 To buy train tickets within Italy, use Raileurope.com, www.italiarail.com or Italian Railways' own website www.trenitalia.com. |
This page explains how to travel by train from Rome to other European cities and how to buy tickets the cheapest way. Train information is current for 2020.
Before you buy your
tickets...
Take a moment to read these tips for buying European train tickets. They answer all the usual questions, such as "Do I need to book in advance or can I just buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and that old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or just buy a €35 point-to-point ticket online?". Click here to understand how far ahead you can buy train tickets.
European train travel
FAQ...
Which station in Rome?
Rome Termini is the main central station in Rome, walking distance from most of the sights, and used by most trains. However, Rome Tiburtina and Rome Ostiense are also important, but a little further out of the centre. On this page, 'Rome' means Rome Termini unless it says otherwise. Map of Rome showing stations.
Rome to other Italian towns & cities from €9.90 - www.italiarail.com.
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Most trains in Italy are operated by Trenitalia = Italian State railways. All Trenitalia long-distance trains have airline-style pricing with a seat reservation automatically included with every ticket, so yes, in theory trains can sell out although although there are so many trains & seats it's easy to buy tickets at the station on the day if you like, the real issue is price. Trenitalia has dynamic airline-style pricing, so tickets will be much cheaper if booked in advance with a cheap Economy or Super-Economy advance-purchase fare, specified train only, limited or no refunds or changes to travel plans. If you buy on the day the Base fare applies, which is flexible and can be changed to another departure up to 60 minutes after the departure of the train you originally booked. So pre-book if possible.
Local, suburban and regional trains don't require reservations and have one fixed price called Ordinaria which you can pay at the station on the day and just hop on the next train, remembering to validate the ticket. There is no need to pre-book regional trains and no advantage in doing so other than saving a few minutes at the station.
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Buy Italian train tickets online at either Raileurope.com, www.italiarail.com or Italian Railways' own site www.trenitalia.com.
All 3 sites sell the same tickets, all offer ticketless travel for Italian intercity & high-speed trains, you simply quote your booking reference on board the train.
Booking for high-speed trains opens 120 days ahead, except when the mid-June & mid-December timetable changes are imminent when the booking horizon shrinks to less than this with some trains loaded before others.
1. Raileurope.com is easy to use, it's written in plain English, it can be used in € & £. A small booking fee applies.
2. Italiarail.com is also easy to use, it's in plain English, it can be used in €, £, $ & Aus$. They charge a €3.50 booking fee but they'll refund this if you email seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR after you book. A key advantage is that it can be cheaper than Trenitalia.com for 2 or more people travelling together as explained here.
3. Trenitalia.com is fairly easy to use but you need to use Italian-language place names and it has a few quirks, especially if booking sleepers, so see this advice on using it. There's no booking fee.
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For more information, including how to reach places such as Sorrento, Pompeii, Capri, Amalfi see the Train travel in Italy page.
Rome to Florence, Venice, Milan, Turin, Naples...
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Nobody flies any more...
Rome to Venice takes just 3h45 by hourly Frecciargento or Frecciarossa high-speed train, city centre to city centre with zero check-in and a departure every hour. Rome to Milan takes just 2h55 by Frecciarossa. Rome to Florence as little as 1h32, Rome to Naples 1h10. Flights will take 4 hours in total including the journey to and from the airports plus all the check-in and security hassle.
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A choice of operator...
On the premier Rome-Florence-Milan-Turin, Rome-Florence-Venice & Rome-Naples route you have a choice of operator: State-owned Trenitalia or privately-owned Italo. Both are excellent, indeed red-hot competition has driven quality up & fares down, see my advice on which operator to take.
Trenitalia uses Frecciarossa 500s & Frecciarossa 1000s on the Naples-Rome-Florence-Milan-Turin route and a mixture of Frecciargento, Frecciarossa 500 & Frecciarossa 1000 on the Rome-Florence-Venice route. Italo operates a train every hour or so, using its original AGV trains on the Naples-Rome-Florence-Milan-Turin route and mostly its new EVO trains on the Naples-Rome-Florence-Venice route, see the Italo page for more details. I can recommend all of these trains!
Both operators leave from Rome's main station, Roma Termini.
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How much does it cost?
Rome to Naples starts at €9.90 in 2nd class or €19.90 in 1st class.
Rome to Florence starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.
Rome to Milan, Turin or Venice starts at €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.
Prices are dynamic like air fares, so book early for the cheapest rates. On Trenitalia, Super-economy & Economy fares = advance-purchase, limited or no refunds or changes to travel plans. Base = what you pay at the station on the day, refundable, changeable up to an hour after departure. Trains are all-reserved, tickets are for a specific train and come with a reserved seat. But there are always places available on the day, if you're happy paying the most expensive Base fare. It's a similar situation on Italo.
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How to buy tickets...
Buy Trenitalia tickets at either Raileurope.com, www.italiarail.com or Italian Railways' own site www.trenitalia.com, all linking to Trenitalia's ticketing system so all essentially the same price, see the section above to understand the differences.
Buy Italo tickets direct from Italo at www.italotreno.it. You can also book them at Raileurope.com with no mark-up or fee.
Whichever operator or website you choose, it's ticketless, you simply quote the reference (or show the booking printout) to the conductor on board the train.
Rome to Pompeii, Sorrento, Amalfi...
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Take a mainline train to Naples Centrale, booked at either at www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com. Then take the local Circumvesuviana Railway from Naples Centrale to Ercolano. Pompeii Scavi & Sorrento, with onward buses to Amalfi. There are also ferries to Capri. See the day trip to Pompeii page.
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How to reach Pompeii. How to reach Sorrento. How to reach Capri. How to reach Amalfi, Positano & Praiano.
Rome to Palermo, Catania, Siracuse & Sicily from €19.90...
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Two comfortable Intercity trains and two time-effective sleeper trains link Rome Termini with Messina, Catania, Siracuse & Palermo every day. Yes, these trains are indeed direct, they are ferried across the Straits of Messina on board a ferry, a truly unique experience not to be missed!
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See the trains to Sicily page for timetable, prices, how to buy tickets, photos & travel tips.
Rome to London from €74...
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For full details of train travel between Rome & London in either direction see the London to Italy page.
Option 1, by Eurostar & TGV...
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A Rome to London daytime journey can easily be booked at Raileurope.com like this...
Step 1, book an evening train from Rome Termini to Turin Porta Susa at Raileurope.com and add this to your basket. You'll need to stay overnight in Turin, the Hotel Torino Porta Susa or Hotel Diplomatic, Best Quality Hotel Dock Milano or Al Porta Susa B&B are all near to Turin Porta Susa station with good or great reviews.
Step 2, still on Raileurope.com, now book a morning TGV for the next day from Turin Porta Susa to Paris Gare de Lyon from just €29 in 2nd class or €44 in 1st class and add to your basket.
Step 3, still on Raileurope.com, book a Eurostar train from Paris Gare du Nord to London St Pancras from just £44, allowing at least 90 minutes or more to change trains and stations in Paris, including the necessary 30 minute Eurostar check-in. Add this to your basket and check out.
The Italian Rome-Turin train is ticketless, you just quote your booking number on board. For the other trains you simply print your own ticket.
Or you can book Rome to Paris by Frecciarossa & TGV on day 1, and Paris to London on the morning of day 2, which works just as well.
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For full details & other options, see the London to Italy page.
Rome to Paris from €59...
Option 1, Rome to Paris by high-speed train in a single day, from €59 - fastest & cheapest...
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Step 1, travel from Rome to Turin by high-speed Frecciarossa, leaving Rome Termini at 10:50 arriving Turin Porta Susa at 14:59.
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Step 2, now travel from Turin to Paris by high-speed TGV leaving Turin Porta Susa at 16:11 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 22:32.
It's a scenic & relaxing run, at slow speed through the mountains then a high-speed dash to Paris at up to 186mph, see the Paris-Milan TGV video guide showing both the scenery and what it's like on board the train. For detailed train times, fares & other information see the Paris-Milan by TGV page. Bring a good book and a bottle of wine, and make it a relaxing afternoon with your feet up, although some scenery will be in darkness depending on the time of year, so consider option 2 below.
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How about an afternoon in Turin? Turin is a wonderful place, I reckon it's one of Italy's most under-rated cities even if you're not a fan of the 1969 Michael Caine film The Italian Job... If you'd like to have lunch in Turin and an afternoon exploring the city, simply take an earlier Frecciarossa train leaving Rome Termini at (say) 08:00 Mondays-Fridays arriving Turin Porta Susa at 11:52. Check times for your date of travel. This breaks up the trip nicely...
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How much does it cost?
Rome to Turin starts at just €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.
Turin to Paris by TGV starts at €29 in 2nd class or €44 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.
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How to buy tickets. Booking usually opens 120 days ahead.
The easiest way to buy Rome to Paris tickets is using Raileurope.com as you can book your tickets in one place in plain English.
Raileurope.com can book Rome to Paris as one transaction because it connects to the French SNCF and Italian Trenitalia ticketing systems to sell the Frecciarossa ticket & the TGV ticket together at the cheapest prices with a print-at-home or show-on-mobile ticket for the TGV and ticketless for the Frecciarossa - you just quote the booking reference on board. It can also sell Italo tickets. You can use Raileurope.com wherever you live as it accepts international credit cards, you can pay in €, £ or $. A small booking fee applies.
Booking tips: Go to Raileurope.com and book from Rome Termini to Paris (any station) as one journey, with desired departure time set to 11:00. If you want to leave earlier and spend some time in Turin simply set (say) 08:00 as departure time and click More options, entering Turin Porta Susa and setting stopover time to 5 hours. In the search results, look for an option shown with just 1 change.
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Alternatively, you can book each train separately, like this....
Step 1, book the Frecciarossa train from Rome Termini to Turin Porta Susa at either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises familiar English-language place names and they'll refund the €3.50 booking fee if you email seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference) or www.trenitalia.com (you'll need to use Italian place names). Both sites charge the same price and both allow ticketless travel - you just quote the booking reference on board the train.
Step 2, book the TGV from Turin to Paris at Raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. These sites can be used by anyone from any country with international credit cards accepted and you can specify forward-facing seats & other seating options, and they issue print-at-home tickets. A small booking fee applies.
You can no longer buy tickets for the Milan-Turin-Paris TGVs at the Trenitalia website or at Italian stations as since December 2011 these trains have been operated entirely by French railways on an 'open access' basis with no Trenitalia involvement.
Option 2, to see all the scenery in daylight, use high-speed trains from €58 with an overnight stop in wonderful Turin - the option I'd recommend!
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Day 1, travel from Rome Termini to Turin Porta Susa by Frecciarossa high-speed train, using any afternoon or evening train you like. You can leave Rome as late as 19:00 reaching Turin Porta Susa at 23:02, but trains run regularly and I'd take an earlier one as Turin is well worth a longer stop. It's possibly one of Italy's most under-rated cities, even if you're not a fan of the 1969 Michael Caine film The Italian Job! Competing high-speed train operator Italo also runs direct Naples to Turin Italo trains, it's worth checking their times & prices at www.italotreno.it.
