Trains from Venice | Train times, fares, online tickets

Trains from Venice

See Venice Santa Lucia station information

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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. Train information is current for 2020.

Before you buy your tickets...

Take a moment to read these tips for buying European train tickets. They answer all the usual questions, "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? Santa Lucia!

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. 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. On this page, 'Venice' means Venice Santa Lucia unless it says otherwise. Map of Venice showing stations. See Venice Santa Lucia station information.

Venice to other Italian towns & cities from €9.90!

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

Buy Italian train tickets online at either Raileurope.co.uk, www.italiarail.com or Italian Railways' own site www.trenitalia.com.
All 3 sites sell the same tickets, all offer ticketless travel for Italian intercity & high-speed trains, you simply quote your booking reference on board the train.
Booking for high-speed trains opens 120 days ahead, except when the mid-June & mid-December timetable changes are imminent when the booking horizon shrinks to less than this with some trains loaded before others.
1. Raileurope.co.uk is easy to use, it's written in plain English, it can be used in € & £. A small booking fee applies.

2. Italiarail.com is also easy to use, it's in plain English, it can be used in €, £, $ & Aus$. They charge a €3.50 booking fee but they'll refund this if you email seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR after you book. A key advantage is that it can be cheaper than Trenitalia.com for 2 or more people travelling together as explained here.
3. Trenitalia.com is fairly easy to use but you need to use Italian-language place names and it has a few quirks so see this advice on using it. There's no booking fee.
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 3h45 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 5h10. 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 early for the cheapest rates. On Trenitalia, Super-economy & Economy fares = advance-purchase, limited or no refunds or changes to travel plans. Base = what you pay at the station on the day, refundable, changeable up to an hour after departure. Trains are all-reserved, tickets are for a specific train and come with a reserved seat. But there are always places available on the day, if you're happy paying the most expensive Base fare. It's a similar situation on Italo.

How to buy tickets...

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

Buy Italo tickets direct from Italo at www.italotreno.it. You can also book them at Raileurope.co.uk 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, just buy a ticket at the station, no advance reservation necessary or possible.

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, Pompeii Scavi and 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, 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 just €39.80 in 2nd class or €59.80 in 1st class. Book ahead for Trenitalia's cheap Super-Economy and Economy prices.

Buy tickets at either Raileurope.co.uk, 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 120 days ahead, except when the mid-June & mid-December timetable changes are imminent when the booking horizon shrinks to less than this with some trains loaded before others.
1. Raileurope.co.uk is easy to use, it's written in plain English, it can be used in €, £ or $. A small booking fee applies.

2. Italiarail.com is also easy to use, it's in plain English, it can be used in €, £, $ & Aus$. They charge a €3.50 booking fee but they'll refund this if you email seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR after you book. A key advantage is that it can be cheaper than Trenitalia.com for 2 or more people travelling together as explained here.
3. Trenitalia.com is fairly easy to use but you need to use Italian-language place names and it has a few quirks so see this advice on using it. There's no booking fee.

Option 2, by high-speed train to Rome then overnight sleeper. 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. 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. Book ahead for Trenitalia's cheap Super-Economy and Economy prices.

Buy tickets at either Raileurope.co.uk 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.

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Venice to Paris from €29...

Option 1, Venice to Paris by train in a single day...

Take fast daytime trains from as little as €49. This is the most direct & cheapest option. How about an afternoon in Turin? If you'd prefer to break up the journey with an overnight stop in wonderful Turin, see option 2.

Step 1, travel from Venice to Milan by high-speed Frecciarossa train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia on the banks of the Grand Canal in central Venice at 10:48 and arriving at Milan Centrale at 13:15. Frecciarossas have 4 classes, see the Frecciarossa page for an explanation. Transfer from Milan Centrale to Milan Porta Garibaldi, a 5-minute €6 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 14:40 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 22:32.
It's a scenic & relaxing run, at slow speed through the mountains then a high-speed dash to Paris at up to 186mph, see the Paris-Milan TGV video guide showing the scenery and what it's like on board the train. For detailed train times, fares & other information see the Paris-Milan by TGV page. Bring a good book and bottle of wine, and make it a relaxing afternoon with your feet up, although some scenery will be in darkness depending on the time of year, so consider option 2 below.

If you'd prefer an easier same-station change at Turin Porta Susa with no need for a taxi between stations in Milan, and time for a leisurely lunch or wander around lovely Turin, there's a direct Frecciarossa train leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 08:18 arriving Turin Porta Susa at 11:38. The afternoon TGV then leaves Turin Porta Susa at 16:11 arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 22:31 (22:37 on Saturdays). Turin is a wonderful city, I think it's one of Italy's most under-rated cities even if you're not a fan of the 1969 Michael Caine film The Italian Job. In fact, personally I'd consider option 2 below, with a night in Turin on the way...
How much does it cost?
Venice to Turin or Milan by Frecciarossa starts at €19.90 in standard class or €29.90 in business class.
Milan or Turin to Paris by TGV starts at €29 in 2nd class or €44 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

How to buy tickets... Booking usually opens 120 days ahead.

The easy way to buy Venice to Paris tickets is using the excellent Raileurope.co.uk. Raileurope.co.uk can book Venice to Paris by daytime trains as one simple transaction as it connects to both the French SNCF ticketing system and the Italian Trenitalia system to sell both the Frecciarossa ticket and the TGV ticket together in the same place at the cheapest prices with a print-at-home ticket for the TGV and ticketless for the Frecciarossa - you just quote the booking reference on board the train. You can use Raileurope.co.uk wherever you live in the world as it accepts all international credit cards.

Booking tips: Go to Raileurope.co.uk and book from Venice Santa Lucia to Paris (any station) as one journey. If you want the 11:50 departure changing in Milan, set a 10:00 departure time. If you want the 08:50 departure with an afternoon to explore Turin, set an 08:00 departure time and click More options, entering Turin Porta Susa and leaving the stopover time as default zero. In the search results, look for an option shown with just 1 change.

Alternatively, you can book each train separately, like this...
Step 1, book the Frecciarossa train from Venice to Milan or Turin at either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises familiar English-language place names and they'll refund the €3.50 booking fee if you email seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference) or www.trenitalia.com (you'll need to use Italian place names). Both sites charge the same price and both allow ticketless travel - you just quote the booking reference on board the train.
Step 2, book the TGV from Milan or Turin to Paris at Raileurope.co.uk or www.trainline.eu. These sites can be used by anyone from any country with international credit cards accepted, and you can specify forward-facing seats & other seating options. in €, £ or $, A small booking fee applies. Both sites will give you print-at-home tickets. For the record, you can also book at www.raileurope.com (US & Canadian residents, in US$, no seating options and booking fee added) or www.raileurope-world.com (residents of Australia, Canada, Asia, Africa, South America, no seating options, booking fee added). You can no longer buy tickets for the Milan-Paris TGVs at the Trenitalia website or at Italian stations as since 2011 these trains have been operated entirely by French railways on an 'open access' basis with no Trenitalia involvement.

Frecciarossa 500 train at Milan Centrale

Step 1, take a Frecciarossa 500 high-speed train from Venice to Milan or Turn. The name means Red Arrow. This is a Frecciarossa 500 at Milan Centrale. See more information about Frecciarossas & explanation of their 4 classes.


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

TGV train from Paris to Milan about to leave Paris Gare de Lyon

Step 2, take a French TGV high-speed train from Milan or Turin to Paris. This is a Milan-Turin-Paris TGV at Paris Gare de Lyon. There's no check-in, just be on board at departure time...


Step 2, take the TGV from Milan or Turin to Paris... Above left, the cafe-bar serving drinks, snacks & hot dishes Above right, the cheese platter from the cafe-bar. Larger bar photo.


A table for four in 2nd class on the TGV to Paris. 360 degree photo		1st class seats on the Paris-Milan TGV. 360 degree photo.

