To check train times & fares in Austria, see www.thetrainline.com (easiest) or www.oebb.at.   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.  Train information is current for 2021.

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 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.

Railjet first class, with black leather seats...		Business class...		The restaurant...

A railjet arrived at the impressive modern Vienna Hbf spot on time.  More photos & information about railjet trains		Economy class on railjet, in open saloons with large windows.  Some seats around tables, most unidirectional.

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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...

• 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 14:21.

  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 20:52.

  Leave Salzburg Hbf at 14:00, change Stuttgart and arrive Paris Gare de l'Est at 22:24.

  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 Add intermediate stops & enter Munich, leaving duration zero.

  Tip:  If you'd like a stopover in Stuttgart or Munich, simply click Add intermediate stops, 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, a club quatre on the right.  360º photo.		A TGV Duplex.  The red near the door indicates 1st class, pale green indicates 2nd class.

Option 2, Salzburg to Paris in a single day via Switzerland - 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 at 07:56 arriving Zurich HB 13:2.  Have lunch in Zurich, leave Zurich HB at 15:34 and arrive Paris Gare de Lyon 19:38.

  Leave Salzburg 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 en.oui.sncf (in €, also a bit more fiddly, but no fee).

A railjet at Zurich HB...

Railjet first class, with black leather seats...		Business class...		Bistro-restaurant car...

Railjet is Austrian Railways premier train...  More photos & information about railjet trains		Economy class on railjet, in open saloons with large windows.  Some seats around tables, most unidirectional.

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, the stewardess 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 3, Salzburg to Paris with overnight stop in Munich - same as option 1, but an overnight stop breaks up the trip nicely...

• Day 1, travel from Salzburg 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 (06:23 Sundays) arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 12:38 (12:15 Sundays).

  The 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, 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.

• Buy a ticket from Salzburg to Paris at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, but click Add intermediate stops, 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 4, Salzburg to Paris with overnight stop in Zurich - same scenic route as option 2, but an overnight stop breaks up the trip nicely...

• Day 1, travel from Salzburg to Zurich 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 somewhere special, look no further than the superb five-star Hotel Schweizerhof just across the road from Zurich HB.  One of my favourite hotels, they'll even send a uniformed commissionaire to meet you at the station and carry your bags from the train.  For something cheaper but also near the station, try the Hotel du Théatre or Hotel St Gotthard.  If you're on a budget you can book budget private rooms in a one-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station using www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2, travel from Zurich to Paris by TGV-Lyria high-speed train, leaving Zurich HB at 09:34 arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 13:38.

  There's usually also an earlier 07:34 or there are various later trains.  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, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (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 at 08:00 and arriving Stuttgart Hbf at 11:59.

• Step 2, travel from Stuttgart to Karlsruhe by ICE, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 12:59 and arriving Karlsruhe Hbf at 13:53.

• 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.

  Important tip:  Before running the enquiry, change Duration of transfer from standard to at least 30 minutes.  That gets you 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 en.oui.sncf (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, a 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 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.

  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.

• Day 2, travel from Milan to the South of France by Thello train, leaving the magnificent Milan Centrale at 11:10, arriving Monte Carlo 15:37, Nice Ville at 15:53, Antibes 16:13, Cannes 16:26 & Marseille St Charles at 18:31.

  The Thello train has a cafe counter, and it's a lovely scenic run along the Italian Riviera between Genoa and Nice, through Savona & San Remo.

  Fares start at €15 in 2nd class or €30 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee, keeps all your bookings together in one place).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, it's ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on board.

  You can also book at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English-language place names, they'll refund the €3.50 booking fee if you email seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference) or the Trenitalia website www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian place names, see advice on using it).

• Change in Nice for Marseille, Avignon, Montpellier, Perpignan.  Allowing at least 45 minutes between trains in Nice book an onward ticket at www.thetrainline.com.

2-berth regular sleeper with washstand.  Larger photo.		The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper...		Step 1, Salzburg to Milan by Nightjet sleeper train...  More information about Nightjets.

Austrian couchette car or liegewagen.  Couchettes are the economical option, flat bunks with rug & pillow.		6-berth couchettes, the cheapest option...		4-berth couchettes, ideal for families.  Larger photo.

Step 2, Milan to Nice by Thello train, seen here at Milan Centrale.  More photos & information about Thello trains...

2nd class seats on the Thello train.  Very comfortable, seat arranged 2+2 across the car width.		1st class seats on Thello.  More space per person than 2nd, with seats arranged 2+1 across the car width..

