard) or €29.90 in 1st class (business).  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 simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. 

• Step 2, travel from Rome to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train leaving Rome Termini at 20:17 & arriving Vienna Hbf 09:04.

  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.  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 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:  You can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click 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 15:11.

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

  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.

  Why not 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 www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee, booking opens up to 6 months ahead) or the Czech Railways site www.cd.cz (in koruna, booking normally opens 92 days ahead, see tips for using it).  You print your own ticket.  Easy!  You can also book at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.  See suggested hotels in Prague.

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

Deluxe sleeper.  Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room.  Larger photo.  Video of deluxe room		Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out.  Larger photo.		Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, soap & towels 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.		Nightjet couchette car.

Vienna to Prague by railjet, with economy, first & business class, restaurant car, free WiFi & draught beer on tap.  More about Vienna-Prague railjets.

Economy (2nd) class.  Mainly unidirectional seating but with some tables for 4.  All seats have power sockets & free WiFi.  Larger photo.		First class.  Mainly unidirectional, with some tables for 2 & tables for 4.  Larger photo

Restaurant car for snacks, meals, beer, wine, tea & coffee.  You don't need to reserve, just turn up & sit down.  There's waiter-service at tables or order at the counter & take back to your seat.  Larger photo.		Business class = premium 1st class.  Just 6 seats at one end of the 1st class car.  Same seats but very different layout from business class on Austrian railjet.  Larger photo.

Option 2, Naples to Prague using the Zurich-Prague sleeper - another time-effective option

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Milan by high-speed Frecciarossa 1000, leaving Naples Centrale at 08:40 and arriving Milan Centrale at 13:50.

  Frecciarossas have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more about Frecciarossas.

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

  Book from Naples to Milan at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee).  Booking usually opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

  A later departure is theoretically possible, but you should allow plenty of time in both Milan and Zurich when connecting with a sleeper train.  Take some time to look around the magnificent Milan Centrale - can you spot Mussolini?

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

  Update: A freight train derailed in the Gotthard Base Tunnel in August 2023, in 2024 trains are still being diverted over the original (very scenic) Gotthard line taking an extra hour and with fewer departures.  Until this is resolved, arrival in Zurich HB is at 19:27.

  The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & fee WiFi.  It's a lovely ride across Switzerland through the Alps past various lakes including Lake Lugano, see the Milan to Zurich video.  Have your camera ready!

  On arrival in Zurich you've time for dinner, I recommend steak-frites and a beer or two at the Brasserie Federal on the main concourse.

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

  Book from Milan to Zurich at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee).  Booking usually opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

• Step 3, travel from Zurich to Prague by sleeping-car, leaving Zurich HB at 20:40 and arriving Ceske Budejovice 08:52 & Prague Hlavni 10:39.

  This train will revert to its more traditional departure time of 21:40 from 25 October 2024, with arrival times unchanged.

  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.  More about the Zurich-Prague sleeper.

  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 then take the 10:12 local train to Ceske Krumlov arriving 10:57.  In this case you'd use www.cd.cz to book Zurich to Cesky Budejovice, then buy a local ticket to Cesky Krumlov from the orange & green GWTR kiosk at Ceske Budejovice station.

Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train, through the Alps.  This is a Giruno train at Bellinzona.  The train passes through the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world's longest rail tunnel, though the transit takes just 20 minutes.

1st class.  Larger photo.		Restaurant car with bar counter. Larger photo.

2nd class.  Larger photo		Level boarding. Note the destination screen in the door.

Lake Lugano, seen from a Milan to Zurich train on the Gotthard route.

Zurich to Prague by sleeping-car, seen at Zurich HB.  More about this sleeper.

Standard sleeper set up as a 2-berth, with blind down & washstand open.  Each room can be used with 1, 2 or 3 beds.		Same sleeper with berths folded away & seats out, washstand closed.  Very similar to a deluxe, but without shower & toilet.		Deluxe sleepers are similar to standard ones, 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.

Option 3, Naples to Prague with overnight stop in Venice - if you prefer day trains & hotel to sleepers

• Day 1, travel from Naples Centrale to Venice Santa Lucia by Frecciarossa in 5h25 using any train you like.