Take a good book, a bottle o' red, and enjoy the scenery from Italy to Paris with your feet up. These are mountains in France... Watch the Paris-Milan TGV video guide!

And these are mountains in Italy. Scenery between Oulx and Turin, courtesy of www.discoverbyrail.com.

Option 2, Venice to Paris by daytime trains with an overnight stop in Turin...

To see all the scenery in daylight you can use high-speed daytime trains with an overnight stop in Turin from just €48. The overnight stop breaks up the trip nicely and allows you to see something of wonderful Turin. This would probably be my own first choice!

Day 1, travel from Venice Santa Lucia to Turin Porta Susa by high-speed Frecciarossa train on any afternoon or evening departure you like. You can leave Venice at 17:18 reaching Turin Porta Susa at 20:38, 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, see the Frecciarossa page for an explanation.
Stay overnight in Turin. 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, taking either the 07:39 TGV from Turin Porta Susa arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 13:16, or have a leisurely breakfast and take the 10:11 from Turin Porta Susa arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 16:17. Or spend the day in Turin and take the afternoon TGV leaving Turin Porta Susa at 16:11 arriving in Paris at 22:32. Take a good book and enjoy a scenic ride through the mountains, see the Paris-Milan TGV video guide showing both the train itself and the scenery. For more information, photos & video see the Paris-Milan by TGV page.

How much does it cost?
Venice to Turin by Frecciarossa starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.
Turin to Paris by TGV starts at €29 in 2nd class, €44 in 1st class.

How to buy tickets... Booking usually opens 120 days ahead.
The easy way to buy Venice to Turin & Turin to Paris tickets is using the excellent Raileurope.co.uk. Raileurope.co.uk connects to both the French SNCF ticketing system and the Italian Trenitalia system to sell both the Frecciarossa ticket and the TGV ticket together in the same place at the cheapest prices with a print-at-home ticket for the TGV and ticketless for the Frecciarossa - you just quote the booking reference on board the train. You can use Raileurope.co.uk wherever you live in the world as it accepts all international credit cards.
Booking tips: Go to Raileurope.co.uk and first book from Venice Santa Lucia to Turin Porta Susa. Select a convenient train, ideally a direct one with 0 changes, and add this to your basket. Then book from Turin (any station) to Paris (any station) for the following day, again looking for one of the direct TGVs with 0 changes. Add this to your basket and check out. You pay for both tickets as one transaction.
Alternatively, you can book each train separately like this...
Step 1, book the Frecciarossa train from Venice to Turin at either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises familiar English-language place names and they'll refund the €3.50 booking fee if you email seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference) or www.trenitalia.com (you'll need to use Italian place names). Both sites charge the same price and both allow ticketless travel - you just quote the booking reference on board the train.
Step 2, book the TGV from Turin to Paris at Raileurope.co.uk or www.trainline.eu. These sites can be used by anyone from any country with international credit cards accepted, and you can specify forward-facing seats & other seating options. A small booking fee applies. They both issue print-at-home tickets. For the record, you can also book at www.raileurope.com (US & Canadian residents, in US$, no seating options and booking fee added) or www.raileurope-world.com (residents of Australia, Canada, Asia, Africa, South America, no seating options, booking fee added). You can no longer buy tickets for the Milan-Paris TGVs at the Trenitalia website or at Italian stations as since 2011 these trains have been operated entirely by French railways on an 'open access' basis with no Trenitalia involvement.

Option 3, Venice to Paris by Thello sleeper train from €29. This is easily the most time-effective option, from central Venice to central Paris in effect as fast as flying and it saves a hotel bill too. It's a fun option, even if Thello isn't the best-run sleeper train in the world - just bring a picnic and bottle of wine and have a blast...

The Thello sleeper train links Venice with Paris every night, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 19:13 and arriving at Paris Gare de Lyon at 09:37.
It has 1, 2 & 3 bed sleepers with washbasin, 6-berth & 4-berth couchettes and a restaurant car. Realistic expectations are key to enjoying your trip on Thello, see the video guide here. See the Thello sleeper train page for timetable, photos & information.
Fares start at €29 with a couchette in a 6-berth compartment, €45 with a couchette in a 4-berth compartment, €85 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €170 in a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.
It's very time-effective and can be a fun way to go, especially if a family or group of friends book inexpensive tickets for a whole 4-berth or 6-berth couchette compartment and bring along a picnic and bottle of wine! Just bear in mind that it's not the best-run sleeper train there is, see the Man in Seat 61's opinion of Thello.
You can buy tickets at Raileurope.co.uk (easy to use, in plain English, you can pay in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or www.italiarail.com (in €, £, $ or Au$, easy to use, also in plain English, their €3.50 booking fee will be refunded if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference after you book) or www.thello.com (in €, some quirks, no booking fee) all with similar prices and ticketless delivery - you just quote your booking reference on board the train.
See the Thello sleeper train page for photos, information, the Man in Seat 61's opinion of Thello, and full details of how to buy tickets.

Thello train from Paris, arrived in Venice

The Thello sleeper train to Paris at Venice Santa Lucia. See more photos & information for travelling on Thello.


A sleeping-car on the Thello sleeper train to Venice boarding at Paris Gare de Lyon. More Thello info here.		Sleeper with beds folded away. Larger photo. 360.		2-bed sleeper. Larger photo. 360 degree photo.


4 or 6 berth couchette compartment. Much more comfortable with just 4 people. Larger photo. 360 degree photo.		A couchette car on the Thello train from Paris to Venice, at Paris Gare de Lyon. More Thello info here.

Option 4, Venice to Paris via the Bernina Express & Swiss Alps from €96 - much slower, but the ultimate Alpine scenic experience...
This journey is longer and costs a bit more, but it will be a highlight of your whole trip. If time isn't pressing and you want the ultimate train ride through the Alps, I'd strongly recommend considering this option, it's fabulous...

Day 1, travel on the 06:48 Frecciarossa train from Venice Santa Lucia to Milan Centrale, then the 10:20 Italian regional train along the shores of Lake Como to Tirano, then the absolutely fabulous Bernina Express narrow-gauge panoramic train through the Alps to Chur, then by Swiss train to Zurich, arriving 19:53. It's a long day, but worth it - by all means travel from Venice to Milan the previous evening or afternoon, to break it up.
See the Bernina Express page for full details of this journey & how to buy tickets. Watch the video.

Stay overnight in Zurich. For something special, book the wonderful Hotel Schweizerhof located right next to Zurich HB. One of my favourite hotels, they'll even send a uniformed commissionaire to meet you at the station and carry your bags across the road. For something cheaper but also near the station with great reviews, try the Hotel du Théatre or Hotel St Gotthard. If you're on a budget you can book inexpensive private rooms in a one-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station using www.hostelworld.com. Alternatively, you could stop overnight in the pleasant town of Chur instead.

Day 2, take a TGV-Lyria high-speed train from Zurich HB to Paris Gare de Lyon in just 4h05 from €29 booked at Raileurope.co.uk or www.trainline.eu. If you take the 07:34 you can be in central Paris at 11:38. Or the 09:34 arrives Paris at 13:38. Your call! TGV-Lyria trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats, and first class fares include snacks & drinks served at your seat, see the TGV-Lyria page for photos & information.

Bernina Express 1st class seats...

the Bernina Express uses panoramic carriages...

The Bernina Express descends from the Bernina Pass...

Venice to Nice from €35. Venice to Cannes, Monte Carlo, Marseille, Avignon...

Option 1, leave Venice Santa Lucia at 07:18 by air-conditioned Frecciarossa train arriving Milan Centrale at 09:45, then take a smart air-conditioned Thello train leaving Milan Centrale at 11:10 and arriving Nice Ville at 15:53, Antibes 16:13, Cannes 16:26 & Marseille St Charles at 18:31. This Thello train has a cafe counter and power sockets at all seats, see the photos below.

