To check train times & fares in Austria, see www.thetrainline.com (easiest) or www.oebb.at.   See Salzburg Hbf station guide   Hotels in Salzburg - hotel suggestions

This page explains how to travel by train from Salzburg to cities across Europe, and how to buy tickets the cheapest way.  Information current for 2022.

Before you buy your tickets...

Take a moment to read these tips for buying European train tickets.  It answers all the usual questions, "Must I book in advance or can I just buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and that old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or just buy a €35 point-to-point ticket online?".  Click here to understand how far ahead you can buy train tickets.

European train travel FAQ...

Salzburg to Vienna from €19.90...

• Two competing operators link Salzburg & Vienna, see the Vienna to Salzburg page...

Salzburg to Hallstatt from €9.90...

• Trains link Salzburg Hbf and Hallstatt every hour through the day in around 2h35, consisting of 45 minutes from Salzburg to Attnang Puchheim on either an ÖBB railjet train or double-deck Westbahn train then 75-95 minutes on an ÖBB regional or regional express train from Attnang Puchheim to Hallstatt.

• Fares start at €9.90 if you book in advance and commit to a specific train with a cheap Sparschiene fare on ÖBB trains.

  The full-flex Standardpreis you pay on the day is around €30 if you use ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways) trains or around €23 if you use a Westbahn train between Salzburg & Attnang Puchheim and then an ÖBB train.  These full-flex fares cannot sell out, they are always available.

• I recommend using www.thetrainline.com to buy tickets because it's quick, easy, overseas credit cards no problem and it can book both ÖBB and Westbahn trains.  You print your own tickets.

• The train arrives at Hallstatt railway station (Hallstatt Bahnhof) on the east side of the Hallstatter See (Hallstatt Lake).  Hallstatt town is on the west side of the lake, so you need to take a small local ferry called the Stefanie from Hallstatt Bahnhof (to Hallstatt town, this sails shortly after most train arrivals and takes 15-20 minutes, see www.hallstattschifffahrt.at for a timetable.  You pay for the ferry separately at the quayside before boarding, around €3 per crossing, children under 4 free, children under 14 at a reduced fare.

Salzburg to Innsbruck, Graz & other Austrian destinations from €9.90...

• You can now book Austrian Railways ÖBB tickets online at www.thetrainline.com which is quick, easy, overseas credit cards no problem and it has the advantage over oebb.at that it book both ÖBB and Westbahn trains on the Vienna - Linz - Salzburg route.

  Alternatively, ÖBB's (Austrian Federal Railways) own website is www.oebb.at - for ticket sales use tickets.oebb.at and switch it to English by clicking Menu then changing Deutsch to English.

  Whichever site you use, you print your own ticket or for Austrian domestic journeys you can show it on your smartphone.

• Seat reservation is optional on most Austrian internal trains, you can always just turn up, buy a standard price ticket at the station, hop on the next train and sit where you like, trains cannot 'sell out'.  But if you want to be 100% sure of a reserved seat on a specific train you can make an optional seat reservation on InterCity, EuroCity and railjet trains for a small additional charge, around €3. 

• But for cheaper tickets, book in advance...  ÖBB introduced dynamic pricing in 2011 which means you can now save money by pre-booking a Sparschiene (saver) fare in advance and committing to a specific train on a limited-refunds, no-changes-to-travel-plans basis.  ÖBB's Sparschiene fares between Austrian cities start from just €9.90 upwards and vary with demand and according to how far ahead you book.

A railjet at Vienna.  Railjets are Austria's premier train.

Business class.  About.		Restaurant car.

First class.		Economy class.

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Salzburg to London...

• See the London to Austria page for full details of times, fares & how to buy tickets in either direction.  Salzburg to London in a single day.

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Salzburg to Paris from €39.90...

Option 1, Vienna to Paris by direct Nightjet sleeper train 3 times a week - the time-effective option...

• A direct Nightjet sleeper train leaves Salzburg Hbf at 22:18 on Mondays, Thursdays & Saturdays, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 09:42.

  This is a new Nightjet route, starting December 2021.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train will have two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars each 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 a couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and an ordinary seats car.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

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

• Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in plain English, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways www.oebb.at (more fiddly, in €, same fares).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

A comfortline sleeping-car on a Nightjet sleeper train.  More information about Nightjets.

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

6-berth couchettes...		4-berth couchettes...		Couchette car...

Option 2, Salzburg to Paris in a single day via Germany - the fastest option...

• You can travel from Salzburg to Paris in one leisurely chill-out day.  There are various departures with just 1 or 2 changes, for example...

  Leave Salzburg Hbf at 06:15, change Munich & Stuttgart and arrive Paris Gare de l'Est at 14:05.

  Leave Salzburg Hbf at 08:15, change Munich & Mannheim and arrive Paris Gare de l'Est at 16:54.

  Leave Salzburg Hbf at 10:00, change Stuttgart and arrive Paris Gare de l'Est at 18:16.

  Leave Salzburg Hbf at 12:00, change Mannheim and arrive Paris Gare de l'Est at 20:41.

  Leave Salzburg Hbf at 14:00, change Stuttgart and arrive Paris Gare de l'Est at 22:05.

  Most of these journeys involve an impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex between Stuttgart or Mannheim and Paris with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views.

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

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

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

  Tip:  To specify this route through Germany it can help to click Stopover & enter Munich, leaving duration zero.

  Tip:  If you'd like a stopover in Stuttgart or Munich, simply click Stopover, enter Munich and a stopover duration in the hh:mm box, and you'll still get a Sparpreis fare from €39.90 upwards, but with a stopover included.  You can add up to 2 stopovers each of up to 48h with Sparpreis (savings) fares.

• Although this is the fastest & cheapest route, consider the scenic route via Zurich in option 2 below for the superb scenery on the Arlberg route.  Also consider breaking up the journey with an overnight stop in Munich or Zurich, see options 3 & 4.

TGV Duplex at Paris Est. These impressive 320 km/h double-deck trains link Munich & Stuttgart with Paris...

Cafe-bar on upper deck in car 4, serving tea, coffee, soft drinks, wine, beer, snacks & microwaved hot dishes.		2nd class seats on the upper deck.  There's a mix or tables for 4 and unidirectional seating.  360º photo.

1st class seats on upper deck, a club duo on the left, club quatre on the right.  360º photo.		A TGV Duplex.  The red near the door indicates 1st class, pale green indicates 2nd class.

Option 3, Salzburg to Paris in a single day via Zurich - the scenic Arlberg route!

• This takes an hour or two longer than going via Germany and usually costs a little more, but it's the route to take for the superb Alpine scenery through the lovely Arlberg Pass, see the photos, video & travel tips on the Arlberg Railway page.  An overnight stop in Zurich breaks up the journey nicely (that's option 4 below), but you can travel from Salzburg to Paris in a single day this way:

  Leave Salzburg Hbf at 07:56 arriving Zurich HB 13:20.  Have lunch in Zurich.  Leave Zurich HB at 15:34 and arrive Paris Gare de Lyon 19:38.

  Leave Salzburg Hbf at 09:56 arriving Zurich HB 15:20.  Leave Zurich HB at 17:34, change at Basel SBB, arrive Paris Gare de Lyon 21:38.

  For lunch in Zurich, the Brasserie Federal inside the station is great for steak-frites & a beer, see suggested restaurants near the station.

• The journey in more detail...

  You travel from Salzburg to Zurich on a swish Austrian railjet train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi via the beautifully scenic Arlberg pass.  More information about railjets.

  You then travel from Zurich to Paris on a 320 km/h (199 mph) TGV-Lyria high-speed train with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, taking just 4h03.  More information about TGV-Lyria.

• How much does it cost?

  Salzburg to Zurich starts at €29.90 in 2nd class, €44.90 in 1st class or €59.90 in business class (= premium 1st class, a real treat).

  Zurich to Paris starts at €29 in 2nd class or €51 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets?

  Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) as you can then book both trains together in one place.  First book from Salzburg to Zurich, add this to your basket, then book from Zurich to Paris, add to basket and check out.  You print your own tickets.

  Booking for the TGV-Lyria opens up to 4 months ahead, booking for the railjet opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own tickets or can show them on your smartphone.

  Alternatively, more work, but the same fares, book Salzburg to Zurich at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a little more fiddly) then book Zurich to Paris at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, also a bit more fiddly, but no fee).

A railjet at Zurich HB...

Business class.  About.		Restaurant car.

First class.		Economy class.

The mountains of Austria...

In the Arlberg pass itself, the railway hugs the valley side, past fir forests and meadows...		In Railjet first & business class, a steward takes your order & serves lunch at your seat.

The Railjet clips a corner of Liechtenstein, passing non-stop through the little station of Schaan-Vaduz.  Once in Switzerland, the Railjet runs alongside the Zürichsee, then along the Walensee...

Option 4, Salzburg to Paris with overnight stop in Munich - same as option 2, but an overnight stop breaks up the trip nicely...

• Day 1, travel from Salzburg Hbf to Munich Hbf on any evening train you like, these leave every hour or better.

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

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Paris by TGV Duplex, leaving Munich Hbf 06:46 arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 12:31.

  The 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Watch the sun rise and the morning mists clear, see the Munich-Paris TGV video.  I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number >60 is upper deck.

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

• Buy a ticket from Salzburg to Paris at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, but click Stopover, enter Munich Hbf as a via station with a suitable stopover duration in the hh:mm box.  I have set up this special link to book Salzburg to Paris with a stopover in Munich and the early direct TGV to Paris, just enter your date of travel and number of passengers.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your smartphone or laptop.

Option 5, Salzburg to Paris with overnight stop in Zurich - same scenic route as option 3, but an overnight stop breaks up the trip nicely...

• Day 1, travel from Salzburg to Zurich HB in 5h24 on any railjet train you like...

  You can leave Salzburg Hbf as late as 17:26 arriving Zurich HB 23:20, but check the hours of daylight as you really want it to be light through the Arlberg Pass and past the Zürichsee.  You're better off taking the 15:56 in summer or the 11:56 in winter when it gets dark earlier, and spending a pleasant evening in Zurich.

  The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It travels through the scenic Arlberg pass, see the Arlberg Railway page.

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

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, accepts overseas cards) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

• 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 Paris by TGV-Lyria high-speed train, leaving Zurich HB at 07:34 arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 11:38.

  Or there's an 11:34 from Zurich arriving Paris at 15:38.  TGV-Lyrias have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More information about TGV-Lyria.

  Fares start at €29 in 2nd class or €51 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, more fiddly, but no fee).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your smartphone.

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Salzburg to Lyon, Avignon, Marseille, Cannes, Nice, Monte Carlo...

Option 1, Salzburg to Lyon, Aix, Avignon, Marseille in a day...

• Step 1, travel from Salzburg to Stuttgart by Intercity train, leaving Salzburg Hbf at 08:00 and arriving Stuttgart Hbf at 11:59.