  You can spend almost a full day in Naples before taking an evening train, or take an earlier train and see something of Venice.  The Rialto bridge is just 15 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia, the Piazza San Marco is just 25 minutes walk.  Frecciarossas have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas cards no problem, small booking fee) or Trenitalia's website www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. 

  You can also try high-speed operator Italo for this journey, booked at www.italotreno.it.

• Stay overnight in Venice.  For a hotel that won't break the bank just 2 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia with good reviews, try the Hotel Maggior Consiglio or for a little more, the Hotel Abbazia.

• Day 2, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:55 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 17:36.

  The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It takes the beautifully scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route from Vienna to Graz, a real treat, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmering_railway.  Treat yourself to lunch with wine as the mountains glide by.  See the Venice to Vienna page for more information, tips, photos & video.

  Fares start at €28.30 in 2nd class, €56.60 in 1st class or €71.60 in business class (= premium 1st class, a real treat).  Fares vary like air fares.

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Vienna to Prague by swish modern Czech railjet train leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:10 and arriving Prague Hlavni at 23:16.

  The excellent air-conditioned railjet train has a restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

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

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com or the Czech Railways site www.cd.cz, whichever is cheaper.  Booking opens 6 months ahead on www.thetrainline.com, but only 92 days ahead at www.cd.cz.  You print your own ticket.  See suggested hotels in Prague.

A Venice-Vienna railjet, at Venice Santa Lucia.  More about Venice-Vienna railjets.

Restaurant.  In 1st & business you're served at your seat.		Business class.  About business class.

First class.		Economy class.

The railjet travels over the famous Semmering Railway, opened in 1854 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  See the Vienna to Venice page for more information, photos & video.

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Naples to Bratislava from €83

Option 1, Naples to Bratislava using the Rome-Vienna sleeper - safe, comfortable, time-effective

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Rome by Frecciarossa, leaving Naples Centrale at 17:25 arriving Rome Termini 18:35.

  The Frecciarossa high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  By all means book an earlier train and spend some time in Rome.  Just make sure you allow at least an hour between trains in Rome when catching a sleeper.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class (standard) or €29.90 in 1st class (business).  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 simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. 

• Step 2, travel from Rome to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Rome Termini at 20:17 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 09:04.

  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.  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 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:  You can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click 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 €11.00 and hop on the next hourly regional express train from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna, no reservation necessary or possible, journey time 1h09, see the timetable here.  Check times at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.

Rome to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train.  More about Nightjets.

Deluxe sleeper.  Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room.  Larger photo.  Video of deluxe room		Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out.  Larger photo.		Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, soap & towels 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 Bratislava by hourly Regional Express train, seen about to leave Vienna Hbf.  Behind the locomotive is a smart Slovakian air-conditioned intercity coach, whilst the rest of the train consists of more basic non-air-con Austrian City Shuttle carriages, with interiors as shown in the photo above right.  Find a seat in the more comfortable Slovakian car if you can!

Option 2, Naples to Bratislava with overnight stop in Venice - if you prefer day trains & hotel to sleepers

• Day 1, travel from Naples Centrale to Venice Santa Lucia by Frecciarossa in 5h25 using any train you like.

  You can spend almost a full day in Naples before taking an evening train, or take an earlier train and see something of Venice.  The Rialto bridge is just 15 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia, the Piazza San Marco is just 25 minutes walk.  Frecciarossas have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas cards no problem, small booking fee) or Trenitalia's website www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. 

  You can also try high-speed operator Italo for this journey, booked at www.italotreno.it.

• Stay overnight in Venice.  For a hotel that won't break the bank just 2 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia with good reviews, try the Hotel Maggior Consiglio or for a little more, the Hotel Abbazia.

• Day 2, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:55 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 17:36.

  The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It takes the beautifully scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route from Vienna to Graz, a real treat, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmering_railway.  Treat yourself to lunch with wine as the mountains glide by.  See the Venice to Vienna page for more information, tips, photos & video.

  Fares start at €28.30 in 2nd class, €56.60 in 1st class or €71.60 in business class (= premium 1st class, a real treat).  Fares vary like air fares.