Views from the train, along the Ligurian coast between Milan and Nice.  Photos courtesy of Lucas Martin.

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 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 France by Thello train, leaving Milan Centrale at 07:10 and arriving Monte Carlo 11:44 & Nice Ville at 11:59.

  The Thello train has a cafe counter, and it's a lovely scenic run along the Riviera between Genoa & Nice.  If you'd prefer a leisurely breakfast and later departure from Milan, you can also leave Milan Centrale at 11:10, and this train goes beyond Nice to Cannes, Toulon & Marseille, see the timetable here.

  Fares start at €15 in 2nd class or €30 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee, keeps all your bookings together in one place).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you just quote the reference on board.

  You can also book at www.italiarail.com (easy to use and they'll refund their small booking fee if you email seat61@italiarail.com after booking) or the Trenitalia website www.trenitalia.com (in €, uses Italian-language place names, see advice on using it).

  Change in Nice for Marseille, Avignon, Montpellier, Perpignan.  Allowing at least 45 minutes between trains in Nice book an onward ticket at www.thetrainline.com.

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Salzburg to Brussels & Bruges from €39.90...

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

• Step 1, travel from Salzburg to Wels by railjet train, leaving Salzburg 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 Brussels by Nightjet sleeper, leaving Wels at 21:50 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays, arriving Brussels Midi 09:55.  See Covid-19 update about this Nightjet service

  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.

  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.

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

• Step 1, travel from Salzburg to Wels by railjet train, leaving Salzburg 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 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.

  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).  Bookings can open 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.

2-berth regular sleeper with washstand.  Larger photo.		The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper...		Wels to Cologne by Nightjet sleeper train - this is a Comfortline sleeping-car.  More information about Nightjets.

Austrian couchette car or liegewagen.  Couchettes are the economical option, flat bunks with rug & pillow.		6-berth couchettes, the cheapest option...		4-berth couchettes, ideal for families.  Larger photo.

Cologne to Brussels by ICE3...		ICE3 2nd class seats.  Larger photo.

ICE3 1st class, with leather seats.  Larger photo.		ICE3 bistro.  See this month's menu.

Option 3, by day trains 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 EuroCity 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 at Munich & 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 Add intermediate stops 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 depart 06:40, change Stuttgart & Cologne, arriving Brussels Midi at 17:35.

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

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

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

Option 4, by day trains with an overnight stop in Cologne, also from €39.90...

• Day 1, travel from Salzburg to Cologne on any afternoon train you like.  You can leave Salzburg 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 Add intermediate stops 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 Add intermediate stops 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.

An ICE3 at Brussels Midi platform 5...		ICE3 2nd class seats.  Larger photo.

ICE3 1st class, with leather seats.  Larger photo.		ICE3 bistro.  See this month's menu.

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Salzburg to Amsterdam from €37.90...

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

• Step 1, travel from Salzburg to Wels by railjet train, leaving Salzburg 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 09:58.

  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.

Book Salzburg to Wels and 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 €, a bit more fiddly, same prices).

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 09:58 next morning.  Book Salzburg-Munich then Munich-Amsterdam at www.thetrainline.com.  You print your own tickets.

2-berth regular sleeper with washstand.  Larger photo.		The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper...		Wels to Amsterdam by Austrian Nightjet train.  This is a Comfortline sleeping-car.  More information about Nightjets.

Austrian couchette car or liegewagen.  Couchettes are the economical option, flat bunks with rug & pillow.		6-berth couchettes, the cheapest option...		4-berth couchettes, ideal for families.  Larger photo.

Option 2, by daytime trains 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 depart 06:15, change at Munich Hbf & Hannover, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 17:00.

  Salzburg depart 08:15, change at Munich Hbf & Hannover, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 17:28.

  Salzburg depart 10:00, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 20:28.

  Salzburg depart 12:00, change at Mannheim, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 21:58.

  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.

An ICE3 at Amsterdam Centraal platform 2...		ICE3 2nd class seats.  Larger photo.

ICE3 1st class, with leather seats.  Larger photo.		ICE3 bistro.  See this month's menu.

Option 3, by daytime trains 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 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 Hbf at 06:41 weekdays arriving Amsterdam Centraal 09:28, or 07:39 weekends arriving Amsterdam Centraal 10:44, but by all means have a leisurely breakfast and 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 Add intermediate stops  and enter Cologne Hbf 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 Add intermediate stops 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 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, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• 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 Add intermediate stops 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 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...

Railjet first class, with black leather seats...		Business class...		The restaurant...

Railjet is Austrian Railways premier train...  More photos & information about railjet trains		Economy class on railjet, in open saloons with large windows.  Some seats around tables, most unidirectional.