Option 2, leave Venice Santa Lucia at 12:18 by Frecciarossa train and make a simple change at Milan Centrale onto a daily Thello train leaving Milan Centrale at 15:10 and arriving Nice Ville at 19:51. Change in Nice for local trains to Antibes & Cannes.

The Thello trains run along the coast between Genoa and Nice, a lovely scenic ride - if you get any good coastal scenery photos I'd love to see them. Thello is a subsidiary of Trenitalia, their trains enter France as 'open access' trains under EU 'open competition' laws. Tickets for Thello are not sold by French Railways!

How much does it cost?
Venice to Milan starts at €19.90, then Milan to Nice starts at €15. Milan to Marseille on the direct train starts at €30. It's cheapest to pre-book, if you buy on the day higher fares apply. If you have to change at Nice onto a connecting French train, you'll need a separate ticket for the French train.

How to buy tickets...
You can book from Venice to Nice or (using the direct Thello train) Venice to Antibes, Cannes, St Raphael or Marseille all in one go at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, small booking fee will be refunded if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (sometimes more fiddly to use, requires Italian language place names, no booking fee, read this advice on using it first). Look for a cheap super-economy or economy fare. It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board the train.

However, if your journey involves a change in Nice onto an onward French train, I'd suggest using Raileurope.co.uk rather than ItaliaRail or Trenitalia, as Raileurope.co.uk has a direct connection to both French & Italian ticketing systems so you can book journeys involving both Italian & French trains all in one place. It provides ticketless travel on Italian trains & Thello, and print-at-home or collect-at-station tickets for most French trains.

A Thello train to Nice about to leave Milan Centrale. See more photos & information about these Thello trains...

1st class seats on Thello, with seats arranged 2+1 across the car width. See larger photo.

2nd class seats. Comfortable seats arranged 2+2 across the car width. See larger photo.

The small cafe-bar counter on the Thello train serving tea, coffee, wine, beer, soft drinks & snacks.

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

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

Option 1, using the overnight Thello sleeper train from Venice to Paris...

Step 1, book the 19:13 Thello sleeper train from Venice to Paris Gare de Lyon at either www.italiarail.com or www.thello.com, looking for a Smart or Go fare from just €35 including a couchette or €145 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper, see the Thello sleeper train page for fares, train times and details of the types of couchette and sleeper on board.

Allow at least 3 hours to change trains and stations in Paris, as the sleeper can run an hour or two late.

Then book a high-speed Thalys train from Paris Gare du Nord to Brussels Midi at www.b-europe.com, this journey takes just 1 hour 22 minutes from €29. Thalys trains 3 classes, a cafe-bar, WiFi and power sockets at all seats, see the Thalys information page.

Option 2, by daytime TGV via Paris...

Step 1, book a Frecciarossa train from Venice Santa Lucia to either Milan Centrale or Turin Porta Susa on any evening train you like, from €19.90 using either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, small booking fee will be refunded if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (sometimes more fiddly to use, requires Italian language place names, no booking fee, read this advice on using it first).

Stay overnight in either Milan or Turin, your choice. 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.   In Milan, the AC Milano Hotel (a Marriott Lifestyle Hotel) is 350 yards from Milan Porta Garibaldi and gets good reviews.
Stopping overnight in Turin is easier, as you then arrive at and leave from the same station, Turin Porta Susa. In Milan, these Trenitalia trains arrive at the magnificent Milan Centrale which is an amazing Milan landmark, but you'll need to take a 5-minute €6 taxi ride or €3 10-minute train ride over to Milan's lesser-known Porta Garibaldi station to pick up the TGV to Paris.

Step 2, use either Raileurope.co.uk or www.trainline.eu to book a morning TGV high-speed train from Milan Porta Garibaldi or Turin Porta Susa to Paris Gare de Lyon from just €29. You print your own ticket. It's a comfortable & scenic journey, see the video here. See here for Milan-Paris timetable, fares & photos.

Step 3, now use either Raileurope.co.uk or www.b-europe.com to book a Thalys high-speed train from Paris Gare du Nord to Brussels Midi in 1h20 from just €29. 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, preferably a bit more to change trains & stations in Paris.

Option 3, through the scenic Brenner Pass to Innsbruck then Nightjet sleeper train to Cologne & Thalys to Brussels.

Step 1, take the afternoon EuroCity train leaving Venice Santa Lucia every day at 13:50 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. In Innsbruck there's time for dinner. Buy the Venice to Innsbruck ticket from €39 at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket or show it on your smartphone or laptop.

Step 2, now travel by Austrian Nightjet sleeper train leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 20:44 and arriving Cologne Hbf at 08:15 next morning, with comfortable sleeping-car and couchettes. This will save a hotel bill, too!
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. Deluxe sleepers with shower & toilet are also available. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment, see the Nightjet information page.
Book this train at www.trainline.eu and print your own ticket. You can also book it at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.

Step 3, now take the next train to Brussels, a high-speed Thalys train leaves Cologne Hbf at 09:43 arriving Brussels Midi at 11:35. Buy this ticket from €19 at www.b-europe.com. Thalys trains have a cafe-bar, WiFi and power sockets at all seats, see the Thalys information page.

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

Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich on a direct Austrian EuroCity train with restaurant car through the scenic Brenner pass, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:50 arriving Munich Hbf at 20:25. see the Brenner Pass scenery video here.
On Saturdays & Sundays there's also a later Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:25 arriving Munich Hbf at 22:27.

Check times and buy tickets at www.bahn.de. You print your own ticket or can show it on your smartphone or laptop.

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 from €39.90 on any departure you like. Early risers can leave Munich Hbf at 06:48, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi at 13:35. Or have a leisurely breakfast and leave Munich Hbf at 10:55, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi at 17:35. ICE trains have a bistro-restaurant, Thalys have a cafe-bar, both trains have power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Book this at the Belgian Railways site www.b-europe.com (as that can book German trains and Thalys) and print your own ticket. Alternatively, you might get a better price at the German Railways site www.bahn.de.

Option 5, using the Venice-Munich Nightjet sleeper train - an easy and time-effective option...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Munich on the excellent Austrian Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05 and arriving Munich Hbf at 06:10.

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, deluxe sleepers with shower & toilet are also available. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.

Book this at the German Railways site www.bahn.de and print your own ticket. You can also book this sleeper at www.trainline.eu which connects to the Austrian Railways system rather than the German so is sometimes cheaper. It's worth checking prices on both sites!

Step 2, travel from Munich to Brussels by ICE train from €39.90, leaving Munich Hbf at 07:28, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf & Cologne Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi at 15:35. Do not risk an earlier connection in case of delay. The ICE has a bistro-restaurant car, Thalys has a cafe-bar, both trains have power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Book this at the German Railways site www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.

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Venice to Amsterdam from €70...

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, however, 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 Frecciarossa high-speed train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 07:18 every day arriving Milan Centrale at 09:45. Fares from €19.90 in standard or €29.90 in business. You can take the 08:18 an hour later if you like, but I'd play safe take the 07:18 and have a coffee in Milan's magnificent Centrale station, well worth a look around in its own right.
Book this at Raileurope.co.uk or www.trainline.eu, 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 18:59. 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. This train runs every day (but won't run on Mondays-Fridays from 6 Jan to 30 March 2020).

Step 3, travel from Frankfurt to Amsterdam by ICE3 high-speed train with bistro-restaurant & power sockets at all seats, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 19:29 and arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 23:28. This train runs daily except Saturdays.
Fares for Milan to Amsterdam start at €59.90 in 2nd class or €119.90 in 1st class.

Book from Milan to Amsterdam as one journey at the German Railways website www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.

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 & Innsbruck-Cologne Nightjet sleeper train - a time-effective option.