• Step 2, travel from Stuttgart to Karlsruhe by Intercity train, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 13:00 and arriving Karlsruhe Hbf at 13:52.

• Step 3, travel from Karlsruhe to France by TGV Duplex with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, leaving Karlsruhe Hbf at 15:13 every day arriving Lyon Part Dieu 19:56, Avignon TGV 21:11, Aix en Provence TGV 21:33 & Marseille St Charles 21:49.

• For Nimes, Montpellier, Perpignan, Toulouse, stay overnight in Marseille and take an onward train next morning.  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.

• How much does it cost?

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

• How to buy tickets...

  Buy tickets from Salzburg to Lyon, Avignon, Aix or Marseille at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

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

  Tip:  Before running the enquiry, change Duration of transfer from standard to at least 30 minutes.  That way you'll get the robust connections I suggest above.

  Buy onward tickets within France at 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 €, more fiddly).  Booking for French trains opens up to 4 months ahead.

The TGV Duplex from Frankfurt & Karlsruhe to Lyon, Avignon & Marseille, at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf...

The cafe-bar on the upper deck in car 4, serving tea, coffee, soft drinks, wine, beer, snacks & microwave-style hot dishes...		2nd class seats, this is upper deck seating.  There's a mix or tables for 4 and unidirectional seating.  360º photo.

1st class seats on the upper deck, a club duo on the left, club quatre on the right. 360º photo.		The TGV to Marseille, boarding at Frankfurt am Main Hbf.  You enter on the lower deck, with 9 stairs up to top deck.

Option 2, Salzburg to Monte Carlo, Nice, Cannes, Marseille using the Salzburg-Milan sleeper - the time-effective option...

• Day 1, travel from Salzburg to Milan by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Salzburg Hbf at 22:02 and arriving Milan Porta Garibaldi at 08:10.

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

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

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

  Transfer from Milan Porta Garibaldi to Milan Centrale by taxi (€6, 10 minutes) or walk (25 minutes) or local train.

  Spend the morning and have lunch in Milan, as at present there's no earlier robust connection.

• Day 2, travel from Milan to Ventimiglia by Frecciabianca train, leaving Milan Centrale at 15:10 and arriving Ventimiglia at 18:54

  This is a lovely scenic ride along the Italian Riviera between Genoa & Ventimiglia.  There's a refreshment trolley.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €26.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Buy a ticket at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on the train.

• Day 2, travel from Ventimiglia to Monaco, Nice or Cannes by TER local train, leaving Ventimiglia at 19:25, arriving Monte Carlo 19:55, Nice Ville 20:23, Cannes 21:08.

  The fare is €8, though promotional fares of €5 or €7.50 are sometimes available.  2nd class only.

  Buy a ticket at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

  You'll find full details of the journey from Milan to Nice with photos & tips on the Nice to Italy by train page.

Step 1, Salzburg to Milan by Nightjet sleeper train.  More information about Nightjets.

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

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

Step 2, Milan to Ventimiglia by Frecciabianca train in 3h45.  Here, a Frecciabianca is boarding at the magnificent Milan Centrale...

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

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

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

Option 3, Salzburg to Monte Carlo or Nice with an overnight stop in Milan...

• Day 1, travel from Salzburg to Milan using any of the departures shown in the Salzburg to Italy section below.

  You can leave Salzburg Hbf as late as 12:56 via Innsbruck & Verona arriving Milan Centrale 20:45, but by all means take an earlier departure and spend a pleasant evening in Milan.  Book as shown below.

• Stay overnight in Milan:  Hotels near Milan Centrale with good reviews include the Made to Measure Business, 43 Station Hotel, Starhotel Echo or Starhotel Anderson.

• Day 2, travel from Milan to Ventimiglia by Frecciabianca train, leaving Milan Centrale at 07:10 and arriving Ventimiglia at 10:54.

  This is a lovely scenic ride along the Italian Riviera between Genoa & Ventimiglia.  There's a refreshment trolley.

  If you'd prefer a later departure after a leisurely breakfast, there's also an 09:10 departure, see the timetable, information & travel tips here.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €26.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Buy a ticket at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on the train.

• Day 2, travel from Ventimiglia to Monaco, Nice or Cannes by TER local train, leaving Ventimiglia at 12:06, arriving Monte Carlo 12:38, Nice Ville 13:05, Cannes 14:08.  Times may vary.

  The fare is €8, though promotional fares of €5 or €7.50 are sometimes available.  2nd class only.

  Buy a ticket at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

  You'll find full details of the journey from Milan to Nice with photos & tips on the Nice to Italy by train page.

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Salzburg to Brussels & Bruges from €39.90...

Option 1, Salzburg to Brussels using the Austria-Brussels Nightjet sleeper train on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays - the time-effective option...

• Step 1, travel from Salzburg to Wels by railjet train, leaving Salzburg Hbf at 19:12 and arriving Wels at 20:14.

  Or take an earlier train, they leave regularly, don't risk any tight connections when catching a sleeper.  Have dinner in Wels.

• Step 2, travel from Wels to Brussels by Nightjet sleeper, leaving Wels at 21:50 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays, arriving Brussels Midi 09:52.

  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's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The train has several couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

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

  Book Salzburg to Wels and Wels to Brussels at either www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

Wels to Brussels by Nightjet sleeper train.  More information about Nightjets.

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

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

Option 2, Salzburg to Brussels using the Nightjet sleeper train to Cologne, on days when it doesn't operate to Brussels...

• Step 1, travel from Salzburg to Wels by railjet train, leaving Salzburg Hbf at 19:12 and arriving Wels at 20:14.

  Or take an earlier train, they leave regularly, don't risk any tight connections when catching a sleeper.  Have dinner in Wels.

• Step 2, travel from Wels to Cologne by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Wels at 21:50 every day, arriving Cologne Hbf at 06:51 next morning.

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

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

  Book Salzburg to Wels and Wels to Cologne at either www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly, no booking fee).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

• Step 3, travel from Cologne to Brussels by ICE train, leaving Cologne Hbf at 07:42 and arriving Brussels Midi at 09:35.

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

  Fares start from €18.90 in 2nd class or €27.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

• Tip:  If you like you can travel via Munich instead of Wels.  Take an early evening train from Salzburg to Munich, journey time 1h42, have a typically Bavarian dinner at the Augustiner Keller (www.augustinerkeller.de) at Arnulfstrasse 52, just on the north side of Munich Hbf, then take the Munich-Cologne portion of the same Nightjet, leaving Munich Hbf at 22:50 arriving Cologne Hbf at 06:51 next morning.  Book Salzburg-Munich then Munich-Brussels at www.thetrainline.com.  You print your own tickets.

Option 3, Salzburg to Brussels in a single chill-out day...

• You can travel from Salzburg to Brussels by train in a single leisurely day.  There are various departures with just 1 or 2 changes.  For example,

  Salzburg Hbf depart 08:00 by Intercity train, change Frankfurt (Main) Hbf onto an ICE train, arrive Brussels Midi at 17:35.

  Salzburg Hbf depart 10:00 by EuroCity train, change Frankfurt (Main) Hbf onto an ICE train, arrive Brussels Midi at 19:35.

  Salzburg Hbf depart 13:00 by railjet, change Munich Hbf & Frankfurt (Main) Hbf onto ICE train, arriving Brussels Midi 21:35.

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

• Buy tickets from Salzburg Hbf to Brussels Midi at the German Railways website www.bahn.de. 

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

• Tip:  Take the Rhine Valley scenic route...  If you don't mind taking an extra hour, you can travel from Salzburg to Cologne via the scenic and curvaceous Rhine Valley route through Koblenz, past mountains, castles, vineyards, river boats and the legendary Lorelei Rock, see the Rhine Valley page for photos & tips.  A treat!  Just click Stopover and enter Koblenz, with stopover duration left as zero.  Anything via Koblenz takes the Rhine Valley route.  You'll usually find two good options:

  Salzburg Hbf depart 06:40, change Stuttgart & Cologne, arriving Brussels Midi at 17:35.

  Salzburg Hbf depart 08:00, change Stuttgart & Cologne, arriving Brussels Midi at 19:35.

  Salzburg Hbf depart 10:00, change Stuttgart & Cologne, arriving Brussels Midi at 21:35.

A Frankfurt-Brussels ICE3 at Brussels Midi.  More information about ICE.

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

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

Option 4, Salzburg to Brussels with an overnight stop in Cologne...

• Day 1, travel from Salzburg to Cologne on any afternoon train you like.  You can leave Salzburg Hbf as late as 16:00 arriving Cologne Hbf around 23:05 with one easy change in Mannheim, but by all means take an earlier train for an evening in Cologne.

  The cathedral is right next to the station, for dinner try the excellent Brauhaus Sion (www.brauhaus-sion.de), 5 minutes walk from Cologne Hauptbahnhof, or the Malzmuehle restaurant (www.muehlenkoelsch.de), 10-15 minutes walk from Cologne Hauptbahnhof.

• Stay overnight in Cologne.  The good & inexpensive Ibis Hotel Köln-am-Dom is ideal as it's part of Cologne Hbf itself, with an entrance to the left of the main station entrance - many of its rooms have a cathedral view.  Also near the station with good reviews are the Breslauer Hof Am Dom, Hotel Domspitzen, CityClass Hotel Europa am Dom, Hilton Cologne, Excelsior Hotel Ernst am Dom.

• Day 2, travel from Cologne Hbf to Brussels Midi by Thalys or ICE train in just 1h50.  Change in Brussels for half-hourly trains to Bruges, you can book Cologne to Bruges as one transaction.

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

• Buy tickets from Salzburg to Brussels at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

  To get the overnight stop in Cologne, click Stopover and enter Cologne Hbf and a stopover duration of, say, 11:00 in the hh:mm box.  I've set up this link to bahn.de for you with the necessary parameters - just enter your date of travel and number of passengers.  Adjust the departure time and stopover duration to get trains that suit you either side of Cologne.

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

  You can only book journeys involving the ICE Cologne-Brussels this way, for a greater choice of Cologne-Brussels trains book Salzburg-Cologne at www.bahn.de then book Cologne to Brussels or Bruges separately at www.thetrainline.com.

• The Rhine Valley scenic route...  If you don't mind taking an extra hour, you can travel from Salzburg to Cologne via the scenic and curvaceous Rhine Valley route through Koblenz, past mountains, castles, vineyards, river boats and the legendary Lorelei Rock.  A treat!  Just click Stopover and enter Koblenz, with stopover duration left as zero.  Anything via Koblenz takes the Rhine Valley route.  Re-jig as necessary to get Koblenz as stopover 1, Cologne as stopover 2, obviously.  In fact, you'll usually find a direct Salzburg-Cologne EuroCity train leaving Salzburg at 12:00 via the Rhine Valley, arriving Cologne around 19:43.

The classic scenic route along the Rhine Valley - see the Rhine Valley page for more photos, video & tips.

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Salzburg to Amsterdam from €37.90...

