Trains from Venice

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Click here if your journey starts in another city

See Venice Santa Lucia station information

This page explains how to travel by train from Venice to other cities all over Europe, and how to buy tickets the cheapest way. Information current for 2022.

Before you buy your tickets...

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

European train travel FAQ...

An introduction to European train travel	Senior fares (over 60)	Guide to Eurail passes (overseas visitors)
Important tips for buying European train tickets	Youth fares (under 26)	Guide to Interrail passes (for Europeans)
How to check European train times	Child fares & child age limits	Couchettes & sleepers on night trains
Do I need to book in advance?	Luggage on European trains	Train seat numbering plans
How far ahead can I book?	Luggage storage at stations	Wheelchairs & special needs
Can I stop off on the way?	Taking a bike by train	Real-time service updates
Should I travel 1st or 2nd class?	Taking a car by train	Hotels & accommodation
How long to allow for connections?	Taking dogs & pets by train	Changing stations in Paris by metro or taxi
How early to arrive at the station?	Maps of the European rail network	What to do when things go wrong...

Which station in Venice?

Venice Santa Lucia is the main station in Venice, often abbreviated to Venezia SL, located in the city of Venice itself on the banks of the Grand Canal, 20 minutes walk from the Rialto Bridge and 27 minutes walk from St Mark's Square. Trains reach the station by running over a causeway across the lagoon. On this page, 'Venice' means Venice Santa Lucia unless it says otherwise. Map of Venice showing stations. See Venice Santa Lucia station information.

Venice Mestre is an industrial area on the mainland at which most trains call on their way into or out of Venice S.L. So always make sure you buy tickets to or from Venice Santa Lucia, unless you specifically want Mestre.

Venice to other Italian towns & cities from €9.90, www.italiarail.com

Most trains in Italy are operated by Trenitalia, the trading name for Italian State Railways.
Tickets for all Trenitalia long-distance trains come with a seat reservation automatically included, so yes, in theory trains can sell out although although there are so many trains & seats it's easy to buy tickets at the station on the day if you like, the real issue is price.
Trenitalia has airline-style variable pricing, so tickets are significantly cheaper booked in advance with a cheap Economy or Super-Economy advance-purchase fare, specified train only, limited or no refunds or changes to travel plans. If you buy on the day the Base fare applies, which is flexible and can be changed to another departure up to 60 minutes after the departure of the train you originally booked. So pre-book if you can.
Local, suburban and regional trains don't require reservations and have one fixed price called Ordinaria which you can pay at the station on the day and just hop on the next train, remembering to validate the ticket. There is no need to pre-book regional trains and no advantage in doing so other than saving a few minutes at the station.

Buy Italian train tickets at www.raileurope.com, www.thetrainline.com, www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.
All these sell the same tickets, all offer ticketless travel for intercity & high-speed trains, you simply quote the booking reference on the train.
Booking for high-speed trains opens up to 4 months ahead, except when the mid-June & mid-December timetable changes are imminent when the booking horizon shrinks to less than this with some trains loaded before others.
1. www.italiarail.com is easy to use, in €, £, $ & Aus$. They charge a €3.50 booking fee but they'll refund this if you email seat61@italiarail.com after you book. It can be cheaper than Trenitalia.com for 2 or more people travelling together as explained here.
2. www.raileurope.com is easy to use, in €, £ & $, small booking fee. Can also book trains in other countries. More about Raileurope.

3. www.thetrainline.com is also easy to use, in €, £, $, small booking fee. Can also book trains in other countries. More about Thetrainline.

4. www.trenitalia.com is Italian Railways' own site, it's fairly easy to use but requires Italian-language place names and has a few quirks, especially when booking sleepers, so see this advice on using it.

For more information, including how to reach places such as Sorrento, Pompeii, Capri, Amalfi see the Train travel in Italy page.

Venice to Florence, Rome & Naples...

Nobody flies any more...
Venice to Rome takes just 3h59 by hourly Frecciargento or Frecciarossa high-speed train, city centre to city centre with zero check-in and a departure every hour. Venice to Florence takes as little as 1h53, Venice to Naples 5h25. Flights will take 4 hours in total including the journey to and from the airports plus all the check-in and security hassle.

A choice of operator...

On the Venice-Florence-Rome-Naples route you have a choice of operator: State-owned Trenitalia or privately-owned Italo. Both are excellent, indeed red-hot competition has driven up quality and driven down fares, see my advice on which operator to take.

Trenitalia uses a mixture of Frecciargento, Frecciarossa 500 and Frecciarossa 1000. Italo operates a train every hour or two using its new EVO trains, although one or two departures use their original AGV trains, see the Italo page for more details. I can recommend all of these trains!

Both operators leave from Venice's main Santa Lucia station (see Santa Lucia station guide), also calling at Venezia Mestre.
How much does it cost?

Venice to Florence starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.

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

Prices are dynamic like air fares, so book ahead for the cheapest prices.
Super-economy & Economy = advance-purchase fares with limited or no refunds or changes to travel plans.
Base = what you pay at the station on the day, refundable, changeable up to an hour after departure.
All tickets are for a specific train and come with a reserved seat. But there are almost always places available on the day, if you're happy paying the most expensive Base fare. These are Trenitalia's fare types, but it's a similar story on Italo.

How to buy tickets...

Buy Trenitalia tickets at either www.raileurope.com, www.italiarail.com or Italian Railways' own site www.trenitalia.com, all linking to Trenitalia's ticketing system so all essentially the same price, see the section above to understand the differences.

Buy Italo tickets direct from Italo at www.italotreno.it. You can also book them at www.raileurope.com with no mark-up or fee.

Whichever operator or website you choose, it's ticketless, you simply quote the reference (or show the booking printout) to the conductor on board the train.

Venice to Verona...

You have a choice. Regional trains run every hour taking 1h27, fixed-price fare around €9 each way just buy a ticket at the station, no advance reservation necessary or possible. Fast comfortable Frecciarossa trains also run every hour taking 1h10, reservation required, on-the-day base fare around €27, advance-purchase fares from €9.90.

Venice to Trieste...

Regional trains run every hour, journey time 2h05, fare around €15, check times & prices at www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.
You may as well buy a ticket at the station, as no advance reservation necessary or possible.
Don't get on a Venice-Trieste train routed the long way round via Gorizia, as these take 3 hours.

Venice to Pompeii, Sorrento, Amalfi...

Take a mainline train to Naples Centrale, booked at either at www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com. Then take the local Circumvesuviana Railway from Naples Centrale to Ercolano (Herculaneum), Pompeii Scavi & Sorrento, with onward buses to Amalfi. There are also ferries to Capri.
How to reach Pompeii. How to reach Sorrento. How to reach Capri. How to reach Amalfi, Positano & Praiano.

Venice to Palermo, Catania, Siracuse & Sicily...

Option 1, Venice to Sicily by daytime train. Venice to Sicily in a single day, an epic ride...

You can travel from Venice to Palermo, Catania or Siracuse by train in a single day, albeit with a very early start and late evening arrival. You take a Frecciarossa or Frecciargento train from Venice Santa Lucia to Rome Termini or Naples Centrale, then the afternoon InterCity train from Rome Termini or Naples Centrale to Sicily.

The journey takes you along the coast past cliffs and beaches to the toe of Italy, then the Naples-Palermo/Catania/Siracuse train gets shunted onto a ferry to cross the Straits of Messina, a unique experience, have your camera ready. There's no catering car on the InterCity train, so bring your own picnic and bottle of wine or beer.

Fares start at €39.80 in 2nd class or €59.80 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at either www.raileurope.com, www.italiarail.com or Italian Railways' own site www.trenitalia.com.
Tip: I'd allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Rome or Naples, if necessary book each train separately.
All 3 sites sell the same tickets, all offer ticketless travel for Italian intercity & high-speed trains, you simply quote your booking reference on board the train. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead, except when the mid-June & mid-December timetable changes are imminent when the booking horizon shrinks to less than this with some trains loaded before others.
1. www.raileurope.com is easy to use, it's written in plain English, it can be used in €, £ or $. There's a small booking fee.

2. www.italiarail.com is also easy to use, it's in plain English, it can be used in €, £, $ & Aus$. They charge a €3.50 booking fee but they'll refund this if you email seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR after you book. A key advantage is that it can be cheaper than Trenitalia.com for 2 or more people travelling together as explained here.
3. www.trenitalia.com is fairly easy to use but you need to use Italian-language place names and it has a few quirks, especially when booking sleepers, so see this advice on using it.

Option 2, Venice to Sicily using a Rome-Sicily sleeper train - the time-effective option...

Step 1, take an early-evening Frecciarossa or Frecciargento train from Venice Santa Lucia to Rome Termini in around 3h50.

Step 2, take one of the two direct sleeper trains from Rome to Palermo, Catania or Siracuse, one usually leaving Rome Termini around 21:05 weekdays or 21:31 weekends, the later one at around 23:00, see the timetable here.

Make sure you allow at least 1 hour between trains in Rome. In the morning these sleeper trains are shunted onto a ferry to cross the Straits of Messina, a unique experience, have your camera ready. They arrive in Sicily next morning.

These sleeper trains have Comfort couchettes with 4-berth compartments, ideal for families. They also have sleeping-cars with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin. The couchettes convert to seats for daytime use, the sleepers convert to a private sitting room with sofa. There's no restaurant car (although morning tea or coffee is provided), so bring your own picnic and bottle of wine or beer. See more information & photos of Italian domestic sleeper trains.

Florence to Rome starts at €19.90, then Rome to Sicily starts at €39.90 including a Comfort couchette or from €79.90 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at either www.raileurope.com or www.italiarail.com. If you'd like longer in Rome between trains (perhaps plan to have dinner there, or an afternoon wander) book each train separately, it makes no difference to the price. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.

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Venice to London from €74...

For train travel between Venice & London in either direction see the London to Italy page.

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Venice to Paris from €48.90...

See the Paris to Venice by train page...

Venice to Lyon from €44.90...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Milan by high-speed Frecciargento, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 11:48 and arriving Milan Centrale at 14:15.

The Frecciargento has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Step 2, travel from Milan to Lyon by high-speed Frecciarossa 1000, leaving Milan Centrale at 15:53 arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 20:12.
The Frecciarossa 1000 has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. After an initial dash on the Milan-Turin high-speed line the train slows right down for a scenic meander through the Alps into France.

How much does it cost?

Venice to Milan starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.

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

How to buy tickets...

Buy tickets at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, whichever you prefer, both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board the train.

Venice to Nice, Cannes, Monte Carlo...

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

Take a Frecciarossa high-speed train from Venice Santa Lucia to the magnificent Milan Centrale in 2h17, an Intercity or Frecciabianca train from Milan to Ventimiglia on the French border in 3h45, then a TER local train from Ventimiglia to Menton, Monte Carlo, Nice, Antibes & Cannes taking another hour or so. It's a lovely journey along the Ligurian coast between Genoa & Ventimiglia, and along the scenic Côte d'Azur between Ventimiglia, Nice & Cannes.

Fares start at around €48 in 2nd class or €65 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

See the Italy to Nice page for full details with schedules, fares, photos, tips & how to buy tickets.

Step 1, take a high-speed Frecciarossa from Venice to Milan in 2h17 at up to 300 km/h (186 mph). This is a Frecciarossa 500 at Milan Centrale. More information about Frecciarossas & explanation of the 4 classes.

Premium class seats on a Frecciarossa 500.

Business (1st) class on a Frecciarossa 500.

Step 2, take an Intercity or Frecciabianca train from Milan to Ventimiglia in around 3h45. Here, a Frecciabianca is boarding at the magnificent Milan Centrale...

2nd class. Larger photo.

1st class. Larger photo.

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

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

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Venice to Brussels, Bruges & Belgium from €64...

Option 1, Venice to Brussels with overnight stop in Paris...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Milan by high-speed Frecciargento, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 11:48 and arriving Milan Centrale 14:15.
Frecciargentos have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more information about Frecciargentos. By all means book an earlier train and have lunch in Milan.

Transfer from Milan Centrale to Milan Porta Garibaldi by local train or taxi, an 8-minute €8 taxi ride, 15-minute €2 train ride or 25 minute walk.

Step 2, travel from Milan to Paris by high-speed TGV, leaving Milan Porta Garibaldi at 16:12 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 23:12.
The TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It's a scenic & relaxing run, at slow speed through the mountains then a high-speed dash to Paris at up to 300 km/h (186 mph), see the Paris-Milan TGV video guide. Bring a good book and bottle of wine, and make it a relaxing afternoon with your feet up, although some scenery will be in darkness depending on the time of year. For more information, photos & tips, see the Paris-Milan TGV page. Change trains & stations in Paris by taxi or metro.