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

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

• Day 2, when you reach Vienna, simply buy a ticket for €11.00 and hop on the next hourly regional express train from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna, no reservation necessary or possible, journey time 1h09, see the timetable here.  Check times at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.

Venice to Vienna by railjet, seen at Venice Santa Lucia.  More about Venice-Vienna railjets.

Restaurant.  In 1st & business you're served at your seat.		Business class.  About business class.

First class.		Economy class.

The railjet travels over the famous Semmering Railway, opened in 1854 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  See the Vienna to Venice page for more information, photos & video.

Vienna to Bratislava by hourly Regional Express train, seen at Vienna Hbf.  Behind the locomotive is a smart Slovakian air-conditioned intercity coach, the rest of the train consists of non-air-con Austrian City Shuttle carriages, as shown in the photo above right.  Find a seat in the more Slovakian car if you can!  More about Vienna-Bratislava trains.

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Naples to Budapest from €98

Option 1, Naples to Budapest using the Rome-Vienna sleeper - safe, comfortable, time-effective

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Rome by Frecciarossa, leaving Naples Centrale at 17:25 arriving Rome Termini 18:35.

  The Frecciarossa high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  By all means book an earlier train and spend some time in Rome.  Just make sure you allow at least an hour between trains in Rome when catching a sleeper.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class (standard) or €29.90 in 1st class (business).  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 simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. 

• Step 2, travel from Rome to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train leaving Rome Termini 20:17 & arriving at Vienna Hbf 09:04.

  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.  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 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:  You can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click 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 EuroCity train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 10:42 & arriving Budapest Keleti 13:19.

  This comfortable Hungarian EuroCity train has a restaurant car, treat yourself to an early lunch and a beer or two.

  Or book a later train & spend some time in Vienna.  Trains leave for Budapest every hour, see the timetable here, luggage lockers are available.

  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.

  Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.  Easy!

Rome to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train.  More about Nightjets.

Deluxe sleeper.  Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room.  Larger photo.  Video of deluxe room		Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out.  Larger photo.		Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, soap & towels 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 EuroCity train.

1st class is usually in 6-seat compartments.  Larger photo.		2nd class, open-plan saloon type, modernised.  Larger photo.

Option 2, Naples to Budapest with overnight stop in Venice - if you prefer day trains & hotel to sleepers

• Day 1, travel from Naples Centrale to Venice Santa Lucia by Frecciarossa in 5h25 using any train you like.

  You can spend almost a full day in Naples before taking an evening train, or take an earlier train and see something of Venice.  The Rialto bridge is just 15 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia, the Piazza San Marco is just 25 minutes walk.  Frecciarossas have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas cards no problem, small booking fee) or Trenitalia's website www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. 

  You can also try high-speed operator Italo for this journey, booked at www.italotreno.it.

• Stay overnight in Venice.  For a hotel that won't break the bank just 2 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia with good reviews, try the Hotel Maggior Consiglio or for a little more, the Hotel Abbazia.

• Day 2, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:55 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 17:36.

  The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It takes the beautifully scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route from Vienna to Graz, a real treat, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmering_railway.  Treat yourself to lunch with wine as the mountains glide by.  See the Venice to Vienna page for more information, tips, photos & video.

  Fares start at €28.30 in 2nd class, €56.60 in 1st class or €71.60 in business class (= premium 1st class, a real treat).  Fares vary like air fares.

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest by railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 18:42 and arriving Budapest Keleti at 21:19. 

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

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44.90 in business 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 at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same fares).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

A Venice-Vienna railjet, at Venice Santa Lucia.  More about Venice-Vienna railjets.

Restaurant.  In 1st & business you're served at your seat.		Business class.  About business class.

First class.		Economy class.

The railjet travels over the famous Semmering Railway, opened in 1854 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  See the Vienna to Venice page for more information, photos & video.

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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 and take the Rome-Vienna Nightjet sleeper train, then a railjet train to Budapest arriving at lunchtime.  You've an afternoon to explore Budapest.

• Alternatively, stay overnight in Budapest, top choice for an inexpensive stay next to Budapest Keleti is the Intercity Hotel just across the square in front of the station.  Also try the Royal Park Boutique Hotel, the inexpensive Baross City Hotel across the road or the Elit Hotel two minutes walk away.  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.

