Option 1, Rome to Amsterdam in a single day - daily except Saturdays

Incredibly, it's 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, leaving Rome Termini 07:20, arriving Milan Centrale 10:35.

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

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

  The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Until 9 December 2023, it travels via the famous Simplon & Lötschberg route, along Lake Maggiore and through the Swiss Alps.  From 10 December it uses the Gotthard route, past Lake Como and Lake Lugano, via the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world's longest railway tunnel.  See photos and video of the Gotthard route here.

  Update: A freight train derailed in the Gotthard Base Tunnel in August 2023, in 2024 trains are still being diverted over the original (very scenic) Gotthard line taking an extra hour and with fewer departures.  This direct Milan-Frankfurt train is cancelled until further notice.  Please use one of the other options.

• Step 3, travel from Frankfurt to Amsterdam by ICE3, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 19:28 and arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 23:29.

  This train runs daily except Saturdays and a few other dates.  ICE3 trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• How much does it cost?

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

  Milan to Amsterdam start at €59.90 in 2nd class or €119.90 in 1st class.

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

• How to buy tickets

  Step 1, book the train from Rome to Milan at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  it's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

  Step 2, book from Milan to Amsterdam at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

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

The Milan-Frankfurt train at Frankfurt Hbf.  There's a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Photo courtesy of @Nordkommission.

2nd class on a Trenitalia ETR610.		1st class on a Trenitalia ETR610.

Lake Maggiore, seen over lunch in the restaurant car.

Option 2, Rome to Amsterdam using the Zurich-Amsterdam Nightjet sleeper train - scenic & time-effective

• Step 1, travel from Rome to Milan by Frecciarossa 1000, leaving Rome Termini at 12:10 and arriving Milan Centrale at 15:50.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  This comfortable Nightjet train has an air-conditioned AB33 sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  The train has a couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.  Watch the Amsterdam-Switzerland sleeper 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 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4 or 6 berth couchettes, bedding provided.  Larger photo.		Couchette car.

Option 3, Rome to Amsterdam using the Rome-Munich sleeper - a safe, comfortable & time-effective option, but not as scenic as option 2

• Step 1, travel from Rome to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Rome Termini at 20:17 and arriving Munich Hbf 09:22. 

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

  Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead..

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Amsterdam by ICE, leaving Munich Hbf at 11:51, change Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 20:29.

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

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

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

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

Step 1, Rome to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train.  More about Nightjets.

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

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

Step 2, Munich to Amsterdam by ICE with one easy change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf.  ICEs have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Above, an ICE3M at Amsterdam Centraal.  More about ICE trains.

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

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

Option 4, Rome to Amsterdam with overnight stop in Zurich - if you prefer day trains & a hotel to sleepers

• Day 1, travel from Rome to Milan by Frecciarossa high-speed train in 2h55 then from Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train in 3h17.

  You can leave Rome Termini at 15:20 arriving Zurich HB at 22:27, but trains leave every hour, so by all means book an earlier train and spend a pleasant evening in Zurich.

  Update: A freight train derailed in the Gotthard Base Tunnel in August 2023, in 2024 trains are still being diverted over the original (very scenic) Gotthard line taking an extra hour with fewer departures.  Whilst this continues, you'll have to leave Rome Termini at 14:20 arriving Zurich HB 22:27 or there are earlier departures, check times online.

  The Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, the EuroCity train has a restaurant car, both trains have power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's a lovely ride along Lake Lugano and through the Alps, see the Milan to Zurich video.

  Fares from Rome to Milan start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.

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

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

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Zurich to Amsterdam by ICE, leaving Zurich HB at 07:59, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 17:29.

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

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

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

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

Option 5, Rome to Amsterdam with overnight stop in Munich - Another option if you prefer day trains to sleepers

• Day 1, travel from Rome to Munich, leaving Rome Termini at 10:50, changing at Verona Porta Nuova and arriving Munich Hbf at 20:26.

  Other departures are possible, also with 1 change in Verona, check times at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.