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Stay overnight in Turin. In Turin I suggest the Hotel Torino Porta Susa, Hotel Diplomatic, Best Quality Hotel Dock Milano or the small Al Porta Susa B&B, all right next to Turin Porta Susa station with good or great reviews.
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Day 2, travel from Turin to Paris by TGV, taking either the 07:36 TGV from Turin Porta Susa arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 13:14, or have a leisurely breakfast and take the 10:06 from Turin Porta Susa arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 16:12. Or have a day in Turin and take the 16:07 TGV arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 22:12.
Whichever train you choose, take a good book and enjoy a scenic ride through the mountains, see the Paris-Milan TGV video guide showing both the train itself and the scenery. For more information see the Paris-Milan by TGV page.
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How much does it cost?
Rome to Turin by Frecciarossa starts at just €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class
Turin to Paris by TGV starts at just €29 in 2nd class or €44 in 1st class.
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How to buy tickets... Booking usually opens 120 days ahead.
The easy way to buy Rome to Paris tickets is using the excellent Raileurope.com, as it connects to both the French SNCF ticketing system and the Italian Trenitalia system and the Italo system to sell both the Frecciarossa or Italo ticket and the TGV ticket together in the same place at the cheapest prices with a print-at-home ticket for the TGV and ticketless for the Frecciarossa or Italo - you just quote the booking reference on board the train. You can use Raileurope.com wherever you live in the world as it accepts all international credit cards.
Booking tips: Go to Raileurope.com and book from Rome Termini to Turin Porta Susa, selecting any suitable direct train with 0 changes, adding this to your basket. Then book from Turin (any station) to Paris (any station). In the search results, look for the direct TGVs with 0 changes. Add this to your basket and check out. Simples!
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Alternatively, you can book each train separately, like this....
Step 1, book the Frecciarossa train from Rome Termini to Turin Porta Susa at either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises familiar English-language place names and they'll refund the €3.50 booking fee if you email seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference) or www.trenitalia.com (you'll need to use Italian place names). Both sites charge the same price and both allow ticketless travel - you just quote the booking reference on board the train. If you want an Italo train, book at www.italotreno.it.
Step 2, book the TGV from Turin to Paris at Raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. These sites can be used by anyone from any country with international credit cards accepted and you can specify forward-facing seats & other seating options, and they issue print-at-home tickets. A small booking fee applies.
You can no longer buy tickets for the Milan-Turin-Paris TGVs at the Trenitalia website or at Italian stations as since December 2011 these trains have been operated entirely by French railways on an 'open access' basis with no Trenitalia involvement.
Rome to Turin by high-speed Frecciarossa...
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A Frecciarossa 1000 at Milan Centrale. More information on Frecciarossas & explanation of the 4 classes. |
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Standard class seats, 2+2 across width. Larger photo. |
Executive class, 1+1 across width. Larger photo. |
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Business class seats 1+2 across car width, with tables for 2 and tables for 4 and complimentary prosecco. Larger photo. |
In business class you can order a meal at your seat, around €18. More information about Frecciarossas. |
Turin to Paris by high-speed TGV...
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A Milan-Turin-Paris TGV at Paris Gare de Lyon. There's no check-in, just be on board at departure time... |
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Step 2, travel from Turin to Paris by high-speed TGV... Above left, the cafe-bar serving drinks, snacks & hot dishes Above right, The cheese platter from the cafe-bar. Larger bar photo. |
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A table for four in 2nd class on the TGV to Paris. 360 degree photo. |
1st class seats on the Turin-Paris TGV. 360 degree photo. |
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Take a good book, a bottle o' red, and enjoy the scenery from Italy to Paris with your feet up... These are mountains in France... Watch the Paris-Milan TGV video guide. |
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And these are mountains in Italy. Scenery between Oulx and Turin, courtesy of www.discoverbyrail.com. |
Option 3, Rome to Paris via the Bernina Express & Swiss Alps from €106 - much slower, but the ultimate Alpine scenic experience...
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This journey is longer and costs a bit more, but it will be a highlight of your whole trip. If time isn't pressing and you want the ultimate train ride through the Alps, this option is fabulous - If you need convincing, watch the video!
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Day 1, travel from Rome to Milan by Frecciarossa high-speed train leaving Rome Termini at 06:10 arriving Milan Centrale 09:50.
Travel from Milan to Tirano by regional train, leaving Milan Centrale at 10:20 running along the shores of Lake Como to Tirano, arriving 12:52.
Then travel from Tirano through the Alps to Chur on the absolutely fabulous Bernina Express narrow-gauge panoramic train and take a Swiss intercity train to Zurich. You leave Tirano at 14:25 and arrive Zurich HB at 19:53.
It's a long day, but worth it - by all means travel from Rome to Milan the previous evening or afternoon, to break it up. See the Bernina Express page for full details & how to buy tickets.
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Stay overnight in Zurich. For something special, book the wonderful Hotel Schweizerhof located right next to Zurich HB. One of my favourite hotels, they'll even send a uniformed commissionaire to meet you at the station and carry your bags across the road. For something cheaper but also near the station with great reviews, try the Hotel du Théatre or Hotel St Gotthard. If you're on a budget you can book inexpensive private rooms in a one-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station using www.hostelworld.com. Alternatively, you could stop overnight in the pleasant town of Chur instead.
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Day 2, take a TGV-Lyria high-speed train from Zurich HB to Paris Gare de Lyon in just 4h03 from €29 booked at www.thetrainline.com. If you take the 07:34 you can be in central Paris at 11:38. Or the 09:34 arrives Paris at 13:38. Your call! TGV-Lyria trains have three classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats, see the TGV-Lyria page for photos & information.
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Bernina Express 1st class seats... |
the Bernina Express uses panoramic carriages... |
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The Bernina Express descends from the Bernina Pass... |
The Italy to Paris Thello sleeper train was discontinued in March 2020.
Rome to Nice from €35, Rome to Cannes, Monte Carlo, Marseille, Avignon...
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Option 1, leave Rome Termini at 07:20 by high-speed Frecciarossa train, make one simple change at Milan's magnificent Centrale station onto an air-conditioned Thello train leaving Milan Centrale at 11:10 every day and arriving Nice Ville at 15:53, Antibes 16:13, Cannes 16:26 & Marseille St Charles at 18:31.
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Option 2, leave Rome Termini at 11:30 by high-speed Frecciarossa train and make one simple change at Milan's magnificent Centrale station onto a daily direct Thello train leaving Milan Centrale at 15:10 and arriving Nice Ville at 19:51. Change in Nice for French local trains to Antibes & Cannes.
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The Thello trains have a cafe counter and power sockets at all seats, see the photos below. They run along the coast between Genoa and Nice, an enjoyable & beautifully scenic ride - if you get any good coastal scenery photos I'd love to see them. Thello is a subsidiary of Trenitalia, their trains enter France as open access trains under EU open competition laws. Tickets for Thello are not sold by French Railways!
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How much does it cost?
Rome to Milan starts at €29.90, then Milan to Nice starts at €15. Milan to Marseille on the direct train starts at €30. It's cheapest to pre-book, if you buy on the day much higher fares apply. If you have to change at Nice onto a connecting French train, you'll need a separate ticket for the French train.
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How to buy tickets...
You can book from Rome to Nice or (using the direct Thello train) Rome to Cannes or Marseille all in one go at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, small booking fee will be refunded if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (sometimes more fiddly to use, requires Italian language place names, no booking fee, read this advice on using it first). Look for a cheap super-economy or economy fare. It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board the train. Italiarail can be cheaper if there are two or more of you travelling, as it can mix and match price levels within the same booking, Trenitalia.com can't.
If your journey involves a change in Nice onto an onward French train, I'd suggest using Raileurope.com as this connects to both French & Italian ticketing systems so can book journeys involving both Italian & French trains. It also offers ticketless travel on Italian trains & Thello, and print-at-home or collect-at-station tickets for most French trains.
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The Thello train to Nice & Marseille about to leave Milan Centrale. See more photos & information about these Thello trains... |
1st class seats on Thello. All seats have power sockets. There's plenty of room for luggage on racks & between seat backs... |
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2nd class seats on the Thello train. All seats have power sockets, with plenty of luggage space on racks and between seat backs. |
The small cafe-bar counter on the Milan to Nice & Marseille Thello train serving tea, coffee, wine, beer, soft drinks and snacks. |
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Views from the train, along the Ligurian coast between Genoa and Nice. Photos courtesy of Lucas Martin. |
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Rome to Brussels & Bruges from €64...
Option 1, by high-speed train with overnight stop in Paris... Step 1, travel from Rome
to Turin by high-speed Frecciarossa,
leaving Rome
Termini at 10:50 arriving
Turin Porta Susa at 14:59. Step 2, travel from Turin to Paris by
high-speed TGV leaving
Turin Porta Susa at 16:11 and
arriving Paris Gare de Lyon
at 22:32. It's a scenic & relaxing run, at slow speed through the mountains then
a high-speed dash to Paris at up to 186mph,
see the Paris-Milan TGV video guide
showing the scenery and the train. Bring a good book and a bottle of wine,
and make it a relaxing afternoon with your feet up. For
detailed train times, fares & other information
see the
Paris-Milan by TGV page. Stay overnight in Paris,
see suggested
hotels near the Gare du Nord or Gare de Lyon. Step 3, travel from
Paris Gare du Nord to
Brussels Midi in
1h22 next morning on any train you like. Thalys
trains have 3 classes, a cafe-bar, WiFi and power sockets at all seats,
see the Thalys information page. How much does it cost?
Rome-Turin starts at €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class. Turin-Paris starts at €29 in 2nd
class or €44 in 1st class. Paris-Brussels starts at €29.
How to buy tickets... Buy
tickets for each of these trains at
Raileurope.com, adding
each ticket to your basket, then check out.
Raileurope.com
connects to both the Italian and French booking systems so you can book all
these trains in the same place, in €, £ or $. A small booking fee applies. Alternatively, you can book the
Italian train at Trenitalia.com, the French TGV at
en.oui.sncf and the Thalys at
www.thalys.com,
with no fee.
Option 2, by high-speed train with overnight stop in Turin...
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Step 1, travel from Rome Termini to Turin Porta Susa on any afternoon or evening train you like.
You could take one of NTV's Italo high-speed trains or one of Trenitalia's Frecciarossa high-speed trains, two competing operators, take whichever you like the look of. You can leave Rome as late as 18:50 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.
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Stay overnight in Turin. The Hotel Torino Porta Susa or Hotel Diplomatic, Best Quality Hotel Dock Milano or Al Porta Susa B&B are all next to Turin Porta Susa station with good or great reviews.
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Step 2, travel from Turin to Paris by TGV, leaving Turin Porta Susa at 07:36 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 13:14.