Step 1, take the afternoon EuroCity train leaving Venice Santa Lucia every day 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.
Buy a Venice to Innsbruck ticket from €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class at the German Railways website www.bahn.de and print your own ticket. In Innsbruck there's time for dinner.

Step 2, now travel by Austrian Nightjet sleeper train leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 20:44 and arriving Cologne Hbf at 08:15 next morning, with comfortable sleeping-car and couchettes. It's safe, comfortable & fun, and saves a hotel bill, too!
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. Deluxe sleepers with shower & toilet are also available. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment, see the Nightjet information page.
Book the nightjet at www.trainline.eu (in €, £ or $, overseas payment cards no problem) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at. Bookings can open up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

Step 3, now take a smart German ICE train from Cologne to Amsterdam, leaving Cologne Hbf at 08:41 and arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 11:28.

Fares from €19.90 in 2nd class or €49.90 in 1st class, also buy this ticket at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.

2-berth regular sleeper with washstand. Larger photo.

The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper...

A Comfortline sleeping-car, as now used on the Austrian Nightjet train from Innsbruck to Cologne. More information about Nightjets.

Austrian couchette car or liegewagen...

6-berth couchettes...

4-berth couchettes...

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

Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich on the direct Austrian EuroCity train with restaurant car through the scenic Brenner pass, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 arriving Munich Hbf at 20:25. See the Brenner Pass scenery video here.
On Saturdays & Sundays there's also a later Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:25 arriving Munich Hbf at 22:27.

Fares from €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.
Check times and buy tickets at www.bahn.de. You print your own ticket or can simply show it on your smartphone or laptop.

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 superb ICE train with one easy change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, leaving Munich Hbf at 07:52 and arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 15:58 - by all means choose an earlier or later departure. ICE trains have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares from €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.
Check times and buy tickets at www.bahn.de. You print your own ticket or can show it on your smartphone or laptop. 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 travelling on trains like this. More photos & information about these EuroCity trains.

Second class seats, mostly in 6-seat compartments with side-corridor like this, but some cars are open-plan saloons...

First class leather seats. On a few trains you'll find 6-seat compartments too....

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 - an easy and time-effective option...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Munich on the excellent Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05 & arriving Munich Hbf at 06:10.

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, deluxe sleepers with shower & toilet are also available. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.

Book the nightjet at www.trainline.eu (in €, £ or $, overseas payment cards no problem) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at. Bookings can open up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

Step 2, travel from Munich to Amsterdam on luxurious ICE trains, leaving Munich Hbf at 07:52, making one easy change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf and arriving at Amsterdam Centraal around 15:28. ICE trains have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Fares from €39 in 2nd class or €69 in 1st class.

Book this at the German Railways site www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.

Option 5, Venice to Amsterdam via the Venice-Paris Thello sleeper train...

This option means changing trains & stations in Paris, but in couchettes it can be a cheap option, and why not spend some time in Paris?

Step 1, book the Thello sleeper train from Venice Santa Lucia to Paris Gare de Lyon at either www.italiarail.com or www.thello.com, looking for a Smart or Go fare from €35 with a couchette or €95 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper, see the Thello sleeper train page for fares, train times and details of the couchettes and sleepers on board. Realistic expectations are key to enjoying Thello!

Allow at least 3 hours to change trains and stations in Paris, in case the sleeper is late, as it can be.

Step 2, book a high-speed Thalys train from Paris Gare du Nord to Amsterdam Centraal at www.b-europe.com, this journey takes just 3 hours 20 minutes, fares from €35. You print out your own ticket. Thalys trains all have a cafe-bar, WiFi and power sockets at all seats, and the first class fare includes food & drink served at your seat, see the Thalys information page.

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Venice to London from €74...

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

A Venice to London daytime journey can easily be booked like this:

Step 1, book an evening train from Venice Santa Lucia to Milan or Turin at Raileurope.co.uk and add this to your basket. You'll need to stay overnight in Milan or Turin.

Step 2, still on Raileurope.co.uk, now book a morning TGV from Milan Porta Garibaldi or Turin Porta Susa to Paris Gare de Lyon from just €29 in 2nd class or €44 in 1st class and add to your basket.

Step 3, still on Raileurope.co.uk, book a Eurostar train from Paris Gare du Nord to London St Pancras from just £44, allowing at least 90 minutes or more to change trains and stations in Paris, including the necessary 30 minute Eurostar check-in. Add this to your basket and check out.

The Italian Venice-Milan/Turin train is ticketless, you just quote your booking number on board. For the other trains you simply print your own ticket.

A time-effective overnight journey can be booked using either www.thello.com or www.trenitalia.com to book the Thello sleeper train from Venice to Paris from €35 with couchette, then www.eurostar.com to book a Eurostar train from Paris to London, allowing at least 90 minutes or more to change trains and stations in Paris, allowing for the 30 minute Eurostar check-in. Read the Thello sleeper train page first!

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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). With the daytime trains increasingly fast, there are no longer any sleeper trains between Italy & Switzerland.

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

15:20 direct train from Venice & Verona to Zurich...
A direct ETR610 EuroCity train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 15:18 every day & arrives Zurich HB at 21:50. Change at Arth Goldau for a connecting train to Lucerne. It's a bullet-nosed ETR610 EuroCity train with restaurant car & power sockets at all seats, see the photos here.

Fares start at €29 upwards in 2nd class or from €59 in 1st class with an advance-purchase mini or smart fare.

Buy tickets at Raileurope.co.uk (easy to use, prices in €, £ or $, recognises English place names, no added fees or mark-up) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, choice of paying in €, $ or £, recognises English place names, the small booking fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (a bit more fiddly to use, you must use Italian language place names, no booking fee, read this advice on using it first).

16:20 direct train from Venice to Brig, Montreux, Geneva...
A direct ETR610 EuroCity trains links Venice with Brig (for Zermatt) and Geneva every day, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 16:20 and arriving Geneva at 23:21. Change in Brig for Zermatt. This train is a bullet-nosed ETR610 EuroCity train with restaurant car & power sockets at all seats, see the photos here.
Fares start at €29 upwards in 2nd class or from €59 in 1st class with an advance-purchase mini or smart fare.

Buy tickets at Raileurope.co.uk (easy to use, prices in €, £ or $, recognises English place names, no added fees or mark-up) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, choice of paying in €, $ or £, recognises English place names, the small booking fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (a bit more fiddly to use, you must use Italian language place names, no booking fee, read this advice on using it first).

Option 2, by fast train to Milan, then ETR610 EuroCity train from Milan to Brig, Geneva, Bern, Basel, Zurich, Lucerne - 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 with fares from €19.90 upwards.

Step 2, then take an ETR610 EuroCity train from Milan Centrale to Geneva, Lausanne, Montreux, Brig, Bern, Lucerne, Lugano, Basel & Zurich HB, with fares from €29 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class. Milan to Zurich takes just 3h40. 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. 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.

How to buy tickets if no Swiss domestic train is involved, just a direct EuroCity from Milan to Zurich, Geneva, Brig, Lugano and so on...
You can buy tickets from Venice to any of these Swiss cities as one easy transaction at either Raileurope.co.uk (easy to use, prices in €, £ or $, recognises English place names, no added fees or mark-up) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, choice of paying in €, $ or £, recognises English place names, the small booking fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (a bit more fiddly to use, you must use Italian language place names, no booking fee, read this advice on using it first).
All these sites connect to Trenitalia's ticketing system with the same prices. It's ticketless, you simply quote the booking reference on board.
You can book from anywhere in Italy to these Swiss cities as one transaction, or you may prefer to split the booking, first looking for a direct Milan-Switzerland train from €9, then booking a suitable Venice-Milan connecting train from €19.90, allowing at least 45 minutes to change in Milan in case of any delay.