Stay overnight in Paris, see suggested hotels near the Gare du Nord or Gare de Lyon.

Step 3, travel from Paris to Brussels in 1h22 next morning on any train you like.
For example, the 07:25 from Paris Gare du Nord arrives Brussels Midi at 08:47, but by all means book a later train, they leave every hour or so. Thalys trains have 3 classes, a cafe-bar, WiFi and power sockets at all seats, see more information about Thalys.

How much does it cost?
Venice to Milan starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.
Milan to Paris starts at €29 in 2nd class or €44 in 1st class.
Paris to Brussels starts at €29 in 2nd class or €55 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

How to buy tickets...
Buy tickets is at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, whichever you like best.
These connect to both the Trenitalia & SNCF ticketing systems so you can book all your tickets together in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. There's a small booking fee.
First book Florence SMN to Paris (any station) and add to basket. Then book Paris (any station) to Brussels Midi for the following day, add to basket & check out.

The Italian train is ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on board. For the two French trains, you print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.

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

Option 2, Venice to Brussels with overnight stop in Turin...

Day 1, travel from Venice Santa Lucia to Turin Porta Susa on any afternoon or evening train you like.
You can leave Venice Santa Lucia as late as 19:00, changing at Milan Centrale and reaching Turin Porta Susa at 22:59, but personally I'd take an earlier train for a pleasant evening or even a whole afternoon in Turin which is well worth a longer stop. It's possibly one of Italy's most under-rated cities, even if you're not a fan of the 1969 Michael Caine film The Italian Job.
Frecciarossas have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more information about Frecciarossas.

Stay overnight in Turin. I suggest the Hotel Torino Porta Susa or Hotel Diplomatic or the small Al Porta Susa B&B, all right next to Turin Porta Susa station with good or great reviews.

Day 2, travel from Turin to Paris by TGV, leaving Turin Porta Susa at 07:39 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 13:13.
The TGVs have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It's a comfortable & scenic journey, at low speed through the Alps, then a final dash along the high-speed line to Paris, see the video here. Bring a good book and a bottle of wine, and make it a relaxing afternoon with your feet up. For more information see the Paris-Milan by TGV page.
Change trains & stations in Paris by taxi or metro.

Day 2, travel from Paris to Brussels by Thalys high-speed train, leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 14:25 and arriving Brussels Midi at 15:47.
Thalys trains have 3 classes, a cafe-bar, WiFi and power sockets at all seats, see the Thalys information page. Make sure you allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris, preferably a bit more.

How much does it cost?
Venice to Turin starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.
Turin to Paris starts at €29 in 2nd class or €44 in 1st class.
Paris to Brussels starts at €29 in 2nd class or €71 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

How to buy tickets...
The easiest place to buy tickets is at www.raileurope.com as it connects to both the Trenitalia and SNCF ticketing systems so you can book all your tickets together in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. There's a small booking fee.
First book Venice to Milan & add to basket. Then book Milan to Brussels for the following day, add to basket & check out.

Tip: Before running the Milan to Brussels enquiry, click More options and enter Paris (any station) as a via point with a stopover duration of at least 1 hour to ensure a robust connection. If you don't do this, the system allows cross-Paris connections as tight as 40 minutes, which I consider too tight.

The Italian train is ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on board. For the two French trains, you print your own tickets or can select a mobile ticket to show on your smartphone.

How to buy tickets, advanced...
Alternatively, you can book each train separately, more work, more fiddly, same fares, but saves the booking fee. First book the Italian train at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, $ or £, they'll refund the €3.50 booking fee to seat61 users if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com afterwards) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly, requires Italian-language place names, see advice on using it), then book the TGV & Thalys at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com.

Option 3, Venice to Brussels via the Brenner Pass, using the Innsbruck-Cologne sleeper...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Innsbruck by EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 every day, arriving Innsbruck Hbf at 18:36.
This is a wonderful journey, over the causeway across the lagoon from central Venice to the mainland, over to Verona and up the wonderfully scenic Brenner Pass with lunch in the elegant Austrian restaurant car. A real treat, see the Brenner Pass scenery photos & video here.
Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.
Buy this ticket at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.bahn.de (in €, no fee). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or show it on your smartphone or laptop.
Tip: If you have a sleeper ticket, you can use the ÖBB first class lounge at Innsbruck Hbf between trains, with free WiFi and complimentary tea, coffee, soft drinks & snacks.

Step 2, travel from Innsbruck to Cologne by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 20:44 and arriving Cologne Hbf 06:51.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 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) 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.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.

Step 3, travel from Cologne to Brussels by high-speed 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, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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.

Step 1, Venice to Innsbruck by Austrian EuroCity train. This is the restaurant car on a EuroCity at Verona. You don't need to book a table, just go along & sit down. Dining on the move as the scenery glides by is one of the pleasures of trains like this...

2nd class seats, some in open-plan saloons like this, some in 6-seat compartments with side-corridor...

1st class leather seats. You'll also find seats in classic 6-seat compartments with side corridor....

The elegant restaurant car. See larger photo.

Lunch with wine on board...

Mountains on the Brenner route between Verona & Innsbruck...

Step 2, Innsbruck to Cologne by Nightjet sleeper train. Above, a Comfortline sleeping-car on the Nightjet train about to leave Innsbruck. More information about Nightjet trains.

Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room

Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo.

Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo.

Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo.

6-berth couchettes.

4-berth couchettes.

Nightjet couchette car...

Step 3, Cologne to Brussels by ICE. Above, an ICE3 at Cologne Hbf. More information about ICE.

2nd class seats on an ICE3M. Larger photo.

1st class seats on an ICE3M. Larger photo.

Food is served on china with metal cutlery. I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier! See current month's menu.

Restaurant car: This is the small 12-seat restaurant on an ICE3M. Larger photo.

Option 4, Venice to Brussels with overnight stop in Munich - Easy, scenic, ideal if you prefer day trains to sleepers...

Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich by EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 arriving Munich Hbf at 20:26.
On Saturdays & Sundays there's also a later Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35 arriving Munich Hbf 22:27.

These comfortable Austrian trains have a restaurant car and travel through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass scenery video. Treat yourself to dinner and a glass of wine...
Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €65.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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. Try the Sofitel Munich Beyerpost, Eden Hotel Wolff, InterCity Hotel or (budget) the Pension Locarno, all these hotels are right next to the station with great reviews.

Day 2, travel from Munich to Brussels by ICE train, leaving Munich Hbf at 08:27, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi at 15:35.

ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Exact times may vary, earlier or later departures are also available.

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

Book this 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.

Option 5, Venice to Brussels using the Venice-Munich Nightjet sleeper train - a time-effective option...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:48 & arriving Munich Hbf 06:29.

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) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

Step 2, travel from Munich to Brussels by ICE train, leaving Munich Hbf at 07:28, change at Frankfurt Flughafen, arriving Brussels Midi 15:35.

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

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

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.

Venice to Munich by Nightjet... Above, the Venice-Munich Nightjet at Venice Santa Lucia.

Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room

Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo.

Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo.

Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo.

6-berth couchettes.

4-berth couchettes.

Nightjet couchette car...

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Venice to Amsterdam from €79.80...

Option 1, Venice to Amsterdam in a single day - runs daily except Saturdays...
Incredibly, it's now possible to get from Venice to Amsterdam in a single day using top-quality high-speed trains, with some wonderful views of Italian & Swiss lakes. It's a long day, so consider using a sleeper (options 2, 4 & 5) or breaking up the journey with an overnight stop in Munich (option 3). But here's how to cross Europe in comfort by train in a single day...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Milan by Frecciargento, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 07:18 every day arriving Milan Centrale at 09:45.
Frecciargento have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Have a coffee in Milan's magnificent Centrale station, well worth a look around in its own right, maybe you'll spot Mussolini...
Fares start at €19.90 in standard or €29.90 in business. Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.
Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. It's ticketless, you just quote the reference on board.

Step 2, travel from Milan to Frankfurt by ETR610 EuroCity train leaving Milan Centrale at 11:20 and arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 18:44.
It's a lovely ride through the Alps past Lake Maggiore and via the famous Simplon & Lötschberg route. The train has a restaurant car and power sockets at all seats. Treat yourself to lunch as the lakes & mountains glide by. You'll also pass through the world's longest rail tunnel, the Gotthard Base Tunnel, though the transit takes just 20 minutes.

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

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

Fares from Milan to Amsterdam start at €59.90 in 2nd class or €119.90 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

Book from Milan to Amsterdam 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.

You can also use www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, which keeps everything together in one place, if you don't mind the small booking fee. See suggested hotels in Amsterdam.

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

Table for 4 in 2nd class, ideal for families...

1st class seats on the ETR610 EuroCity train...

Lake Maggiore, seen over lunch in the restaurant car...

The restaurant car on an ETR610...

Dinner in the diner...

Option 2, Venice to Amsterdam via the scenic Brenner Pass then the Innsbruck-Amsterdam Nightjet sleeper train - comfortable, scenic & time-effective...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Innsbruck by EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 every day & arriving Innsbruck Hbf 18:36.
This is a wonderful journey, over the causeway across the lagoon from central Venice to the mainland, over to Verona and up the wonderfully scenic Brenner Pass with lunch in the elegant Austrian restaurant car. A real treat, see the Brenner Pass scenery video here.
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.
Buy a ticket at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee, using this allows you to book everything together in one place) or the German Railways website www.bahn.de (in €, no fee). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or smartphone.
Tip: If you have a sleeper ticket, you can use the ÖBB first class lounge at Innsbruck Hbf between trains, with free WiFi and complimentary tea, coffee, snacks & wine.

Step 2, travel from Innsbruck to Amsterdam by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Innsbruck Hbf 20:44 & arriving Amsterdam Centraal 09:59.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

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

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Dutch Railways international site www.nsinternational.nl (in €, no fee). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.

Step 1, Venice to Innsbruck by Austrian EuroCity train. This is the restaurant car on a EuroCity at Verona. You don't need to book a table, just go along and sit down. Dining on the move as the scenery glides by is one of the pleasures of trains like this...

2nd class seats, some in open-plan saloons like this, some in 6-seat compartments with side-corridor...

1st class leather seats. You'll also find seats in classic 6-seat compartments with side corridor....

The elegant restaurant car. See larger photo.

Lunch with wine on board...

Mountains on the Brenner route between Verona & Innsbruck...

Step 2, Innsbruck to Amsterdam by Nightjet sleeper train. Above, a Comfortline sleeping-car on the Nightjet train about to leave Innsbruck. More information about Nightjet trains.

Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room

Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo.

Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo.

Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo.

6-berth couchettes.

4-berth couchettes.

Nightjet couchette car...

Option 3, Venice to Amsterdam with overnight stop in Munich - Easy, scenic, ideal if you prefer day trains to sleepers...

Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich by EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 and arriving Munich Hbf at 20:26.
On Saturdays & Sundays there's also a later EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35 arriving Munich Hbf at 22:27.

This is a wonderful journey, across the causeway over the lagoon from central Venice to the mainland, on to Verona and through the mountains via the wonderfully scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass scenery photos & video here. These comfortable Austrian trains have an elegant restaurant car, treat yourself to dinner with wine.
Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €65.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy a ticket 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.

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

Day 2, travel from Munich to Amsterdam by ICE train, leaving Munich Hbf 07:45, change Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arrive Amsterdam Centraal 15:28.
By all means choose an earlier or later departure. ICE trains have a restaurant car, 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, book ahead for the cheapest prices.
Check times and buy tickets at www.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your smartphone or laptop. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets. Easy!

The restaurant car on a EuroCity to Munich, seen at Verona. You don't need to book a table, just go along and sit down. Dining on the move as the scenery glides by is one of the pleasures of trains like this. More photos & information about these EuroCity trains.

2nd class seats, some in open-plan saloons like this, some in 6-seat compartments with side-corridor...

1st class leather seats. You'll also find seats in classic 6-seat compartments with side corridor....

The elegant restaurant car. See larger photo.

Lunch with wine on board...

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

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

Mountains on the Brenner route...

Option 4, Venice to Amsterdam using the Venice-Munich Nightjet sleeper train - a comfortable and time-effective option...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:48 & arriving Munich Hbf at 06:29.

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) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.

Step 2, travel from Munich to Amsterdam by ICE, leaving Munich Hbf at 07:45, change Frankfurt (Main) Hbf arriving Amsterdam Centraal 15:28.