  You take an Italian high-speed Frecciarossa from Rome to Bolzano with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then a comfortable Austrian EuroCity train to Munich Hbf.  The journey takes you through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the photos here.

  Rome to Bolzano starts at €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.

  Bolzano to Munich starts at €27.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book from Rome Termini to Munich Hbf at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.

  Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead for the Italian train, you print out your ticket or show it on your phone.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead for the Austrian EuroCity train, you print your own ticket or can show them on your laptop or phone.

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

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Amsterdam by ICE, leaving Munich Hbf 07:47, change Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 15:29.

  ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Exact times and interchange station may vary, but always look for a journey with only 1 change.  By all means choose an earlier or later departure.

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

  Buy a ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

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

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

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

Watch out for hilltop fortresses.

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

Mountains on the Brenner route.  See the Brenner Pass scenery video here.

Option 6, Rome to Amsterdam with overnight stop in Paris - the route to use if you want to stop off in Paris

• Day 1, travel from Rome to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Rome Termini at 11:10 arriving Milan Centrale at 14:50.

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

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

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

  The Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's a scenic & relaxing run, at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) on the high-speed line from Milan to Turin, then a slow meander on the classic line through the alps, then another high-speed dash on the French high-speed line to Paris.  Bring a good book and bottle of wine, and make it a relaxing afternoon with your feet up, although some scenery will be in darkness depending on the time of year.  For more information, photos & tips, see the Paris-Milan by train page.

  Change trains & stations in Paris by taxi or metro.

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

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

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

• How much does it cost?

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

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

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

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets

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

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

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

• How to buy tickets, advanced

  Alternatively, you can book each train separately, more work, more fiddly, same fares, but no booking fee.  First book the Italian trains at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, $ or £, seat choice from a seat map, they'll refund their small booking fee to seat61 users if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com afterwards) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly, requires Italian-language place names, see advice on using it), then book the Eurostar train at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com.

Rome to Luxembourg

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

• Step 1, travel from Rome to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Rome Termini at 20:17 every night and arriving Munich Hbf 09:22.

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

  Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Luxembourg, leaving Munich Hbf at 11:28 by ICE, change Mannheim & Trier, arriving Luxembourg 18:23.

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

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

  Book from Munich to Luxembourg at the German Railways website int.bahn.de, allowing at least 1 hour between trains in Munich.

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

  Tip:  To avoid buses and get an all-train journey, click Stopovers and enter Igel as a stopover, leaving length of stay as 00:00.

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

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

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

Option 2, Rome to Luxembourg with overnight stop in Zurich - if you prefer day trains & hotel to sleepers

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

  You can leave Rome Termini as late as 15:20 arriving Zurich HB 22:27, but an earlier train will give you more of an evening in Zurich.

  Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee.  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

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

• Day 2, travel from Zurich to Luxembourg, leaving Zurich HB at 07:59, changing at Mannheim & Trier, arriving Luxembourg at 15:23.

  Or have a leisurely breakfast and take the easiest departure with just 1 change, leaving Zurich HB at 10:59 by direct EuroCity train EC8 to Koblenz, time for coffee in Koblenz, then the 17:06 from Koblenz direct to Luxembourg arriving 19:23.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Back to top

• How to buy tickets

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

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

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

• How to buy tickets, advanced

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

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

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

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

  Step 2, book the Italian train and EuroCity train using the Italian ticketing system at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, $ or £, they'll refund the €3.50 booking fee to seat61 users if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly, requires Italian-language place names, see advice on using it).

  In our example, you'd book from Rome to Brig.  Booking opens 4 months ahead.  Italian high-speed trains and the EuroCity are ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

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

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

A EuroCity train about to leave Milan Centrale for Switzerland.  More about these EuroCity trains.

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

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

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

This is Lake Lugano, seen from a Milan-Zurich EuroCity train.

Option 2, Rome to St Moritz, Chur &, Zurich via the scenic narrow-gauge Bernina route

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

• Step 1, travel from Rome Termini to Milan Centrale on any Frecciarossa train arriving before 09:45.