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, the stewardess 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.

  Now the bad news:  The sleeper train starts in Vienna and leaves Salzburg around 01:40, ouch!  But there's a simple solution for a more civilised departure time and a good night's sleep...

• 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, 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.

  Then simply hop on an hourly Westbahn train from Salzburg 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...

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

• Look for these specific departures:

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

  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 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 at 14:12 by EuroCity train, changing at Villach onto a railjet train to Venice Santa Lucia arriving 20:04.

  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, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• 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...

2-berth regular sleeper with washstand.  Larger photo.		The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper...		A Comfortline sleeping-car, as now used on the Austrian Nightjet trains from Salzburg & Vienna to Italy.  More information about Nightjets.

Austrian couchette car or liegewagen.  Couchettes are the economical option, flat bunks with rug & pillow.		6-berth couchettes, the cheapest option...		4-berth couchettes, ideal for families.  Larger photo.

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

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

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

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

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

  Salzburg to Milan...

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

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

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

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

  Salzburg to Florence, Rome & Naples...

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

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

  Leave Salzburg 10:56, change at 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 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, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• 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, by daytime trains with overnight stop in Geneva - the most scenic route, and avoids having to cross Paris...

• Step 1, travel from Salzburg to Zurich by swish Austrian railjet train, leaving Salzburg 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, by daytime trains with overnight stop in Paris - fastest route & usually slightly 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 18:16.

  Leave Salzburg Hbf at 12:00, change Stuttgart onto a TGV Duplex arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 20:52.

  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 16:53.

  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 en.oui.sncf (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, by comfortable daytime trains with overnight stop in Munich - same as option 2, but with the overnight stop in Munich rather than Paris...

• Day 1, travel from Salzburg 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 (06:23 Sundays) arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 12:38 (12:15 Sundays).

  The TGV Duplex has a 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.

  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 15:08 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 21:46. 

  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 en.oui.sncf (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 13:12 & Seville Santa Justa at 14:02.  Fares start at €53.  Alternatively, spend a morning in Barcelona and take the 15:50 AVE S112 high-speed train to Cordoba & Seville.

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

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

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

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

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 1, using the Sud Express to Lisbon...

• Day 1, travel from Salzburg to Paris by high-speed train in a single day from €39.90 as shown above.

• Stay overnight in Paris, see suggested hotels near the stations.

• Day 2, take the 12:52 TGV from Paris to Hendaye on the Spanish border then the overnight Sud Express sleeper train to Lisbon, arriving 07:30 on day 3.  See the Paris to Lisbon section on the Paris page for details of this journey and how to buy tickets.  Book this at www.raileurope.com.

• Change in Lisbon for trains to Faro, Albufeira and Porto, book these at www.cp.pt.

The Sud Express, about to leave Irun on the Franco-Spanish frontier, bound for Lisbon...  Courtesy of Ron Baker.  See panorama photo...		Gran Clase sleeper, in evening mode with the seats folded out...		....return from the bar to find the beds made up...		Gran Clase private toilet & shower...

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 14:02.

  Fares start at around €46.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com (easiest, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, only in €, may reject some international credit cards).  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 train, leaving Salzburg 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 22:12 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 en.oui.sncf (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 the same night train, leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 22:12 and arriving Toulouse Matabiau at 06:00.  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 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, 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 Add intermediate stops 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 €18.90...

• Regular trains link Salzburg with Munich, but there are two distinct types:  Express trains & regional trains.

Option 1, by express train in 1h28...

• The express trains are either smart Austrian railjet trains (RJX) with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, or older Austrian EuroCity trains (EC) with restaurant car, taking just 1h30.  Fares start at €18.90 if you book in advance and commit to a specific train, or around €35 standard flexible price bought on the day and good for any train.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Check times & buy tickets at 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.

Option 2, by slower Bayerische Regiobahn regional train in 1h46...

• The regional trains are run by the Bayerische Regiobahn and they run every hour, shown in the search results on bahn.de as BRB.  These take almost 2 hours, but they have one fixed price, around €32, good for any regional train that day with no prior reservation necessary or possible.  Turn up and go!

• Save money with a Bayern Ticket:  In practice you'd never buy a €32 ticket for these regional trains unless you need to travel before 09:00 on weekdays.  At all other times it's cheaper to buy a Bayern Ticket which gives a day's unlimited travel on regional trains across the whole of Bavaria including Salzburg, after 09:00 weekdays or any time at weekends.  This costs just €25 for the first traveller + €7 for each additional traveller in your party up to maximum 5 people.  For details & online sales see www.bahn.de/en/view/offers/regional/regional-day-tickets.shtml.  You can buy the Bayern ticket on the day at Salzburg station using the DB ticket machines or at the ticket office.