A 1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper with washbasin.  Larger photo.		The sleeping-car (vagon de dormit) on the westbound Ister at Bucharest.  Sleepers convert from beds to private sitting rooms for day use.  Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.

The vagon cuseta (couchette car) on the westbound Ister, boarding at Bucharest.  Couchettes convert from bunks at night to seats by day.  Courtesy of @AndyBTravels, DiscoverByRail.com .		4 or 6-berth couchettes.  Larger photo.

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Naples to Ljubljana & Zagreb

Option 1, Naples to Ljubljana & Zagreb using the Rome-Austria sleeper - the most time-effective option.

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Rome by Frecciarossa, leaving Naples Centrale at 17:25 arriving Rome Termini 18:35.

  The Frecciarossa high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  By all means book an earlier train and spend some time in Rome.  Just make sure you allow at least an hour between trains in Rome when catching a sleeper.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class (standard) or €29.90 in 1st class (business).  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 print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. 

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

• Step 3, travel from Bruck an der Mur to Ljubljana by EuroCity train Emona, leaving Bruck/Mur at 09:58, and arriving Ljubljana at 14:00. 

  Change at Zidani Most for Zagreb, arriving 17:10.

  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, so book ahead.

  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, Naples to Ljubljana by daytime trains, overnight stop, on to Zagreb next day - the leisurely daytime option

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Venice by Frecciarossa 1000, leaving Napoli Centrale at 08:09, arriving Venice Santa Lucia 13:34.

  The high-speed Frecciarossa train has 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  By all means book an earlier train from Naples if you'd like more time in Venice - 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.  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.

• Step 2, travel from Venice to Villach by railjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Villach at 19:11.

  The smart Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Villach is in southern Austria.  Have a coffee at the station between trains.

• Step 3, travel from Villach to Ljubljana by express train, leaving Villach at 20:53, arriving Lesce-Bled 21:47 & Ljubljana 22:38.

• Stay overnight in Ljubljana, see suggested hotels near the station in Ljubljana.

• Step 4, travel from Ljubljana to Zagreb, leaving Ljubljana at 08:09 & arriving Zagreb at 10:39.

  Enjoy the scenery as the train runs along the lovely river Sava from Ljubljana to Zagreb.

• How much does it cost?

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

  Venice to Ljubljana starts at €26.50 in 2nd class or €39.40 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Ljubljana to Zagreb costs €9 bought at the station.

• How to buy tickets

  First book from Venice to Ljubljana at www.thetrainline.com (quickest & easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices).  You print your own ticket.

  Now book a suitable connecting train from Naples to Venice at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

  Buy the ticket from Ljubljana to Zagreb at the station in Ljubljana.

Option 3, Naples to Ljubljana & Zagreb using the direct route through Trieste

• Direct trains from Italy to Slovenia were restored in 2018.  Two modern air-conditioned trains now run from Trieste to Ljubljana every day, with connections from Venice - and there's now a daily Austrian EuroCity train from Trieste to Ljubljana, too.

  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 at Ljubljana for Zagreb.  And if you've ever wondered where prosecco comes from, you'll find out on this route!  There's now a daily Austrian EuroCity train from Trieste to Ljubljana, too.

  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.

Looking back from the rear of the Austrian EuroCity train as it climbs out of Trieste.  Courtesy Helmut Uttenthaler.

Scenery in Slovenia on the way from Trieste to Ljubljana.  More about Venice-Trieste-Ljubljana.

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Naples to Dubrovnik & Split

Option 1, Naples to Split & Dubrovnik via Zagreb - overland all the way

• 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, Naples to Split & Dubrovnik using a ferry from Ancona or Bari - more time-effective

• 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 simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. 

  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 Frecciarossa 1000, leaving Napoli Centrale at 08:09 & arriving Venice Santa Lucia 13:34.

  The high-speed Frecciarossa train has 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  If you'd like lunch and more time to wander round Venice, simply book an earlier train - the Rialto Bridge is just 20 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia, St Mark's Square 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 suggest 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 simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

• Step 2, travel from Venice to Villach by railjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Villach at 19:11.

  The smart Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Villach is in Austria, on the Slovenian border.

  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 (quickest & easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices, a bit more fiddly).  You print your own ticket.