Or have a leisurely breakfast and leave Turin Porta Susa at 10:06 arriving Paris Gare de Lyon 16:12.
Take a good book and enjoy a scenic ride through the mountains, see the Paris-Milan TGV video guide showing both the train itself and the scenery. For detailed train times, fares, photos, tips and video, see the Paris-Milan by TGV page. Change trains & stations in Paris.
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Step 3, travel from Paris to Brussels by Thalys high-speed train, leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 15:25 arriving Brussels Midi at 16:45 if you left Turin at 07:36, or leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 17:55 and arriving Brussels Midi at 19:17 if you left Turin at 10:06. Times may vary, so check online. Always allow at least 60 minutes to cross Paris, here I have allowed more than that.
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How much does it cost?
Rome 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-Brussels starts at €29.
Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.
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How to buy tickets...
Buy tickets for each of these trains at Raileurope.com, adding each ticket to your basket, then check out. Raileurope.com connects to the Italian & French booking systems so you can easily book all these trains in the same place, in €, £ or $. You'll get a print-at-home or show-on-mobile ticket for TGV & Thalys, it's ticketless for the Frecciarossa, just quote the booking reference on board. A small booking fee applies.
Alternatively, you can book the Italian train at Trenitalia.com, the French TGV at en.oui.sncf and the Thalys at www.thalys.com, with no fee.
Option 3, using the Rome-Munich Nightjet sleeper train - an easy & time-effective option, with no need to cross Paris...
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Step 1, travel from Rome to Munich by excellent Austrian Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Rome Termini at 18:58, arriving Munich Hbf 08:19.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself, all prices per person per berth.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, international payment cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, a bit more fiddly, in €, no fee). Bookings open up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.
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Step 2, travel from Munich to Brussels by luxurious ICE train from €39.90, leaving Munich Hbf at 10:51, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi at 17:35. ICE trains have a bistro-restaurant, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Book this at the German Railways site www.bahn.de and print your own ticket or load it into the DB Navigator app & show on your smartphone
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2-berth regular sleeper with washstand. Larger photo. |
The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper... |
A Comfortline sleeping-car, as now used on the Austrian Nightjet train from Rome to Munich. More information about Nightjets. |
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Austrian couchette car or liegewagen... |
6-berth couchettes... |
4-berth couchettes... |
Option 4, by day trains with overnight stop in Munich - if you prefer day trains to sleepers, also avoids crossing Paris...
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Day 1, travel from Rome Termini to Munich Hbf from €39 using an Italian high-speed train to Bologna or Verona then an Austrian EuroCity train with restaurant car for dinner through the scenic Brenner pass to Munich Hbf.
You can leave Rome Termini as late as 12:15, change at Bologna Centrale, arriving Munich Hbf at 22:27, but by all means take an earlier train and spend a pleasant evening in Munich.
Rome to Bologna or Verona starts at €29.90, Bologna or Verona to Munich starts at €39.90.
Book from Rome Termini to Munich at Raileurope.com, but (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. Now re-run the enquiry with Bologna (any station) as a via station also with 45 minutes stopover selected to see if this gives a cheaper or quicker 1-change journey, once or twice per day it does.
Raileurope.com can be used by anyone from any country, in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies. The Italian train is ticketless, you quote the reference on board. The ticket for the EuroCity train can be printed out, or you can select a mobile ticket to show on your smartphone.
Alternatively, book the Italian train at www.italiarail.com (in €, £ or $, the small fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com, then book the EuroCity train from Bologna or Verona to Munich at www.bahn.de.
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Stay overnight in Munich. Try the Sofitel Munich Beyerpost, Eden Hotel Wolff, InterCity Hotel or (budget) the Pension Locarno, all these hotels are right next to the station with great reviews.
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Day 2, travel from Munich to Brussels by ICE train, leaving Munich Hbf at 08:48, change in Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi at 15:35. ICE trains have a bistro-restaurant, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, Thalys have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at from €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.
Book this at the German Railways site www.bahn.de and print your own ticket or load it into the DB Navigator app & show on your smartphone.
Rome to Amsterdam from €64...
Option 1, Rome to Amsterdam in a single day - daily except Saturdays... Incredibly, it's now possible
to get from Rome to Amsterdam in a single day using top-quality high-speed
trains, with some wonderful views of Italian & Swiss lakes. It's a
long day, however, so consider using a sleeper (option 2) or breaking up the
journey with an overnight stop at Zurich or Munich (options 3 & 4).
But here's how to cross Europe in comfort by train in a single day... Step 1, travel from Rome to
Milan by Frecciarossa high-speed
train, leaving Rome
Termini at 07:20 (07:10 on Sundays) arriving
Milan Centrale at
10:35 (10:50 on Sundays). Fares from €29.90 in standard or €39.90 in business. Book this
at
Raileurope.com
or
www.thetrainline.com, it's
ticketless, you just quote the reference on board.
Step 2, travel from Milan to Frankfurt by ETR610 EuroCity train leaving Milan Centrale at 11:20 and arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 18:44.
This is a lovely ride through the Alps past Lake Maggiore and via the famous Simplon & Lötschberg route. The train has a restaurant car and power sockets at all seats. Treat yourself to lunch as the lakes & mountains glide by. You'll also pass through the world's longest rail tunnel, the Gotthard Base Tunnel, though the transit takes just 20 minutes.
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Step 3, travel from Frankfurt to Amsterdam by ICE3 high-speed train with bistro-restaurant & power sockets at all seats, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 19:29 and arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 23:28. This train runs daily except Saturdays and a few other dates.
Fares from Milan to Amsterdam start at €59.90 in 2nd class or €119.90 in 1st class.
Book Milan to Amsterdam as one journey at the German Railways website www.bahn.de and print your own ticket. See suggested hotels in Amsterdam.
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An ETR610 at Milan Centrale, as used on the direct Milan-Frankfurt EuroCity train. More information about ETR610 trains. |
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Table for 4 in 2nd class, ideal for families... |
1st class seats on the ETR610 EuroCity train... |
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Lake Maggiore, seen over lunch in the restaurant car... |
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The restaurant car on an ETR610... |
Dinner in the diner... |
Option 2, Rome to Amsterdam using the Rome-Munich sleeper - the safe, comfortable & time-effective option...
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Step 1, travel from Rome to Munich by excellent Austrian Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Rome Termini at 18:58, arriving Munich Hbf 08:19.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself, all prices per person per berth.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, international payment cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, a bit more fiddly, in €, no fee). Bookings open up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.
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Step 2, travel from Munich to Amsterdam by luxurious ICE train, leaving Munich Hbf at 09:51 with one easy change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 17:28. These ICE trains have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.
Book this at the German Railways site www.bahn.de and print your own ticket or load it into the DB Navigator app & show on your smartphone. See suggested hotels in Amsterdam.
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2-berth regular sleeper with washstand. Larger photo. |
The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper... |
A Comfortline sleeping-car, as now used on the Austrian Nightjet train from Rome to Munich. More information about Nightjets... |
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Austrian couchette car or liegewagen... |
6-berth couchettes... |
4-berth couchettes... |
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An ICE3 at Amsterdam Centraal platform 2... |
ICE3 2nd class seats. Larger photo. |
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ICE3 1st class, with leather seats. Larger photo. |
ICE3 bistro. See this month's menu. |
Option 3, Rome to Amsterdam by day trains with overnight stop in Zurich - if you prefer day trains to sleepers...
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Day 1, travel from Rome to Milan by high-speed Frecciarossa train in 2h55 from €29.90 then from Milan to Zurich by ETR610 EuroCity train through the Alps in 3h25 from €29 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class. It's a lovely ride along Lake Maggiore and through the Alps.
Check times and buy tickets as one journey at either Raileurope.com or www.trenitalia.com.
You can leave Rome Termini as late as 15:20 arriving Zurich HB at 22:50, but by all means take an earlier train for an evening in Zurich.
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Stay overnight in Zurich. For something special, look no further than the superb five-star Hotel Schweizerhof, just across the road from Zurich HB - they'll even send a uniformed commissionaire to meet you at the station and carry your bags from the train. For something cheaper but also near the station with great reviews, try the Hotel du Théatre or Hotel St Gotthard. If you're on a tight budget you can book inexpensive private rooms in a one-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station using www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 2, travel from Zurich to Amsterdam by superb ICE train with one easy change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, leaving Zurich HB at 08:00 and arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 17:28 - but by all means choose an earlier or later departure. These ICE trains have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
You can check times and buy tickets as one transaction at Raileurope.com, or you can book direct with German Railways at www.bahn.de.
Option 4, Rome to Amsterdam by day trains with overnight stop in Munich - Another option if you prefer day trains to sleepers...
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Day 1, travel from Rome Termini to Munich Hbf using an Italian high-speed train to Bologna or Verona then a comfortable Austrian EuroCity train with restaurant car for dinner through the scenic Brenner pass onwards to Munich Hbf.
You can leave Rome Termini as late as 12:15, change at Bologna Centrale, arriving Munich Hbf at 22:27, but by all means take an earlier train and spend a pleasant evening in Munich.
Rome to Bologna or Verona starts at €29.90, Bologna or Verona to Munich starts at €39.90.
Book from Rome Termini to Munich at Raileurope.com, but (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. Now re-run the enquiry with Bologna (any station) as a via station also with 45 minutes stopover selected to see if this gives a cheaper or quicker 1-change journey, once or twice per day it does.
Raileurope.com can be used by anyone from any country, in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies. The Italian train is ticketless, you quote the reference on board. The ticket for the EuroCity train can be printed out, or you can select a mobile ticket to show on your smartphone.
Alternatively, book the Italian train at www.italiarail.com (in €, £ or $, the small fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com, then book the EuroCity train from Bologna or Verona to Munich at www.bahn.de.
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Stay overnight in Munich. Try the Sofitel Munich Beyerpost, Eden Hotel Wolff, InterCity Hotel or (budget) the Pension Locarno, all these hotels are right next to the station with great reviews.
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Day 2, travel from Munich to Amsterdam by superb ICE train with one easy change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, leaving Munich Hbf at 07:45 and arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 15:28 - but by all means choose an earlier or later departure. These ICE trains have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
You can check times and buy tickets as one transaction at www.bahn.de.
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The restaurant car on a EuroCity from Verona to Munich, at Verona. You don't need to book a table, just go along and sit down. Dining on the move as the Brenner Pass scenery glides by is one of the pleasures of travelling on trains like this. More photos & information about these Austrian EuroCity trains. |
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Second class seats, mostly in 6-seat compartments with side-corridor like this, but some cars are open-plan saloons... |
First class leather seats. On a few trains you'll find 6-seat compartments too.... |
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Watch out for hilltop fortresses... |
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Vineyards, mountains and castles south of Brenner as the train heads from Verona to Innsbruck... |
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Mountains on the Brenner route... See the Brenner Pass scenery video here... |
Option 5, Rome to Amsterdam via Paris - if you want to stop off in Paris...
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You need to split this journey over 2 days with a comfortable overnight hotel stop in either Turin or Paris. It's your decision where you stop off, and for how long.