How to buy tickets if your journey involves a Swiss domestic train, e.g. Venice to Zermatt, Interlaken, Wengen, Lauterbrunnen & so on...

OK, here's the problem. www.italiarail.com & www.trenitalia.com can book the direct EuroCity trains from Milan to key Swiss cities, but they can't book journeys which involve a change of train within Switzerland onto a Swiss domestic train, because Italian Railways cannot sell tickets for the Swiss domestic part of the journey. Raileurope.co.uk can book such journeys, but it doesn't connect directly to the Swiss system so can't do print-at-home Swiss domestic tickets, conventional tickets have to be posted and will only be posted to UK addresses.

Now here's the solution.   Use the journey planner at www.bahn.de to find a suitable journey, note where the change is within Switzerland.

First use Raileurope.co.uk or www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com to book from anywhere in Italy to that interchange point.

Then use the Swiss Railways website www.sbb.ch to buy a print-at-home ticket for the Swiss domestic journey from the interchange point to your final destination. Or you can buy at the station as there's one fixed price and no reservations necessary for Swiss domestic trains, but buying a print-at-home ticket in advance saves time so you can hop on the next available connection.

So for Venice to Interlaken, Wengen, Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald, you'd book from Venice to Spiez at Raileurope.co.uk or www.italiarail.com using a direct Milan-Spiez train, then buy a separate ticket from Spiez to Interlaken Ost, Wengen, Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald either in person at Spiez station or online at www.sbb.ch with print-at-home tickets.

For Venice to Zermatt, you'd book Venice to Brig at Raileurope.co.uk or www.italiarail.com, then Brig to Zermatt at the station or online at www.sbb.ch with print-at-home tickets.

For the record, Swiss Railways, www.sbb.ch can book from Italy to anywhere in Switzerland as one transaction with print-at-home tickets, but it cannot access the cheaper economy & super-economy fares for Trenitalia trains south of Milan, it will always charge you the most expensive base fare for the Italian domestic leg. So for journeys from Venice to Switzerland I'd recommend booking as above, and not with sbb.ch.

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

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

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

The restaurant car on an ETR610...

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, the ultimate scenic route: Venice to St Moritz, Chur, Zurich via the Bernina Pass. This is much slower and more fiddly to book, but it's an amazing experience, easily the best train ride of all through the Swiss Alps...

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 train leaving Venice Santa Lucia 07:18 and arriving Milan Centrale at 09:45.
Pre-book this from €19.90 in 2nd class or €19.90 in 1st class at either www.italiarail.com & www.trenitalia.com. It's ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on board.

Step 2, take a local train from Milan Centrale to Tirano. These run every 2 hours throughout the day, fare around €12, you can check train times at www.trenord.it. No reservation is necessary or even possible, you just buy a ticket to Tirano from the self-service machines at Milan Centrale and hop on the next train. At Tirano, the Italian railways station is right next to the Rhätische Bahn one on the same town square. The 10:20 from Milan connects with the Bernina Express itself, with time for a sandwich and beer in Tirano, see the Bernina Express page.

Step 3, now take one of the regular Rhätische Bahn trains from Tirano to St Moritz & Chur. This is the fabulous Bernina Express route over the Bernina Pass. You can check times & prices from Tirano to St Moritz, Chur or Zurich at the main Swiss Railways website www.sbb.ch. If you take one of the regular normal local trains, no reservation is necessary or possible, just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on. Only if you want to use the once or twice daily Bernina Express with its special all-reserved panoramic carriages do you need a seat reservation, see www.rhb.ch and the seat61 Bernina Express page.
How to buy a cheap ticket from Tirano to Zurich from €39... Normal Swiss fares are expensive, so see my instructions for buying a cheap advance-purchase ticket from Tirano to Chur or Zurich from €39 here.

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

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 & Spain from €91...

Option 1, by daytime trains with overnight stop in Marseille - usually the cheapest & most direct option...

Day 1, travel from Venice to Marseille, using the 07:18 Frecciarossa train from Venice Santa Lucia to Milan Centrale from €19.90 then the 11:10 Thello train from Milan Centrale to Marseille from €30, arriving Marseille St Charles at 18:31.
This is a very pleasant journey with fabulous coastal scenery through Genoa, San Remo, Nice & Cannes. By all means take an earlier train and stop off in Nice or spend an afternoon in Marseille, a great city to visit

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.

Day 2, travel from Marseille to Barcelona & Madrid by direct AVE-S100 high-speed train, leaving Marseille St Charles at 08:02 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 12:34 and Madrid Atocha at 15:41. Fares for this leg start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.

Day 2 afternoon, change in Barcelona for Spanish high-speed trains to Valencia or Alicante, or the 15:50 direct AVE-S112 high-speed train to Cordoba, Malaga or Seville arriving in the evening. Barcelona to Malaga or Seville starts at around €45.

To buy tickets the easy way...
Go to Raileurope.co.uk, book from Venice to Marseille on day 1 and add it to your basket. Then book from Marseille to Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Alicante, Seville, Malaga or wherever for day 2, add it to your basket and check out. Raileurope.co.uk connects directly to the Italian, French and Spanish rail ticketing systems, so you can buy all these tickets at the cheapest prices all in one place. All international credit cards are accepted. Tickets within Spain & for the Barcelona-Marseille train will be print-at-home, the Florence-Marseille trains are ticketless, you just quote your booking reference to the conductor on board.

Alternatively, you can book each leg separately like this, although the extra work doesn't usually make it any cheaper...

Step 1, book from Venice Santa Lucia to Marseille St Charles using either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, English place names, and they'll refund the small booking fee to seat61 users if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR) or Italian Railways' own site www.trenitalia.com (you'll need to use Italian language place names). It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference to the conductor on board the train.

Step 2, book from Marseille to Barcelona or Madrid at www.trainline.eu (in euros). You print your own ticket.

Step 3, book any onward trains within Spain at Raileurope.co.uk (easy to use, in €, £ or $, a small booking fee applies) or www.renfe.com (in €, more fiddly to use, see this advice on using it, but no booking fee) or www.petrabax.com (easy to use, in $, small mark-up). You print your own tickets.

A Thello train to Nice about to leave Milan Centrale. See more photos & information about these Thello trains...

1st class seats on Thello. All seats have power sockets. Plenty of luggage room on racks & between seat backs...

2nd class seats on the Thello train. All seats have power sockets, with plenty of luggage space on racks and between seat backs.

The small cafe-bar counter on the Milan to Nice & Marseille Thello train serving tea, coffee, wine, beer, soft drinks and snacks.

View from the train between Nice & Marseille...

Marseille to Barcelona & Madrid by Spanish S100 AVE train. See more photos & information about these AVE-S100 high-speed trains.

2nd class seats, all with power sockets. Luggage goes on the racks at the car ends or above the seats. Panorama photo of 2nd class

Cafe-bar on an S100 AVE serving tea, coffee, beer, wine, soft drinks, snacks & hot dishes...

1st class seats on an S100 AVE. Panorama photo of 1st class

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

Option 2, by daytime trains 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.

Step 1, travel from Venice to Geneva by direct ETR610 EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 16:18 and arriving Geneva at 23:29. Fares start at just €29 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class booked at Raileurope.co.uk or www.italiarail.com. 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.

Stay the night in Geneva, and spend next morning exploring this lakeside city. 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.

Step 2, travel from Geneva to Barcelona by TGV. Usually you'll find a TER regional train leaving Geneva at 11:30, change trains at Lyon Part Dieu (arrive 13:25, depart 14:28) onto a direct AVE-S100 high-speed train arriving Barcelona Sants at 19:33. Fares start at around €69 in 2nd class.
Buy tickets at Raileurope.co.uk (anyone from any country, a small booking fee applies), www.raileurope.com (US residents), www.raileurope-world.com (residents of Australia, Canada, Asia, Africa, South America) or www.trainline.eu (anyone from any country, a small booking fee applies). You usually print your own ticket. If you use Raileurope.co.uk you can both Venice-Geneva and Geneva-Barcelona tickets in one place as one transaction, recommended.