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

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

  The 10:20 from Milan connects with the Bernina Express itself, with time for a sandwich and beer in Tirano, see the Bernina Express page.

  However, these trains run every 2 hours through the day, fare around €12, Check train times at www.thetrainline.com or www.trenord.it.

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

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

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

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

  If you take one of the regular normal local trains, no reservation is necessary or possible, just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on.  Only if you want to use the once or twice daily Bernina Express with its special all-reserved panoramic carriages do you need a seat reservation, see the Bernina Express page.

• Step 4, travel from Chur to Zurich by Swiss Intercity train.

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

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

The Bernina Express descends from the Bernina Pass.

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Rome to Barcelona, Madrid & Spain

Option 1, Rome to Barcelona & Spain via Lyon - the easiest & usually cheapest option

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

  It takes as little as 2h55, trains leave every hour, all these trains have cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Day 3, travel from Barcelona to anywhere else in Spain by high-speed train:

  For Madrid:  AVE-S103 high-speed trains link Barcelona Sants with Madrid Atocha every hour or two in as little as 2h30.

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

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

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

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

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

• How much does it cost?

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

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

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

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

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

• How to buy tickets

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

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

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

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

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

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

• How to buy tickets, advanced

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

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

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

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

Option 2, Rome to Barcelona & Spain with overnight stop in Marseille - the most direct route

• Day 1, travel from Rome to Ventimiglia on the French border, leaving Rome Termini at 06:57 by Frecciabianca train, changing at Genoa Piazza Principe onto an Intercity train, arriving Ventimiglia at 14:54.  There's great scenery along the coast both between Rome & Genoa and between Genoa & Ventimiglia.

• Day 1, travel from Ventimiglia to Marseille by TER local train, leaving Ventimiglia 15:25, changing at Nice Ville, arriving Marseille St Charles 19:32.  There's more great scenery along the coast between Ventimiglia & Toulon.

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

• Day 2, travel from Marseille to Spain by AVE S100, leaving Marseille St Charles at 08:04, arriving Barcelona Sants 12:38 & Madrid Atocha 15:45.

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

• Day 2, take a high-speed train from Barcelona to Valencia & Alicante or from Madrid to Cordoba, Seville, Granada, Malaga.

  A fast EuroMed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 16:10 arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 19:02 & Alicante 21:34.

  An AVE high-speed train leaves Madrid Atocha at 16:35 every day, arriving Cordoba 18:34 & Malaga Maria Zambrano 19:43.

  An AVE high-speed train leaves Madrid Atocha at 16:30 daily except Saturdays arriving Seville Santa Justa at 19:03.  Or on any day of the week you can leave Madrid Atocha at 18:00 arriving Seville Santa Justa at 20:43.

  An AVE high-speed train leaves Madrid Atocha at 20:05 every day, arriving Granada 23:36.

  AVE & EuroMed trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• How much does it cost?

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

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

  Ventimiglia to Nice by TER costs a fixed-price €8, although €7.50 or even €5 promotional fares are sometimes offered.

  Nice to Marseille by TGV starts at €15.

  Marseille to Barcelona starts at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class.  Marseille to Madrid at €44 in 2nd class or €54 in 1st class.

  Barcelona to Alicante or Madrid to Malaga/Seville starts at around €30.

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

• How to buy tickets

  Go to www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.  Book from Rome to Marseille on day 1 and add it to your basket.  Then book from Marseille to Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Alicante etc. for day 2, add it to your basket and check out.

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

  Booking for Trenitalia trains & French trains including the TGV to Barcelona normally opens up to 4 months ahead.  Booking for Spanish domestic trains opens 60 days ahead, but it varies.

  Trenitalia trains are ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.  For French trains, you print your own ticket or can choose a mobile ticket to show on your phone.  For trains in Spain, you print your ticket.

• How to buy tickets, advanced

  Alternatively, you can book each train separately like this, although it's more work and the fares should be the same, but with no booking fee.

  Step 1, book from Rome to Ventimiglia using either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, English place names, and they'll refund their €3.50 booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR) or Italian Railways' own site www.trenitalia.com (you'll need to use Italian language place names).  It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

  Step 2, book from Ventimiglia to Marseille at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.