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Step 1, book a high-speed Frecciarossa train from Rome to Turin in as little as 4h15 from €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st (business) class at either raileurope.com, raileurope.com, www.italiarail.com (all easy to use, recognises English place names, with Italiarail the small booking fee will be refunded if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (more fiddly to use, requires Italian language place names, no booking fee, read this advice on using it first).
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Step 2, book one of the three daily direct TGV trains from Turin to Paris Gare de Lyon in 5h40 from €29 in 2nd class or €44 in 1st class using either raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. See the Paris-Turin TGV page for timetable, fares, scenery photos & video. It's a nice scenic run!
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Allow at least 60 minutes preferably more to cross Paris by metro or taxi.
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Step 3, book a high-speed Thalys train from Paris Gare du Nord to Amsterdam Centraal in 3h18 from €35 in 2nd class or €79 in 1st class at either raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com or www.thalys.com. Thalys trains have 3 classes, a cafe-bar, WiFi and power sockets at all seats, see the Thalys information page.
Rome to Geneva, Zurich, Lucerne, 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). With the daytime trains increasingly fast, there are no longer any sleeper trains between Italy & Switzerland.
Option 1, by high-speed train from Rome to Milan, then ETR610 EuroCity train from Milan to Brig, Geneva, Bern, Basel, Zurich, Lucerne...
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Rome to Milan takes only 2h55 by Frecciarossa high-speed train. ETR610 EuroCity trains with restaurant car then link Milan Centrale with Geneva (4h00), Montreux, Brig, Lugano & Zurich (3h25) plus one or two daily direct trains from Milan Centrale to Bern, Lucerne, Spiez and Basel. Milan-Zurich takes just 3h25 via the new Gotthard Base Tunnel, the longest in the world. Look out for great scenery on the routes from Italy into Switzerland, past lakes and mountains. Watch the video: Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train.
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Fares from Rome to Milan start at €29.90 in 2nd (standard) class or €39.90 in 1st (business) class with a super-economy ticket.
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Fares from Milan to major Swiss cities by direct train start at €29 upwards in 2nd class or €49 upwards in 1st class if you book well in advance.
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How to buy tickets, if using a direct EuroCity train from Italy to a major Swiss city, with no Swiss domestic train involved...
You can buy tickets from Rome to any of these Swiss cities as one easy transaction at either Raileurope.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, recognises English place names, no added fees or mark-up) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, choice of paying in €, $ or £, recognises English place names, the small booking fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (more fiddly to use, requires Italian language place names, no booking fee, read this advice on using it first). All these sites connect to Trenitalia's ticketing system with the same prices, give or take exchange rates. It's now all ticketless, you simply quote the booking reference on board each train.
Although you can book from anywhere in Italy to these Swiss cities as one transaction, you may prefer to split the booking, first looking for a direct Milan-Switzerland train from €9, then booking a suitable Rome-Milan connecting train from €19, allowing at least 40 minutes to change in Milan in case of any delay, if not buying a through ticket.
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How to buy tickets if your journey involves a Swiss domestic element, e.g. Rome to Zermatt, Interlaken, Wengen, Lauterbrunnen & so on...
OK, so here's the problem. www.italiarail.com & www.trenitalia.com can book the direct EuroCity trains from Milan to key Swiss cities, but they can't book journeys which involve a change of train within Switzerland onto a Swiss domestic train, because Italian Railways cannot sell tickets for the Swiss domestic part of the journey. And although Raileurope.com can book such journeys, it doesn't connect directly to the Swiss system so can't do print-at-home Swiss domestic tickets, conventional tickets have to be posted and will only be posted to UK addresses.
Now here's the solution. First use the journey planner at www.bahn.de to find a suitable journey, note where the change is within Switzerland.
Then use Raileurope.com or www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com to book from anywhere in Italy to that interchange point.
Then use the Swiss Railways website www.sbb.ch to buy a print-at-home ticket for the Swiss domestic journey from the interchange point to your final destination. Or you can buy at the station as there's one fixed price and no reservations necessary for Swiss domestic trains, but buying a print-at-home ticket in advance saves time so you can hop on the next available connection.
So for Rome to Interlaken, Wengen, Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald, you'd book from Rome to Spiez at Raileurope.com or www.italiarail.com using a direct Milan-Spiez train, then buy a separate ticket from Spiez to Interlaken Ost, Wengen, Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald either in person at Spiez station or online at www.sbb.ch with print-at-home tickets.
For Rome to Zermatt, you'd book Rome to Brig at Raileurope.com or www.italiarail.com, then Brig to Zermatt in person at the station or online at www.sbb.ch with print-at-home tickets.
For the record, Swiss Railways, www.sbb.ch can book from Italy to anywhere in Switzerland as one transaction with print-at-home tickets, but it cannot access the cheaper economy & super-economy fares for Trenitalia trains south of Milan, it will always charge you the most expensive base fare for the Italian domestic leg. So for journeys from Venice to Switzerland I'd recommend booking as above, and not with sbb.ch.
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An ETR610 EuroCity train about to leave Milan Centrale for Switzerland. More information about ETR610 trains. |
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Table for 4 in 2nd class, ideal for families... |
1st class seats on the ETR610 EuroCity train... |
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Restaurant car on an ETR160... |
Lunch! |
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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... |
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This is Lake Lugano, seen from a Milan-Zurich EuroCity train... |
Option 2, Rome to St Moritz, Chur, Zurich via the Bernina route. This route may be much slower and a little more fiddly to book, but it's an amazing experience, arguably the best train ride of them all through the Swiss Alps...
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This is a slow local route, with part of the journey on the fabulous narrow-gauge Bernina Railway. But it's one of the most scenic routes in the Alps, or anywhere for that matter. Watch the video: Milan to Zurich via the wonderfully scenic Bernina route.
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Step 1, take an early high-speed train from Rome Termini to Milan Centrale, arriving any time before 09:40. Pre-book this at either www.italiarail.com & www.trenitalia.com.
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Step 2, take a local train from Milan Centrale to Tirano. These run every 2 hours throughout the day, fare around €12, you can check train times at www.trenord.it. No reservation is necessary or even possible, you just buy a ticket to Tirano from the self-service machines at Milan Centrale and hop on the next train. At Tirano, the Italian railways station is right next to the Rhätische Bahn one on the same town square. The 10:20 from Milan connects with the Bernina Express itself, with time for a sandwich and beer in Tirano, see the Bernina Express page.
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Step 3, now take one of the regular Rhätische Bahn trains from Tirano to St Moritz & Chur. This is the fabulous Bernina Express route over the Bernina Pass. You can check times & prices from Tirano to St Moritz, Chur or Zurich at the main Swiss Railways website www.sbb.ch. If you take one of the regular normal local trains, no reservation is necessary or possible, just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on. Only if you want to use the once or twice daily Bernina Express with its special all-reserved panoramic carriages do you need a seat reservation, see www.rhb.ch and the seat61 Bernina Express page.
How to buy a cheap ticket from Tirano to Zurich from €29.90... Normal Swiss fares are expensive, so see my instructions for buying a cheap advance-purchase ticket from Tirano to Chur or Zurich here.
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Step 4, on arrival in Chur, simply cross the platform to the waiting half-hourly InterCity or InterRegional train to Zurich. Again, no reservation necessary or possible, if you're bound for Zurich simply buy a ticket to Zurich in Tirano. You can check times and fares from Tirano to Zurich at www.sbb.ch.
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Bernina Express 1st class seats... |
the Bernina Express uses panoramic carriages... |
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The Bernina Express descends from the Bernina Pass... |
Rome to Barcelona, Madrid & Spain...
Option 1, by daytime trains with overnight stop in Marseille - usually the cheapest & most direct option...
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Day 1, travel from Rome to Marseille, using the 07:20 Frecciarossa high-speed train from Rome Termini to Milan Centrale with fares from €29.90, followed by the 11:10 Thello train from Milan Centrale to Marseille St Charles arriving at 18:31 with fares from €30.
This is a very pleasant journey with fabulous coastal scenery through Genoa, San Remo, Nice & Cannes. By all means take an earlier train and stop off in Nice or spend an afternoon in Marseille, a great city to visit.
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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.
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Day 2, travel from Marseille to Barcelona & Madrid by direct AVE-S100 high-speed train, leaving Marseille St Charles at 08:02 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 12:34 and Madrid Atocha at 15:41. Fares for this leg start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.
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Day 2 afternoon, change in Barcelona for Spanish high-speed trains to Valencia or Alicante, or the direct AVE S112 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 15:50 to Cordoba, Malaga or Seville arriving in the evening.
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To buy tickets the easy way...
Go to Raileurope.com, book from Rome to Marseille on day 1 and add it to your basket. Then book Marseille to Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Alicante, Seville, Malaga or wherever for day 2 as one booking, add it to your basket and check out. Raileurope.com connects directly to the Italian, French and Spanish rail ticketing systems, so you can buy all these tickets at the cheapest prices all in one place. All international credit cards are accepted. Tickets within Spain & for the Barcelona-Marseille train will be print-at-home, the Florence-Marseille trains are ticketless, you just quote your booking reference to the conductor on board.
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Alternatively, you can book each leg separately like this, although the fares are unlikely to be any cheaper...
Step 1, book from Rome Termini to Marseille St Charles using either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, English place names, and they'll refund the small booking fee to seat61 users if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR) or Italian Railways' own site www.trenitalia.com (you'll need to use Italian language place names). It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference to the conductor on board the train.
Step 2, book from Marseille to Barcelona or Madrid at Raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. You print your own ticket.
Step 3, book any onward trains within Spain at Raileurope.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or www.renfe.com (in €, much more fiddly to use, but no booking fee, see this advice on using it). You print your own tickets.
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The Milan-Marseille Thello train at Milan Centrale. See more photos & information about these Thello trains... |
1st class seats on Thello. All seats have power sockets. Plenty of luggage room on racks & between seat backs... |
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2nd class seats on the Thello train. All seats have power sockets, with plenty of luggage space on racks and between seat backs. |
The small cafe-bar counter on the Milan to Nice & Marseille Thello train serving tea, coffee, wine, beer, soft drinks and snacks. |
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View from the train between Nice & Marseille... |
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Marseille to Barcelona & Madrid by Spanish S100 AVE train. See more photos & information about these AVE-S100 high-speed trains. |
2nd class seats, all with power sockets. Luggage goes on the racks at the car ends or above the seats. Panorama photo of 2nd class |
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Cafe-bar on an S100 AVE serving tea, coffee, beer, wine, soft drinks, snacks & hot dishes... |
1st class seats on an S100 AVE. Panorama photo of 1st class |
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Mt Canigou & the Pyrenees... Seen from the train and one of the highest peaks in the mighty Pyrenees, the 2,784m (9,137 feet) high Mt Canigou dominates the skyline all the way from Girona to Perpignan... |
Option 2, by daytime high-speed trains with hotel in Geneva...