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

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

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.

Venice to Munich by Nightjet... Above, the Venice-Munich Nightjet at Venice Santa Lucia.

Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room

Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo.

Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo.

Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo.

6-berth couchettes.

4-berth couchettes.

Nightjet couchette car...

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Venice to Luxembourg...

Option 1, Venice to Luxembourg using the Venice-Munich Nightjet sleeper train - the most time-effective option...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:48 every night and arriving Munich Hbf at 06:29.
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 (in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, a bit more fiddly, in €, no fee). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.

Step 2, travel from Munich to Luxembourg, leaving Munich Hbf at 07:28 by ICE train, change at Mannheim & Trier, arriving Luxembourg 14:24.
Fares start at €32.90 in 2nd class. Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.
Book from Munich to Luxembourg at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, allowing at least 1 hour between trains in Munich.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Tip: To avoid buses and get an all-train journey, click Stopover and enter Igel as a via station.

Venice to Munich by Nightjet... Above, the Venice-Munich Nightjet at Venice Santa Lucia.

Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room

Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo.

Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo.

Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo.

6-berth couchettes.

4-berth couchettes.

Nightjet couchette car...

Option 2, Venice to Luxembourg with overnight stop in Zurich...

Day 1, travel from Venice to Zurich by EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:18 and arriving Zurich HB at 19:27.

Later departures are possible with a change of train at Milan Centrale, but don't risk any tight connections in to last trains.

Fares for the direct train start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee. Booking usually opens up to 90 days ahead. It's ticketless, you simply quote the booking reference on board.

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

Day 2, travel from Zurich to Luxembourg, leaving Zurich HB at 07:59, changing at Mannheim & Koblenz, arriving Luxembourg at 17:24.
Or have a leisurely breakfast and take the easiest departure with just 1 change, leaving Zurich HB at 10:59 by direct EuroCity train EC8 to Koblenz, time for coffee in Koblenz, then the 17:06 from Koblenz direct to Luxembourg arriving 19:24.
These are all comfortable air-conditioned trains and they all head along the scenic Rhine Valley route between Mainz and Koblenz past vineyards, castles, river boats & the legendary Lorelei Rock, see the Rails Down the Rhine page, then along the pretty Moselle river to Trier. The whole journey is made on a through ticket, so no worries about connections, they normally go like clockwork. There are earlier or later departures, too, just check online.
Tip: EuroCity train EC8 has a Swiss 1st class panorama car, to book it, see the advice on the Rails Down the Rhine page.
Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book from Munich to Luxembourg 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.
Tip: To get an all-train journey and avoid journeys with a bus, click Stopover and enter Igel as a via station.

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Venice to Geneva, Zurich, Lucerne, Basel, Zermatt & Switzerland from €18...

Choose between fast, comfortable & scenic (using mainline trains, either option 1 direct or option 2 with a change in Milan) and slow, comfortable, fabulous world-class highlight-of-your-trip scenic (option 3, via the narrow-gauge Bernina Express).

Option 1, Venice to Switzerland by direct train, twice a day - first see if these direct trains suit your schedule...

13:18 direct train from Venice & Verona to Zurich...
A direct EuroCity train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 13:18 every day & arrives Zurich HB at 19:27.

Change at Arth Goldau for Lucerne. The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the photos here.

Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, recognises English place names, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, choice of paying in €, $ or £, recognises English place names, the small booking fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (a bit more fiddly to use, you must use Italian language place names, read this advice on using it first). Booking usually opens 90 days in advance. It's ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on the train.

16:18 direct train from Venice to Brig, Montreux, Geneva...
A direct EuroCity train links Venice with Brig (for Zermatt) & Geneva every day, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 16:18 & arriving Geneva 23:54.
This train is a bullet-nosed ETR610 EuroCity train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the photos here. Change in Brig for Zermatt.
Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, recognises English place names, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, choice of paying in €, $ or £, recognises English place names, the small booking fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (a bit more fiddly to use, you must use Italian language place names, read this advice on using it first). Booking usually opens 90 days ahead. It's ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on the train.

Option 2, Venice to Switzerland with a change in Milan - if the direct trains don't suit you...

Step 1, take one of the hourly Frecciarossa train from Venice Santa Lucia to Milan Centrale in 2h25.
Frecciarossas have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the Frecciarossa page.

Step 2, then take a EuroCity train from Milan Centrale to Geneva, Lausanne, Montreux, Brig, Bern, Lucerne, Lugano, Basel & Zurich HB.
It only takes a few minutes to change trains at Milan Centrale, as it's a terminus you have easy level access between all platforms with no steps or stairs. The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Look out for great scenery on the routes from Italy into Switzerland, past lakes and mountains. Watch the video: Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train.

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

How much does it cost?
Venice to Milan start at €19.90 in 2nd (standard) class or €29.90 in 1st (business) class.

Milan to Geneva, Zurich & other Swiss cities start at €29 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class when using a direct train.
Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices

How to buy tickets, the easy way...

Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. Both are easy to use, in €, £ or $ (www.thetrainline.com can also sell in CHF), overseas credit cards are no problem, there's a small booking fee.

www.thetrainline.com connects to both the Italian and Swiss ticketing systems. www.raileurope.com connects to the Italian system and can sell full-flex Swiss tickets through an arrangement with French Railways. That means both sites can sell from Venice to anywhere in Switzerland, at least in principle. Each handles the data slightly differently, so I'd check both sites.

Booking for the EuroCity trains opens up to 4 months ahead. However, booking for Swiss domestic trains only opens 60 days ahead.

Italian high-speed trains & the EuroCity trains are ticketless, you simply quote the booking reference on the train. Swiss domestic tickets can be printed out or a mobile ticket can be shown on your smartphone.

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

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

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

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

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

In our example, you'd book from Venice to Brig. Booking opens 90 days ahead. Italian high-speed trains and the EuroCity are ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on board.

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

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

An ETR610 train used on Milan-Switzerland EuroCity trains and the direct Venice-Geneva & Venice-Zurich trains. More information about Switzerland-Italy EuroCity trains.

Table for 4 in 2nd class, ideal for families...

1st class seats...

Restaurant car...

Dinner in the diner, northbound...

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

Sion castle, as seen from a Venice to Geneva train. This route train passes through the famous Simplon Tunnel, opened in 1906, on the very route used by the celebrated Simplon Orient Express of Agatha Christie fame.

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

Option 3, Venice to St Moritz, Chur, Zurich via the scenic narrow-gauge Bernina route...

This is much slower and a little more effort to book, but it's arguably the best Swiss Alps train ride of them all, an amazing experience. See video of a Milan to Zurich journey via the wonderful Bernina route.

This is a slow local route, with part of the journey on the fabulous narrow-gauge Bernina Railway. But it's one of the most scenic routes in the Alps, or anywhere for that matter. Watch the video: Milan to Zurich via the wonderfully scenic Bernina route.

Step 1, travel from Venice to Milan by Frecciarossa 1000, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 06:48 & arriving Milan Centrale 09:07.
Frecciarossas have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the Frecciarossa page. By all means leave later in the morning if you don't want to use the panoramic Bernina Express itself but are happy on one of the hourly local trains.
Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €19.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

Book this at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, $ or £, they'll refund the €3.50 booking fee to seat61 users if you email them after booking at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian-language place names, see advice on using it). It's ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on board.

Step 2, travel from Milan Centrale to Tirano by Trenord regional train...
The 10:20 from Milan connects with the Bernina Express itself, with time for a sandwich and beer in Tirano, see the Bernina Express page.

However, these trains run every 2 hours throughout the day, fare around €12, you can check train times at www.trenord.it. No reservation is necessary or even possible, you just buy a ticket to Tirano from the self-service machines at Milan Centrale and hop on the next train. At Tirano, the Italian railways station is opposite the Rhätische Bahn station on the same town square.

Step 3, travel from Tirano to St Moritz & Chur on the Bernina Express or one of the hourly Rhätische Bahn trains...
This is the fabulous Bernina route over the Bernina Pass. You can check times & prices from Tirano to St Moritz, Chur or Zurich at the main Swiss Railways website www.sbb.ch. If you take one of the regular normal local trains, no reservation is necessary or possible, just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on. Only if you want to use the once or twice daily Bernina Express with its special all-reserved panoramic carriages do you need a seat reservation, see www.rhb.ch and the seat61 Bernina Express page.
How to buy a cheap ticket from Tirano to Zurich from €29.90... Normal Swiss fares are expensive, so see my instructions for buying a cheap advance-purchase ticket from Tirano to Chur or Zurich from €29.90 here.

Step 4, travel from Chur to Zurich by Swiss Intercity train...
On arrival in Chur, simply cross the platform to the waiting half-hourly InterCity or InterRegional train to Zurich. Again, no reservation necessary or possible, if you're bound for Zurich simply buy a ticket to Zurich in Tirano. You can check times and fares from Tirano to Zurich at www.sbb.ch.

Bernina Express 1st class seats...

the Bernina Express uses panoramic carriages...

The Bernina Express descends from the Bernina Pass...

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Venice to Barcelona, Madrid & Spain...

Option 1, Venice to Barcelona & Spain with overnight stop in Geneva...
This is a pleasant way to go, with interesting scenery on the way and a chance to spend some time in Geneva. Leave Venice late afternoon, sleep soundly in a hotel in Geneva, spend a pleasant morning in Geneva next day, then take a TER regional train to Lyon and high-speed AVE to Barcelona arriving in the evening.

Day 1, travel from Venice to Geneva by direct ETR610 EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 16:18 and arriving Geneva at 23:54.
By all means take an earlier train to enjoy the scenery in daylight through the Alps and arrive earlier in Geneva, although you'll then need to change trains in Milan.

Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

Book this at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee), using these means all your tickets can be booked together in one place. Or book at www.italiarail.com in €, £ or $, the small fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com. Booking opens 90 days ahead. It's ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on board.

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

Day 2, travel from Geneva to Barcelona, leaving Geneva 11:30, change Lyon P. Dieu (arrive 13:25, depart 14:28) arriving Barcelona Sants 19:33.
You travel from Geneva to Lyon by TER regional train, 2nd class only, no catering c ar so bring your own food & drink. there's some lovely scenery along the River Rhône.
You travel from Lyon to Barcelona by AVE-S100 high-speed train with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. You'll pass Béziers cathedral, flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Montpelier & Perpignan, the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks, and get great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, see the photos & information here.
The fare from Geneva to Lyon is €29.40, fixed-price.

The fare from Lyon to Barcelona starts at €39 in 2nd class or €59 1st class. These fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, more fiddly, no fee). You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Venice to Geneva by EuroCity train, seen here at Milan Centrale. More information about these EuroCity trains.

Table for 4 in 2nd class, ideal for families...

1st class seats...

Restaurant car...

Lunch!

Lake Leman, seen from a Geneva-Milan train

The view from the train: Lake Leman on a wintry day.

Lyon to Barcelona by AVE. This is an AVE-S100 at Barcelona Sants.

1st class seats on an AVE S100. 360º photo of 1st class.

Cafe-bar...

These S100 AVE trains operate the TGV/AVE services from Madrid to Marseille, Barcelona to Lyon, Toulouse. This is an AVE-S100 at Barcelona Sants.

2nd class seats on the S100 AVE, all with power sockets. Luggage goes on the racks at the car ends or above the seats. 360º photo of 2nd class More photos & info about AVE S100.

Mt Canigou & the Pyrenees... Seen from the train and one of the highest peaks in the mighty Pyrenees, the 2,784m (9,137 feet) high Mt Canigou dominates the skyline all the way from Girona to Perpignan...

Option 3, Italy to Barcelona by luxury cruise ferry...

Another excellent option is the Grimaldi Lines cruise ferry from Civitavecchia (an hour by regional train north of Rome) and Barcelona. The ferry sails daily at 22:15 and arrives at 18:15 next day. To check times, fares, accommodation and to book online use the Direct Ferries website or go to www.grimaldi-lines.com. Grimaldi Lines also run a ferry several times a week between Barcelona and Livorno, and between Salerno (near Naples) and Valencia.

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Venice to Lisbon & Portugal...

Option 1, Venice to Lisbon via Barcelona & Madrid...

Day 1, travel from Venice to Madrid as shown in the Venice to Madrid section above.
You travel from Venice to Geneva, stay overnight, then travel from Geneva to Barcelona on day 2 and catch an evening train to Madrid.

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

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

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

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

Day 1, travel from Venice to Barcelona as shown above.