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

• Step 3, travel from Villach to Zagreb, leaving Villach at 06:14 & arriving Zagreb at 10:39.

  Enjoy the lovely scenery as the train runs along the pretty river Sava from Ljubljana to Zagreb.

  Fares start at €19.90, 2nd class only.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com (quickest & easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices).  You 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 was suspended due to Covid-19 and is still suspended in 2024.

  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.

  While the train is suspended, take a bus from Zagreb to Belgrade

  It's a 17-minute 1.3 km walk from Zagreb station to Zagreb bus station, see walking map.

  A Flixbus leaves Zagreb bus station at 14:00, arriving Belgrade bus station at 19:30.

  The fare is around €20, buy a ticket at www.flixbus.com.

• 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 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, Naples to Krakow & Warsaw using the Rome-Vienna sleeper

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Rome by Frecciarossa, leaving Naples Centrale at 17:25 arriving Rome Termini 18:35.

  The Frecciarossa high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  By all means book an earlier train and spend some time in Rome.  Just make sure you allow at least an hour between trains in Rome when catching a sleeper.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class (standard) or €29.90 in 1st class (business).  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 simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. 

• Step 2, travel from Rome to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train leaving Rome Termini at 20:17 & arriving Vienna Hbf at 09:04.

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

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

  Spend the morning in Vienna.

• Step 2 for Warsaw, travel from Vienna to Warsaw by EuroCity train Polonia, leaving Vienna Hbf at 14:10 and arriving Warsaw Centralna 21:34.

  Step 2 for Krakow, travel from Vienna to Krakow by EuroCity train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 16:10 and arriving Krakow Glowny 21:13.

  Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.  You print your own ticket.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, but if booking Vienna to Krakow more than 30 days ahead it'll say Ticket for section only and only sell you the Vienna-Katowice train.  You can buy the connecting Katowice-Krakow ticket at the station in Katowice, or online at the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl, booking for Polish domestic trains opens 30 days ahead.

• 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, Naples to Krakow & Warsaw with an 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.

• 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 Kyiv, Lviv & Moscow

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

• Day 2, enjoy the best part of the day in Vienna, left luggage lockers are available.

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

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

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

  Booked through oebb.at:

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

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

  Booked through Polrail:

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

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

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

  These trains were suspended due to Covid-19, and are now cancelled - and the lines blown up - due to the war in Ukraine

  The fare is around €92 with a bed in 4-berth kupé or €180 with a bed in a 2-berth spalny vagon.

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

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

Ukrainian sleeping-car. Courtesy of Alessandro		Sleeper compartment.		...with washbasin.

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Naples to Athens & Greece

• You can leave Naples Centrale in the morning by train to Bari, sail overnight to Patras in Greece and take a bus/train into Athens arriving in the early evening.  See the Italy to Athens page for details of times, fares & how to buy tickets.

The ferry Superfast II from Bari to Patras, boarding at Bari.  Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com.

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Naples to Istanbul & Turkey

• Step 1, travel from Naples to Bucharest as shown above.

• An overnight stop may be necessary in Bucharest.

• Step 2, travel from Bucharest to Istanbul overnight as shown on the Bucharest to Istanbul page.

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Hotels in Naples

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 with Staysure.co.uk myself.  Here are some suggested insurers.  Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.

  www.staysure.co.uk offers enhanced Covid-19 protection & gets 4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot.

  www.columbusdirect.com is also a well-know brand.

  If you live in the USA try Travel Guard USA.

Get an eSIM with mobile data package

Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a mobile data package for the country you're visiting and stay connected.  Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM card so you don't need to buy a physical SIM, including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list.  Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data.

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then add a foreign transaction fee on top.  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 money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.

How it works:  1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android.  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app.  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, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader.  The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than digging a card out).  I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card, they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  Why you need a VPN

When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure.  A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi.  It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply.  See VPNs & why you need one explained.  ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use 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.  I get a small commission to help support this site.

Carry an Anker powerbank

Tickets, reservations, vaccination records and Interrail or Eurail passes are often held digitally on your mobile phone, so it's vital to keep it charged.  I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over if I can't get to a power outlet.  Buy from Amazon.co.uk or from Buy from Amazon.com.

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