  Step 3, book from Marseille to Barcelona or Madrid for day 2 at the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (a bit fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see this advice on using it).  You print your own ticket.

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

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

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

Step 5, Marseille to Barcelona by S100 AVE, seen here at Barcelona Sants.		2nd class seats, all with power sockets & free WiFi. Panorama photo of 2nd class.

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

Mt Canigou & the Pyrenees.  One of the highest peaks in the mighty Pyrenees, the 2,784m (9,137 feet) high Mt Canigou dominates the skyline on the right all the way from Girona to Perpignan, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canigou.

Option 2, Rome to Barcelona & Spain with overnight stop in Geneva

• This is a pleasant way to go, with interesting scenery on the way and a chance to spend some time in Geneva.  Leave 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.

• Day 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 21:21, or travel earlier for more of an evening in Geneva.

  Fares start at €29.90 for Rome-Milan + €29 for Milan-Geneva.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Geneva to Barcelona, leaving Geneva at 07:14, change Lyon Part Dieu & Montpelier St-Roch, arriving Barcelona Sants 16:31.

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

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

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

  Book from Geneva to Barcelona at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Rome to Lisbon & Portugal

Option 1, Rome to Lisbon via Madrid

• 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  Fares start at around €45.

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, only in €, may reject some international credit cards).

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

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

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Rome to Andorra

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

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Marseille to Toulouse by Intercité leaving Marseille St Charles at 07:25 & arriving Toulouse Matabiau at 11:18.

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

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

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

• Step 3, travel from Toulouse Matabiau station to Andorra la Vella by bus.  Andbus run several buses per day taking 4 hours, fare €36.  There's a bus leaving Toulouse Matabiau station (bus stand 15) at 13:45 arriving Andorra 17:45.  Check times & book the bus at www.andorrabybus.com.  I'd allow at least an hour between train and bus in Toulouse, just in case of delay.

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Rome to Munich, Berlin & Germany from €39

Option 1, Rome to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train & onward train to Berlin or anywhere in Germany - the time-effective option

• Step 1, travel from Rome to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Rome Termini at 20:17 every night and arriving Munich Hbf 09:22.

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

  Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Munich to anywhere in Germany, for example leaving Munich Hbf 10:55 by ICE train and arriving Berlin Hbf at 15:29.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Step 1, travel from Rome to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Rome Termini at 10:10 and arriving Milan Centrale 13:50.

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

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

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it).

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

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

  Important: A freight train derailed in the Gotthard Base Tunnel in August 2023, in 2024 trains are still being diverted over the original (very scenic) Gotthard line taking an extra hour and with fewer departures.  Until this is resolved, you'll need to leave Milan Centrale at 13:10 and arriving Zurich HB 17:27.  That means leaving Rome earlier, at 08:10.

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

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

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it).

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

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

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has a Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee in the morning, see the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, tips, photos & video.

  Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

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

• Step 1, travel from Rome to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Rome Termini at 10:10 and arriving Milan Centrale 13:50.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it).

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

• Step 3, travel from Zurich to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Zurich HB at 20:59 & arriving Hamburg Hbf 07:53.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has two air-conditioned double-deck sleeping-cars (1 & 2 bed compartments with washbasin, 1 & 2 bed deluxe compartments with shower & toilet, plus a few 3-berth compartments with washbasin), couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments & ordinary seats.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee in the morning, see the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, tips, photos & video.

  Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

Option 4, Rome to Munich & Germany via the Brenner route - a scenic daytime option

• Take a high-speed train from Rome to Bologna or Verona, then a comfortable Austrian EuroCity train from Bologna or Verona to Munich.  The Verona-Munich EuroCity trains run every couple of hours and it's a lovely run up the Brenner, see the Brenner Pass scenery video here.  For example:

  Leave Rome Termini at 06:50 daily, change at Verona Porta Nuova onto the 11:01 EuroCity train, arriving Munich Hbf 16:27.