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

Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Seville by AVE-S112 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:30 and arriving Seville Santa Justa at 14:04.
Fares start at around €46, book this at www.raileurope.com (easiest, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, only in €, may reject some international credit cards).

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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Venice to Andorra...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Marseille as shown in the Venice to Nice & Marseille section above.
Book this at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee).

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

Step 2, travel from Marseille to Toulouse by Intercité leaving Marseille St Charles at 09:28 & arriving Toulouse Matabiau at 13:15.

Fares start at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, more fiddly). Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

Step 3, travel from Toulouse Matabiau station to Andorra la Vella by bus. Andbus run several buses per day taking 4 hours, fare €33. There's a bus leaving Toulouse Matabiau station (bus stand 15) at 15:00 arriving Andorra 19:00. Check times & book the bus at www.andorrabybus.com. I'd allow at least an hour between train and bus in Toulouse, just in case of delay.

Travel from Toulouse to Andorra by bus, seen at bus stand 15. The bus station is right next to the rail station.

Bus station in Toulouse Matabiau forecourt. Photos courtesy of Andrew McIntyre.

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Venice to Berlin from €39.90

Option 1, Venice to Berlin in a single day - a chill-out day via the scenic Brenner Pass...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Verona by Frecciarossa, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 06:48 arriving Verona Porta Nuova at 08:00.
Frecciarossas have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the Frecciarossa page. A later departure from Venice is possible, but I'd allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Verona in case of delay which is why I suggest this departure.
Fares start at €9.90 in 2nd class or €19.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

Step 2, travel from Verona to Berlin, leaving Verona Porta Nuova at 09:01 by EuroCity train, changing at Munich Hbf (arrive 14:26, depart 14:56) onto an ICE train, arriving Berlin Hbf at 19:29.
The comfortable Austrian EuroCity train has an elegant restaurant car and goes via the scenic Brenner Pass, a real treat, see the Brenner Pass photos & video here. The German ICE train has a restaurant car, 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, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

A later journey is also possible, exactly the same as above, but two hours later: Leave Venice Santa Lucia at 09:02, change at Verona, leaving Verona Porta Nuova at 11:04, change at Munich Hbf and arrive Berlin Hbf 21:29.

Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com as follows: Set up an enquiry from Venice to Berlin, click More options, enter Verona (any station) as a via station and set duration to 45 minutes. Now run the enquiry, looking in the search results for journeys with 2 changes that match the times above. The Venice-Verona train is ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on board. For Verona-Berlin you print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or smartphone. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead (up to 6 months for the Verona-Germany section). There's a small booking fee.

Alternatively, you can book the Venice to Verona train at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, $ or £, they'll refund the €3.50 booking fee to seat61 users if you email them after booking at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly, requires Italian-language place names, see advice on using it). Then book from Verona to Berlin using the German Railways website www.bahn.de (in €, no booking fee).

The restaurant car on a EuroCity from Verona to Munich, seen at Verona. You don't need to book a table, just go along and sit down. Dining on the move as the scenery glides by is one of the pleasures of trains like this. More photos & information about these Austrian EuroCity trains.

2nd class seats, some in open-plan saloons like this, some in 6-seat compartments with side-corridor...

1st class leather seats. You'll also find seats in classic 6-seat compartments with side corridor....

The elegant restaurant car. See larger photo.

Lunch with wine on board...

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

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

Option 2, Venice to Berlin using the Venice-Munich Nightjet sleeper train - the time-effective option...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:48 and arriving Munich Hbf at 06:29.
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 sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. 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, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, per person per berth.

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

Step 2, travel from Munich to Berlin by ICE train, leaving Munich Hbf at 07:55 and arriving Berlin Hbf at 11:51.
ICE trains have a restaurant car, 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, book ahead for the cheapest prices.
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.

Step 1, Venice to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train... Above, the Nightjet at Venice Santa Lucia.

Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room

The same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo.

Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo.

Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo.

6-berth couchettes.

4-berth couchettes.

Nightjet couchette car...

2nd class seats. Larger photo.

Step 2, Munich to Berlin by ICE...

Restaurant car. Larger photo.

Bar car. Larger photo.

Boarding an ICE at Berlin Hbf...

1st class seats. Larger photo.

Option 3, Venice to Berlin using the Zurich-Berlin sleeper...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 11:48 and arriving Milan Centrale at 14:15.

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

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

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it). It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.

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

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

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

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

Step 3, travel from Zurich to Berlin by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Zurich HB at 19:59 and arriving Berlin Hbf at 07:38.

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

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

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

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

Zurich to Berlin by Nightjet sleeper train... More information about Nightjets.

Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room

The same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo.

Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo.

Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo.

6-berth couchettes.

4-berth couchettes.

Nightjet couchette car...

Option 4, Venice to Berlin with overnight stop in Munich - same as option 1 but with an overnight stop...

Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich by EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 and arriving Munich Hbf at 20:26.
On Saturdays & Sundays there's also a later EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35 arriving Munich Hbf at 22:27.
This comfortable Austrian EuroCity train has a restaurant car & goes via the scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass photos & video here.

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

Day 2, travel from Munich Hbf to Berlin Hbf by comfortable ICE train on any departure you like, they leave regularly taking as little as 3h58.
ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

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

Buy tickets from Venice to Berlin at the German Railways website www.bahn.de. To get the overnight stop in Munich, click Stopover and enter Munich Hbf as a via station with a suitable stopover duration, say 11 hours, in the hh:mm box. Adjust as necessary to get the trains you want either side of Munich. A little trial & error is sometimes needed!
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.

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Venice to Munich from €39.90...

Option 1, Venice to Munich by daytime trains - The scenic option!

A smart Austrian EuroCity train leaves Venice Santa Lucia every day at 13:35 and arrives Munich Hbf at 20:26.
On Saturdays & Sundays there's a second Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35 arriving Munich Hbf at 22:27.

These trains have an Austrian restaurant car and travel via the beautifully scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass photos & video.

Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €65.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de. 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 leave Venice earlier if you change trains in Verona - a good idea in winter, so as not to miss scenery when it gets dark earlier.
You can travel from Venice to Verona Porta Nuova by hourly Frecciarossa trains, then from Verona Porta Nuova to Munich Hbf by Austrian EuroCity train, these leave every twp hours. So you can leave Venice earlier or later than the direct 13:35 train if you like. Just make sure you allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Verona in case of any delay as you will be on separate tickets.
Venice to Verona by Frecciarossa train starts at €9.90, Verona to Munich by EuroCity train starts at €39.90.
To check train times & book a journey with a change of train in Verona, go to www.raileurope.com and enter Venice Santa Lucia to Munich Hbf. But before running the enquiry, click More options and enter Verona Porta Nuova as a via station with a stopover duration at least 45 minutes. Raileurope.com connects to both the Trenitalia & German ticket systems so can sell both tickets as one transaction. Look for options with 1 change. Easy!

Alternatively, you can of course book from Verona Porta Nuova to Munich or any other chosen German destination using the German Railways website www.bahn.de and print your own ticket. Then book a suitable connecting train from Venice Santa Lucia to Verona Porta Nuova at either www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com. Price should be the same as Raileurope.com.

The restaurant car on a EuroCity from Venice to Munich, at Verona. You don't need to book a table, just go along and sit down. Dining on the move as the scenery glides by is one of the pleasures of trains like this. More photos & information about these EuroCity trains.

2nd class seats, some in open-plan saloons like this, some in 6-seat compartments with side-corridor...

1st class leather seats. You'll also find seats in classic 6-seat compartments with side corridor....

The elegant restaurant car. See larger photo.

Lunch with wine on board...

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

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

Mountains on the Brenner route...

Option 2, Venice to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train - The time-effective option...

Every evening, a direct Nightjet sleeper train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 21:48 and arrives Munich Hbf at 06:29 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 sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. 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, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, per person per berth.

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

Venice to Munich by Nightjet... Above, the Venice-Munich Nightjet at Venice Santa Lucia.

Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room

Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo.

Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo.

Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo.

6-berth couchettes.

4-berth couchettes.

Nightjet couchette car...

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Venice to Frankfurt, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Hamburg & Germany...

Option 1, Venice to Frankfurt, Cologne, Dusseldorf or Hamburg in a day via the scenic Brenner Pass - a scenic daytime option...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Verona by Frecciarossa, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 06:48 and arriving Verona Porta Nuova at 08:00.
Frecciarossas have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the Frecciarossa page. A later departure from Venice is possible, but I'd allow plenty of time in Verona in case of delay which is why I suggest this one.

Fares start at €9.90 in 2nd class or €19.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

Step 2, travel from Verona to Cologne, Dusseldorf or Hamburg, leaving Verona Porta Nuova at 09:01 byEuroCity train, changing at Munich Hbf onto an ICE train to Frankfurt, Cologne, Dusseldorf or Hamburg arriving in the early evening.
The comfortable Austrian EuroCity train has an elegant restaurant car and goes via the scenic Brenner Pass, a real treat, see the photo & video here. The superb German ICE trains have a restaurant car, 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, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

A later journey is also possible on same route, running two hours later, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:00, change at Verona, leaving Verona Porta Nuova at 11:01, changing at Munich Hbf onto an ICE to Frankfurt, Cologne, Dusseldorf or Hamburg.

Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com as follows: Set up an enquiry from Venice to your German destination, click More options, enter Verona (any station) as a via station and set duration to 45 minutes. Now run the enquiry, looking in the search results for journeys with 2 changes that match the times above. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead (although the Verona to Germany part opens up to 6 months ahead). There's a small booking fee.

The Venice-Verona journey is ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on board. For Verona to Germany you print your own ticket or show it on your smartphone.

Alternatively, you can book the Venice to Verona train at www.trenitalia.com (you'll need to use Italian place names) then book from Verona to Germany at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

The restaurant car on a EuroCity to Munich, seen at Verona. You don't need to book a table, just go along and sit down. Dining on the move as the scenery glides by is one of the pleasures of trains like this. More photos & information about these EuroCity trains.

2nd class seats, some in open-plan saloons like this, some in 6-seat compartments with side-corridor...

1st class leather seats. You'll also find seats in classic 6-seat compartments with side corridor....

The elegant restaurant car. See larger photo.

Lunch with wine on board...

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

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

Option 2, Venice to Frankfurt, Cologne, Dusseldorf or Hamburg in a day via Switzerland - another scenic daytime option...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 07:18 every day arriving Milan Centrale at 09:45.
Frecciarossas have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the Frecciarossa page.

Have a coffee in Milan's magnificent Centrale station, well worth a look around in its own right, and maybe you can spot Mussolini.

Fares start at €19.90 in standard or €29.90 in business. Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.
Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, it's ticketless you just quote the reference on board.

Step 2, travel from Milan to Frankfurt by ETR610 EuroCity train leaving Milan Centrale at 11:20 and arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 18:44.
The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It travels along Lake Maggiore and through the Swiss Alps via the famous Simplon & Lötschberg route. Change in Frankfurt for Cologne, Dusseldorf and so on. It's even possible to reach Hamburg or Berlin shortly after midnight.
Fares from Milan to Germany start at €59.90 in 2nd class or €119.90 in 1st class.
Book from Milan to anywhere in Germany at www.bahn.de or www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, looking for the 11:20 departure. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

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

2nd class on a Trenitalia ETR610...

1st class on a Trenitalia ETR610.

Lake Maggiore, seen from the train...

Option 3, Venice to Frankfurt, Cologne, Düsseldorf or Hamburg by EuroCity train to Innsbruck then Nightjet sleeper train - scenic & time-effective...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Innsbruck by EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 and arriving Innsbruck Hbf at 18:36.
This is a wonderful journey, over the causeway across the lagoon from central Venice to the mainland, over to Verona and up the wonderfully scenic Brenner Pass with lunch in the elegant Austrian restaurant car. A real treat, see the Brenner Pass photos & video.
Fares start at €19.90 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 $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or 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 laptop or smartphone.
Tip: If you have a sleeper ticket, you can use the ÖBB 1st class lounge at Innsbruck Hbf between trains, with complimentary tea, coffee & WiFi.

Step 2, travel from Innsbruck to Germany by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 20:44 arriving next morning at Cologne Hbf at 06:51 & Düsseldorf 07:23, with a separate portion to Hamburg Hbf arriving 08:47.
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 sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. 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, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, per person per berth.

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

Step 1, Venice to Innsbruck by Austrian EuroCity train. This is the restaurant car on a EuroCity at Verona. You don't need to book a table, just go along and sit down. Dining on the move as the scenery glides by is one of the pleasures of trains like this...