Option 1, Salzburg to Amsterdam using the Austria-Amsterdam Nightjet sleeper train - the time-effective option...

• Step 1, travel from Salzburg to Wels by railjet train, leaving Salzburg Hbf at 19:12 and arriving Wels at 20:14.

  Or take an earlier train, they leave regularly, just don't risk any tight connections when catching a sleeper.  Have dinner in Wels.

• Step 2, travel from Wels to Amsterdam by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Wels at 21:50 every day, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 09:59.

  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's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The train has several couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

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

Book Salzburg to Wels & Wels to Amsterdam 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 €, bit more fiddly, same prices) or at the Dutch Railways international site www.nsinternational.nl (in €, no fee).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

• Tip:  If you prefer you can travel via Munich instead of Wels.  Take an early evening train from Salzburg to Munich, journey time 1h42.  Have a typically Bavarian dinner at the Augustiner Keller (www.augustinerkeller.de) at Arnulfstrasse 52, just on the north side of Munich Hbf, then take the Munich-Amsterdam portion of the same Nightjet, leaving Munich Hbf at 22:50 and arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 09:59 next morning.  Book Salzburg-Munich then Munich-Amsterdam at www.thetrainline.com.  You print your own tickets.

Wels to Amsterdam by Nightjet sleeper train.  More information about Nightjets.

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

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

Option 2, Salzburg to Amsterdam in a single day - the leisurely daytime option...

• You can travel from Salzburg to Amsterdam by train in a single leisurely day, various possible departures with 1 or 2 changes, for example:

  Salzburg Hbf depart 06:15, change at Munich Hbf & Hannover, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 16:50.

  Salzburg Hbf depart 08:15, change at Munich Hbf & Hannover, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 17:29.

  Salzburg Hbf depart 10:00, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 20:29.

  Salzburg Hbf depart 12:00, change at Mannheim, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 21:59.

  You travel on comfortable EuroCity, Intercity or ICE trains with bistro or restaurant car & power sockets at all seats.  ICE trains have 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 the German Railways website www.bahn.de, looking for journeys with 2 changes max.

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

A Frankfurt-Amsterdam ICE3M at Amsterdam Centraal.  More information about ICE...

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

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

Option 3, Salzburg to Amsterdam with overnight stop in Cologne - breaks up the journey nicely... 

• Day 1, travel from Salzburg to Cologne on any departure you like, for example leaving Salzburg Hbf at 15:00 & arriving Cologne Hbf 21:21.

  But by all means catch an earlier train and have dinner in Cologne.  For dinner try the excellent Brauhaus Sion (www.brauhaus-sion.de), 5 minutes walk from Cologne Hbf, or the Malzmuehle restaurant (www.muehlenkoelsch.de), 10-15 minutes walk from Cologne Hbf.

• Stay overnight in Cologne.  The good & inexpensive Ibis Hotel Köln-am-Dom is ideal as it's part of Cologne Hbf itself, with an entrance to the left of the main station entrance - many of its rooms have a cathedral view.  Also near the station with good reviews are the Breslauer Hof Am Dom, Hotel Domspitzen, CityClass Hotel Europa am Dom, Hilton Cologne, Excelsior Hotel Ernst am Dom.

• Day 2, travel from Cologne to Amsterdam on any train you like, for example leaving Cologne Messe/Deutz at 06:45 weekdays arriving Amsterdam Centraal 09:29, or 08:36 weekends arriving Amsterdam Centraal 11:29, but by all means take a later train.

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

• Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

  Book from Salzburg to Amsterdam, but click Stopover and enter Cologne in the via box with your desired stopover duration in the hh:mm box.  I've set up this special link for you, just enter your date of travel and the number of passengers.  Adjust departure time and stopover duration to get the trains you want either side of Cologne - a little trial & error may be needed to get the ones you want!

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

  Why not build in time for a wander round Cologne, visiting the cathedral right next to the station - you can add a stopover of up to 48h.  Adjust the departure time and stopover duration to get earlier or later trains for each part of the journey with a longer or shorter overnight stop in Cologne.

• Top tip, take the scenic Rhine Valley route...  By default, the bahn.de journey planner will put you on the high-speed line to Cologne.  But by clicking Stopover and adding another stopover with zero duration in Koblenz, it'll route you along the old curvaceous Rhine Valley route, past mountains, river boats, castles, vineyards and the legendary Lorelei Rock.  It takes an hour or so longer but it's worth it.  In fact, you'll usually find a direct Salzburg-Cologne EuroCity train leaving Salzburg at 12:00 via the Rhine Valley, arriving Cologne around 19:42.  Just have a play with www.bahn.de.

The classic scenic route along the Rhine Valley - see the Rhine Valley page for more photos, video & tips.

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Salzburg to Luxembourg from €36.90...

• You can travel from Salzburg to Luxembourg by train in a single day, for example, leaving Salzburg Hbf at 07:15, changing at Munich Hbf & Mannheim, arriving Luxembourg 16:24.  Or Salzburg depart 12:00, change once at Koblenz, arrive Luxembourg 21:31.

• Fares start at €36.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

  In the search results, look for journeys involving just 1 or 2 changes.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.    I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  Tip:  To avoid cluttering up your search results with lots of journeys involving a bus, click Stopover and enter Igel as a via station.  Al the trains call here, the buses don't.

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Salzburg to Zurich, Basel, Geneva & Switzerland from €29...

• Smart modern railjet trains link Salzburg Hbf with Zurich HB in Switzerland several times every day in 5h24.

  The railjet trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more information about railjets.  These trains travel through the Tirol and then the Arlberg pass, where the scenery is superb, see the Arlberg Railway page & watch the Arlberg Pass scenery video.

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

• Buy tickets from Salzburg to almost any Swiss station at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a little more fiddly, same fares).

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

  That's Salzburg to Zurich or Luzern or Interlaken or Zermatt or Geneva or Lauterbrunnen or anywhere in Switzerland from €29.90 upwards, on one ticket for one inclusive price.  The ticket covers both the railjet train from Salzburg to Zurich and the onward Swiss train to your chosen destination, Zermatt, Geneva, Lauterbrunnen, Interlaken, Luzern or wherever.  It's far cheaper to buy a through ticket than buy a separate Swiss domestic ticket from Zurich onwards.  Indeed, you can often travel from Salzburg to (let's say) Zermatt on one of these through tickets from €29.90 more cheaply than a normal Zurich-Zermatt ticket alone!

  Incidentally, I get a lot of people who think they will save money by using their Swiss Pass for the Swiss part of the journey.  But if (let's say) oebb.at gives you a price of €29.90 from Salzburg to Zurich and exactly the same price, €29.90, from Salzburg to Lucerne (as budget train fares are no more related to distance than budget air fares are), then using up an expensive day on a Swiss Pass to cover the Zurich-Lucerne part of the trip is potentially saving you a big fat zero!  So check prices before wasting a Swiss Pass day.

A railjet at Zurich HB...

Business class.  About.		Restaurant car.

First class.		Economy class.

The mountains of Austria...

In the Arlberg pass itself, the railway hugs the valley side, past fir forests and meadows...		In Railjet first & business class, a steward takes your order & serves lunch at your seat.

The Railjet clips a corner of Liechtenstein, passing non-stop through the little station of Schaan-Vaduz.  Once in Switzerland, the Railjet runs alongside the Zürichsee, then along the Walensee...

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Salzburg to Venice...

Option 1, Salzburg to Venice by Nightjet sleeper train...

• There's a direct Nightjet sleeper train from Salzburg to Venice arriving Venice Santa Lucia on the banks of the Grand Canal at 08:34. 

  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.

• Now the bad news:  The sleeper starts in Vienna and leaves Salzburg Hbf around 01:40, ouch!  But there's a simple solution for a more civilised departure time and a good night's sleep:  Book it from Linz to Venice instead, and take an evening train from Salzburg to Linz, like this:

  Go to www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly, in €, same fares) and book the Nightjet sleeper from Linz to Venice Santa Lucia, it leaves Linz at the more civilised hour of 23:00.  Look in the search results for the direct NJ (Nightjet) train with 0 changes.  You print your own ticket.  It's usually the same price whether you book it from Vienna, Linz or Salzburg.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.

  Then simply hop on an hourly Westbahn train from Salzburg Hbf to Linz, take one around 20:00 or leave earlier and have dinner in Linz.  Pay the €14 fare to the conductor on board, no prior reservation necessary.  You can check times at www.thetrainline.com - buying online saves €1.

  You could even consider doubling back all the way to Vienna, the Westbahn fare to Vienna Hbf is only €26 or so, or ÖBB fares to Vienna Hbf start at €19.90 if pre-booked at www.thetrainline.com.  Dinner in Vienna?  The sleeper leaves Vienna Hbf at 21:27.

The Nightjet sleeper train from Linz & Vienna, arrived at Venice Santa Lucia.  More nightjet information, photos & video.

2-berth deluxe sleeper.  More info about Nightjet trains.		...en suite toilet & shower.		4-berth couchettes...

Sunrise as the Munich-Venice Nightjet crosses the causeway over the lagoon into Venice.  Courtesy of Andreas Wiedenhoff.

Option 2, Salzburg to Venice by daytime trains from €29.90...

• Look for these specific departures:

  1. Leave Salzburg Hbf at 08:12 by railjet train, change at Villach onto another railjet train to Venice Santa Lucia arriving 14:05.

  This crosses Austria via the Tauern route to Villach, see the photo below.  Railjet trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, more information about railjet trains.

  2. Leave Salzburg Hbf at 10:56 railjet train, changing at Innsbruck onto a EuroCity train to Venice Santa Lucia arriving 18:25.

  This goes via the scenic Brenner route, a lovely run, see the Brenner Pass scenery video here.  The EuroCity train has an Austrian restaurant car, treat yourself to lunch and a beer or two as the mountains roll by.  More about the EuroCity train & journey to Venice.

  Tip:  If you have a 1st class ticket you can grab a complimentary tea or coffee between trains in the ÖBB lounge at Innsbruck Hbf.

  3. Leave Salzburg Hbf at 14:12 by EuroCity train, changing at Villach onto a railjet train to Venice Santa Lucia arriving 20:05.

  This crosses Austria via the Tauern route to Villach, see the photo below.  Railjet trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, more information about railjet trains.

• Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class, €44.90 in 1st class or (on railjet trains) €59.90 in business class (= premium 1st class, a real treat).

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

Through the Austrian Alps...  Clinging to the mountainside high in the Austrian Alps, the train snakes along between snow-capped mountains, absolutely wonderful.  This is the Tauern route from Salzburg to Villach, where you pick up the railjet to Venice...

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Salzburg to Venice, Milan, Florence, Rome, Naples & Italy from €29...

Option 1, Salzburg to Milan, Florence & Rome by direct Nightjet sleeper train - safe, comfortable, time-effective...

• An excellent Nightjet sleeper train leaves Salzburg Hbf at 22:02 every day, arriving Bologna Centrale 05:15, Florence SMN 06:32 and Rome Termini 09:10, with a portion for Milan Porta Garibaldi arriving 08:10.