What's the journey like? Between Valence & Barcelona you'll follow the same route taken by the Paris-Barcelona TGVs, see the photos & video on the Paris to Barcelona page. You'll pass flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Montpelier and Perpignan, the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks, with great views of the massive Mt Canigou in the Pyrenees, visible all the way from Perpignan to Girona.

Step 3, stay overnight in Barcelona (see suggested hotels near the station) and book onward high-speed trains from Barcelona to Madrid, Seville, Malaga, Alicante etc, using either the Spanish railways website www.renfe.com or (if you have any problems) alternative site www.petrabax.com. You'll find a direct AVE-S112 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:30 arriving Malaga, Cordoba & Seville at lunchtime.

Step 1, Venice to Geneva by bullet-nosed ETR610 EuroCity train. More information about ETR610 trains.

2nd class seats on an ETR610, all with power sockets. See panorama photo.

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

Step 2: Geneva via Valence to Barcelona by TGV Duplex. Above left, 1st class seats on TGV Duplex upper deck. That's a 'club duo' on the left & a 'club quatre' on the right. Above right, a TGV Duplex at Barcelona Sants.

The cafe-bar on the upper deck in car 4, serving tea, coffee, soft drinks, wine, beer, snacks and microwave-style hot meal dishes....

2nd class seats on TGV Duplex upper deck. There's a mix of unidirectional seating and some tables for four like this...

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. More photos & a video about this journey...

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 see the Seat61 ferry shop or go to www.grimaldi-lines.com. Grimaldi Lines also run a ferry several times a week between Barcelona and Livorno, and between Salerno (near Naples) and Valencia.

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Venice to Lisbon & Portugal...

Day 1, travel from Venice to Marseille, stay overnight, then take the morning AVE high-speed train from Marseille to Madrid on day 2 as shown in the Venice to Madrid section above. You've an evening in Madrid.

Day 2, take the excellent overnight sleeper train Trainhotel Lusitania overnight from Madrid to Lisbon as shown on the Madrid to Lisbon page, arriving Lisbon Oriente at 07:20 and Lisbon Santa Apolonia at 07:30 on day 3.

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

Gran Clase sleeper, in evening mode with the seats folded out...

...return from dinner to find the attendant has made up the beds...

Gran Clase sleepers have a private toilet & shower...

The trainhotel Lusitania from Madrid to Lisbon is an articulated Spanish Talgo train. Seen here at Madrid Chamartin station.

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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 train, leaving Venice at 06:48 arriving Verona Porta Nuova at 08:00 with fares from just €9.90. 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.

Step 2, travel from Verona to Berlin with a change of train in Munich, leaving Verona Porta Nuova at 09:01 by smart Austrian EuroCity train, changing at Munich Hbf (arrive 14:26, depart 14:56) onto a superb ICE train arriving Berlin Hbf at 19:29. Fares from Verona Porta Nuova to Berlin start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.
The Austrian EuroCity train has an elegant restaurant car and goes via the scenic Brenner Pass, a real treat. The German ICE train has a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Buy tickets at Raileurope.co.uk as follows: Enter 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. Your Venice-Verona journey is ticketless, you just quote the booking reference on board. For Verona-Berlin you print your own ticket or show it on your smartphone. I recommend Raileurope.co.uk to book this journey as it's easy to use and it lets you book both Italian trains & German/Austrian trains all in one place. It accepts all international credit cards. A small booking fee applies. 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 Berlin at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

A later journey is possible if you prefer, same journey as above but two hours later: Step 1, travel from Venice to Verona leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:02, also booked at either Raileurope.co.uk from €19.90. Step 2, travel from Verona to Berlin leaving Verona Porta Nuova at 11:04 changing at Munich Hbf and arriving Berlin Hbf 21:29, also booked at www.bahn.de from €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

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 travelling on trains like this. More photos & information about these Austrian EuroCity trains.

Second class seats, mostly in 6-seat compartments with side-corridor like this, but some cars are open-plan saloons...

First class leather seats. On a few trains you'll find 6-seat compartments too....

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 Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, then on to Berlin by ICE train - the time-effective option...

Step 1, take the direct Austrian Nightjet sleeper train every night leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05 and arriving Munich Hbf at 06:10 next morning.
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, deluxe sleepers with shower & toilet are also available. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.

Book the nightjet at www.trainline.eu (in €, £ or $, overseas payment cards no problem) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at. Bookings can open up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

Step 2, now take a superb daytime ICE train from Munich to Berlin, leaving Munich Hbf at 07:52 and arriving Berlin Hbf at 11:51. Fares from €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. ICE trains have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Book your Munich to Berlin ticket at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket. I recommend registering when prompted, rather than booking as a guest, so you can always log in and check or re-print all your bookings.

2-berth regular sleeper with washstand. Larger photo.

The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper...

A Comfortline sleeping-car, as now used on the Austrian Nightjet trains from Venice to Munich or Innsbruck to Hamburg. More information about Nightjets.

Austrian couchette car or liegewagen...

6-berth couchettes...

4-berth couchettes...

Option 3, Venice to Berlin by daytime trains with overnight stop in Munich - same as option 1 but with an overnight stop...

Day 1, take a comfortable Austrian EuroCity train with restaurant car from Venice to Munich via the scenic Brenner Pass leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 and arriving Munich Hbf at 20:25. See the Brenner Pass scenery video here.
On Saturdays & Sundays there's also a later Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:25 arriving Munich Hbf at 22:27.

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, take a comfortable ICE train from Munich Hbf to Berlin Hbf, these leave regularly and take as little as 3h58.

Venice to Berlin starts at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

To buy tickets, book from Venice to your chosen German destination at www.bahn.de which I have set up including an intermediate stop in Munich. You print your own ticket or can simply show it on your smartphone or laptop screen. For an earlier departure from Venice or longer stopover in Munich, simply adjust the departure time from Venice and/or click Add Intermediate stops and adjust the stopover duration in Munich. Not rocket science, but a bit of trial and error is sometimes needed!

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Venice to Frankfurt, Cologne, Dusseldorf or Hamburg from €39.90...

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

Step 1, travel from Venice to Verona by Frecciarossa train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 06:48 arriving Verona Porta Nuova at 08:00 with fares from just €9.90. 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.

Step 2, travel from Verona to Cologne, Dusseldorf or Hamburg with a change of train in Munich, leaving Verona Porta Nuova at 09:01 by smart Austrian EuroCity train, changing at Munich Hbf onto an ICE train to Cologne, Dusseldorf or Hamburg arriving in the early evening with fares from €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.
The Austrian EuroCity train has an elegant restaurant car and goes via the scenic Brenner Pass, a real treat. German ICE trains have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Buy tickets at Raileurope.co.uk as follows: Enter 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. Your 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. I recommend Raileurope.co.uk to book this journey as it's easy to use and it lets you book both Italian trains & German/Austrian trains all in one place. It accepts all international credit cards. A small booking fee applies. 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.

A later journey is possible if you prefer, same route, same trains but two hours later: Step 1, travel from Venice to Verona leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:00, also booked at either Raileurope.co.uk from €19.90. Step 2, travel from Verona to Frankfurt, Cologne, Dusseldorf or Hamburg leaving Verona Porta Nuova at 11:01 changing at Munich Hbf onto an ICE to Cologne, Dusseldorf or Hamburg, also booked at www.bahn.de from €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

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 travelling on trains like this. More photos & information about these EuroCity trains.

Second class seats, mostly in 6-seat compartments with side-corridor like this, but some cars are open-plan saloons...

First class leather seats. On a few trains you'll find 6-seat compartments too....