2nd class seats, some in open-plan saloons like this, some in 6-seat compartments with side-corridor...

1st class leather seats. You'll also find seats in classic 6-seat compartments with side corridor....

The elegant restaurant car. See larger photo.

Lunch with wine on board...

Mountains on the Brenner route between Verona & Innsbruck...

Step 2, Innsbruck to Cologne, Düsseldorf or Hmaburg by Nightjet sleeper train. Above, the Nightjet train is about to leave Innsbruck. More information about Nightjet trains.

Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room

The same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo.

Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo.

Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo.

6-berth couchettes.

4-berth couchettes.

Nightjet couchette car...

Option 4, Venice to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, onwards by daytime ICE train - another time-effective option...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:48 and arriving Munich Hbf at 06:29.
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) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a little more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.

Step 2, travel from Munich to Frankfurt, Cologne, Düsseldorf or Hamburg by ICE train. If you leave Munich Hbf after 07:00 you'd reach Cologne around 12:05, Düsseldorf around 12:35, Hamburg around 12:55.
ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.
Book from Munich to anywhere in Germany 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.

Venice to Munich by Nightjet... Above, the Venice-Munich Nightjet at Venice Santa Lucia.

Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room

The same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo.

Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo.

Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo.

6-berth couchettes.

4-berth couchettes.

Nightjet couchette car...

Option 4, Venice to anywhere in Germany by daytime trains with overnight stop in Munich - same as option 1 but with an overnight stop...

Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich by Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 and arriving Munich Hbf at 20:26.
On Saturdays & Sundays there's also a later Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35 arriving Munich Hbf at 22:27.
This comfortable Austrian EuroCity train has an Austrian restaurant car and goes via the scenic Brenner Pass, a real treat, see the Brenner Pass photos & video here.

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

Day 2, take an ICE or IC train from Munich to anywhere in Germany. ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Fares from Venice to Germany start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €65.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

Buy tickets from Venice to any German destination at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.
To get the overnight stop in Munich, click Stopover and enter Munich Hbf as a via station with a suitable stopover duration, say 11 hours, in the hh:mm box. Adjust as necessary to get the trains you want either side of Munich. A little trial & error is sometimes needed!
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.

Venice to Vienna & Austria from €29.90...

Option 1, Venice to Vienna by railjet train - the scenic daytime option...

Swish Austrian railjet trains link Venice with Vienna twice a day, city centre to city centre over the beautiful UNESCO-listed Semmering route through the mountains. The journey isn't mere transportation, it's a highlight of your trip. Watch the video, Vienna to Venice by railjet.
The morning railjet train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 09:55 and arrives Vienna Hbf at 17:35.

The afternoon railjet train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arrives Vienna Hbf at 23:35.

These modern railjet trains have a restaurant car serving snacks, meals, beer & wine, there are power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. There's also the option of business class, = premium 1st class, a real treat. Just remember that the afternoon train may pass the best Semmering scenery after dark, depending on the time of year.
See the Vienna to Venice by train page for more information, tips, photos & video.

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 tickets at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (in €, same prices, a bit more fiddly). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. Look for the direct RJ train with 0 changes. You print your own ticket.

A Venice-Vienna railjet at Venice Santa Lucia. More photos & information about Venice-Vienna railjets.

Railjet first class, with black leather seats...

Business class. About.

Restaurant...

A railjet at the impressive modern Vienna Hbf.

Economy class...

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

Option 2, Venice to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train - the time-effective option...

An excellent Nightjet sleeper train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 21:48 every night, arriving Vienna Hbf at 07:58 next morning.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

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

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

Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room

Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo.

Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo.

Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo.

6-berth couchettes.

4-berth couchettes.

Nightjet couchette car...

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Venice to Salzburg from €21.90...

Option 1, Venice to Salzburg via the scenic Tauern route - the daytime option, fastest route...

A comfortable railjet train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 09:55, final destination Vienna. Change at Villach and arrive Salzburg Hbf 15:48.
A second daily railjet train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55, final destination Vienna. Change at Villach and arrive Salzburg Hbf 21:48.
This takes you over the scenic Tauern route through the mountains across Austria.
Don't worry about the 5-minute interchange at Villach, this is a recognised connection which many people make, it's a simple cross-platform switch across a platform. In any case you'll have a through ticket so will be looked after if there's a missed connection.

Fares start at €21.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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

A Venice-Villach (-Vienna) railjet at Venice Santa Lucia. More photos & information about railjets.

Railjet first class, with black leather seats...

Business class. About.

The restaurant...

A railjet at Vienna Hbf.

Economy class...

Through the Austrian Alps on the Tauern route... Clinging to the mountainside high in the Austrian Alps, the train snakes along between snow-capped mountains, wonderful.

Option 2, Venice to Salzburg via Innsbruck scenic Brenner route - the daytime option, alternative route...

This is a couple of hours slower, but offers departures roughly every two hours from early morning until early afternoon.

There's a direct EuroCity train from Venice Santa Lucia to Innsbruck Hbf at 13:35, change at Innsbruck, arriving Salzburg Hbf 21:00.
There are other departures by Italian Frecciarossa to Verona, then EuroCity train to Innsbruck and connecting train to Salzburg.

These travel via the scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner photos & video here. The EuroCity train has a restaurant car.

To find journeys & buy tickets via this route, use www.raileurope.com as it can sell both Italian and Austrian tickets and has a stopover duration feature. Set up an enquiry from Venice to Salzburg, click More options and enter Verona Porta Nuova as a via station with a stopover duration of at least 45 minutes. That gets you a robust connection where the tickets change over.

The Frecciarossa is ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on the train. For the Austrian trains, you print your own ticket.

Option 3, Venice to Salzburg by Nightjet sleeper train - the time-effective option...

A Nightjet sleeper train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 21:48 arriving Salzburg Hbf at 04:04 (ouch!) But you don't need to get up that early...
The sleeper costs exactly the same whether you book it to Salzburg or to Linz, St Pölten or Vienna, so I suggest booking it from Venice to Linz (06:04) or perhaps St Pölten (at 07:09), then simply hop on the next hourly double-deck Westbahn train back to Salzburg Hbf, journey time 1h05 from Linz, 2h02 from St Pölten. You pay the €14 fare from Linz or €22 fare from St Pölten to the conductor on board, no reservation necessary, see www.westbahn.at. Then there's no need to get up at 4am. Simples!

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

Venice to Linz or Vienna by Nightjet... Above, the Nightjet at Venice Santa Lucia.

Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room

The same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo.

Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo.

Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo.

6-berth couchettes.

4-berth couchettes.

Nightjet couchette car...

Back to top

Venice to Innsbruck from €19.90...

Option 1, Venice to Innsbruck by direct train - the best option, if the afternoon departure suits you...

A direct Austrian EuroCity train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 every day, arriving Innsbruck Hbf at 18:36.
On Saturdays & Sundays a second direct Austrian EuroCity train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35, arriving Innsbruck Hbf at 20:36.

These EuroCity trains have a restaurant car, and travel through the wonderfully scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass photos & video.

Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, looking for the 13:35 or 15:35 EC train with 0 changes.
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 also book using www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas cards no problem) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices but a bit more fiddly). These use the Austrian ticketing system, prices may differ from the German system.

Option 2, other departures with a change in Verona - if you want a morning departure...

You take an Italian Frecciarossa train from Venice Santa Lucia to Verona Porta Nuova, then an Austrian EuroCity train to Innsbruck, these run every two hours. I'd allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Verona where you switch tickets.

Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com as it can sell both Italian and Austrian tickets and has a stopover duration feature. Set up an enquiry from Venice to Innsbruck, click More options and enter Verona Porta Nuova as a via station with a stopover duration of at least 45 minutes. That gets you a robust connection where the tickets change over.

The Frecciarossa is ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on the train. For the Austrian train, you print your own ticket.

The restaurant car on a EuroCity to Munich, seen at Verona. You don't need to book a table, just go along and sit down. Dining on the move as the scenery glides by is one of the pleasures of trains like this. More photos & information about these EuroCity trains.

2nd class seats, some in open-plan saloons like this, some in 6-seat compartments with side-corridor...

1st class leather seats. You'll also find seats in classic 6-seat compartments with side corridor....

The elegant restaurant car. See larger photo.

Lunch with wine on board...

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

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

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

Option 1, Venice to Copenhagen & Stockholm using the Zurich-Hamburg sleeper - the most time-effective option...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Milan by Frecciargento, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 11:48 and arriving Milan Centrale at 14:15.

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

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

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it). It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.

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

The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It's a lovely run through the Alps, past Italian and Swiss lakes and passing through the world's longest railway tunnel, the Gotthard Base Tunnel.

Have dinner in Zurich, I can recommend the steak-frites and a beer at the Brasserie Federal on the main concourse at Zurich HB.

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

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

Step 3, travel from Zurich to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Zurich HB at 19:59 and arriving Hamburg Hbf at 07:54.

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

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

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

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

Step 4, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by Danish IC3 Intercity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:56 & arriving Copenhagen at 13:33.
From 18 June to 21 August 2022 an altered timetable applies, you leave Hamburg Hbf at 10:53 & arrive Copenhagen at 15:33.
Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.
Book from Hamburg to Copenhagen at the German Railways website www.bahn.de or (if you want to keep all your bookings together in one place) www.thetrainline.com. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, you print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

Step 5, travel from Copenhagen to Sweden by train...
For Stockholm, travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000 train leaving Copenhagen at 14:19 and arriving Stockholm Central at 19:37.

From 18 June to 21 August 2022 when you leave Hamburg later, leave Copenhagen at 16:19 and arrive Stockholm Central at 21:38.

For Gothenburg, travel from Copenhagen to Gothenburg by Öresund train, these leave every hour taking 3h53.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train...

Giruno, 1st class. Larger photo.

Restaurant car with bar counter. Larger photo.

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

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

2-berth sleeper on lower deck...

Stairs down to pair of lower compartments...

1 or 2-bed sleeper on lower deck with washbasin, viewed through window. Set up as 1-bed. Note how compact the compartment is...

Nightjet couchette car...

6-berth couchettes.

4-berth couchettes.

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

2nd class seats on a IC3 train. Larger photo.

An IC3 train to Copenhagen at Hamburg.

Option 2, Venice to Copenhagen using the Innsbruck-Hamburg Nightjet sleeper train...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Innsbruck by EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 and arriving Innsbruck Hbf at 18:36.
This is a wonderful journey, over the causeway across the lagoon from central Venice to the mainland, over to Verona and up the wonderfully scenic Brenner Pass with lunch in the elegant Austrian restaurant car. A real treat, see the Brenner Pass scenery video here.

Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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 have a sleeper ticket, you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Innsbruck Hbf between trains, with complimentary tea, coffee & WiFi.

Step 2, travel from Innsbruck to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Innsbruck Hbf 20:44 arriving Hamburg Hbf at 08:47 next morning.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself, all per person per berth.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, in €, a bit more fiddly). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.

Step 3, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by Danish IC3 intercity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 12:53 and arriving Copenhagen at 17:33.
Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €47.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

Book this at either www.thetrainline.com (keeping all your bookings together in one place) or 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.

Step 1, Venice to Innsbruck by Austrian EuroCity train. This is the restaurant car on a EuroCity at Verona. You don't need to book a table, just go along and sit down. Dining on the move as the scenery glides by is one of the pleasures of trains like this...

2nd class seats, some in open-plan saloons like this, some in 6-seat compartments with side-corridor...

1st class leather seats. You'll also find seats in classic 6-seat compartments with side corridor....

The elegant restaurant car. See larger photo.

Lunch with wine on board...

Mountains on the Brenner route between Verona & Innsbruck...

Step 2, Innsbruck to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train. Above, a Comfortline sleeping-car on the Nightjet train about to leave Innsbruck. More information about Nightjet trains.

Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room

The same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo.

Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo.

Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo.

6-berth couchettes...

4-berth couchettes...

Couchette car on the Nightjet train...

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

2nd class seats on a IC3 train. Larger photo.

An IC3 train to Copenhagen at Hamburg.

Option 3, Venice to Copenhagen using the Venice-Munich sleeper - also a time-effective option...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:48, arriving Munich Hbf at 06:29.

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) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.

Step 2, travel from Munich to Copenhagen, leaving Munich Hbf 10:22, changing at Hamburg Hbf and arriving Copenhagen at 21:33.

From 18 June to 21 August 2022 an altered timetable applies, leave Munich Hbf 11:56, change Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen 23:33

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

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

Step 3 if you're going to Malmo, simply take a regular Öresund train from Copenhagen to Malmö in 39 minutes, these leave twice an hour. You can book through from Munich to Malmö from €39 at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.