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

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

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

• Change in Rome for Naples, southern Italy & Sicily.  Buy a separate Rome-Naples ticket from €19.90 at either www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, their €3.50 booking fee will be refunded if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com afterwards) or Italian Railways own site www.trenitalia.com (more fiddly to use, requires Italian language place names, read this advice on using it first).

  Booking for Italian trains opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you simply quote your booking reference on the train.  I'd allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Rome.

Salzburg to Florence & Rome by Nightjet sleeper train.  More information about Nightjets.

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

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

Option 2, Salzburg to Milan, Florence, Rome, Naples by daytime trains - the scenic option via the Brenner Pass...

• Take a fast railjet train from Salzburg to Innsbruck and a comfortable EuroCity train from Innsbruck to Verona (or on two departures, Bologna) via the scenic Brenner Pass.  Then take an onward Italian high-speed Frecciarossa to Milan, Florence, Rome or Naples.

  Salzburg to Verona...

  Leave Salzburg Hbf 06:56, change at Innsbruck Hbf, arrive Verona Porta Nuova 12:56.

  Leave Salzburg Hbf 08:56, change at Innsbruck Hbf, arrive Verona Porta Nuova 14:58.

  Leave Salzburg Hbf 10:56, change at Innsbruck Hbf, arrive Verona Porta Nuova 16:58.

  Leave Salzburg Hbf 12:56, change at Innsbruck Hbf, arrive Verona Porta Nuova 18:58.

  Leave Salzburg Hbf 14:56, change at Innsbruck Hbf, arrive Verona Porta Nuova 20:56.

  Salzburg to Milan...

  Leave Salzburg Hbf 06:56, change at Innsbruck Hbf & Verona Porta Nuova, arrive Milan Centrale at 14:45.

  Leave Salzburg Hbf 08:56, change at Innsbruck Hbf & Verona Porta Nuova, arrive Milan Centrale at 16:45.

  Leave Salzburg Hbf 10:56, change at Innsbruck Hbf & Verona Porta Nuova, arrive Milan Centrale at 18:55.

  Leave Salzburg Hbf 12:56, change at Innsbruck Hbf & Verona Porta Nuova, arrive Milan Centrale at 20:45.

  Salzburg to Florence, Rome & Naples...

  Leave Salzburg Hbf 06:56 Mondays-Fridays, change Innsbruck Hbf & Bologna, arrive Florence SMN 15:48, Rome Termini 17:25 & Naples 18:48.

  Leave Salzburg Hbf 08:56, change Innsbruck Hbf & Bologna Centrale, arrive Florence SMN 17:59, Rome Termini 19:35 & Naples Centrale 21:03.

  Leave Salzburg Hbf 10:56, change Innsbruck Hbf & Verona Porta Nuova, arrive Florence SMN 19:24 & Rome Termini 21:10.

• Railjet trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  EuroCity trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at seats, they pass through the scenic Brenner Pass, a real treat, see the Brenner Pass photos & video here.  Have a meal and a beer or two as the mountains glide by.  The 300 km/h (186 mph) Italian Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seat & free WiFi.

  I'd allow at least 30-45 minutes between trains in Verona (or Bologna), in case of delay.

Tip:  If you have a 1st class ticket you can grab a complimentary tea, coffee or juice between trains in the ÖBB Lounge at Innsbruck Hbf.

• How much does it cost?

  Salzburg to Verona or Bologna starts at €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.

  Verona to Milan starts at €19.90 in 2nd class (standard) or €29.90 in 1st class (business).

  Verona or Bologna to Florence or Rome starts at €19.90 in 2nd class (standard) or €29.90 in 1st class (business).

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets...

  The best place to buy tickets is at www.raileurope.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee).  This connects to both the Austrian and Italian ticketing systems so you can book the whole journey in one place.  More about Raileurope.

  Important tip:  Before running a Salzburg to Italy enquiry, click More options, enter the name of the interchange station in Italy (either Verona Porta Nuova or Bologna Centrale, read the info above) with a duration of at least 30 or 45 minutes.  That forces it to split the booking at that station into an Austrian ticket and an Italian ticket (otherwise it doesn't find any fares) and gives you a robust connection.

  Booking for the Austrian trains opens up to 6 months ahead.  Booking for the Italian trains opens up to 4 months ahead.

  For the Austrian trains, you print your own ticket.  The Italian trains are ticketless, you simply quote your booking reference on the train.

• Alternatively, you can book the Austrian trains from Salzburg to Verona or Bologna at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, accepts overseas cards, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly, same prices).  Then book the Italian train from Verona or Bologna to your final Italian destination at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, their small booking fee will be refunded if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com after booking) or Italian Railways own site www.trenitalia.com (more fiddly to use, uses Italian language place names, read this advice on using it first).

After running south through the Brenner Pass from Innsbruck, this EuroCity train has arrived at Verona.  You don't need to book a table in the restaurant car, just go along and sit down.  Dining on the move as the scenery glides by is one of the pleasures of travelling on trains like this.  More photos & information about these EuroCity trains.

Second class seats, mostly in 6-seat compartments with side-corridor like this, but some cars are open-plan saloons...				First class leather seats.  On a few trains you'll find 6-seat compartments too....

Mountains on the Brenner route...

Vineyards, mountains and castles south of Brenner as the train heads for Trento & Verona...

Watch out for hilltop fortresses...  See the Brenner Pass scenery video here.

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Salzburg to Barcelona & Spain from €79.80...

Option 1, Salzburg to Barcelona & Spain with overnight stop in Geneva - the most scenic route, avoids crossing Paris...

• Step 1, travel from Salzburg to Zurich by railjet train, leaving Salzburg Hbf at 11:56, change at Zurich HB, arriving Geneva 20:18.

  There's an earlier 09:56 departure if you'd like more of an evening in Geneva.  The railjet travels through the wonderfully scenic Arlberg Pass, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, put your feet up and enjoy the ride, watch the Arlberg Pass video & see the Arlberg Railway page.

  Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class, €54.90 in 1st class, €69.90 in business class (= premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book from Salzburg to Geneva at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee, using Trainline allows you to buy all your tickets in one place) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

Option 2, Salzburg to Barcelona & Spain with overnight stop in Paris - fastest route & usually cheaper, if you don't mind changing stations in Paris...

• Day 1, travel from Salzburg to Paris, for example...

  Leave Salzburg Hbf at 10:00, change Stuttgart onto an ICE3 train arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 18:05.

  Leave Salzburg Hbf at 12:00, change Stuttgart onto a TGV Duplex arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 20:41.

  The ICE has a restaurant car, the double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, both trains have power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

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

• Stay overnight in Paris, see suggested hotels near the Gare de l'Est or Gare de Lyon.  How to change stations in Paris by metro or taxi.

• Day 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 10:14 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 16:54.

  The impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Book an upper deck seat for the best views.  You'll pass flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Montpelier and Perpignan, the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks, with great views of the massive Mt Canigou in the Pyrenees, visible all the way from Perpignan to Girona, see the photos & video on the Paris to Barcelona page.

  Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.  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) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, more fiddly, same fares, but no fee).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

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

  Check times & buy a ticket using either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.petrabax.com (in $, small mark-up) or www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, in €, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it).  Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but this varies.  You print your own ticket.

  A same-day connection is possible for Madrid, Zaragoza, Valencia & Alicante.  For Granada, Cordoba & Seville you'll need to stay overnight in Barcelona and take the 08:30 AVE from Barcelona Sants next morning.

Option 3, Salzburg to Barcelona & Spain with overnight stop in Munich - same as option 2, but with the overnight stop in Munich rather than Paris...

• Day 1, travel from Salzburg Hbf to Munich Hbf on any evening train you like, journey time 1h42, you can leave as late as 21:00 but I'd suggest an earlier train for a pleasant evening and good night's sleep in Munich.

  Fares start at €18.90 in 2nd class or €27.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Paris by TGV Duplex leaving Munich Hbf 06:46 arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 12:31.

  The TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views.  Watch the sun rise and the morning mists clear, see the Munich-Paris TGV video.

  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 www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

  Cross Paris by taxi or metro to the Gare de Lyon.  I recommend lunch at the celebrated Train Bleu Restaurant!

• Day 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 15:12 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 21:54.

  This afternoon Paris-Barcelona TGV should run all year round, but due to covid-19 it will only run from 14 June to 30 September 2022.

  The impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Book an upper deck seat for the best views.  You'll pass flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Montpelier and Perpignan, the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks, with great views of the massive Mt Canigou in the Pyrenees, visible all the way from Perpignan to Girona, see the photos & video on the Paris to Barcelona page.

  Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.  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) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, more fiddly, same fares, but no fee).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

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

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

  Check times & book trains in Spain at www.raileurope.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.petrabax.com (in $, small mark-up) or at the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (much more be fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see this advice on using it).  Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but this varies.

  For Madrid:  AVE-S103 high-speed trains link Barcelona Sants with Madrid Atocha every hour or two in as little as 2h30 from €35.

  For Cordoba & Seville:  Take the direct AVE-S112 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:30 arriving Cordoba 13:11 & Seville Santa Justa at 14:04.  Fares start at €45.  Alternatively, spend a morning in Barcelona and take the 15:45 AVE S112 high-speed train to Cordoba & Seville.

  For Malaga:  Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:30 by AVE-S112 high-speed train and change at Cordoba onto a high-speed AVE/Avant train arriving Malaga Maria Zambrano at 14:56.  Alternatively, spend a morning in Barcelona and take the direct 15:45 AVE S112 high-speed train to Malaga.

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

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

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

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 of the train all the way from Perpignan to Girona, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canigou.  More photos of what to see on the Paris-Barcelona train journey.

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Salzburg to San Sebastian...

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Salzburg to Lisbon, Porto, Faro & Portugal...

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

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Seville by AVE-S112 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:30 and arriving Seville Santa Justa at 14:04.

  Fares start at around €46.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com (easiest, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, only in €, may reject some international credit cards).  Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but this varies.  You print your own ticket.

• 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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Salzburg to Andorra...

• Step 1, travel from Salzburg to Paris by EuroCity & ICE, leaving Salzburg Hbf at 10:00, change Stuttgart Hbf, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 18:16.

  Fares start from €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  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) or at the German Railways website www.bahn.de (in €, no fee).   Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your smartphone.

• Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi.  I'd allow at least 90 minutes between trains in Paris when catching a sleeper you don't want to miss.  I recommend dinner at the Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon before strolling across the bridge over the River Seine to the Gare d'Austerlitz...

• Step 2, take the Intercité de Nuit couchette train leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 21:14 and arriving l'Hospitalet pres l'Andorre at 08:46.

  This train has 1st class 4-berth couchettes, 2nd class 6-berth couchettes & reclining seats. 

  Fares start at €35 including a couchette.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (more fiddly, in €, no fee).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead, though often less for these French night trains.  You print your own ticket or can choose a mobile ticket.