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This is a pleasant way to go, with interesting scenery on the way and a chance to spend some time in Geneva. Leave Rome mid-afternoon, sleep soundly in a hotel in Geneva, spend a pleasant morning in Geneva next day, then take a TER regional train to Lyon and high-speed AVE to Barcelona arriving in the evening.
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Step 1, travel from Rome Termini to Milan Centrale by Frecciarossa high-speed train & from Milan Centrale to Geneva by ETR610 EuroCity train.
You can leave Rome at 13:50, change Milan, arriving Geneva at around 21:21. Or leave Rome around 15:50, change Milan, to arrive Geneva around 23:29. Fares start at €29.90 for Rome-Milan plus €29 upwards for Milan-Geneva.
Book from Rome to Geneva as one transaction at Raileurope.com (in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (in €, £ or $, the small fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com). However, booking at Raileurope.com means all your ticket to be booked together in one place.
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Stay the night in Geneva, and spend next morning exploring this lakeside city. Suggested hotels with good reviews near the station include Hotel Cornavin Geneve, Hotel Les Arcades, ibis Styles Geneva Gare. Hotels in Switzerland can be expensive, if you're on a budget you can book budget private rooms in a one-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station using www.hostelworld.com.
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Step 2, travel from Geneva to Barcelona by TGV. Usually you'll find a TER regional train leaving Geneva at 11:30, change trains at Lyon Part Dieu (arrive 13:25, depart 14:28) onto a direct AVE-S100 high-speed train arriving Barcelona Sants at 19:33. Fares start at around €69 in 2nd class.
Buy tickets at Raileurope.com (anyone from any country, a small booking fee applies) or www.thetrainline.com (anyone from any country, a small booking fee applies). You usually print your own ticket.
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Step 3, stay overnight in Barcelona (see suggested hotels near Barcelona Sants station) and book onward high-speed trains from Barcelona to Madrid, Seville, Malaga, Alicante etc, using Raileurope.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or Spanish railways own website www.renfe.com (in €, much more fiddly to use, but no booking fee) or www.petrabax.com (in $, with small mark-up). You'll find a direct AVE-S112 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:30 arriving Malaga, Cordoba & Seville at lunchtime.
Option 3, Italy to Barcelona by luxury cruise ferry...
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Another excellent option is the Grimaldi Lines cruise ferry from Civitavecchia (an hour by regional train north of Rome) and Barcelona. The ferry sails daily at 22:15 and arrives at 18:15 next day. To check times, fares, accommodation and to book online see the Seat61 ferry shop or go to www.grimaldi-lines.com. Grimaldi Lines also run a ferry several times a week between Barcelona and Livorno, and between Salerno (near Naples) and Valencia.
Rome to Lisbon & Portugal...
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Day 1, travel from Rome to Marseille, stay overnight, then take the morning AVE high-speed train from Marseille to Madrid on day 2 as shown in the Rome to Madrid section above. You've an evening in Madrid.
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Day 2, take the excellent overnight sleeper train Trainhotel Lusitania overnight from Madrid to Lisbon as shown in the Madrid to Lisbon page, arriving at 07:30 on day 3.
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Change at Lisbon Oriente for trains to Porto & Faro, as shown in the Madrid to Lisbon section.
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Gran Clase sleeper, in evening mode with the seats folded out... |
...return from dinner to find the attendant has made up the beds... |
Gran Clase sleepers have a private toilet & shower... |
The trainhotel Lusitania from Madrid to Lisbon is an articulated Spanish Talgo train. Seen here at Madrid Chamartin station. |
Rome to Munich, Berlin & Germany from €39...
Option 1, Rome to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train & onward trains to anywhere in Germany - the time-effective option...
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Step 1, a comfortable Nightjet sleeper train leaves Rome Termini at 18:58 every night and arrives at Munich Hbf at 08:19 next morning.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself, all prices per person per berth.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, international payment cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, a bit more fiddly, in €, no fee). Bookings open up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.
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Step 2, now book an onward train from Munich to anywhere in Germany at www.bahn.de from €19.90 upwards, allowing at least 1 hour between trains in Munich. You print your own ticket. For example, you can leave Munich Hbf at 09:54 by high-speed ICE train and arrive Berlin Hbf at 14:25.
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2-berth regular sleeper with washstand. Larger photo. |
The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper... |
A Comfortline sleeping-car, as used on the Austrian Nightjet train from Rome to Munich. More information about Nightjets... |
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Austrian couchette car or liegewagen... |
6-berth couchettes... |
4-berth couchettes... |
Option 2, Rome to Munich & Germany via the Brenner route - a scenic daytime option...
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Take a high-speed train from Rome to Verona in 2h50, then a comfortable Austrian EuroCity train with restaurant car from Verona to Munich via the Brenner Pass in around 5h10, see the Brenner Pass scenery video here. The Verona-Munich EuroCity trains run every couple of hours and it's a lovely run up the Brenner over a meal in the elegant restaurant car.
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Rome to Bologna/Verona starts at €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.
Bologna/Verona to Munich or anywhere in Germany starts at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.
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To buy tickets, book from Rome Termini to Munich or anywhere in Germany at Raileurope.com, but (and this is important) click More options, enter Verona (any station) as a via station and a stopover duration of 45 minutes. Look for journeys with just 1 change to Munich or 2 changes if going beyond Munich. Now re-run the enquiry with Bologna (any station) as a via station also with 45 minutes stopover selected to see if this gives a cheaper or quicker 1-change journey, once or twice per day it does. Raileurope.com can be used by anyone from any country, in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies.
Raileurope.com can be used by anyone from any country, in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies. The Italian train is ticketless, you quote the reference on board. The ticket for the German trains can be printed out, or you can select a mobile ticket to show on your smartphone.
Alternatively, book the Italian train at www.italiarail.com (in €, £ or $, the small fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com, then book the German train(s) from Bologna or Verona to anywhere in Germany at www.bahn.de.
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The restaurant car on a EuroCity from Verona to Munich, at Verona. You don't need to book a table, just go along and sit down. Dining on the move as the scenery glides by is one of the pleasures of travelling on trains like this. More photos & information about these Austrian EuroCity trains. |
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Second class seats, mostly in 6-seat compartments with side-corridor like this, but some cars are open-plan saloons... |
First class leather seats. On a few trains you'll find 6-seat compartments too.... |
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Watch out for hilltop fortresses... |
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Vineyards, mountains and castles south of Brenner as the train heads from Verona to Innsbruck... |
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Mountains on the Brenner route... See the Brenner Pass scenery video here... |
Option 3, Rome to Frankfurt & Germany via the Gotthard route - another scenic daytime option...
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Step 1, travel from Rome to Milan by Frecciarossa high-speed train, leaving Rome Termini at 07:20 (07:10 on Sundays) arriving Milan Centrale at 10:35 (10:50 on Sundays). Fares start at €29.90 in standard class or €39.90 in business.
Book this at Raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, it's ticketless you just quote the reference on board.
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Step 2, travel from Milan to Frankfurt by ETR610 EuroCity train leaving Milan Centrale at 11:20 and arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 18:44.
The train travels along Lake Maggiore and through the Swiss Alps via the famous Simplon & Lötschberg route. Change in Frankfurt for Cologne, Dusseldorf and so on. It's even possible to reach Hamburg or Berlin shortly after midnight!
Fares from Milan to Germany start at €59.90 in 2nd class or €119.90 in 1st class.
Book from Milan to anywhere in Germany at www.bahn.de or Raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, looking for the 11:20 departure. You print your own ticket.
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An ETR610 train at Milan. One train per day runs direct to Frankfurt. More information about ETR610 trains. |
2nd class seats on the ETR610 EuroCity train. Larger photo. |
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Lake Maggiore, seen over lunch in the restaurant car... |
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The restaurant car on an ETR610. Larger photo. |
Dinner in the diner... |
Option 4, Rome to anywhere in Germany by daytime trains with overnight stop in Munich...
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Day 1, take a high-speed train from Rome Termini to Verona Porta Nuova in 2h50, then a comfortable Austrian EuroCity train with restaurant car from Verona Porta Nuova to Munich Hbf via the scenic Brenner Pass in around 5h10, see the Brenner Pass scenery video here.
You can leave Rome Termini as late as 12:15 arriving Munich Hbf at 22:45, but by all means take an earlier train for an evening in Munich.
Book from Rome Termini to Munich at Raileurope.com, first clicking More options, entering Verona (any station) as a via station and a stopover duration of 45 minutes. Look for journeys with just 1 change. Now re-run the enquiry with Bologna (any station) entered as a via station to see if this gives a cheaper or quicker 1-change journey, once or twice per day it does.
Raileurope.com can be used by anyone from any country, in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies. The Italian train is ticketless, you quote the reference on board. The ticket for the EuroCity train can be printed out, or you can select a mobile ticket to show on your smartphone.
Alternatively, book the Italian train at www.italiarail.com (in €, £ or $, the small fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com, then book the EuroCity train from Bologna or Verona to Munich at www.bahn.de.
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Stay overnight in Munich. The Sofitel Munich Beyerpost, Eden Hotel Wolff, InterCity Hotel or (budget) the Pension Locarno are all right next to the station with good or great reviews.
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Day 2, take comfortable ICE or IC trains from Munich to anywhere in Germany from €19.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.
Buy tickets at bahn.de. You print your own ticket or can load it into the DB Navigator app to show on your smartphone.
Rome to Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck & Austria from €59..
Option 1, by Nightjet sleeper train from Rome to Salzburg or Vienna - the safe, comfortable, time-saving option...
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An excellent Nightjet sleeper train leaves Rome Termini at 18:58 and arrives Salzburg at 06:15 & Vienna Hbf at 08:53.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
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Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself, all prices per person per berth.
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Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, international payment cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, a bit more fiddly, in €, no fee). Bookings open up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.
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2-berth regular sleeper with washstand. Larger photo. |
The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper... |
A Comfortline sleeping-car, as now used on the Austrian Nightjet train from Rome to Vienna & Salzburg. More information about Nightjets. |
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Austrian couchette car or liegewagen... |
6-berth couchettes... |
4-berth couchettes... |
Option 2, Rome to Salzburg or Vienna by daytime trains - a daytime option with lunch in Venice...
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You can travel from Rome to Vienna by train in a single chill-out day from €58. And how about lunch in Venice?
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Step 1, travel from Rome to Venice by Frecciargento high-speed train, leaving Rome Termini at 10:35, arriving Venice S. Lucia at 14:34.
If you'd like lunch and a wander around Venice, take an earlier train from Rome, for example the 06:50, 07:50 or 08:50. The Rialto Bridge is just 20 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia, St Mark's Square just 27 minutes walk, see map of Venice showing station. There's a left luggage office at the station. Of course if you haven't been to Venice before, I'd recommend an overnight stop, not just a few hours!
Book this train from €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €). Italiarail will refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference. It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.
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Step 2, travel from Venice to Vienna by smart Austrian railjet train, leaving Venice S. Lucia at 15:55, arriving Vienna Hbf 23:35.