  Leave Rome Termini at 08:35 daily, change at Bologna Centrale onto the 11:52 EuroCity train, arriving Munich Hbf 18:28.

  Leave Rome Termini at 10:50 daily, change at Verona Porta Nuova onto the 15:01 EuroCity train, arriving Munich Hbf 20:26.

  Leave Rome Termini at 12:35 Monday-Friday only, change at Bologna Centrale onto the 15:50 EuroCity train, arriving Munich Hbf 22:27.

• How much does it cost?

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

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

  Bologna or Verona to Munich or anywhere in Germany starts at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets

  Book from Rome Termini to Munich or anywhere in Germany at www.raileurope.com, but (and this is important) click More options, enter either Verona (any station) or Bologna Centrale 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.

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

  The Italian train opens for booking up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.  The Austrian/German trains open for booking up to 6 months ahead, you print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

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

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

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

Watch out for hilltop fortresses.

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

Mountains on the Brenner route.  See the Brenner Pass scenery video here.

Option 5, Rome to Frankfurt & Germany via the Gotthard route - another scenic daytime option

• Step 1, travel from Rome to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Rome Termini 07:20 arriving Milan Centrale 10:35.

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

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

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

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

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

  The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It travels along Lake Maggiore and through the Swiss Alps via the famous Simplon & Lötschberg route.  Change in Frankfurt for Cologne, Dusseldorf & so on.  It's even possible to reach Hamburg or Berlin shortly after midnight!

  Fares from Milan to Germany start at €59.90 in 2nd class or €119.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book from Milan to anywhere in Germany at the German Railways website int.bahn.de (in €, no booking fee) or at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, small booking fee, allows you to keep all your bookings together in one place), looking for the 11:20 departure.  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

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

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

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

Lake Maggiore, seen over lunch in the restaurant car.

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Copenhagen, leaving Munich Hbf 10:21, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 21:34.

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

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

• Step 3 if you're going to Malmo, take the next available Öresund train from Copenhagen to Malmö Central, these leave twice an hour taking 39 minutes.  You can book through from Munich to Malmö from €56.90 at int.bahn.de and print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

• Step 3 if you're going to Stockholm or Gothenburg, stay overnight in Copenhagen then travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm Central in around 5h15 by X2000 high-speed train or to Gothenburg Central in 3h50 by hourly Öresund train.

  You can book tickets from Copenhagen to anywhere in Sweden at the Swedish Railways site www.sj.se, but there's a cleverer way to book if you are coming from Munich.  Use this special link to bahn.de to book from Munich to Stockholm from €56.90 with an overnight stop in Copenhagen programmed in using the Stopover feature - just enter your date of travel from Munich.  Adjust the intermediate stopover time as necessary to get the trains you want, or if no fares show up initially, it may take a bit of trial & error to get the trains you want.  This method works to book from Munich to Gothenburg, too - you'll find bahn.de lists Gothenburg as Göteborg Central.

Step 1, Rome to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train.  More about Nightjets.

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

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

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

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

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

Step 3, Copenhagen to Stockholm by tilting 200km/h X2000, seen at Stockholm Central.  More about X2000 trains.

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

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

Crossing the impressive Öresund bridge from Denmark to Sweden.

Option 3, Rome to Copenhagen, Gothenburg & Stockholm with overnight stops in Munich & Copenhagen

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Rome to Oslo & Norway

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Day 3, travel from Copenhagen to Oslo by train, leaving Copenhagen at 07:30, change at Gothenburg Central, arriving Oslo Sentral 15:47.

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

  Alternatively, spend a morning in Copenhagen, and after lunch take the DFDS overnight ferry to Oslo with a comfortable private cabin with shower & toilet, sailing from Copenhagen at 16:30 (15:00 some days) arriving Oslo at 10:00 on day 4, as shown here.  This is remarkably affordable, and saves a hotel bill.  Book the ferry at www.dfds.com.

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

• Day 1, travel from Rome to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Rome Termini at 10:10 and arriving Milan Centrale at 13:50.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Day 1, travel from Zurich to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Zurich HB at 20:59 and arriving Hamburg Hbf at 07:53.