• Step 3, take a taxi or taxi+bus from l'Hospitalet station to Andorra La Vella as explained on the London to Andorra page - just disregard the London-Paris part.

• Alternatively, you can travel from Paris to Toulouse on another Intercité de Nuit, leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 21:45 and arriving Toulouse Matabiau at 07:05.  Have breakfast in Toulouse (I can recommend the breakfast buffet at the Pullman Hotel around the corner from the station), then take a bus to Andorra la Vella.  A bus run by Andbus (www.andorrabybus.com) leaves from outside Toulouse Matabiau station (bus stand 15) at 11:00, arriving Andorra la Vella bus station at 15:00. This is also explained in more detail on the London to Andorra page.

The intercité de nuit overnight train from Paris to Latour de Carol has 1st class 4-berth & 2nd class 6-berth couchettes, each with lightweight sleeping-bag & mineral water...

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Salzburg to Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne & Germany from €27.90...

• Regular trains link Salzburg Hbf with stations all over Germany, Salzburg to anywhere in Germany.

  Fares start at either €18.90 or €27.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 or €69.90 in 1st class, depending on destination.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  For example, Salzburg to Berlin takes as little as 6h23 from €27.90 with one easy change in Munich, city centre to city centre on smart Austrian railjet train then a superb high-speed ICE train with bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Sit back and see Europe!  I recommend the weissbier on the ICE, by the way, served in a tall Erdinger glass.

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

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

  Tip:  I recommend also checking www.thetrainline.com as this connects to the Austrian ÖBB ticketing system and sometimes shows cheaper fares for the same train.

• Tip:  For Cologne or Düsseldorf, take the scenic Rhine Valley route...

  By default, the bahn.de journey planner will route you via the high-speed line to Cologne.  But by clicking Stopover and adding another stopover with zero duration in Koblenz, it'll route you along the old curvaceous Rhine Valley route, past mountains, river boats, castles, vineyards and the legendary Lorelei Rock.  It takes an hour or so longer but it's worth it.  You'll usually find a daily direct Salzburg-Cologne EuroCity train leaving Salzburg at 12:00 which goes via the Rhine Valley.  See the Rails down the Rhine page for photos & video.

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Salzburg to Munich from €17.90...

Trains link Salzburg Hbf with Munich Hbf at least twice an hour from early until late.  However, there are three different types of train, railjet trains (marked RJX or RJ), EuroCity trains (marked EC), and slower regional trains run by the Bayerische Regiobahn marked BRB. See the Salzburg to Munich page for times, fares, advice & how to buy tickets.

A railjet to Vienna at Munich Hbf:  See the Salzburg to Munich to page for details...

A BRB regional train at Munich Hbf:  See the Salzburg to Munich to page for details...

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Salzburg to Rothenburg ob der Tauber from €25.90...

• Simply use the German Railways website www.bahn.de to find train times and tickets from Salzburg Hbf to the much-visited medieval town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Bavaria.

• There are departures through the day, journey time varies, typically 4h50.  Avoid any journey shown as including a bus or which involve 4 changes.  Most journeys involve 3 changes, one or two good options have only 2 changes, at Augsburg and Steinach.

• Fares start at €25.90 if you pre-book.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

• Stopover in Nuremberg?

  Most journeys route you via Nuremberg.  Nuremberg has a pleasant old town, a railway museum and the thought-provoking historic Party Rally Grounds.  You can stop for several hours and still do the journey in a day, or stop overnight and have a more leisurely look round.  No reservation is necessary for either IC, RB or RE trains on the Nuremberg-Rothenburg route, so you can simply stop off and use any train combo onwards to Rothenburg whenever you're ready to move on.  How flexible is that?!  Or use the Stopover feature to pre-programme a stop into a cheap Sparpreis ticket.

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Salzburg to Passau

• Many river cruises start from Passau in Germany, just over the border from Austria.

  Take a fast railjet train from Salzburg Hbf to Linz in around 1h17, then a superb German ICE-T train from Linz to Passau Hbf in around 56 minutes.  Both trains have power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

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

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

• Buy a ticket from Salzburg to Passau at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  Look for journeys with 1 change.  You print your own ticket.

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Salzburg to Copenhagen, Stockholm, Gothenburg & Scandinavia...

Option 1, Salzburg to Stockholm using the Hamburg-Stockholm sleeper train, starting 1 September 2022 - the time-effective option...

• Step 1, travel from Salzburg to Hamburg, leaving Salzburg Hbf at 10:15 by BRB regional train, changing at Munich Hbf onto an ICE train and arriving Hamburg Altona at 19:39.

  The ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Always allow at least an hour when connecting with a sleeper train you don't want to miss.  Have dinner in Hamburg.

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

  Book this train at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

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

  Tip:  Before running the enquiry, I recommend clicking Stopover and changing Duration of transfer standard to at least 45 minutes.

• Step 2, travel from Hamburg to Stockholm by sleeper train, leaving Hamburg Altona at 21:55 & arriving Stockholm Central 09:55 next morning.

  This train starts running from 1 September 2022.  Procured by the Swedish government and run by Swedish Railways SJ, the train has sleeping-cars with compact 1 & 2 berth compartments with washbasin, several 1, 2 or 3 bed deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower, couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  The sleeping-cars are former Austrian Railways AB32s, refurbished.

  Fares start at €44.90 with a couchette in 6-berth, €69.90 with a couchette in 4-berth, €79.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €164.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.  All prices per person per bed, fares vary like air fares so book ahead.

  Book tickets at either www.sj.se or (as this is a Nightjet partner route) Austrian Railways www.oebb.at.

  Booking opens several months ahead, you print your own ticket or can show it on your smartphone.

Standard sleeper, set up as a single, shown in both night & daytime modes whilst the AB32 sleeping-car was in service with ÖBB.  AB32s have 13 narrow standard compartments.  Above right, an artist's impression of the new livery, courtesy of SJ.

Deluxe sleeper, taken whilst the AB32 sleeping-car was in service with ÖBB.  AB32s have just 2 deluxe compartments.

Option 2, Salzburg to Copenhagen in a day from €39.90!  Salzburg to Stockholm or Gothenburg from €56.90!

• Day 1, travel from Salzburg to Copenhagen, leaving Salzburg Hbf at 08:00, change Munich Hbf & Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 21:33.

  You travel by regional train from Salzburg to Munich, then luxurious ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi to Hamburg, then Danish IC3 intercity train.  Take a good book, put your feet up and enjoy the ride.

  From 18 June to 21 August 2022 an altered timetable applies, you leave Salzburg Hbf at 09:15, change Munich Hbf & Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 23:33.

  Check times at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, but first change Duration of transfer from standard to at least 30 minutes.

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

• Day 2, if travelling to Malmö:  Travel from Copenhagen to Malmö on any Öresund train, every 20-30 minutes, journey time 39 minutes.

• Day 2, if travelling to Gothenburg:  Travel from Copenhagen to Goteborg Central on any of the hourly Öresund trains, journey time 3h53.

• Day 2, if travelling to Stockholm:  Travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000 train in around 5h11, there are regular departures.  For example there's usually one leaving Copenhagen at 08:19 arriving Stockholm Central 13:34, or have a leisurely breakfast and a later train.

• How much does it cost? 

  Salzburg to Copenhagen starts at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

  Salzburg to Gothenburg or Stockholm starts at €56.90.

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

• How buy tickets...

  If travelling to Copenhagen, simply go to www.bahn.de and book from Salzburg to Copenhagen, I recommend changing Duration of transfer standard to at least 30 minutes.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  If travelling to Stockholm or Gothenburg, go to www.bahn.de and book from Salzburg to Stockholm or Goteborg Central with a morning departure selected, but to see these cheap fares you must click Stopover, enter Copenhagen in the via box and a time of (say) 12:00 in the hh:mm stopover box.  I have set up this special link to bahn.de for you, just enter your travel date.  Adjust the departure time and overnight stopover duration as necessary to get the trains you want.  It may take a bit of trial and error!

  If travelling to Oslo, go to www.bahn.de and book from Salzburg to Gothenburg with a morning departure selected, but to see the cheap fares you must click Stopover  enter Copenhagen in the via box and a time of say 12:00 in the hh:mm stopover box.  I have set up this special link to bahn.de for you, just enter your travel date.  Adjust the overnight stopover time as necessary to get the trains you want.  Now add a connecting ticket from Gothenburg to Oslo S ticket using either www.vy.no or www.sj.se.

Option 3, Salzburg to Copenhagen, Gothenburg & Stockholm with an overnight stop in Hamburg...

• Day 1, travel from Salzburg Hbf to Hamburg Hbf with 1 easy change in Munich.  There are regular departures until 16:00, arriving after midnight.  The Munich-Hamburg trains are ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Stay overnight in Hamburg.  The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is just 200m from the station, features art deco-based design and gets great reviews.  Other hotels next to Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski.  If you're on a budget, private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf start at around £33 for one person or £49 for two people booked at www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:56 by Danish IC3 intercity train arriving Copenhagen at 13:33.

  An altered timetable applies from 18 June to 21 August 2022, see the timetable here.

• For Stockholm, now take a X2000 train from Copenhagen to Stockholm, leaving Copenhagen at 14:19 and arriving Stockholm Central at 19:37.

  From 18 June to 21 August 2022, either take the 06:52 from Hamburg Altona to connect with the 12:19 from Copenhagen arriving Stockholm 17:37, or the 10:53 from Hamburg Hbf to connect with the 16:19 from Copenhagen arriving Stockholm 21:38.

• For Malmö, travel from Copenhagen to Malmö on any Öresund train, every 20-30 minutes, journey time 39 minutes.

• For Gothenburg, travel from Copenhagen to Goteborg Central on any of the hourly Öresund trains, journey time 3h53.

• How much does it cost? 

  Salzburg to Copenhagen starts at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

  Salzburg to Malmö, Gothenburg or Stockholm starts at €56.90.

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

• How to buy tickets...

  If you want to keep things simple, you can book the straightforward way.  Go to www.bahn.de and book from Salzburg to Hamburg on day 1.  then use www.bahn.de again to book from Hamburg to Gothenburg or Stockholm.  But this means buying two separate Sparpreis tickets and it is usually cheaper to buy just one Sparpreis ticket from Salzburg to Stockholm, Malmö or Gothenburg from €56.90, which you can easily do if you programme in the overnight stop in Hamburg like this:

  Go to www.bahn.de and enter Munich to Stockholm (or Malmo or Goteborg Central).  Select a mid-afternoon departure time, click Stopover, enter Hamburg in the via box and a time of say 12:00 in the hh:mm stopover box.  This will give you a 12-hour stopover in Hamburg.  Click here for a link to bahn.de which I've set up for you.  Adjust the overnight stopover time as necessary to get the trains you want.

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

Hamburg to Copenhagen by Danish IC3...  This is the late afternoon Hamburg-Copenhagen IC3 leaving platform 5 at Hamburg Hbf on a busy summer day.  The yellow stripe above the windows indicates first class, located at one end of both 3-car units.  More information about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.