This train takes the wonderfully scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route, you might see something of the landscape at least in summer when it's light until ten. The railjet train has a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the railjet information page.
For Salzburg, change in Villach arriving Salzburg around 21:48. Don't worry about the 5-minute interchange at Villach, this is a recognised connection which many people make, it's a simple cross-platform switch from platform 2 to platform 3. In any case you will have a through ticket so will be looked after if there's missed connection.
Book from Venice to Vienna or Salzburg from €29 in 2nd class, €44 in 1st class or €59 in business class (= premium 1st class, a real treat) at www.thetrainline.com (quickest & easiest to use, overseas payment cards no problem) or at Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices but a bit more fiddly). You print your own ticket.
Option 3, Rome to Innsbruck, Salzburg or Vienna by day trains in a single day via the Brenner Pass - the scenic daytime option...
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You can travel from Rome to Austria by train in a single chill-out day via the Scenic Brenner Pass from €68.
For example, if you left Rome Termini around 08:50 you'd reach Innsbruck around 16:30, Salzburg around 19:00, Vienna Hbf around 21:30.
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Step 1, take a fast Frecciarossa from Rome Termini to Bologna Centrale in 2h17 from €19.90. Look for one around 08:50.
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Step 2, take a comfortable Austrian EuroCity train with restaurant car leaving Bologna at 11:52 for Innsbruck Hbf via the scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass scenery video here. Fares from Bologna to anywhere in Austria start at €39. Treat yourself to a meal in the restaurant car as the mountains glide by... Change in Innsbruck Hbf for regular trains to Salzburg, Linz & Vienna.
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To buy tickets, first book the 11:52 from Bologna Centrale to Innsbruck, Salzburg, Vienna or anywhere in Austria using www.thetrainline.com (quickest & easiest to use, overseas payment cards no problem) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices but a bit more fiddly). You print your own ticket.
Now add a suitable connecting train from Rome Termini to Bologna Centrale at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in various currencies, a small booking fee applies), or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €), making sure you have at least 40 minutes between trains in Verona in case of any delay. If you use Italiarail they'll refund the small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference.
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Earlier or later departures are possible, but with a change in Verona Porta Nuova rather than Bologna, as trains link Verona and Innsbruck every 2 hours, only one or two a day start back in Bologna. In this case, you'd first book Verona to Austria using www.thetrainline.com, then add a Rome to Verona ticket at www.thetrainline.com or www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com, again making sure you allowed at least 40 minutes between trains in Verona.
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The restaurant car on a EuroCity from Verona to Munich, at Verona. You don't need to book a table, just go along and sit down. Dining on the move as the scenery glides by is one of the pleasures of travelling on trains like this. More photos & information about these Austrian EuroCity trains. |
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Second class seats, mostly in 6-seat compartments with side-corridor like this, but some cars are open-plan saloons... |
First class leather seats. On a few trains you'll find 6-seat compartments too.... |
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Watch out for hilltop fortresses... |
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Vineyards, mountains and castles south of Brenner as the train heads from Verona to Innsbruck... |
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Mountains on the Brenner route... See the Brenner Pass scenery video here... |
Rome to Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo & Scandinavia...
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Step 1, travel from Rome to Munich by excellent Austrian Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Rome Termini at 18:58, arriving Munich Hbf 08:19.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself, all prices per person per berth.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, international payment cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, a bit more fiddly, in €, no fee). Bookings open up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.
If you'd prefer a daytime journey with an overnight stop in Munich, use the Rome to Munich in a single day option above.
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Step 2, travel from Munich to Copenhagen by train, leaving Munich Hbf at 10:21 by luxurious ICE train, making one easy change in Hamburg onto a comfortable Danish IC3 intercity train arriving Copenhagen at 21:33. Treat this as a chill-out day with a good book and a glass or two of wine - there's a bistro-restaurant car for lunch.
If you're just going to Copenhagen, book Munich to Copenhagen from €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class at the German Railways site www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.
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Step 3 if you're going to Malmo, simply take a regular Öresund train from Copenhagen to Malmö in 39 minutes with passport check off-train at Kastrup, these leave twice an hour. You can book through from Munich to Malmö from €39 at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.
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Step 3 if you're going to Stockholm or Gothenburg, stay overnight in Copenhagen then travel to Stockholm in just 5h15 by X2000 high-speed train or to Gothenburg in 3h53 by hourly Öresund train.
You can book tickets from Copenhagen to anywhere in Sweden at the Swedish Railways site www.sj.se, but there's a cleverer way to book if you are coming from Munich. Use this special link to bahn.de to book from Munich to Stockholm from €39.90 with an overnight stop in Copenhagen programmed in using the Add intermediate stops feature - just enter your date of travel from Munich. Adjust the intermediate stopover time as necessary to get the trains you want, or if no fares show up initially, it may take a bit of trial & error to get the trains you want. This method works to book from Munich to Gothenburg, too - you'll find bahn.de lists Gothenburg as Göteborg Central.
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Step 3 for Oslo, stay overnight in Copenhagen and travel from Copenhagen to Oslo by train next day as shown here. Or spend the day in Copenhagen and take the overnight DFDS cruise ferry to Oslo as also shown here.
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2-berth regular sleeper with washstand. Larger photo. |
The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper... |
A Comfortline sleeping-car, as now used on the Austrian Nightjet train from Rome to Munich. More information about Nightjets. |
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Austrian couchette car or liegewagen... |
6-berth couchettes... |
4-berth couchettes... |
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All Hamburg-Copenhagen EuroCity trains are now Danish IC3 trains like this... |
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A 125 mph X2000 train from Copenhagen to Stockholm.... |
2nd class seating on the X2000. All seats have power sockets for laptops & mobiles... |
Self-service buffet car on the X2000 to Stockholm. |
Rome to Prague from €68...
Option 1, Rome to Prague overnight via Vienna - comfortable, safe & time-effective, with a chance to see Vienna on the way...
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Step 1, travel from Rome to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train leaving Rome Termini at 18:58 & arriving Vienna Hbf 08:53.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself, all prices per person per berth.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, international payment cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, a bit more fiddly, in €, no fee). Bookings open up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.
Tip: If you have a sleeper ticket and/or 1st class ticket for the onward train to Prague you can use the ÖBB lounge in Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Prague by smart modern Czech railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 11:10 & arriving Prague Hlavni at 15:13.
Fares start at just €14 in 2nd class, €29 in 1st class or €44 in business class (= premium 1st class).
These swish railjet trains have a bistro-restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the railjet train information page.
Why not book book a later railjet & spend some time exploring Vienna? Railjets to Prague leave every two hours, see the timetable here. Left luggage lockers are available in Vienna. In Prague, you arrive in the city centre walking distance from the old city square.
Book this train at either www.thetrainline.com or www.cd.cz - check prices on both sites as one is often cheaper than the other for the same train. You print your own ticket. Easy! You can also book at www.oebb.at. See suggested hotels in Prague.
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Alternative step 2 if you're going to Cesky Krumlov: Travel from Vienna Franz-Josefs-Bahnhof to Cesky Krumlov in 4h26 as explained here.
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2-berth regular sleeper with washstand. Larger photo. |
The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper... |
A Comfortline sleeping-car, as now used on the Austrian Nightjet train from Rome to Vienna. More information about Nightjets. |
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Austrian couchette car or liegewagen... |
6-berth couchettes... |
4-berth couchettes... |
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Step 2, take a smart modern railjet train from Vienna to Prague, with economy, first & business class, restaurant car, free WiFi and draught beer on tap... |
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Restaurant car... Courtesy David Malone |
Economy (2nd) class... Courtesy Cortney Lollar |
Option 2, Rome to Prague or Cesky Krumlov via Zurich - a comfortable, safe & time-effective option...
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Step 1, travel from Rome to Zurich by train, leaving Rome Termini at 11:20 by 186mph Frecciarossa high-speed train, making one quick and easy change at Milan's magnificent Centrale station onto a bullet-nosed ETR610 EuroCity train along Lake Maggiore and through the Swiss Alps arriving at Zurich HB at 18:50. The Milan-Zurich train takes the scenic Gotthard route, although half an hour of this journey is now inside the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world's longest.
Book from Rome Termini to Zurich HB using either Raileurope.com, www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com. Rome to Milan starts at €29.90 then Milan to Zurich starts at €29. Just make sure you have at least an hour in Zurich to change trains in case of any delay. It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board each train.
You've time for dinner in Zurich, I can recommend steak & frites and a beer at the Brasserie Federal on the main concourse at Zurich HB.
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Step 2, now take the Zurich to Prague sleeper leaving Zurich HB at 21:40 every night and arriving next morning at Ceske Budejovice at 08:51 & Prague Hlavni at 10:57. The train has a modern Czech sleeping-car, some deluxe sleepers have an en suite shower & toilet, there's a shower for standard sleeper passengers at the end of the corridor. Morning tea & coffee is included in the sleeper fare. There are no couchettes on this route.
Fares start at €45 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €59 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €112 in a single-bed sleeper.
Book this sleeper online at the Czech Railways site www.cd.cz and print out your own ticket. Easy! See my tips for using cd.cz.
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If you're going to Ceske Krumlov, get off the sleeper at Ceske Budejovice (its former name is Budweis, that's right, where the name of the beer comes from), have a coffee at the station then take the 10:13 express train to Ceske Krumlov arriving 10:50. In this case you'd use www.cd.cz to book Zurich to Cesky Krumlov, of course looking for the 21:40 departure with 1 change.
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ETR610 EuroCity train, as used on the Milan-Zurich route. More information about ETR610 EuroCity trains. |
2nd class seats on the stylish ETR610 EuroCity train... |
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The restaurant car on an ETR610... |
Dinner in the diner... |
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The sleeping-car to Prague, ready to leave Zurich HB. Photo courtesy of Shaiq Ali Khan |
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Standard sleeper set up as a 2-berth, with blind down & washstand open. Each room can be used with 1, 2 or 3 beds. |
The same sleeper with berths folded away & seats folded out, washstand closed. Very similar to a deluxe, but without the shower & toilet. |
Deluxe sleepers are similar to standard ones, but with a bit more floorspace & compact shower & toilet instead of washstand. |
Just like a hotel, the corridor in a Comfortline sleeping-car. There's a shower at end of the corridor for standard sleeper passengers. |
Rome to Bratislava from €64...
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Step 1, take the excellent Austrian Nightjet sleeper train leaving Rome Termini at 18:58 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 08:53, as shown in the Rome to Austria section above.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself, all prices per person per berth.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, international payment cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, a bit more fiddly, in €, no fee). Bookings open up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.
Tip: If you have a sleeper ticket you can use the ÖBB lounge in Vienna Hbf on arrival, with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.
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Step 2, when you reach Vienna, simply buy a ticket for €11.20 and hop on the next hourly Regional Express train from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna, no reservation necessary or possible, journey time 1 hour 6 minutes. You can check times using www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.
Rome to Budapest from €68...