Railjets are ÖBB's (Austrian Railways) premier trains...  More photos, video & information about railjets.		Economy class on railjet, in open saloons with picture windows.  Some seats around tables, most unidirectional.

Railjet first class, with black leather seats...		Business class...		Bistro-restaurant car...

Pleasant Bavarian scenery between Salzburg & Munich...

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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 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 Add intermediate stops feature to pre-programme a stop into a cheap Sparpreis ticket.

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

Option 1, by daytime trains:  Salzburg to Copenhagen in a day from €39.90!  Salzburg to Stockholm or Gothenburg from €39.90!

• Day 1, travel from Salzburg to Copenhagen in a day, leaving Salzburg 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.

  Tip:  Times can vary, it may be advisable to leave earlier to maintain robust connections at certain periods this year, so check times for your date of travel at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, first changing 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 Stockholm:  Travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000 train in around 5h11, there are regular departures.  For example there's usually one leaving Copenhagen around 08:19 arriving Stockholm Central 13:35, or have a leisurely breakfast and a later train.

• Day 2, if travelling to Gothenburg or Oslo:  Travel from Copenhagen to Gothenburg (= Goteborg Central) on any of the hourly Öresund trains, journey time 3h53.  For Oslo, take the 09:27, change at Gothenburg and arrive Oslo Sentral (= Oslo S) at 17:51.

• 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 Add intermediate stops, 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 Add intermediate stops  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 2, by daytime trains with an overnight stop in Hamburg...

• Day 1, travel from Salzburg 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 Reichshoff 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 08:55 by Danish IC3 intercity train arriving Copenhagen at 13:33.

• For Stockholm, now take a X2000 train from Copenhagen to Stockholm, leaving Copenhagen at 14:19 and arriving Stockholm Central at 19:38.

• For Malmo or Gothenburg, Öresund Link trains run hourly from Copenhagen to Gothenburg Central in 3h53 and every half hour or better from Copenhagen to Malmö Central in 39 minutes.

• For Oslo & Norway, travel as far as Copenhagen, then take the overnight cruise ferry with bars, restaurants and en suite cabins to Oslo, she sails from Copenhagen daily around 16:30, arriving in Oslo around 09:45, see www.dfds.co.uk for times, prices & online tickets.

• 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 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 Add intermediate stops , 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.

A Danish IC3 train at Copenhagen station.  IC3s now work all the Hamburg-Copenhagen trains.

2nd class seats on an IC3 train...		Boarding a train to Copenhagen in Hamburg.

A Copenhagen-Stockholm X2000 train boarding at Copenhagen main station...		2nd class seats on an X2000 train from Copenhagen to Stockholm.

X2000 bistro car...		X2000 bistro car seating area...		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, via Hamburg & Copenhagen - by train all the way...

• See the section above.

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

• Step 1, travel from Salzburg to Kiel on any suitable train, for example leaving Salzburg 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, using a Finnlines ferry from Germany to Helsinki - the easiest option...

• Day 1, travel from Salzburg to Hamburg, leaving Salzburg at 10:00, change at Munich Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 18:18 (times may vary).

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

• 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:  Click here for details...

• 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 full 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 €17...

• Several times a day, a fast Austrian railjet train with restaurant car & free WiFi runs from Salzburg to Linz in about 1h10 and connects with a comfortable air-conditioned Czech express 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.

• See the timetable from Salzburg to Ceske Budejovice here.

  Then look up connecting train times from Ceske Budejovice to Cesky Krumlov at jizdnirady.idnes.cz/vlaky/spojeni.  Allow at least 10 minutes between trains in Ceske Budejovice, although you might well make even a 3-minute connection if your train is on time.

  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 Ceske Budejovice costs as little as €15 if bought a little in advance online.

  Ceske Budejovice to Cesky Krumlov by local train costs 40 CZK, around €1.55.

• To buy tickets...

  Step 1, book from Salzburg to Ceske Budejovice at www.cd.cz.  Booking normally opens 92 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your smartphone.

  Step 2, buy a ticket for the Ceske Budejovice to Cesky Krumlov local train on the day, either from the distinctive green & orange GWTR ticket office at Ceske Budejovice station or from the ticket machines on board the GWTR local train which accept cash or contactless Visa/MasterCard.