Step 3 if you're going to Stockholm or Gothenburg, stay overnight in Copenhagen then travel to Stockholm in 5h15 by X2000 high-speed train or to Gothenburg in 3h53 by Öresund train.
You can book tickets from Copenhagen to anywhere in Sweden at the Swedish Railways site www.sj.se, but there's a cleverer way to book if you are coming from Munich. Use this special link to bahn.de to book from Munich to Stockholm from €56.90 with an overnight stop in Copenhagen programmed in using the Stopover feature - just enter your date of travel from Munich. Adjust the intermediate stopover time as necessary to get the trains you want, or if no fares show up initially, it may take a bit of trial & error to get the trains you want. This method works to book from Munich to Gothenburg, too - you'll find bahn.de lists Gothenburg as Göteborg Central.

Option 4, Venice to Copenhagen by daytime trains with an overnight stop in Munich...

Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich by EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 and arriving Munich Hbf at 20:26.
This train has a restaurant car and takes the scenic Brenner Pass route, see the Brenner Pass scenery photos & video here.
On Saturdays & Sundays there's also a later Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35 arriving Munich Hbf at 22:27.

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

Day 2, travel from Munich to Copenhagen by train, leaving Munich Hbf at 10:22, 1 easy change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen at 21:33.

From 18 June to 21 August 2022 an altered timetable applies, leave Munich Hbf 07:17, change Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen 19:33 or there's a later departure at 11:56 arriving 23:33.

How much does it cost?

Venice to Munich starts at €37.90 in 2nd class, €65.90 in 1st class.

Munich to Copenhagen starts at €37.90 in 2nd class, €69.90 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices...

How to buy tickets...
Step 1, book from Venice to Munich at the German Railways website www.bahn.de looking for the direct EC train with 0 changes leaving at or around 13:35. Step 2, now use www.bahn.de again to book from Munich to Copenhagen looking for a convenient option with just 1 change.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own tickets or can show them 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 5, Venice to Copenhagen, Gothenburg & Stockholm by daytime trains with an overnight stop in Hamburg...

Day 1, travel from Venice to Hamburg, leaving Venice Santa Lucia 08:48, changing Verona P. Nuova & Munich Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 22:53.
An earlier 06:48 departure is also available if you prefer, on the same route. You travel via the scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass photos & video, you can enjoy the scenery over lunch in the restaurant car.

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

Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by Danish IC3 intercity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:56 & arriving Copenhagen 13:33.
An altered timetable applies from 18 June to 21 August 2022, see the timetable here.

Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Sweden...
For Stockholm, take an X2000 train from Copenhagen to Stockholm, leaving Copenhagen at 14:10 & arriving Stockholm Central 19:38.

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

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

How much does it cost?

Venice to Hamburg starts at €39 in 2nd class, €69 in 1st class.

Hamburg to Copenhagen starts at €29 in 2nd class, €59 in 1st class.
Hamburg to Stockholm or Gothenburg starts at €29 in 2nd class, €59 in 1st class.
Fares work like air fares, book early for the cheapest prices...

How to buy tickets...
Step 1, book from Venice to Hamburg at www.raileurope.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) as one journey, first clicking More options, entering Verona Porta Nuova as a via station with a stopover duration of at least 45 minutes. That gets you a robust connection.

Alternatively, book the Venice-Verona train at Italian Railways www.trenitalia.com then book Verona to Hamburg at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, allowing at least 45 minutes between trains in Verona.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. The Italian train is ticketless, you just quote the reference on board. For the Austrian/German trains you print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone

Step 2, book from Hamburg to Copenhagen, Malmö, Gothenburg or Stockholm 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

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Venice to Oslo & Norway...

Option 1, Venice to Oslo by train all the way...

Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:48, arriving Munich Hbf at 06:29.

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) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.

Day 2, travel from Munich to Copenhagen by ICE & Danish IC3 intercity train, leaving Munich Hbf at 10:22, making one easy change at Hamburg Hbf and arriving Copenhagen at 21:33.
From 18 June to 21 August 2022 an altered timetable applies, leave Munich Hbf 11:56, change Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen 23:33.

Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book Munich to Copenhagen at the German Railways site www.bahn.de. You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or smartphone.

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

Day 3, travel from Copenhagen to Oslo by train, leaving Copenhagen at 09:27, change at Gothenburg Central, arriving Oslo Sentral 17:51.

Earlier & later departures are available, see the Copenhagen-Oslo timetable & information here.

Alternatively, spend a morning in Copenhagen, and after lunch take the DFDS overnight ferry to Oslo with a comfortable private cabin with shower & toilet, sailing from Copenhagen at 14:15 and arriving Oslo at 09:15 on day 3, as also shown here. This is remarkably affordable, and saves a hotel bill. Book the ferry at www.dfds.co.uk.

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

Day 1, travel from Venice to Innsbruck by EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 and arriving Innsbruck Hbf at 18:36.
This is a wonderful journey, over the causeway across the lagoon from central Venice to the mainland, over to Verona and up the wonderfully scenic Brenner Pass with lunch in the elegant Austrian restaurant car. A real treat, see the Brenner Pass photos & video.
Fares start at €19.90 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 $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or 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 laptop or smartphone.
Tip: If you have a sleeper ticket, you can use the ÖBB 1st class lounge at Innsbruck Hbf between trains, with complimentary tea, coffee & WiFi.

Day 1, travel from Innsbruck to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 20:44 arriving at Hamburg Hbf at 08:47.
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 sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. 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, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, per person per berth.

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

Day 2, travel from Hamburg Hbf to Kiel Hbf by regional train, these leave several times each hour taking 1h10, fixed-price fare around €23.
In Kiel, the Color Line ferry terminal is only 5-6 minutes walk from Kiel Hbf, but allow several hours between train & ferry for the ferry check-in and in case of delay.

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

Step 1, Venice to Innsbruck by Austrian EuroCity train. This is the restaurant car on a EuroCity at Verona. You don't need to book a table, just go along and sit down. Dining on the move as the scenery glides by is one of the pleasures of trains like this...

2nd class seats, some in open-plan saloons like this, some in 6-seat compartments with side-corridor...

1st class leather seats. You'll also find seats in classic 6-seat compartments with side corridor....

The elegant restaurant car. See larger photo.

Lunch with wine on board...

Mountains on the Brenner route between Verona & Innsbruck...

Step 2, Innsbruck to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train and transfer to Kiel by regional train. Above, the Nightjet train about to leave Innsbruck. More information about Nightjets.

Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room

Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo.

Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo.

Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo.

6-berth couchettes.

4-berth couchettes.

Nightjet couchette car...

Step 3, sail from Kiel to Oslo with Color Line... 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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Venice to Helsinki & Finland...

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

Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:48 and arriving Munich Hbf at 06:29.

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 (in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.

Day 2, travel from Munich to Hamburg by ICE4 train, leaving Munich Hbf at 08:20 and arriving Hamburg Hbf 13:54.

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

Day 2, transfer from Hamburg Hbf to the Travemünde ferry terminal by local train+bus and sail from Travemünde to Helsinki with Finnlines, as shown in detail on the Hamburg page.

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 4 from Rome). Check sailing dates, times & book the ferry 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, Venice to Helsinki by train to Stockholm, then ferry...

Step 1, travel from Venice 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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Venice to Prague, Cesky Krumlov & the Czech Republic...

Option 1, Venice to Prague via the Venice-Vienna sleeper - comfortable, safe & time-effective with a chance to see Vienna on the way...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:48 arriving Vienna Hbf at 07:58 next morning.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Tip: If you have a sleeper ticket and/or 1st class ticket for the onward train to Prague, you can use the ÖBB first class lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with free WiFi and complimentary tea, coffee & snacks.

Step 2, travel from Vienna to Prague by Czech railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 09:10 and arriving Prague Hlavni at 13:42.
Fares start at €14.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44.90 in business class (= premium 1st class). Fares vary like air fares.
These swish railjet trains have a restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the railjet information page.
Why not book book a later railjet & spend some time exploring Vienna? Railjets to Prague leave every two hours, see the timetable here. Left luggage lockers are available in Vienna. In Prague, you arrive in the city centre walking distance from the old city square.
Book this train at either www.thetrainline.com or the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz. Check prices on both sites as one is often cheaper than the other for the same train. Booking opens 6 months ahead on www.thetrainline.com, 90 days ahead at www.cd.cz. You print your own ticket. See suggested hotels in Prague.

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

Step 1, Venice to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train. This is a comfortline sleeping-car on a Nightjet sleeper train arrived at Vienna Hbf. More information about Nightjet trains.

Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room

The same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo.

Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo.

Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo.

6-berth couchettes...

4-berth couchettes...

Couchette car on the Nightjet train...

Step 2, Vienna to Prague by smart modern railjet train, with economy, first & business class, restaurant car, free WiFi and draught beer on tap...

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

First class... Mainly unidirectional, with some tables for 2 & tables for 4. Larger photo

Restaurant car for snacks, meals, beer, wine, tea & coffee. You don't need to reserve, just turn up & sit down. There's waiter-service at tables or order at the counter & take back to your seat. Larger photo.

Business class = premium 1st class. Just 6 seats at one end of the 1st class car. Same seats but very different layout from business class on Austrian railjet. Larger photo.

Option 2, Venice to Prague in a single day from €48, comfy, scenic...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:55 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 17:35.
The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, free WiFi & power sockets at all seats. It takes the beautifully scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route from Vienna to Graz, a real treat, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmering_railway. Treat yourself to lunch with wine as the mountains glide by. See the Venice to Vienna by train page for more information, tips, photos & video.
Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class, €44.90 in 1st class or €59.90 in business class (= premium 1st class, a real treat). Fares vary like air fares.

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

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

Step 2, travel from Vienna to Prague by swish modern Czech railjet train leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:10 and arriving Prague Hlavni at 23:43.

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

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

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

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

Railjet first class, with black leather seats...

Business class. About.

The restaurant...

A railjet at the impressive modern Vienna Hbf.

Economy class...

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

Option 3, Venice to Prague by day trains with overnight stop in Vienna - same as option 3 but an overnight stop breaks up the journey nicely...

Day 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 23:35.
This train takes the beautiful UNESCO-listed Semmering route, you might see something of this at least in summer when it's light until ten. The air-conditioned railjet train has a restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. See the Venice to Vienna by train page for more information, tips, photos & video.
Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class, €44.90 in 1st class or €59.90 in business class (= premium 1st class, a real treat). Fares vary like air fares.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and 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 Prague by Czech railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 07:10 arriving Prague Hlavni at 11:42.
Or have a leisurely breakfast and take the 09:10 arriving 13:42. Your call...
The excellent air-conditioned railjet train has a restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. You arrive in the city centre, walking distance from the old city. Why not book book a later Railjet & spend some time exploring Vienna? Trains to Prague leave every two hours, see the timetable here, left luggage lockers are available.

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

Book this train at either www.thetrainline.com or www.cd.cz - check prices on both sites as one is often cheaper than the other for the same train. Booking opens 6 months ahead on www.thetrainline.com, 92 days ahead at www.cd.cz. You print your own ticket.

Option 4, Venice to Prague by day trains with overnight stop in Munich - from €37.90, the cheapest option...

Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich by EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 and arriving Munich Hbf at 20:26.
This train has a restaurant car and takes the scenic Brenner Pass route, see the Brenner Pass scenery photos & video here.
On Saturdays & Sundays there's also a later Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35 arriving Munich Hbf at 22:27.

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

Day 2, travel from Munich Hbf to Prague Hlavni by air-conditioned express train in 5h40, see the timetable here.
The trains have a refreshment trolley & free WiFi. More information about Munich to Prague trains.

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

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

To build in the overnight stop in Munich, click Stopover and enter Munich Hbf as a via station with a suitable stopover duration, say 11 hours, in the hh:mm box. I have set up this link to Bahn.de for you, just enter your date and number of passengers. Adjust the stopover duration to get an earlier or later train from Munich to Prague.

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 you have any problems booking this way, book each train separately. First book the Venice to Munich train at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, then book a Munich to Prague train at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz (booking at cd.cz opens 92 days ahead).

The restaurant car on a EuroCity to Munich, seen at Verona. You don't need to book a table, just go along and sit down. Dining on the move as the scenery glides by is one of the pleasures of trains like this. More photos & information about these EuroCity trains.

2nd class seats, some in open-plan saloons like this, some in 6-seat compartments with side-corridor...