Boarding a Danish IC3 train at Hamburg Hbf...		1st class seats on an IC3 train.  Larger photo.

2nd class seats on a IC3 train.  Larger photo.		An IC3 train to Copenhagen at Hamburg.

Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000, seen at Copenhagen main station...		2nd class seats on an X2000 train from Copenhagen to Stockholm.  Larger photo.

X2000 bistro car...		X2000 bistro car seating area.  Larger photo.		Bistro self-service...

Winter scenery from a train between Copenhagen & Stockholm. Courtesy of Radoslav Sharapanov

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Salzburg to Oslo & Norway...

Option 1, Salzburg to Oslo via Hamburg & Copenhagen - by train all the way...

• Day 1, travel from Salzburg to Copenhagen in a single day as shown above.

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

• Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Oslo, leaving Copenhagen at 09:27, change at Gothenburg Central, arriving Oslo Sentral 17:51.

  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 14:15 and arriving Oslo at 09:15 on day 3, as also shown here.  This is remarkably affordable, and saves a hotel bill.  Book the ferry at www.dfds.co.uk.

Option 2, Salzburg to Oslo via the Kiel-Oslo cruise ferry - the most comfortable way to Oslo...

• Step 1, travel from Salzburg to Kiel on any suitable train, for example leaving Salzburg Hbf 09:15 arriving Kiel Hbf 18:32 with two easy changes.

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

  Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

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

• Stay overnight in Kiel.  The InterCity Hotel Kiel gets good reviews, is relatively inexpensive and is right next to the station and a few minutes walk from the ferry.  The B&B Hotel Kiel City is also next to the station with good reviews, and is even cheaper.  For something upmarket, the Atlantic Hotel Kiel gets great reviews and is in Bahnhofsplatz in front of the station.

  In Kiel the Color Line ferry terminal is just a 5-6 minute walk from Kiel Hbf.

• Step 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. 

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

  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.

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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Salzburg to Helsinki & Finland...

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

• Day 1, travel from Salzburg to Hamburg, leaving Salzburg Hbf at 10:00, change at Munich Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 17:54.

  Times may vary, just make sure you arrive in Hamburg before 19:00.

  Fares start at €23.90 in 2nd class or €33.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

• Day 1, transfer from Hamburg Hbf to the Travemünde ferry terminal by train+bus and sail from Travemünde to Helsinki with Finnlines, see the Hamburg page for full details of the transfer, check-in arrangements & ferry crossing.

  Finnlines sail from Travemünde in northern Germany to Helsinki every day, boarding from 22:30 to 24:00 and arriving Helsinki Vuosaari ferry terminal at 09:00 2 nights later (Day 3 from Salzburg).

  Check sailing dates, times & 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.

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

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

• Step 1, travel from Salzburg to Stockholm as shown above.

• Step 2, travel from Stockholm to Helsinki either by direct overnight cruise ferry, or by daytime or overnight ferry to Turku and connecting train to Helsinki as shown on the Trains & ferries from Stockholm page.

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Salzburg to Prague from €19:  See the Salzburg to Prague page...

• It's easy to travel from Salzburg to Prague by comfortable air-conditioned train from just €19 in 2nd class or €39 in 1st class, city centre to city centre in 5h45 with one easy change in Linz, see the Salzburg to Prague page for details...

• You can buy tickets 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 www.cd.cz (in koruna, booking normally opens 92 days ahead).

  You print your own ticket or can show it on your smartphone.

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Salzburg to Cesky Krumlov from €15...

• Several times a day, a fast Austrian railjet train with restaurant car & free WiFi runs from Salzburg Hbf to Linz in about 1h10.

  This connects with a comfortable air-conditioned Czech EuroCity train with bistro car from Linz to Ceske Budejovice taking 2h16.

  A little branch line train run by private operator GWTR runs from Ceske Budejovice to Cesky Krumlov every hour or two taking 44 minutes.

  Incidentally, Ceske Budejovice might sound more familiar by its former Germanic name, Budweis. That's right, where the name of the beer comes from! The town is worth a look around in its own right. Why not take an earlier train and have a wander into the old town?

• How much does it cost?

  Salzburg to Cesky Krumlov costs as little as €15 if bought a little in advance online.  Days or weeks ahead, not months.

  This fare consists of a Czech Railways First Minute advance-purchase fare from Salzburg to Ceske Budejovice and a OneTicket fare to cover the private operator GWTR between Ceske Budejovice & Cesky Krumlov, bought as one easy Salzburg to Cesky Krumlov transaction.

• How to look up times & buy tickets...

  Book from Salzburg to Cesky Krumlov at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz.

  Booking normally opens 92 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your smartphone in the CD app.

• You'll find  more information about visiting Cesky Krumlov, the GWTR local train, taxis between station & old town, and how to travel from Cesky Krumlov on to Prague, on the Cesky Krumlov page.

Take a smart Austrian railjet from Salzburg to Linz to connect with a Czech express train like this from Linz to Ceske Budejovice & Prague.  These trains usually have a refreshment trolley for part of the journey, but why not take a picnic and maybe some wine or beer?  Change in Ceske Budejovice for the little branch line train to Cesky Krumlov.

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Salzburg to Bratislava & Slovakia from €29.90...

• A direct ÖBB railjet train leaves Salzburg Hbf every day at 18:08, direct to Bratislava Hlavna arriving 21:51.

  If the timings suit you, this is clearly the easiest option with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

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

  Buy at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a little more fiddly, same fares) and print your own ticket.

• If the direct train doesn't suit you, simply take any of the hourly Austrian railjet trains from Salzburg to Vienna Hbf in around 2h25, then the hourly regional express train from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna (the main station, closest to the city centre) taking 1h07.

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

  Buy at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a little more fiddly, same fares) and print your own ticket.

  Tip:  When using www.oebb.at, I recommend selecting the specific destination station Bratislava hl.st. as you will then see journeys with 1 change at Vienna Hbf and arrival at Bratislava's main Hlavna station which is closer to the city centre.  if you select the generic city name BRATISLAVA as your destination you may only see journeys with arrival at Bratislava Petrzalka station, which is not the main or best-located station in Bratislava.

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

• You can break the journey up in Vienna if you like.  In fact, without any pre-booking you can hop on any hourly Westbahn train from Salzburg to Vienna Hbf paying €29 or so to the conductor on board (see www.westbahn.at), then buy an unlimited-availability €10.80 local ticket at the station for the next hourly regional express train from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna.  This way, no pre-booking is necessary and you have complete freedom.

• You might also consider taking a train from Salzburg to Vienna, then a river trip along the Danube to Bratislava.  Vienna-Bratislava fast ferries and hydrofoils runs at least once a day in winter, up to 5 times a day in summer, 80 minutes.  At least two companies operate, see www.twincityliner.com or www.lod.sk.

• For Poprad-Tatry & Kosice, change in Bratislava.  You can travel from Salzburg to Poprad or Kosice in a single day if you leave Salzburg on the 07:12 or 09:12 departures, by railjet train to Vienna Hbf, then regional express train to Bratislava Hlavna, then Slovakian express train to Poprad & Kosice.  Look up times and buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.

The hourly regional express train from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna

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Salzburg to Budapest from €39.90...

Option 1, Salzburg to Budapest by direct railjet train - the fastest & most frequent option...

• Smart Austrian railjet trains link Salzburg Hbf with Budapest Keleti every two hours, taking 5h11 city centre to city centre.

  Departures from Salzburg at 07:08, 09:08, 11:08, 13:08, 15:08, 16:08.

  The railjet trains have a restaurant car, with power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Food orders are taken and served at your seat in 1st & business class.  More information about railjets.

• Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class, €54.90 in 1st class or €69.90 in business class (= premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

Business class.  About.		Restaurant car.

First class.		Economy class.

Between Vienna & Budapest it's largely flat, with more wind turbines than you can shake a stick at - allegedly over 200.  This photo pretty much sums up the Vienna-Budapest section!

The railjet has landed...  A railjet has arrived spot on time in Budapest's historic Keleti station, built 1881-1884.

Option 2, Salzburg to Budapest by competing Westbahn train to Vienna and Regiojet train to Budapest - cheapest option, with easy online booking...

• Private open-access operator Westbahn run regular trains from Salzburg Hbf to Vienna Westbahnhof.  Open-access operator Regiojet then runs two trains per day from Vienna Meidling to Budapest Deli station.  These two operators have teamed up to offer cheap through tickets from Salzburg to Budapest with low fares that stay low even at short notice.  In fact, even on the day of travel.

  Departures from Salzburg Hbf are at 06:52 & 13:52, check current times at www.regiojet.com.

  Salzburg-Vienna takes 2h28, you have an hour and a half for coffee in Vienna, then Vienna-Budapest takes 2h47.

  See photos of Westbahn's comfortable double-deck trains here.  See photos & a description of the 4 classes on RegioJet trains here.  I highly recommend Business class, with complimentary sparkling wine, Illy coffee and bottled water, or Relax class with complimentary Illy coffee and bottled water.  Regiojet offers excellent at-seat service.

• Regiojet offers special through fares in partnership with Westbahn from €34.90.

• Buy an e-ticket online at www.regiojet.com.  Tip:  Specify Budapest Deli when booking.

A RegioJet train in its distinctive yellow & grey colours, see interior photos of RegioJet trains here

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Salzburg to Sighisoara, Brasov & Bucharest from €58...

Option 1, Salzburg to Romania using the Dacia Express sleeper train from Vienna to Sighisoara, Brasov & Bucharest...

• Step 1, travel from Salzburg to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Salzburg Hbf at 15:08 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 17:30.

  By all means take an earlier train for some time in the Austrian capital, just don't risk any tight connections in Vienna.  The railjets have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class, or €44.90 in business class (= premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Romania on the Dacia Express, leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:42 every day and arriving next day in Simeria 07:36, Sighisoara 10:09, Braşov 13:26, Ploeşti 15:08 & Bucharest Nord at 15:47.

  It has a modern air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, plus several deluxe compartments with en suite shower & toilet.  It has a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and 2nd class seats.

  A Hungarian restaurant car operates between Vienna and Budapest, treat yourself to dinner.  A bar-bistro is then attached in the morning between Arad & Bucharest, serving drinks, snacks and breakfast.  There's wonderful almost Alpine scenery through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov and Bucharest, a real treat...

  From 12 December 2021 the Dacia Express will also convey a second portion from Vienna to Bucharest via Timişoara, also leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:42 and arriving Timişoara Nord at 05:52, Craiova 12:42 & Bucharest Nord at 16:05.  This portion has a Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments, and ordinary seats.

  From 12 December 2021 the Dacia Express will convey a portion from Vienna to Cluj Napoca, also leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:42 and arriving Cluj Napoca at 08:19.  This portion has a Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments, and ordinary seats.