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 Cologne, Düsseldorf or Hamburg by EuroCity train to Innsbruck then Nightjet sleeper train - both scenic & time-effective...

Step 1, take the direct afternoon EuroCity train leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 and arriving Innsbruck Hbf at 18:36. This travels via the scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass scenery video here. The train has an elegant restaurant car, treat yourself to lunch. Fares from €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class. In Innsbruck there's time for dinner.
Book the Venice to Innsbruck train at www.trainline.eu and print your own ticket.

Step 2, now travel by Austrian Nightjet sleeper train leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 20:44 and arriving next morning at Cologne Hbf at 08:15 and Düsseldorf at 08:42, with a separate portion arriving at Hamburg Hbf at 08:36. It's safe, comfortable, fun and saves a hotel bill, too.
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. Deluxe sleepers with shower & toilet are also available. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.
Book the nightjet at www.trainline.eu (in €, £ or $, overseas payment cards no problem) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at. Bookings can open up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

Option 3, using the Venice to Munich Nightjet sleeper train, then onwards by daytime ICE train - another time-effective option...

Step 1, take the direct Austrian Nightjet sleeper train every night leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05 and arriving Munich Hbf at 06:10 next morning.
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, deluxe sleepers with shower & toilet are also available. Breakfast is included in sleepers, served in your compartment.

Book the nightjet at www.trainline.eu (in €, £ or $, overseas payment cards no problem) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at. Bookings can open up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

Step 2, now take a superb daytime ICE train from Munich to Frankfurt, Cologne, Düsseldorf or Hamburg. If you leave Munich Hbf after 07:00 you'd reach Berlin around 11:51, Hamburg around 12:55, Cologne around 12:05, Düsseldorf around 12:35. Fares from €39 in 2nd class or €69 in 1st class. ICE trains have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Book from Munich to anywhere in Germany at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket. I recommend registering when prompted, rather than booking as a guest, so you can always log in and check or re-print all your bookings.

2-berth regular sleeper with washstand. Larger photo.

The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper...

A Comfortline sleeping-car, as now used on the Austrian Nightjet trains from Venice to Munich or Innsbruck to Hamburg. More information about Nightjets.

Austrian couchette car or liegewagen...

6-berth couchettes...

4-berth couchettes...

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, take a comfortable Austrian EuroCity train with restaurant car from Venice to Munich via the scenic Brenner Pass leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 and arriving Munich Hbf at 20:25. See the Brenner Pass scenery video here.
On Saturdays & Sundays there's also a later Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:25 arriving Munich Hbf at 22:27.

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, take comfortable ICE or IC trains from Munich to anywhere in Germany.

Venice to anywhere in Germany starts at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

To buy tickets, book from Venice to your chosen German destination at www.bahn.de which I have set up including an intermediate stop in Munich. You print your own ticket or can show it on your smartphone or laptop screen. For an earlier departure from Venice or longer stopover in Munich, simply adjust the departure time from Venice and/or click Add Intermediate stops and adjust the stopover duration in Munich. Not rocket science, but a bit of trial and error is sometimes needed!

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Venice to Munich or anywhere else in Germany from €39.90...

Option 1, Venice to Munich by daytime EuroCity train via the Brenner Pass, then onwards to anywhere in Germany - The scenic option!

A smart Austrian EuroCity train leaves Venice Santa Lucia every day at 13:35 and arrives Munich Hbf at 20:25.

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 use comfortable Austrian coaches with a proper waiter-service restaurant car, and travels via the beautifully scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass scenery video here.

Fares from Venice to Munich start at just €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class if you pre-book. Buy tickets online at www.bahn.de and if you select the direct train you can simply print out your own ticket or can show it on your smartphone or laptop screen. I recommend registering when prompted, rather than booking as a guest, so you can always log in and check or re-print all your bookings.

You can leave Venice earlier if you change trains in Verona - a good idea in winter, so's 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 13:50 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 Raileurope.co.uk 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 entering a stopover duration at least 45 minutes. Raileurope.co.uk connects to both the Trenitalia ticket system and DB (German Railways) ticketing system so sells both tickets as one transaction. Look for options with 1 change. Easy! You print your own tickets.

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.co.uk.

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 travelling on trains like this. More photos & information about these EuroCity trains.

Second class seats, mostly in 6-seat compartments with side-corridor like this, but some cars are open-plan saloons...

First class leather seats. On a few trains you'll find 6-seat compartments too....

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, then onwards to anywhere in Germany - The time-effective option!

There is a direct Nightjet sleeper train every night leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05 and arriving Munich Hbf 06:10, with onward connections by daytime ICE train to cities all over Germany.

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, deluxe sleepers with shower & toilet are also available. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the nightjet information page.

Book the nightjet at www.trainline.eu (in €, £ or $, overseas payment cards no problem) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at. Bookings can open up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

Then use www.trainline.eu or www.bahn.de again to book an onward ticket from Munich to anywhere in Germany. I'd allow at least an hour between trains in Munich. You print your own ticket.

2-berth regular sleeper with washstand. Larger photo.

The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper...

A Comfortline sleeping-car, as now used on the Austrian Nightjet train from Venice to Munich. More information about Nightjets.

Austrian couchette car or liegewagen...

6-berth couchettes...

4-berth couchettes...

Option 3, Venice to Frankfurt & beyond via the Gotthard route - another scenic option...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Milan by Frecciarossa high-speed train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 07:18 every day arriving Milan Centrale at 09:45. Fares from €19.90 in standard or €29.90 in business. You can take the 08:18 an hour later if you like, but I'd play safe take the 07:18 and have a coffee in Milan's magnificent Centrale station, well worth a look around in its own right.
Book this at Raileurope.co.uk or www.trainline.eu, it's ticketless you just quote the reference on board.

Step 2, travel from Milan to Frankfurt by excellent ETR610 EuroCity train leaving Milan Centrale at 11:20 and arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 18:59. The train travels along Lake Maggiore and through the Swiss Alps via the famous Simplon & Lötschberg route. Change in Frankfurt for Cologne, Dusseldorf and so on. It's even possible to reach Hamburg or Berlin shortly after midnight! This train runs every day (but won't run on Mondays-Fridays from 6 Jan to 30 March 2020).
Fares from Milan to Germany start at €59.90 in 2nd class or €119.90 in 1st class.
Book from Milan to anywhere in Germany at www.bahn.de or Raileurope.co.uk or www.trainline.eu, looking for the 11:20 departure. You print your own ticket.

An ETR610 train at Milan. One train per day runs direct to Frankfurt. More information about ETR610 trains.

2nd class seats on the ETR610 EuroCity train. Larger photo.

The restaurant car on an ETR610. Larger photo.

Dinner in the diner...

Option 4, Venice to anywhere in Germany by daytime trains with overnight stop in Munich...

Day 1, take a comfortable Austrian EuroCity train with restaurant car from Venice to Munich via the scenic Brenner Pass leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 and arriving Munich Hbf at 20:25. See the Brenner Pass scenery 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 great reviews.

Day 2, take comfortable ICE or IC trains from Munich to anywhere in Germany.

Venice to anywhere in Germany starts at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

To buy tickets, book from Venice to your chosen German destination at www.bahn.de which I have set up including an intermediate stop in Munich. You print your own ticket or can show it on your smartphone or laptop screen. For an earlier departure from Venice or longer stopover in Munich, simply adjust the departure time from Venice and/or click Add Intermediate stops and adjust the stopover duration in Munich. Not rocket science, but a bit of trial and error is sometimes needed!

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Venice to Vienna & Austria from €29..

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

Two smart Austrian railjet trains link Venice with Vienna every 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 bistro-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 in 2nd class, €44 in 1st class or €59 in business class. Fares vary like air fares, so book early for the cheapest prices.

Buy tickets at www.trainline.eu (easiest to use, overseas cards no problem) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices but a bit more fiddly). You print your own ticket. Look for the direct RJ train with 0 changes.