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Step 1, travel from Rome to Vienna overnight by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Rome Termini at 18:58 arriving Vienna Hbf at 08:53 next morning.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself, all prices per person per berth.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, international payment cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, a bit more fiddly, in €, no fee). Bookings open up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.
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.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest by smart modern Austrian railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 09:42 & arriving Budapest Keleti 12:19.
Fares start at just €19 in 2nd class, €29 in 1st class or €44 in business class (= premium 1st class).
These swish railjet trains have a bistro-restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the railjet train information page.
Why not book book a later train & spend some time in Vienna? Trains to Budapest leave every hour or two, left luggage lockers are available.
Buy tickets for this train as a second transaction at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at. You print your own ticket. Easy!
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2-berth regular sleeper with washstand. Larger photo. |
The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper... |
Step 1, Rome to Vienna by comfortable Nightjet sleeper train. More information about Nightjets... |
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Austrian couchette car or liegewagen... |
6-berth couchettes... |
4-berth couchettes... |
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Step 2, Vienna to Budapest by railjet, seen arrived on platform 9 at Budapest's historic Keleti station. More information about railjets. |
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Economy (2nd) class... Larger photo. |
First class... Larger photo. |
Rome to Bucharest, Brasov & Romania...
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Step 1, travel from Rome to Budapest as shown in the Rome to Budapest section above, leaving Rome in the evening by Nightjet sleeper train and changing in Vienna onto a fast Railjet train to Budapest, arriving at lunchtime. You've an afternoon to explore Budapest.
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Step 2, now take the overnight EuroNight sleeper train Ister leaving Budapest Keleti at 19:10 and arriving, Brasov at 09:54 & Bucharest Gara de Nord at 12:33 next day. This comfortable train has 4 & 6 berth couchettes and a modern air-conditioned sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, also deluxe sleepers with 1 or 2 beds and shower/toilet. See the photos on the London to Romania page.
You can book the Budapest to Bucharest train with fares from €49 in a 2-bed sleeper at the Hungarian railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, collecting your tickets from the yellow ticket machines at Budapest Keleti station.
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Alternative step 2: Stay overnight in Budapest, for an inexpensive hotel with great reviews right next to Keleti Station, try the Royal Park Boutique Hotel or the inexpensive Baross City Hotel just across the road or the Elit Hotel two minutes walk away. Next day, take a daytime train across Transylvania to Cluj, Timisoara, Simeria, Brasov or Bucharest see details here. These daytime trains are also bookable from €29 at www.mavcsoport.hu.
Rome to Ljubljana & Slovenia, Zagreb...
Option 1, by the direct route through Trieste...
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Direct trains from Italy to Slovenia were restored in September 2018! Two modern air-conditioned trains now run from Trieste to Ljubljana every day, with connections from Venice. Just €22 or so gets you from Venice to Ljubljana, any day, any date, no prior reservation necessary, it cannot sell out, just buy at the station on the day. Change in Ljubljana for Zagreb. And if you've ever wondered where prosecco comes from, you'll find out on this route!
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Add a ticket from Rome Termini to Venice by Frecciarossa high-speed train from €29.90 at either www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.
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Inside the ETR563. Larger photo. |
The train to Ljubljana about to leave Trieste. Courtesy of Marc Williams. |
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Scenery in Slovenia, seen from the train from Trieste to Ljubljana... |
Option 2, with overnight stop in Austria - a useful alternative...
Until 3 October 2020, to both Ljubljana & Zagreb..
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Step 1, travel from Rome to Venice by Frecciargento high-speed train, leaving Rome Termini at 10:35, arriving Venice S. Lucia at 14:34.
If you'd like lunch and a wander around Venice, take an earlier train from Rome, for example the 06:50, 07:50 or 08:50. The Rialto Bridge is just 20 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia, St Mark's Square just 27 minutes walk, see map of Venice showing station. There's a left luggage office at the station. Of course if you haven't been to Venice before, I'd recommend an overnight stop, not just a few hours!
Book this train from €29.90 at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €). Italiarail will refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference. It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.
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Step 2, travel from Venice to Villach in Austria near the Slovenian border by comfortable Austrian railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Villach at 19:11. Book this from €19 at either www.thetrainline.com or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at.
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Stay in Villach overnight - try the Hotel Goldenes Lamm or Hotel City, both near the station with great reviews.
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Step 3, travel from Villach to Ljubljana & Zagreb by direct train, leaving Villach at 06:25 and arriving Lesce-Bled 07:28, Ljubljana at 08:11 and Zagreb at 10:49. Buy this ticket at the station, likely to be around €20 to Ljubljana, €40 to Zagreb.
From 4 October 2020, only to Zagreb...
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Step 1, travel from Rome to Venice by Frecciargento high-speed train, leaving Rome Termini at 10:35, arriving Venice S. Lucia at 14:34.
If you'd like lunch and a wander around Venice, take an earlier train from Rome, for example the 06:50, 07:50 or 08:50. The Rialto Bridge is just 20 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia, St Mark's Square just 27 minutes walk, see map of Venice showing station. There's a left luggage office at the station. Of course if you haven't been to Venice before, I'd recommend an overnight stop, not just a few hours!
Book this train from €29.90 at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €). Italiarail will refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference. It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.
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Step 2, travel from Venice to Bruck an der Mur in Austria by comfortable Austrian railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Bruck an der Mur at 21:44. Book this from €19 at either www.thetrainline.com (easiest) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at. You print your own ticket.
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Stay overnight in Bruck an der Mur - try the Hotel Landskron, 14 minutes walk from the station.
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Step 3, travel from Bruck to Zagreb by train, leaving Bruck an der Mur at 06:20 and arriving Zagreb at 11:27. 2nd class only, bring your own food & drink along. Book this from €29 at either www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.
Rome to Dubrovnik & Split...
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You can travel overland all the way from Rome to Zagreb by train as shown above, then take a train from Zagreb to Split (daytime or sleeper) then a bus Split to Dubrovnik (4 hours, many buses). But it's more time-effective to go by comfortable overnight ferry from Italy to Croatia as follows.
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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!
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Step 2, now add a train ticket from Rome Termini to either Ancona Centrale or Bari Centrale using www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €). Italiarail will refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference. It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.
You should choose a train which arrives in Bari or Ancona at least 3 hours before the ferry sails, to allow for transfer to the port and check-in. In Bari it's a 25 minute walk via Bari's pleasant old town to the ferry terminal, or a 10 minute taxi ride. In Ancona, take a taxi from station to ferry terminal.
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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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Rome to Belgrade & Sofia...
Option 1 until 3 October 2020, with overnight stop in Villach, Austria - the cheapest and simplest option...
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Step 1, travel from Rome to Venice by Frecciarossa high-speed train, leaving Rome Termini at 10:50, arriving Venice S. Lucia at 14:35.
If you'd like lunch and a wander around Venice, take an earlier train from Rome, for example the 06:50, 07:50 or 08:50. The Rialto Bridge is just 20 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia, St Mark's Square just 27 minutes walk, see map of Venice showing station. There's a left luggage office at the station. Of course if you haven't been to Venice before, I'd recommend an overnight stop, not just a few hours!
Book this train from €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €). Italiarail will refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference. It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.
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Step 2, travel from Venice to Villach in Austria near the Slovenian border by comfortable Austrian railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Villach at 19:11. Book this from €19 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class at either www.thetrainline.com or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at. You print your own ticket.
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Stay in Villach overnight - try the Hotel Goldenes Lamm or Hotel City, both near the station with great reviews.
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Step 3, travel from Villach to Belgrade by train, leaving Villach at 06:25, switching trains at Zagreb (arrive 10:49, depart 11:03) and arriving Belgrade Centar station at 18:07. There's lovely scenery along the River Sava between Ljubljana & Zagreb. You can buy the ticket at Villach station, fare around €97 if bought on the day, there are always places available. To reduce the cost, pre-book a Villach to Zagreb advance-purchase sparschiene ticket from €29 at either www.thetrainline.com or the Austrian Railways site www.oebb.at, but you'll then need to ask the Croatian conductor to sell you an onward ticket from Zagreb to Belgrade, likely to be about €29, or break your journey in Zagreb for a day to buy a new ticket. Zagreb is a city well worth a stopover!
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Step 4, if you're going to Sofia, spend the night in Belgrade, I recommend the historic Hotel Moskva. Travel from Belgrade to Sofia by daytime train, see the Belgrade to Sofia page for full details. Buy this ticket at the station for €20.60, there are always places available, even on the day. It cannot be booked online, and there's no need.
Option 1 from 4 October 2020 onwards, with overnight stop in Bruck an der Mur, Austria - the cheapest and simplest option...
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Step 1, travel from Rome to Venice by Frecciarossa high-speed train, leaving Rome Termini at 10:50, arriving Venice S. Lucia at 14:35.
If you'd like lunch and a wander around Venice, take an earlier train from Rome, for example the 06:50, 07:50 or 08:50. The Rialto Bridge is just 20 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia, St Mark's Square just 27 minutes walk, see map of Venice showing station. There's a left luggage office at the station. Of course if you haven't been to Venice before, I'd recommend an overnight stop, not just a few hours!
Book this train from €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class at www.thetrainline.com or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €). Italiarail will refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference. It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.
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Step 2, travel from Venice to Bruck an der Mur in Austria by comfortable Austrian railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Bruck an der Mur at 21:44. Book this from €19 at either www.thetrainline.com (easiest) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at. You print your own ticket.
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Stay overnight in Bruck an der Mur - try the Hotel Landskron, 14 minutes walk from the station.
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Step 3, travel from Bruck to Zagreb by train, leaving Bruck an der Mur at 06:20 and arriving Zagreb at 11:27. 2nd class only, bring your own food & drink along. Book this from €29 at either www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.
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Step 4, travel from Zagreb to Belgrade on the daily train, leaving Zagreb at 13:04 and arrives Novi Beograd at 20:17 & Belgrade Centar at 20:25. The fare is around €29, it cannot be bought online so buy at the station or on board the train.
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Step 5, if you're going to Sofia, spend the night in Belgrade, I recommend the historic Hotel Moskva. Travel from Belgrade to Sofia by daytime train, see the Belgrade to Sofia page for full details. From mid-June to mid-September there's a direct train called the Balkan which leaves Belgrade Topcider station at 09:12 and arrives Sofia Central Station at 20:30. 2nd class only, bring your own picnic and bottle of wine as there's no catering. At other times of year you leave Belgrade Centar station at 06:10, change at Nis & Dimitrovgrad arriving Sofia at 19:00. Buy this ticket at the station for €20.60, there are always places available, even on the day. It cannot be booked online, and there's no need.
Option 2, Rome to Belgrade via the Bari-Bar overnight ferry - a lovely journey via a spectacular railway...