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

  Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Boarding the Color Line ferry to Oslo in Kiel.

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

Wake up to this.

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Rome to Helsinki & Finland

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

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

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

  Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Hamburg Hbf to Lübeck by regional train then take a bus to the Skandinavienkai ferry terminal in Travemünde.

  Tip:  Have dinner in Lübeck's old town, see suggested restaurant here.

  Sail from Travemünde to Helsinki by Finnlines ferry.  Finnlines sail from Travemünde to Helsinki every day, boarding at 23:30, sailing at 02:45 (the exact time varies) and arriving at Helsinki's Hansa Terminal in Vuosaari at 09:15 2 nights later (Day 4 from Rome).

  For full details of the transfer, check-in arrangements & ferry crossing, see the Hamburg page.

  Book the ferry using the Direct Ferries website or at www.finnlines.com.

• Book onward trains within Finland at the Finnish Railways website www.vr.fi.

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

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

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

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Rome to Prague from €68

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

• Step 1, travel from Rome to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train leaving Rome Termini at 20:17 & arriving Vienna Hbf 08:52.

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

  Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Prague by swish Czech railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 11:10 & arriving Prague Hlavni at 15:11.

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

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

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

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee, booking opens up to 6 months ahead) or the Czech Railways site www.cd.cz (in koruna, booking normally opens 92 days ahead, see tips for using it).  You print your own ticket.  Easy!  You can also book at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.  See suggested hotels in Prague.

• Alternative step 2 if you're going to Cesky Krumlov:  Travel from Vienna Franz-Josefs-Bahnhof to Cesky Krumlov in 4h26 as explained here.

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

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

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

Step 2, Vienna to Prague by railjet, with economy, first & business class, restaurant car, free WiFi and draught beer on tap.  More about Vienna-Prague railjets.

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

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

Option 2, Rome to Prague or Cesky Krumlov via Zurich - a comfortable, safe & time-effective option

• Step 1, travel from Rome to Milan by Frecciarossa 1000, leaving Rome Termini at 10:10 and arriving Milan Centrale at 13:50.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  The sleeping-car to Prague is a modern Czech Comfortline type with nine 1, 2 or 3 bed compartments with washbasin and three deluxe 1, 2 or 3 bed compartments with en suite toilet & shower.  There are toilets and a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  Morning tea & coffee is included in the sleeper fare.  There are no couchettes on this route.  More about the Zurich-Prague sleeper.

  Fares start at €45 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €59 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €112 in a single-bed sleeper.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this sleeper at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz and print your own ticket.  Easy!  Booking normally opens 92 days ahead, see my tips for using cd.cz.

• If you're going to Ceske Krumlov, get off the sleeper at Ceske Budejovice (its former name is Budweis, that's right, where the name of the beer comes from), have a coffee then take the 10:12 local train to Ceske Krumlov arriving 10:57.  In this case you'd use www.cd.cz to book Zurich to Cesky Budejovice, then buy a local ticket to Cesky Krumlov from the orange & green GWTR kiosk at Ceske Budejovice station.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Day 1, travel from Rome Termini to Venice Santa Lucia by Frecciarossa in just 3h59 using any train you like.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

First class.		Economy class.

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

• Step 2, when you reach Vienna, simply buy a ticket for €11.00 and hop on the next hourly Regional Express train from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna, no reservation necessary or possible, journey time 1h09, see the timetable here.  You can check times using www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at, and buy a ticket online to save time at the station.

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

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

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

Step 2, Vienna to Bratislava by hourly Regional Express train, seen at Vienna Hbf.  More about these trains.  Behind the locomotive is a smart Slovakian air-conditioned intercity coach, whilst the rest of the train consists of more basic non-air-con Austrian City Shuttle carriages, with interiors as shown in the photo above right.  Find a seat in the more comfortable Slovakian car if you can!

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

• Day 1, travel from Rome Termini to Venice Santa Lucia by Frecciarossa in as little as 3h59 using any train you like.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

First class.		Economy class.

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

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