  Fares start at €59 with a couchette in a 6-berth compartment, €69 with a couchette in a 4-berth compartment, €79 with a bed in a 3-berth sleeper, €99 with a bed in a 3-berth sleeper or €159 with a bed in a single-berth sleeper all to yourself.  All per person per berth.

  Book this train at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  In the search results, look for the direct train marked D with no changes.  You collect tickets from an ÖBB ticket machine in Vienna.

  You can also (as of 2022) book this train at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.  Click EN top right for English.  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  For Vienna type Wien, for Bucharest type Bucuresti.  It can book seats, couchettes or sleepers.  For Austria to Romania journeys you now print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  Tip:  Prices might be cheaper than on oebb.at, so check both sites!

The Dacia Express has an air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car, seen here at Bucharest.  You can check the train formation at www.vagonweb.cz.  Courtesy of @PaliparanDotCom

Sleepers:  Each compartment can be sold as a single, double (as here) or triple.  Most compartments have a washbasin as shown, two compartments have a shower & toilet.  Beds fold away to form a private sitting room for day use.  Larger photo.				Couchettes:  4 & 6-berth, bedding is provided.  Larger photo.

The Dacia Express has one couchette car, seen here at Bucharest.  Courtesy of @PaliparanDotCom

Transylvania:  The Dacia Express crosses rural Transylvania.  Courtesy of @PaliparanDotCom

The Dacia Express en route to Bucharest...  Photo courtesy of @PaliparanDotCom

Enjoy dinner and a beer in the bar car, as a bar-bistro is attached to the Dacia Express in Romania between Bucharest & Simeria.  Photos courtesy of @PaliparanDotCom & @_DiningCar.

The Carpathian mountains:  Almost Alpine scenery between Brasov & Bucharest...  Courtesy of @PaliparanDotCom.

Option 2, Salzburg to Romania using the sleeper train Ister from Budapest to Brasov & Bucharest...

• Step 1, travel from Salzburg to Budapest by smart Austrian railjet train, leaving Salzburg Hbf at 11:08 and arriving Budapest Keleti at 16:19.

  The railjets have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more information about railjet trains.

  Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class, €39.90 in 1st class or €54.90 in business class (= premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

• Step 2, take the sleeper train Ister, leaving Budapest Keleti at 19:10 & arriving Brasov at 09:23 & Bucharest Gara de Nord at 11:59 next day.

  This comfortable train has 4 & 6 berth couchettes and an air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and 2nd class seats.  There's no restaurant car so take a picnic and bottle of wine, although a cafe-bar is usually attached in Romania in the morning.

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

  Book this train at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.  Click EN top right for English.  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  For Bucharest type Bucuresti.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

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

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

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

Option 3, Salzburg to Romania by daytime trains with overnight stop in Budapest...

• Day 1, travel from Salzburg Hbf to Budapest Keleti in 5h11 on any railjet train you like, with restaurant, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class, €39.90 in 1st class or €54.90 in business class (= premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

• Stay overnight in Budapest.  For an inexpensive hotel with great reviews right next to Keleti Station, try the Royal Park Boutique Hotel or the inexpensive Baross City Hotel just across the road or the Elit Hotel two minutes walk away.  More hotels in Budapest

• Day 2, take a comfortable air-conditioned Intercity train from Budapest Keleti to Cluj, Timisoara, Sibiu, Sinaia, or Brasov.  It's an all-day run right across Transylvania, see the Trains from Budapest page for photos & more details.

  Fares start at €26.30 in 2nd class or (where available) €40.50 in 1st class.

  Buy tickets at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice on using it.  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  You show your ticket in the MAV app on your smartphone.

  You can also book at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.  Click EN top right for English.  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  For Bucharest type Bucuresti.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

The daytime train from Budapest to Bucharest has modern air-conditioned Romanian carriages.  Three cars travel all the way, additional cars are attached whilst in Hungary, and additional cars and a bar car are attached between Drobeta Turnu Severin & Bucharest.

On the left, the daytime train to Bucharest is about to leave Budapest Keleti...		Comfortable 2nd class seats on the Budapest to Bucharest train.  There are power outlets under the tables.  Larger photo.

A bar car is attached between Drobeta Turnu Severin & Bucharest.  Photos courtesy of @AndyBTravels, DiscoverByRail.com.

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Salzburg to Ljubljana, Zagreb, Split & Dubrovnik from €29...

Option 1, Salzburg to Ljubljana & Zagreb all year round...

• Comfortable air-conditioned EuroCity trains link Salzburg with Lesce-Bled on Lake Bled, Ljubljana & Zagreb every day:

  Leave Salzburg Hbf at 10:12, make one easy cross-platform change at Villach, to Lesce-Bled, Ljubljana & Zagreb.

  Leave Salzburg Hbf at 14:12 by direct EuroCity train Mimara to Lesce-Bled, Ljubljana & Zagreb.

  Leave Salzburg Hbf at 16:12 change in Villach, to Lesce-Bled & Ljubljana.

  Journey time from Salzburg to Lesce-Bled is around 3h40, Salzburg to Ljubljana 4h20, Salzburg to Zagreb 6h40.

  This is a really lovely scenic journey through the mountains across Austria and along the beautiful River Sava between Ljubljana and Zagreb. Have your camera ready!

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

• Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, overseas cards no problem, you print your own ticket) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly, you print your own ticket).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

• Tip:  I've seen a cheap €29.90 Sparschiene fare available from Salzburg to Zagreb but only standard price €50+ available on the same date and train from Salzburg to Ljubljana.  It's perfectly legitimate to buy a €29.90 ticket from Salzburg to Zagreb and get off in Ljubljana.

• Onwards to Split & Dubrovnik...  There are daytime trains and a sleeper between Zagreb and Split, from where buses run to Dubrovnik, for details see the Trains from Zagreb page.

Through the Austrian Alps...  Clinging to the mountainside high in the Austrian Alps, the train snakes along between snow-capped mountains between Salzburg & Villach, wonderful...

...and along the Sava river in Slovenia.  Now across the border in Slovenia, the EuroCity train runs along the pretty River Sava all the way to Ljubljana and Zagreb...		Comfortable seats:  The 2nd class seats in the Slovenian cars are arranged 2+1 abreast, the same as 1st class!

More lovely scenery along the Sava between Ljubljana & Zagreb...

The EuroCity train Sava, arrived at Zagreb.		More scenery along the Sava between Ljubljana & Zagreb.

Option 2, Salzburg to Split & Dubrovnik using the Vienna-Split sleeper train, runs Tuesdays & Fridays in summer...

• Step 1, take the 14:08 railjet train from Salzburg Hbf to Vienna Hbf from €19.90 booked at www.thetrainline.com.  You print your own ticket.  Make sure you allow at least an hour in Vienna between trains to be on the safe side.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Split direct sleeper train leaving Vienna Hbf at 18:01 and arriving Split at 09:50 next morning.

  This runs on Tuesdays & Fridays from 18 June to 10 September 2021.  2022 dates not yet known.

  The train has a sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and ordinary seats.

  Fares from €29.90 in a seat, €79.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €99.90 in a 2-bed sleeper, €149.90 in a single-bed sleeper.

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

  For Dubrovnik, take a bus from Split.  There are buses every hour or even every half hour, run by several companies.  Journey time between 3h45 and 4h35, fare around €13-€17.  Buy a ticket at the bus station in Split.

Option 3, Salzburg to Split & Dubrovnik using the Budapest-Split sleeper train Adria, runs in summer June-September...

• Step 1, take the 11:08 railjet train from Salzburg Hbf to Budapest Keleti from €29.90 booked at www.thetrainline.com.  You print your own ticket.  Make sure you allow at least an hour in Budapest between trains to be on the safe side.

• Step 2, travel from Budapest to Split by direct sleeper train called the Adria.  This runs from mid-June to early September, leaving Budapest Keleti around 18:53 every evening arriving Split around 08:56 next morning.  It has a comfortable Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments and a couchette car with 4 & 6 bunk compartments.

  The fare is around €79 with couchette or from €92 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper.

  Check to see if it is bookable online at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu (see my advice on using it).  If not, you will need to book at the station or by phone with a ticketing agency in your home country.  Booking opens 60 days ahead.

• For Dubrovnik, take a bus from Split.  There are buses every hour or even every half hour, run by several companies.  Journey time between 3h45 and 4h35, fare around €13-€17.  Buy a ticket at the bus station in Split.

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Salzburg to Belgrade, Sofia & Montenegro...

Option 1, Salzburg to Belgrade & beyond with overnight stop in Zagreb - a scenic route...

• Day 1, travel from Salzburg to Zagreb, leaving Salzburg Hbf on the 10:12 or 14:12 departure from €29.90, as explained above.  A lovely scenic ride!

• Stay overnight in Zagreb.  The Esplanade Hotel, Palace Hotel or Central Hotel are all near the station with good reviews.

• Day 2, travel from Zagreb to Belgrade by train, leaving Zagreb at 11:04 and arriving Novi Beograd 18:04 & Belgrade Centar at 18:12.

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

  This train has air-conditioned Serbian carriages with comfortable 2nd class seats (no 1st class).  There's no catering, so bring along a picnic and some beer or wine.

  The fare is around €29 bought at the station or paid on the train.  It cannot be booked online, but there are always places available.

• if you're going to Sofia...

  Stay overnight in Belgrade.  I recommend the historic Hotel Moskva at the start of the main pedestrianised street through the old centre.

  Day 3, travel from Belgrade to Sofia by train, see the Belgrade to Sofia page for timetable, fares, tips & photos.

• If you're going to Montenegro...

  A daytime and overnight train link Belgrade Topcider station with Podgorica and Bar over one of the most scenic lines in Europe, fare around €22 paid at the station on the day.  For train times, fares & photos see the Belgrade to Montenegro page.  Change at Podgorica for a bus to Budva or Kotor.

Option 2, Salzburg to Sofia via Bucharest - currently the easiest option for Sofia...

• Day 1, travel from Salzburg to Budapest by railjet train, leaving Salzburg Hbf at 09:08 and arriving Budapest Keleti at 14:19.

  The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, 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.

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

• Day 1, travel from Budapest to Bucharest on the sleeper train Muntenia, leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:10 and arriving Bucharest Nord at 08:06.

  The Muntenia has 4 & 6-berth couchettes and ordinary seats.  A Romanian sleeping-car is attached from Timişoara Nord (depart 22:00) to Bucharest.  There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink.

  Fares start at €40 with a couchette in 6-berth or €47 with a couchette in 4-berth.  These are limited-availability advance-purchase fares.

  Book this at the Romanian Railways international website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en.  You print your own ticket.

  If you want the comfort & privacy of a proper sleeper from Timisoara to Bucharest, (1) book a 2nd class seat from Budapest to Timisoara from €17 using bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en.  You print your own ticket.  (2) Now book berths in a 1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper from Timisoara Nord to Bucharest Nord at the Romanian domestic website bilete.cfrcalatori.ro and print your own ticket.