• You'll find  more information about Cesky Krumlov, the GWTR local train, taxis between station and 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 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 €11.20 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, by direct railjet train - the fastest & most frequent option...

• Smart Austrian railjet trains link Salzburg 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, see 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.

A railjet at the impressive modern Vienna Hbf.  More information about railjet trains.		Economy class on railjet, in open saloons with large windows.  Some seats around tables, most unidirectional.

Railjet first class, with black leather seats...		Business class...		The restaurant...

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, 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 to Vienna.  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 main station are at 05:12 & 13:12.

  Salzburg-Vienna takes 2h46, you have an hour and a half for coffee in Vienna, then Vienna-Budapest takes 2h32.

  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.

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, by railjet to Vienna and Dacia Express sleeper train to Sighisoara, Brasov & Bucharest...

• Step 1, travel from Salzburg to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Salzburg 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 arriving Sighisoara 10:34, Brasov 13:35 & Bucharest Gara de Nord at 16:04.

  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...

  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 normally opens 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.

The Dacia Express couchette car boarding at Vienna Hbf.  Always book a couchette, not just a seat.  Couchettes convert from bunks at night to seats by day.		4 or 6-berth couchettes.  Larger photo.

A 1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper with washbasin.  Larger photo.		The Dacia Express arrived at Sighisoara.  Sleepers convert from beds to private sitting rooms for day use.  Courtesy of Philip Dyer-Perry.

Enjoy breakfast in the bar-bistro eastbound, or an evening beer westbound, as a bar-bistro is attached in Romania to both the Ister & Dacia Express.  Bar-bistro photos courtesy of Philip Dyer-Perry.

Option 2, by railjet to Budapest & sleeper train Ister to Brasov & Bucharest...

• Step 1, travel from Salzburg to Budapest by smart Austrian railjet train, leaving Salzburg 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 and arriving Brasov at 09:54 & Bucharest Gara de Nord at 12:33 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, €59 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper or €89 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper.

  Book this train at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice on using it.  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  You show your ticket in the MAV app on your smartphone.

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

• Day 1, travel from Salzburg to Budapest Keleti in 5h11 on any railjet train you like, with restaurant car, 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 60 days ahead.  You show your ticket in the MAV app on your smartphone.

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

Option 1, all year round...

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

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

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

  Leave Salzburg 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).  Avoid any departure marked BUS as this isn't a train.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and 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.

• Important:  Engineering work affecting the Munich-Salzburg-Ljubljana-Zagreb route until at least 10 July 2021...  Major engineering work has closed the Karawanks Tunnel between Austria & Slovenia until at least 10 July 2021, and normal train service is suspended.  To find alternatives, run a Salzburg-Ljubljana or Salzburg-Zagreb enquiry at the German Railways site www.bahn.de or www.thetrainline.com.  You'll find Salzburg-Ljubljana services with 1 change at Villach onto a rail replacement bus.  You'll find Salzburg-Zagreb journeys by train via the alternative Maribor route with 1 or 2 changes.

• 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, 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 to Budapest Keleti from €29 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...

Salzburg to Belgrade by day trains with overnight stop in Zagreb - a scenic route...

• Day 1, travel from Salzburg to Zagreb on either the 10:12 or 14:12 departures 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...

  Until 10 July 2021 it leaves Zagreb at 13:04 arriving Novi Beograd 20:17 & Belgrade Centar at 20:25.

  From 11 July 2021 it leaves Zagreb at 11:04 arriving Novi Beograd 18:04 & Belgrade Centar at 18:12.

  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, take a daytime train from Belgrade to Sofia, 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.

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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 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.

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

• Step 1, travel from Salzburg 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 Chopin, leaving Vienna Hbf at 22:10 and arriving Krakow 05:41 & Warsaw Centralna 08:33.

  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.

Modern Polish sleeping-car of the type used Budapest-Warsaw.  Photo courtesy of WieselFahrer...

Standard sleeper in evening/morning mode with seats folded out.		Standard sleeper set up as a 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...

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 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 10:24 and arriving Krakow Glowny at 17:24.

  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 to Vienna 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 to Vienna 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 10:14 & Kiev at 17:21.  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, 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).

  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, 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.

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

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Salzburg to Athens, Corfu & Greece...

Option 1, Salzburg to Athens by train & ferry via 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 to Rome Termini in a single day as shown above.

• Stay overnight in Rome...

• Day 2, travel from Rome Termini to Bari Centrale by tilting Frecciargento train in 3h59, an enjoyable and scenic ride across the spine of Italy.  Obviously, book the ferry first and work out a suitable connecting train afterwards.

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

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

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

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

• 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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