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Step 1, travel by fast train from Rome Termini to Bari Centrale in about 4 hours from €29.90 booked at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names). Italiarail will refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference. It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board. In Bari it's a 25 minute walk or 10 minute taxi ride from the station to the ferry terminal near the pleasant old town. Allow several hours between train arrival and ferry departure, to allow for any delay and for the ferry check-in.
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Step 2, sail overnight from Bari to Bar in Montenegro with Jadrolinija, as shown in the Rome to Montenegro section below. The ferry sails weekly all year round, twice weekly in high summer. In Bar, it's an easy 20 minute walk from ferry terminal to station.
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Step 3, travel from Bar to Belgrade on the spectacular Bar to Belgrade Railway as shown here. There's a daytime train and a sleeper train. If the ferry is on time you might just make the one-hour connection between the ferry arrival and the 09:00 departure of the daytime train.
Rome to Bar, Budva, Kotor & Montenegro...
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This is an excellent way to reach beautiful Montenegro from Florence. Make sure you're on deck with your camera ready as the ship approaches the lovely Montenegrin coast!
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Step 1, book an overnight ferry with comfortable en suite cabin from Bari to Bar in Montenegro. Montenegro Lines ceased trading in early 2017, but Croatian ferry line Jadrolinija (www.jadrolinija.hr) will resume sailings shortly with one sailing per week all year round, twice a week in high summer. 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.
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Step 2, now add a train ticket from Rome Termini to Bari Centrale from €29.90 using www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €). Italiarail will refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference. It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.
You should choose a train which arrives in Bari 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.
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Trains link Bar with Podgorica and indeed with Belgrade on the spectacular Bar-Belgrade Railway. Buses link Bar bus station with Budva and Kotor.
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The former Montenegro Lines ferry to Bari at Bar ferry terminal... |
Rome to Warsaw, Krakow & Poland...
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Step 1, take the 18:58 direct Nightjet sleeper train from Rome Termini to Vienna Hbf arriving 08:53.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself, all prices per person per berth.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, international payment cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, a bit more fiddly, in €, no fee). Bookings open up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.
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Step 2, spend a morning in Vienna, then take the EuroCity train with restaurant car leaving Vienna Hbf at 14:10 and arriving Warsaw Centralna at 21:24. From €29 booked with Austrian Railways at www.oebb.at.
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Or spend the day in Vienna, then take the overnight sleeper train from Vienna to Krakow or Warsaw as shown in the Austria to Poland page, booked online at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at from €39 with couchette or €69 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper.
Rome to Lviv, Kiev & Moscow...
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Day 1, travel from Rome to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train as shown in the Rome to Vienna section above, leaving Rome Termini in the evening and arriving at Vienna Hbf next morning.
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Enjoy the best part of a day in Vienna, left luggage lockers are available.
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Day 2, travel from Vienna to Lviv or Kiev by direct Ukrainian sleeping-car. leaving Vienna Hbf at 16:42 every day and arriving next day (day 3) at Lviv at 10:14 & Kiev at 17:21. Introduced in December 2017, this train has a Ukrainian sleeping-car with comfortable 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, see the photos below. At Chop on the other side of the border the through sleeping-car is jacked up to have its wheelsets changed from European standard gauge (4'8½") to Russian gauge used in Ukraine (5').
Book the train from Vienna to Lviv or Kiev online at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at. This will only book one-way or round trip starting in Vienna because tickets need to be collected from an ÖBB station in Austria. They cannot be collected in Ukraine. Booking this way you pay no fee or mark-up, just the official fare. The sleeper has become popular, it can sell out.
If you have any problems or want a one-way ticket starting in Ukraine, you can also book the Vienna-Kiev train via reliable agency www.polrail.com, with tickets posted or couriered to you for a small fee. Polrail are based in Poland so charge in zlotys, but as they have access to Ukrainian ticketing system they are good for booking this train.
Booked through oebb.at:
Vienna to Kiev costs €80.50 in a 3-berth sleeper, €90.50 in a 2-berth sleeper or €152.90 in a single sleeper.
Vienna to Lviv costs €62.10 in a 3-berth sleeper, €70.10 in a 2-berth sleeper or €119.30 in a single sleeper.
Booked through Polrail:
Vienna to Kiev costs around €138 in a 3-berth sleeper €149 in a 2-berth sleeper, or €241 in a single-berth sleeper.
Vienna to Lviv costs around €120 in a 3-berth sleeper €129 in a 2-berth sleeper, or €207 in a single-berth sleeper.
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Day 3, take a sleeper train from Kiev to Moscow. Train 6 leaves Kiev at around 19:36 and arrives Moscow Kievskaya at around 10:09 next day (day 4 from Italy). Taking the route via Kiev avoids Belarus, so no need for a Belarus visa!
The fare is around €92 with a bed in 4-berth kupé or €180 with a bed in a 2-berth spalny vagon.
You can book tickets starting in Kiev at the Ukrainian Railways site https://booking.uz.gov.ua/en/ booking from Kyiv to Moskva Kievskaya. You collect tickets at the station in Kiev. Feedback appreciated!
Change in Moscow for fast trains to St Petersburg, see the train travel in Russia page.
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The Vienna-Kiev sleeping-car at Kiev Pass. Photos courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler. |
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The Vienna-Kiev sleeper about to leave Vienna Hbf... Courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler. |
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The sleeper corridor. Courtesy Helmut Uttenthaler. |
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1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper compartment. |
Rome to Athens & Greece...
A train ride then Adriatic cruise - The civilised way to Athens...
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Step 1, travel from Rome Termini to Bari Central by tilting Frecciargento train in 3h59 from €29.90 booked at either www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com. It's an enjoyable and scenic ride across the spine of Italy. Obviously, you should book the ferry first and work out connecting Rome-Bari trains afterwards.
On arrival at Bari Centrale, walk 25 minutes or take a taxi from Bari Centrale to the ferry terminal which is adjacent to Bari's pleasant old town.
Always allow at least 3 hours between train arrival and ferry departure.
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Step 2, sail from Bari to Patras by daily cruise ferry with Superfast Ferries. The ferry sails daily except Sundays at 19:20 and arriving Patras at 13:00 the next day (day 3). On Sundays the ship sails at 13:30, too early to make connections from Rome but you can take a train to Bari on Saturday evening and stay overnight in Bari.
You can check ferry times, dates, prices & buy tickets online at either the Seat61 Ferry Shop or www.superfast.com or www.ferriesingreece.com.
The ship is modern and comfortable, with restaurants, bars, lounges and sun decks. You can book a deck place (a nice cheap option in summer if you have your own sleeping bag) or a reclining seat or a berth in various types of cabin, including luxury cabins with private shower & toilet. Strolling the decks in the morning sun as the ship cruises past the islands of Cephalonia and Ithaca is the nicest part of the trip, and it's a wonderful way to arrive in Greece.
In Patras, the ferry arrives at the new South ferry terminal a few km from the town centre. Bus number 18 links the port with the town bus station every hour on the hour, fare €1.20 or you can hop in a taxi for around €7, journey time 15-20 minutes.
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Day 3, travel from Patras to Athens by bus+train or direct bus. There are regular Greek Railways (OSE) buses from outside Patras railway station to Kiato station where you board a modern air-conditioned regional train for Athens. For Athens Larissa station (Athens main station in the city centre) you must change at Ano Liosia. You can buy a through ticket to Athens at Patras station ticket office. There's an OSE bus from Patras at 16:30 arriving at Kiato at 18:20, connecting into the 18:25 air-conditioned train from Kiato to Athens arriving at Athens' main Larissa Station at 19:50. The bus+train combo fare to Athens is around €18, see here for information. You can find these train+bus times on www.trainose.gr but it takes a while to find it - look under Destinations then Athens Suburban railway. Alternatively, there are hourly direct buses from Patras bus station to Athens KTEL Kifissos bus station, fare around €20.60, although this means 3-4 hours on a bus.
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2 or 4-berth cabin with private toilet & shower. |
Relaxing on deck... |
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At sea, passing Cephalonia & Ithaca. This is what travel to Greece should be like! |
Rome to Istanbul & Turkey...
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Travel from Rome to Vienna by direct overnight sleeper train as shown above and pick up the route to Istanbul via Vienna, Budapest & Bucharest shown on the London to Turkey page.
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Or you can travel from Rome to Venice by train, then from Venice to Zagreb as shown here, then pick up the route via Zagreb, Belgrade and Sofia shown on the London to Turkey page.
Railbookers
custom-made tours
If you just want to buy train tickets at the cheapest price, book online as shown on this page. However, if you want someone to sort out your whole trip for you, arranging all your trains, hotels and transfers, and to look after you if anything affects your arrangements, talk to Railbookers. Railbookers can tailor-make a train trip around Europe to your own specification. Just tell them what you want and they'll advise you on the best trains, routes & hotels. They get good reports and a lot of repeat business! They now have offices in the UK, North America and Australia.
UK call 0207 864 4600,
www.railbookers.co.uk.
US call free 1-888-829-4775,
see
website.
Canada call free 1-855-882-2910,
see website.
Australia call toll-free 1300 971 526,
see website.
New Zealand call toll-free 0800 000 554 or
see
website.
Hotels in Rome & other cities
Hotels near Rome Termini with good or great reviews: The Hive Hotel, Dream Station, Smooth Hotel Rome Repubblica.
Other hotel sites worth trying...
www.tripadvisor.com is the place to find independent travellers' reviews of all the main hotels.
Backpacker hostels...
www.hostelworld.com: If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels. Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in most cities at rock-bottom prices.
Travel insurance & VPN
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Always take out travel insurance...
Never travel overseas without travel insurance from a reliable insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover. It should also cover cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible limit. An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy myself. Here are some suggested insurers. Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.
In
the UK, reliable insurers include
Columbus Direct.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over 65, see
www.JustTravelCover.com
- 10% discount with code seat61.
You
can use
Confused.com to compare prices & policies from many
different insurers.
If
you live in
Australia, New Zealand, Ireland or the EU, try
Columbus Direct's other websites.
If you live in the USA try
Travel Guard USA.
A Curve card saves on foreign transaction fees...
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Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then charge you a currency conversion fee. A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month at time of writing. The balance goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.
How it works: 1. Download the app for iPhone or Android. 2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to most European addresses including the UK. 3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app. 4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, just like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance onto whichever of your debit or credit cards you choose. You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.
I have a Curve Blue card myself - I get some commission if you sign up to Curve, but I'm recommending it here because it's great. See details, download the app and get a Curve card - they'll give you £5 cashback through that link, too.
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Get a VPN for safe browsing. VPNs & why you need one explained...
When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure. A VPN means your connection to the internet is encrypted & always secure, even using unsecured WiFi. In countries such as China where access to Twitter & Facebook is restricted, a VPN gets around these restrictions. And lastly, you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geographic restrictions which some websites apply - for example one booking site charges a booking fee to non-European visitors but none to European visitors, so if you're not located in Europe you can avoid this fee by browsing with a UK IP address using a VPN. VPNs & why you need one explained. ExpressVPN is a best buy and I use it myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription, and I get a small commission to help support this site.