• Day 2, travel from Bucharest to Sofia by daytime train as shown on the train from Bucharest page.  You leave Bucharest Nord at 10:55 and arrive Sofia Central at 20:10 after a pleasant day meandering across the Danube and through the river valleys of Bulgaria.  In summer it's direct, in winter you have to switch trains at Ruse.  There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink.

  The fare is around €34.

  Book this at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en.  You print your own ticket.

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Salzburg to Warsaw & Krakow from €39...

Option 1, Salzburg to Warsaw or Krakow in a day - The daytime option...

• Step 1, travel from Salzburg to Vienna by smart modern railjet train, leaving Salzburg Hbf at 10:12 arriving Vienna Hbf at 13:05.

  The railjet has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You can take the 11:08 from Salzburg arriving Vienna Hbf 13:30 if you like, but personally, I'd take the earlier train to be on the safe side.

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

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Warsaw on the afternoon EuroCity train leaving Vienna Hbf at 14:10 arriving Warsaw Centralna at 21:17.

  This comfortable EuroCity train has air-conditioned carriages and a restaurant car.  Change in Katowice for Krakow, arriving 21:04.

• How much does it cost?

  Salzburg to Krakow starts at €29.90.

  Salzburg to Warsaw starts at €39.90.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets...

  Buy a ticket at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at, but (and this is important) click the cogwheel icon at the top of the search results page and then click Comfortable connection time.  If you don't, you may end up with a risky 5-minute connection.

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

A EuroCity train from Vienna to Warsaw at Vienna Hbf.  On these PKP Polish Railways cars, the green stripe above the windows indicates 2nd class.  Yellow indicates first class.  Red indicates the restaurant car.  Courtesy of Jennifer Delaney.

Most 2nd class cars have compartments like this with side corridor & 6-seat compartments, although one or two cars may have open-plan saloons.  All 1st class seats are in 6-seat compartments on these trains.  Click images for larger photos.

Restaurant car...

Option 2, by sleeper train - The time-effective option...

• Step 1, travel from Salzburg Hbf to Vienna Hbf by smart modern railjet train, they leave every hour or better.  I'd allow at least an hour between trains in Vienna when catching a sleeper train.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Poland by sleeper train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 22:10, arriving Krakow Glowny 05:46 & Warsaw Gdanska 08:52.

  The EuroNight sleeper train Chopin has a comfortable air-conditioned Polish sleeping-car with 1 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin plus two deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower, see the photos below.  It also has economical couchettes in 4 & 6-bunk compartments and 2nd class seats.

• How much does it cost?

  Salzburg to Krakow starts at €29.90 plus €26 supplement for a bed in a 3-bed sleeper or €39 for a bed in a 2-bed sleeper. 

  Salzburg to Warsaw starts at €39.90 plus €26 supplement for a bed in a 3-bed sleeper or €39 for a bed in a 2-bed sleeper.

• How to buy tickets...

  Buy a ticket at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at, but (and this is important) click the cogwheel icon at the top of the search results page and then click Comfortable connection time.  If you don't do this, you may end up with a risky 5-minute connection.  You print your own ticket.  If necessary, book each train separately.

The modern Polish sleeping-car on the Vienna-Krakow-Warsaw night train, boarding at Vienna Hbf.

Standard sleeper in evening/morning mode with seats folded out.		Standard sleeper set up as 3-berth.  It can also be sold as a single or double.		Deluxe sleeper, set up as a 2-berth, showing TV & wardrobe.		Deluxe sleeper:  En suite shower & toilet.  Click the photos for larger images.

Option 3, Salzburg to Krakow with an overnight stop in Prague...

• Day 1, travel from Salzburg to Prague using any train you like, see the Salzburg to Prague page.  You can leave Salzburg Hbf as late as 17:08, or leave earlier for more of an evening in Prague.

  Fares start at €19.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz and print your own ticket.  Booking normally opens 92 days ahead.

• Stay overnight in Prague.  Hotels with good reviews next to the station include the Esplanade Hotel, Falkensteiner Hotel Maria, Chopin Hotel.

• Day 2, travel from Prague to Krakow by EuroCity train Cracovia, leaving Prague Hlavni at 10:02 and arriving Krakow Glowny at 17:07.

  The Cracovia has a bistro car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the Prague to Krakow page for details & photos.

  Fares start at €19.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz and print your own ticket.  Booking normally opens 92 days ahead.

Option 4, Salzburg to Krakow with overnight stop in Vienna..

• Day 1, travel from Salzburg Hbf to Vienna Hbf on any train you like, taking 2h25, they leave hourly through the day.

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

  Book at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, you print your own ticket.

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

• Day 2, travel from Vienna to Poland by EuroCity train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 08:10 and arriving Krakow Glowny at 13:51.

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

  Book at www.oebb.at.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, you print your own ticket.

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Salzburg to Kiev, Lviv & Ukraine...

• Step 1, travel from Salzburg Hbf to Vienna Hbf using any train you like.  I'd allow an hour or two between trains in Vienna, so take a train around 12:22 to arrive in Vienna around 14:52, but by all means take an earlier train and see something of Vienna.

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

  Book at www.oebb.at.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, you print your own ticket.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Lviv or Kiev by direct Ukrainian sleeping-car, leaving Vienna Hbf at 16:42 every day and arriving next day (day 3) at Lviv at 09:14 & Kiev at 16:21.  This train has a Ukrainian sleeping-car with comfortable 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, see the photos below.  At Chop on the other side of the border the through sleeping-car is jacked up to have its wheelsets changed from European standard gauge (4'8½") to Russian gauge used in Ukraine (5').

  Book the train from Vienna to Lviv or Kiev online at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.

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

  If you have any problems or want a one-way ticket starting in Ukraine, you can also book the Vienna-Kiev train via reliable agency www.polrail.com, with tickets posted or couriered to you for a small fee.  Polrail are based in Poland so charge in zlotys, but as they have access to Ukrainian ticketing system they are good for booking this train.

  Booked through oebb.at:

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

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

  Booked through Polrail:

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

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

  Booked at the station in Ukraine, Kiev to Vienna costs around €80, Lviv to Vienna around €60, in both cases with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper.

Boarding the Vienna to Kiev sleeping-car at Vienna Hbf.  Photo courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.

The Vienna-Kiev sleeper about to leave Vienna Hbf... Courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.		The sleeper corridor.  Courtesy Helmut Uttenthaler.		1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper compartment.

The Vienna-Kiev sleeping-car at Kiev Pass.  Photos courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.

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Salzburg to Moscow, St Petersburg & Russia...

Option 1, Salzburg to Moscow via Kiev, avoiding Belarus...

• Step 1, travel from Salzburg to Vienna and take the sleeper to Kiev as shown above.

• Step 2, take one of the various Kiev to Moscow sleeper trains, for example train 6 leaves at 19:36 arriving Moscow Kievskaya station at 10:09 the next morning (= day 3 from Salzburg).

  These trains are currently suspended due to Covid-19...

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

  You can ask www.polrail.com to book this for you too, or you can book tickets from Kiev to Moscow at the Ukrainian Railways site booking.uz.gov.ua/en/ booking from Kyiv to Moskva Kievskaya.  You collect tickets at the station in Kiev.  Feedback appreciated!

Option 2, Salzburg to Moscow via Warsaw.  This goes via Belarus, remember you'll need a Belarus transit visa.

• Step 1, travel from Salzburg to Warsaw as shown above.

• Step 2, a Russian Railways train with sleeping-cars with 1, 2 & 4 bed compartments with washbasin links Warsaw with Moscow every day, see the Warsaw to Moscow section for details.  Book as shown in that section.

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

These modern sleeping-cars run from Warsaw to Moscow...

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Salzburg to Athens, Corfu & Greece...

Option 1, Salzburg to Athens via ferry from Italy - the leisurely option with an Adriatic cruise thrown in...

• The best and most comfortable option is to pick up a ferry in Bari.  The whole scenic and relaxing journey from Salzburg to Athens will take around 2 nights & 3 days, depending how the connections work out on your particular date.

• Day 1, travel from Salzburg Hbf to Rome Termini in a single day as shown above.

• Stay overnight in Rome...

• Day 2, travel from Rome to Bari by Frecciarossa, leaving Rome Termini at 10:00 and arriving Bari Centrale at 14:10.

  It's an enjoyable and scenic ride across the spine of Italy, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Obviously, book the ferry first and confirm a suitable connecting train afterwards, allowing for a 2-3 hour ferry check-in.

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

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

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

• Day 2, sail from Bari to Patras with Superfast Ferries.  The ferry sails normally daily except Sundays at 19:30 arriving Patras at 13:00 the next day (day 3).  On Sundays the ship sails at 13:30, too early to make connections from Rome but you can take a train to Bari on Saturday evening and stay overnight in Bari.

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

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

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

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

2 or 4-berth cabin with private toilet & shower.		Relaxing on deck...

At sea, passing Cephalonia & Ithaca.  This is what travel to Greece should be like!

Option 2, Salzburg to Athens overland by train via Munich & Belgrade - a rail adventure across the Balkans...

• You can also travel overland by train from Salzburg to Athens via Belgrade & Thessaloniki.  It'll take 3 or 4 nights, with the romance and adventure of an epic train ride through the Balkans.

• Travel from Salzburg to Belgrade as shown above.

• In Belgrade you pick up the train to Thessaloniki for Athens explained in detail on the Trains from Belgrade page.

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Salzburg to Istanbul & Turkey...

• You can pick up the London-Istanbul route suggested on the London to Turkey page in Vienna or Budapest. 

• This journey cannot all be booked online, at least the final leg needs to be booked by phone, but see the London to Turkey page for details of how to buy tickets.  Just disregard the London to Vienna section!

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Hotels in Salzburg

Suggested hotels in Salzburg...

For a stay of a few days I'd choose a hotel in the old town near all the sights.  For a brief one or two night stay, especially if you were leaving on an early train, I'd go for a hotel near the station, so you can walk across the road and leave your bags, there's no time wasted in taxis and it's an easy stroll across the road to the station when it's time to leave.  Salzburg isn't huge, so it'll still be an easy walk to the old town and all the sights.

Hotels near the station...

• Try the H+ Hotel (4-star), across the road from the station with great reviews.

• The Adlerhof Hotel or Hotel Hohenstauffen are both 3-star, also with great reviews and a short walk from the station.

Hotels in or near the old town...

• Try the Boutique Guesthouse arte vida, in a town house just 100 yards from Mozart's residence, or Gästehaus im Priesterseminar. 

• Going upmarket, the Hotel Elefant is a stone's throw from Mozart's birthplace, and the Radisson Blu Hotel Altstadt is in the old town with river views, located in a historic building dating from 1377.

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

Other hotel sites worth trying...

www.tripadvisor.com is the place to find independent travellers' reviews of all the main hotels.

Backpacker hostels: www.hostelworld.com...

www.hostelworld.com:  If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels.  Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in Paris and most other European cities at rock-bottom prices.

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