1st class leather seats. You'll also find seats in classic 6-seat compartments with side corridor....

The elegant restaurant car. Larger photo.

Lunch with wine on board...

Watch out for hilltop fortresses...

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

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

Venice to Bratislava from €42...

Option 1, Venice to Bratislava by daytime train - the scenic option...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet train leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:55 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 17:35.
The air-conditioned railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It takes the beautifully scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route from Vienna to Graz, a real treat - see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmering_railway. Treat yourself to lunch with wine as the mountains glide by. See the Venice to Vienna by train page for more information, tips, photos & video.
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, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices, a little more fiddly). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Tip: If you have a 1st or business class ticket you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains with complimentary tea, coffee & WiFi.
Step 2, when you reach Vienna, simply buy a ticket for €10.80 and hop on the next hourly regional express train from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna, no reservation necessary or possible, journey time 1h07. You can check times using www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.

Option 2, Venice to Bratislava using the Venice-Vienna sleeper train - the time-effective option...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:48 arriving Vienna Hbf at 07:58 next morning.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at (same prices, in €, a bit more fiddly). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you have a sleeper ticket, you can use the ÖBB first class lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary tea, coffee & WiFi.
Step 2, when you reach Vienna, simply buy a ticket for €10.80 and hop on the next hourly regional express train from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna, no reservation necessary or possible, journey time 1h07. You can check times using www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.

Step 1, Venice to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train. This is a comfortline sleeping-car on a Nightjet sleeper train arrived at Vienna Hbf. More information about Nightjet trains.


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


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


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

Venice to Budapest from €68...

Option 1, Venice to Budapest using the Venice-Vienna Nightjet sleeper train - safe, comfortable, time-effective...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:48 arriving Vienna Hbf at 07:58 next morning.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, a bit more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Tip: If you have a sleeper ticket and/or 1st class ticket for the onward train to Budapest, you can use the ÖBB 1st class lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with free WiFi and complimentary tea, coffee & snacks.
Step 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest by smart modern Austrian railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 09:42 & arriving Budapest Keleti 12:19.

Fares start at €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.

These swish railjet trains have a restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the railjet information page.
Book from Vienna to Budapest at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways site www.oebb.at (same prices, a little more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Why not book book a later train & spend some time in Vienna? Trains to Budapest leave every hour or two, left luggage lockers are available.

Step 1, Venice to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train. This is a comfortline sleeping-car on a Nightjet sleeper train arrived at Vienna Hbf. More information about Nightjet trains.


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


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

A railjet train from Vienna to Budapest, arrived at Budapest Keleti

Step 2, Vienna to Budapest by railjet, seen arrived on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti. More information about railjets.


Economy (2nd) class... Larger photo.		First class... Larger photo.

Option 2, Venice to Budapest in a single day - comfortable &, scenic...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:55 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 17:35.
The swish modern railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It takes the beautifully scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route from Vienna to Graz, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmering_railway. Treat yourself to lunch with wine as the mountains glide by. See the Venice to Vienna by train page for more information, tips, photos & video.
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 (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at 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.
If you have a 1st or business class ticket you can use the ÖBB 1st class lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains with complimentary tea, coffee & soft drinks plus free WiFi.
Step 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest by railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 18:42 and arriving Budapest Keleti at 21:19.

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

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

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

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


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


A railjet at the impressive modern Vienna Hbf.		Economy class...

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

Option 3, Venice to Budapest with overnight stop in Vienna - same as option 2 but an overnight stop breaks up the journey nicely...

Day 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 23:35.
This train takes the scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route, you might see something of this at least in summer when it's light until ten. The air-conditioned railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. See the Venice to Vienna by train page for more information, tips, photos & video.
Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class, €44.90 in 1st class or €59.90 in business class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.

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 Budapest by railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 07:40 and arriving Budapest Keleti at 10:19.
Or have a leisurely breakfast and take the 08:42, or 09:42, and so on, trains to Budapest leave every hour or two. Why not book book a later railjet & spend some time exploring Vienna?
Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44.90 in business class. Fares vary like air fares.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.

Option 4, Venice to Budapest with overnight stop in Ljubljana - cheapest option at short notice & a chance to see Trieste & Ljubljana on the way...

Day 1, travel from Venice to Ljubljana, taking a mid-afternoon regional train to Trieste and the evening regional train to Ljubljana, arriving late evening, see the Venice to Ljubljana page for timetable, fares & how to buy tickets.
You can buy tickets at the station on the day, they cannot sell out. I recommend taking an earlier train from Venice to see something of Trieste, one of Italy's most under-rated cities, or take the very early morning train to spend an afternoon in Ljubljana.

Stay overnight in Ljubljana. Consider the Hotel Slon which I have used myself, 13 minutes walk from the station with good reviews, or the Petkovšek River View Hotel, 800m (10 minutes walk) from the station with great reviews.
Day 2, travel from Ljubljana to Budapest on the mid-morning train Citadella, see the timetable, fares & how to buy tickets on the Ljubljana page. You reach Budapest late afternoon. This train cannot be booked online, just buy at the station, there are always places.

Venice to Bucharest, Brasov & Romania...

Option 1, Venice to Romania by railjet to Vienna and Dacia Express sleeper train to Sighisoara, Brasov & Bucharest...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:55 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 17:35.
The air-conditioned railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It takes the beautifully scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route from Vienna to Graz, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmering_railway. Treat yourself to lunch as the mountains glide by...
Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class, €44.90 in 1st class or €59.90 in business class (= premium 1st class). Fares vary like air fares.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Step 1, Venice to Vienna by railjet, seen here at Venice Santa Lucia. More information about Venice-Vienna railjets.

Railjet first class, with black leather seats...

Business class. About.

Restaurant...

A railjet at the impressive modern Vienna Hbf.

Economy class...

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

Step 2, Vienna to Romania by Dacia Express sleeper train... The Dacia Express has one or at peak times two air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-cars, seen here at Bucharest. You can check the train formation at www.vagonweb.cz. Courtesy of @PaliparanDotCom

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

Couchettes: 4 & 6-berth, bedding is provided. Larger photo.

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

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

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

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

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

Option 2, Venice to Romania using the sleeper from Budapest to Brasov & Bucharest - longer, sometimes cheaper, with afternoon in Budapest.

Step 1, travel from Venice to Budapest as shown in the Venice to Budapest section above.
You leave Venice Santa Lucia in the evening by Nightjet sleeper train and change at Vienna Hbf onto a railjet train to Budapest Keleti, arriving at lunchtime. You've an afternoon to explore Budapest.

Step 2, take the overnight sleeper train Ister leaving Budapest Keleti at 19:10 and arriving Brasov at 09:23 & Bucharest Nord at 11:59 next day.
This comfortable train has an air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, see the photos on the London to Romania page.

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

Book at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro. Click EN top right for English. Booking opens up to 90 days ahead. For Bucharest type Bucuresti. It can book seats, couchettes or sleepers. You print your own ticket.
You can also normally book at the Hungarian Railways website www.mav-start.hu, see my advice on using it. For Bucharest type Bucuresti. You show your ticket in the MAV app on your smartphone. However, since MAV revamped its website in 2020, it can't book couchettes or sleepers, only seats. Though this should be fixed at some point.

Alternative step 2: Stay overnight in Budapest, for an inexpensive hotel with great reviews right next to Keleti Station, try the Royal Park Boutique Hotel or the inexpensive Baross City Hotel just across the road or the Elit Hotel two minutes walk away. Next day, take a daytime train across Transylvania to Cluj, Timisoara, Simeria, Brasov or Bucharest as shown on the Trains from Budapest page. These daytime trains are also bookable from €26.30 at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice on using it. Booking opens 60 days ahead. You show the ticket in the MAV app on your smartphone.

A 1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper with washbasin. Larger photo.

The sleeping-car (vagon de dormit) on the westbound Ister at Bucharest. Sleepers convert from beds to private sitting rooms for day use. Courtesy of @AndyBTravels, DiscoverByRail.com.

The vagon cuseta (couchette car) on the westbound Ister, boarding at Bucharest. Couchettes convert from bunks at night to seats by day. Courtesy of @AndyBTravels, DiscoverByRail.com .

4 or 6-berth couchettes. Larger photo.

Venice to Ljubljana & Slovenia, Zagreb...

Option 1, Venice to Ljubljana & Zagreb by the direct route through Trieste...

Direct trains from Italy to Slovenia were restored in September 2018. Two modern air-conditioned trains now run from Trieste to Ljubljana every day, with connections from Venice. In June 2021 a third train was added, this time an Austrian EuroCity train en route to Vienna. Just €22 or so gets you from Venice to Ljubljana using the regional trains, any day, any date, no prior reservation necessary, it cannot sell out, just buy at the station on the day. If you've ever wondered where prosecco comes from, you'll find out on this route!
Click here to see full details of times & fares, and photos on the Venice to Ljubljana & Zagreb page.


Inside the ETR563. Larger photo.		The train to Ljubljana about to leave Trieste. Courtesy of Marc Williams.

Scenery in Slovenia, seen from the train from Trieste to Ljubljana...

Option 2, Venice to Ljubljana & Zagreb with overnight stop at Villach - a useful alternative...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Villach in Austria by swish modern railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Villach at 19:11.
The railjet has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easiest, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways' own 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 Villach - the Hotel Goldenes Lamm or Hotel City are both near the station with great reviews.
Step 2, travel from Villach to Ljubljana & Zagreb by train, leaving Villach at 06:25 and arriving Ljubljana at 08:11 & Zagreb at 10:43.
Buy this ticket at the station, likely to be around €20 to Ljubljana, €40 to Zagreb.

Venice to Dubrovnik & Split...

Option 1, Venice to Split & Dubrovnik by train via Zagreb - overland all the way...

Step 1, travel overland from Venice to Zagreb by train as shown above.

Step 2, take a train from Zagreb to Split (daytime or sleeper) then a bus Split to Dubrovnik (4 hours, lots of buses).

Option 2, Venice to Split & Dubrovnik by ferry from Ancona or Bari - more time-effective...

Step 1, book an overnight ferry with comfortable en suite cabin either from Ancona to Split or from Bari to Dubrovnik. www.jadrolinija.hr sails on both routes several times a week, leaving 19:45-22:00 and arriving 07:00-08:00. You can choose a private cabin or cheaper berth in a shared cabin. There are also reclining seats, but I always recommend a bed in a cabin for a safe and secure night's sleep. Make sure you're on deck with your camera ready as the ship approaches the beautiful Croatian coast!
Step 2, now add a train ticket from Venice Santa Lucia to either Ancona Centrale or Bari Centrale using www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €). Italiarail will refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com afterwards. It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.

You should choose a train which arrives in Bari or Ancona at least 3 hours before the ferry sails, to allow for transfer to the port and check-in. In Bari it's a 25 minute walk via Bari's pleasant old town to the ferry terminal, or a 10 minute taxi ride. In Ancona, take a taxi from station to ferry terminal.


Blue Line & Jadrolinija ferries in Split Harbour... Above right, a deluxe cabin on the Blue Line ferry, which comes complete with an en suite jacuzzi... Courtesy of Andrew Leo.

Venice to Belgrade & Sofia...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Villach in Austria by railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Villach at 19:11.
Book this from €19 at either www.thetrainline.com (easiest) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at. You print your own ticket.

Stay overnight in Villach. The Hotel Goldenes Lamm or Hotel City are both near the station with great reviews.
Step 2, travel from Villach to Zagreb by train, leaving Villach at 06:28 and arriving Zagreb at 10:43.
The train is 2nd class only, bring your own food & drink along.

Book this from €29 at either www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.

Step 3, travel from Zagreb to Belgrade by train, leaving Zagreb at 11:04 and arriving Novi Beograd 18:04 & Belgrade Centar at 18:12.
This train is still currently suspended due to Covid-19.

The train is comfortable, 2nd class only, it has no catering so bring your own food & drink.
The fare is around €29, it cannot be bought online so buy at the station or on board the train.
If you're going to Sofia, spend the night in Belgrade. I recommend the historic Hotel Moskva.
Step 4, travel from Belgrade to Sofia by daytime train, see the Belgrade to Sofia page for details.

Venice to Bar, Budva, Kotor & Montenegro...

This is an excellent way to reach beautiful Montenegro from Venice. Make sure you're on deck with your camera ready as the ship approaches the lovely Montenegrin coast!

Step 1, travel from Venice Santa Lucia to Bari Central, an enjoyable and scenic ride along the Adriatic coast. Obviously, check ferry operating dates and times first and work out a suitable connecting train after booking the ferry. You should choose a train which arrives in Bari at least 3 hours before the ferry sails, to allow for transfer to the port and check-in.
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 the 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.

In Bari it's a 25 minute walk via Bari's pleasant old town to the ferry terminal, or a 10 minute taxi ride.

Step 2, sail from Bari to Bar in Montenegro by overnight ferry with a comfortable en suite cabin. Montenegro Lines ceased trading in early 2017, but Croatian ferry line Jadrolinija (www.jadrolinija.hr) will resume sailings shortly with one sailing per week all year round, twice a week in high summer. You can choose a private cabin or cheaper berth in a shared cabin. There are also reclining seats, but I always recommend a bed in a cabin for a safe and secure night's sleep.

Trains link Bar with Podgorica and indeed with Belgrade on the spectacular Bar-Belgrade Railway. Regular buses link Bar bus station with Budva and Kotor.

The Montenegro Lines ferry to Bari at Bar ferry terminal...

Venice to Warsaw, Krakow & Poland...

Option 1, Venice to Krakow & Warsaw using the Venice-Vienna sleeper...

Day 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:48 arriving Vienna Hbf at 07:58 next morning.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, a bit more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you have a sleeper ticket and/or 1st class ticket for the onward train to Warsaw, you can use the ÖBB 1st class lounge at Vienna Hbf, with free WiFi and complimentary tea & coffee.

You now have a morning free in Vienna.

Day 2, travel from Vienna to Warsaw by EuroCity train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 14:10 and arriving Warsaw Centralna at 21:28.
The train has a restaurant car, treat yourself to dinner. For Krakow, change at Katowice, arriving Krakow Glowny at 20:07.
Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.
Book this at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at. You print your own ticket.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, but if booking Vienna to Krakow more than 30 days ahead it'll say Ticket for section only and only sell you the Vienna-Katowice train. You can buy the connecting Katowice-Krakow ticket at the station in Katowice, or online at the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl, booking for Polish domestic trains opens 30 days ahead.

Alternatively, spend all day exploring Vienna, then take the overnight sleeper train to Krakow & Warsaw as shown in the Vienna to Poland section of the Vienna page, booked at either www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.

Step 1, Venice to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train... Above, the Nightjet at Venice Santa Lucia.

Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room

The same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo.

Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo.

Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo.

6-berth couchettes.

4-berth couchettes.

Nightjet couchette car...

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

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

Restaurant car...

Option 2, Venice to Krakow & Warsaw using the Vienna-Krakow-Warsaw sleeper. Given the scenery between Venice & Vienna, perhaps the better option!

Step 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:55 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 17:35.
The air-conditioned railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It takes the beautifully scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route from Vienna to Graz, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmering_railway. Treat yourself to lunch as the mountains glide by...
Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class, €44.90 in 1st class or €59.90 in business class (= premium 1st class). Fares vary like air fares.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easiest, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, a bit more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Step 2, travel from Vienna to Poland by sleeper train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 22:10, arriving Krakow Glowny 05:46 & Warsaw Gdanska 08:52.
The EuroNight sleeper train Chopin has a safe & comfortable sleeping-car with 1, 2 or 3 bed compartments including a couple of 1 or 2 bed deluxe compartments with shower & toilet, see the photos below. The train also has economical couchettes in 4 & 6-bunk compartments.

Fares to Krakow start at €39.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €49.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €54.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €69.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

Fares to Warsaw start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €88.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at and print your own ticket. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.

Step 1, Venice to Vienna by railjet, seen here at Venice Santa Lucia. More information about Venice-Vienna railjets.


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


A railjet at the impressive modern Vienna Hbf.		Economy class...

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

Step 2, Vienna to Krakow & Warsaw by sleeper train... This is the modern Polish sleeping-car from Vienna to Krakow & Warsaw, boarding at Vienna Hbf.


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, Venice to Krakow or Warsaw with overnight stop in Vienna - if you prefer daytime trains & hotel to sleepers...

Day 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 23:35.
This train takes the scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route, you might see something of this at least in summer when it's light until ten. The air-conditioned railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. See the Venice to Vienna by train page for more information, tips, photos & video.
If you'd like an afternoon in Vienna, take the earlier railjet leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:55.
Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class, €44.90 in 1st class or €59.90 in business class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.

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 Krakow by EuroCity train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 08:10 and arriving Krakow Glowny at 13:51.
This is a comfortable train with restaurant car. Change at Krakow Glowny for Warsaw, arriving Warsaw Centralna at 17:05.
Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.
Book this using www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.
Bookings for the direct train from Vienna to Krakow open up to 6 months ahead. However, bookings involving a connecting train within Poland normally open only 60 days ahead.
Alternatively, if you'd like a morning in Vienna, there's an afternoon departure from Vienna to Warsaw with connections for Krakow, see the trans from Vienna page.

Day 1, Venice to Vienna by railjet, seen here at Venice Santa Lucia. More information about Venice-Vienna railjets.


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


A railjet at the impressive modern Vienna Hbf.		Economy class...

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

Day 2, Vienna to Krakow by EuroCity train, seen here boarding at Vienna Hbf.

Austrian restaurant car. See larger photo.

Lunch with wine on board...

2nd class seats in an open-plan saloon. Some of the Austrian Vienna-Krakow cars are like this. See larger photo.

2nd class seats in a compartment. Other Vienna-Krakow cars are like this. See larger photo.

Back to top

Venice to Lviv, Kiev & Moscow...

Day 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train as shown in the Venice to Vienna section above, leaving Venice Santa Lucia in the evening and arriving at Vienna Hbf next morning.

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

Day 2, travel from Vienna to Lviv or Kiev by sleeping-car. leaving Vienna Hbf at 16:42 and arriving next day at Lviv at 10:26 & Kiev at 16:21.
Introduced in December 2017, this is a direct 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 standard European 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.

Day 3, take a sleeper train from Kiev to Moscow. Train 6 leaves Kiev at around 19:36 and arrives Moscow Kievskaya at around 10:09 next day (day 4 from Italy). Taking the route via Kiev avoids Belarus, so no need for a Belarus visa!
The fare is around €92 with a bed in 4-berth kupé or €180 with a bed in a 2-berth spalny vagon.

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

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

The Vienna-Kiev sleeping-car at Kiev Pass. Photos 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.

Venice to Athens & Greece...

Option 1, Venice to Greece by direct ferry from Venice to Greece...

Two ferry companies sail from Venice (usually from a terminal on the mainland) to Igoumenitsa, Corfu and Patras in Greece. Check ferry times, dates, prices & buy tickets using the Direct Ferries website or see www.anek.gr or www.minoan.gr.
It's about 3 hours from Patras 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.

Option 2, Venice to Greece via ferry from Bari...

Day 1, travel from Venice to Bari Centrale, a pleasant run along the Adriatic coast.

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 at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, $ or £, they'll refund the €3.50 booking fee to seat61 users if you email them after booking at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly, requires Italian-language place names, see advice on using it).
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you simply quote to booking reference on the train.

Day 1, sail from Bari to Patras with Superfast Ferries. The ferry normally sails at 19:30 daily except Sundays, arriving Patras at 13:00 the next day (day 3). On Sundays the ship sails at 13:30, too early to make connections from Venice.
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 2, from Patras it's a around 3 hours to Athens by bus/train combo. There's a bus/train combined timetable from Patras to Athens on www.trainose.gr, though it takes a bit of finding. Buy the bus ticket when you reach Patras, it costs around €18.

The Bari to Athens part of this journey is explained in detail on the London to Greece page, just ignore the London-Bari part of the journey.


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

The ferry from Bari to Greece at sea

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

Venice to Istanbul & Turkey...

Travel from Venice to Vienna by direct sleeper train as shown above and pick up the route via Vienna, Budapest & Bucharest shown on the London to Turkey page.
Or travel from Venice to Zagreb as shown above, then pick up the route via Zagreb, Belgrade and Sofia shown on the London to Turkey page.

Railbookers custom-made tours

If you just want to buy train tickets at the cheapest price, book online as shown on this page. However, if you want someone to sort out your whole trip for you, arranging all your trains, hotels and transfers, and to look after you if anything affects your arrangements, talk to Railbookers. Railbookers can tailor-make a train trip around Europe to your own specification. Just tell them what you want and they'll advise you on the best trains, routes & hotels. They get good reports and a lot of repeat business! They now have offices in the UK, North America and Australia.

UK call 0207 864 4600, www.railbookers.co.uk.

US call free 1-888-829-4775, see website.

Canada call free 1-855-882-2910, see website.

Australia call toll-free 1300 971 526, see website.

New Zealand call toll-free 0800 000 554 or see website.

Hotels in Venice

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

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Premium class seats on a Frecciarossa 500.		Business (1st) class on a Frecciarossa 500.


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


The elegant restaurant car. See larger photo.		Lunch with wine on board...


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


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


Table for 4 in 2nd class, ideal for families...		1st class seats on the ETR610 EuroCity train...


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


Table for 4 in 2nd class, ideal for families...		1st class seats...


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


1st class seats on an AVE S100. 360º photo of 1st class.		Cafe-bar...


These S100 AVE trains operate the TGV/AVE services from Madrid to Marseille, Barcelona to Lyon, Toulouse. This is an AVE-S100 at Barcelona Sants.		2nd class seats on the S100 AVE, all with power sockets. Luggage goes on the racks at the car ends or above the seats. 360º photo of 2nd class More photos & info about AVE S100.


Travel from Toulouse to Andorra by bus, seen at bus stand 15. The bus station is right next to the rail station.		Bus station in Toulouse Matabiau forecourt. Photos courtesy of Andrew McIntyre.


2nd class seats. Larger photo.		Step 2, Munich to Berlin by ICE...


Boarding an ICE at Berlin Hbf...		1st class seats. Larger photo.


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


Railjet first class, with black leather seats...		Business class. About.		Restaurant...


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


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


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

Trains between European cities

Trains from Venice . . .

Train travel UK & Ireland...

Train travel in Europe...

Train travel in Asia...

Train travel in Africa...

Train travel in America...

Train travel in Australasia

I want to go from Venice to...

Before you buy your tickets...

European train travel FAQ...

Which station in Venice?

Venice to other Italian towns & cities from €9.90, www.italiarail.com

Venice to Florence, Rome & Naples...

Venice to Verona...

Venice to Trieste...

Venice to Pompeii, Sorrento, Amalfi...

Venice to Palermo, Catania, Siracuse & Sicily...

Venice to London from €74...

Venice to Paris from €48.90...

Venice to Lyon from €44.90...

Venice to Nice, Cannes, Monte Carlo...

Venice to Brussels, Bruges & Belgium from €64...

Venice to Amsterdam from €79.80...

Venice to Luxembourg...

Venice to Geneva, Zurich, Lucerne, Basel, Zermatt & Switzerland from €18...

Venice to Barcelona, Madrid & Spain...

Venice to Lisbon & Portugal...

Venice to Andorra...

Venice to Berlin from €39.90

Venice to Munich from €39.90...

Venice to Frankfurt, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Hamburg & Germany...

Venice to Vienna & Austria from €29.90...

Venice to Salzburg from €21.90...

Venice to Innsbruck from €19.90...

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

Venice to Oslo & Norway...

Venice to Helsinki & Finland...

Venice to Prague, Cesky Krumlov & the Czech Republic...

Venice to Bratislava from €42...

Venice to Budapest from €68...

Venice to Bucharest, Brasov & Romania...

Venice to Ljubljana & Slovenia, Zagreb...

Venice to Dubrovnik & Split...

Venice to Belgrade & Sofia...

Venice to Bar, Budva, Kotor & Montenegro...

Venice to Warsaw, Krakow & Poland...

Venice to Lviv, Kiev & Moscow...

Venice to Athens & Greece...

Venice to Istanbul & Turkey...

Railbookers custom-made tours

UK call 0207 864 4600, www.railbookers.co.uk.

US call free 1-888-829-4775, see website.

Canada call free 1-855-882-2910, see website.

Australia call toll-free 1300 971 526, see website.

New Zealand call toll-free 0800 000 554 or see website.

Hotels in Venice

My favourite hotel search site: www.booking.com

Other hotel sites worth trying...

Backpacker hostels...

Train travel
UK & Ireland...

Train travel
in Europe...

Train travel
in Asia...

Train travel
in Africa...

Train travel
in America...

Train travel
in Australasia


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


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


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


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


The elegant restaurant car. Larger photo.		Lunch with wine on board...


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


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


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


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


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