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

Railjet first class, with black leather seats...

Business class...

The restaurant...

A railjet at the impressive modern Vienna Hbf.

Economy class on railjet...

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

An excellent Austrian Nightjet sleeper train leaves Venice Santa Lucia on the banks of the Grand Canal at 21:05, arriving at Vienna Hbf at 07:55 next morning.

It has Austrian couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, an Austrian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3-berth compartments with washbasin, and several deluxe 1, 2 or 3 berth compartments with toilet & shower, see pictures, video & information about Nightjet trains. The sleeper & couchette fare includes a light breakfast.

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 to yourself. Deluxe sleepers with en suite toilet & shower are also available. A light breakfast is included in the fare in couchettes & sleepers, served in your compartment.

Book the sleeper train at www.trainline.eu (easiest to use, overseas cards no problem) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices but a bit more fiddly). You print your own ticket. Look for the direct NJ train with 0 changes.

2-berth regular sleeper with washstand. Larger photo.

The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper...

A Comfortline sleeping-car, as now used on the Austrian Nightjet train from Venice to Vienna. More information about Nightjets.

Austrian couchette car or liegewagen. Couchettes are the economical option, flat bunks with rug & pillow.

6-berth couchettes, the cheapest option...

4-berth couchettes, ideal for families...

Venice to Salzburg or Innsbruck...

Option 1, Venice to Salzburg on the late afternoon departure via Villach - the fastest way to Salzburg!

A comfortable Austrian railjet train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55, final destination Vienna. Change at Villach (arrive 19:11, depart 19:16), and arrive Salzburg at 21:48.

Don't worry about the 5-minute interchange at Villach, this is a recognised connection which many people make, it's a simple cross-platform switch from platform 2 to platform 3. In any case you will have a through ticket so will be looked after if there's a missed connection.

Fares from €29 in 2nd class or €44 1st class. Fares vary like budget air fares, so book early for the best prices.

Book at www.trainline.eu (easiest to use, overseas cards no problem) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices but a bit more fiddly). You print your own ticket.

Option 2, Venice to Innsbruck or Salzburg by day trains via the scenic Brenner Pass...

A comfortable direct Austrian EuroCity train with an elegant restaurant car leaves Venice Santa Lucia station in central Venice every day at 13:35, it travels through the wonderfully scenic Brenner Pass to Innsbruck Hbf, arriving 18:36. See the Brenner Pass scenery video here. Change at Innsbruck Hbf for Salzburg, arriving around 21:04.

On Saturdays & Sundays there's a second direct Austrian EuroCity train also with restaurant car, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35 via the scenic Brenner Pass, arriving Innsbruck Hbf at 20:36.

Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €69 in 1st class. Fares vary like budget air fares, so book early for the best prices.

If you're going to Innsbruck, buy tickets for this option at www.trainline.eu (easiest to use, overseas cards no problem) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices but a bit more fiddly). Simply book from Venice to Innsbruck and look for the direct 13:50 EC train with 0 changes. Easy!

If you're going to Salzburg, use the German Railways website www.bahn.de. Tip: Click Add intermediate stops, enter Innsbruck as a via station and enter a stopover duration of 15 minutes. This will give you a journey taking 4 minutes longer, but robust 38 minute connection at Innsbruck rather than a tight 11 interchange at Rosenheim. You print your own ticket. You can also try www.trainline.eu or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at, also with print-your-own tickets.

Other departures are available throughout the day roughly every two hours, but as these involve an Italian train between Venice and Verona, you have to split the booking between the Italian and Austrian rail websites like this:
Step 1, book from Verona Porta Nuova to Innsbruck or Salzburg at www.trainline.eu with print-at-home tickets from €39.

Step 2, now book a suitable connecting train from Venice Santa Lucia to Verona Porta Nuova at www.trainline.eu from €19.90, allowing at least 40 minutes to change at Verona in case of any delay.

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 travelling on trains like this. More photos & information about these EuroCity trains.

Second class seats, mostly in 6-seat compartments with side-corridor like this, but some cars are open-plan saloons...

First class leather seats. On a few trains you'll find 6-seat compartments too....

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 3, Venice to Salzburg by Nightjet sleeper train - saves time and a hotel bill!

A comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05 and arrives in Salzburg at 04:09 (ouch!) But you don't need to get up that early...
The sleeper costs exactly the same whether you book it to Salzburg or book it to Linz, St Pölten or Vienna, so I suggest booking it from Venice to Linz (arrive 06:01) or perhaps St Pölten (arrive at 07:13) then simply hop on the next hourly double-decker Westbahn train back to Salzburg, 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. Now no need to get up at 4am. Simples!

Fares for the sleeper 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. Deluxe sleepers with en suite shower & toilet are also available. There's a shower & toilets at the end of the corridor for standard sleeper passengers. A light breakfast is included in couchettes & sleepers, served in your compartment. See pictures & information about these Nightjet trains.

Book the sleeper at www.trainline.eu and print your own ticket.

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

Option 1, Venice to Copenhagen in 24h by using the Munich-Hamburg Nightjet sleeper train - the most time-effective option with great scenery!

Step 1, take the afternoon EuroCity train leaving Venice Santa Lucia every day 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.
Buy the Venice to Innsbruck ticket from €39 in 2nd class or €69 in 1st class at German Railways www.bahn.de and print your own ticket or you can show it on your smartphone or laptop screen. In Innsbruck there's time for dinner. You can also book it at www.trainline.eu.

Step 2, now travel by excellent Nightjet sleeper train leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 20:44 and arriving Hamburg Hbf at 08:47 next morning, with comfortable sleeping-car and couchettes. This saves a hotel bill, too!
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. Deluxe sleepers with shower & toilet are also available. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet information page.
Book this sleeper train at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket. You can also book at www.trainline.eu, this connects to the Austrian rather than German ticketing system to is sometimes cheaper. It's worth checking both sites!

Step 3, take the 12:53 Danish IC3 intercity train from Hamburg Hbf to Copenhagen arriving 17:33 right in the centre of Copenhagen. Book this at www.bahn.de/en too, from €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.

2-berth regular sleeper with washstand. Larger photo.

The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper...

A Comfortline sleeping-car, as now used on the Austrian Nightjet train from Innsbruck to Hamburg. More information about Nightjets.

Austrian couchette car or liegewagen...

6-berth couchettes...

4-berth couchettes...

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

Option 2, Venice to Copenhagen using the Venice-Munich sleeper - also a time-effective option...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Munich by Austrian Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05, arriving Munich Hbf at 06:10.

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, deluxe sleepers with shower & toilet also available. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.

Book the nightjet at www.trainline.eu (in €, £ or $, overseas payment cards no problem) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at. Bookings can open up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

Step 2, travel from Munich to Copenhagen by ICE & Danish IC3 intercity train, leaving Munich Hbf at 10:21, making one easy change at Hamburg Hbf and arriving in Copenhagen at 21:33.
If you're just going to Copenhagen, book Munich to Copenhagen from €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class at the German Railways site www.bahn.de and print your own ticket or can show it on your smartphone or laptop screen.

Step 3 if you're going to Malmo, simply take a regular Öresund train from Copenhagen to Malmö in 52 minutes with passport check off-train at Kastrup, these leave twice an hour. You can book through from Munich to Malmö from €39 at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.

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 €39.90 with an overnight stop in Copenhagen programmed in using the Add intermediate stops feature - just enter your date of travel from Munich. Adjust the intermediate stopover time as necessary to get the trains you want, or if no fares show up initially, it may take a bit of trial & error to get the trains you want. This method works to book from Munich to Gothenburg, too - you'll find bahn.de lists Gothenburg as Göteborg Central.

Step 3 for Oslo, stay overnight in Copenhagen and travel from Copenhagen to Oslo by train next day as shown here. Or spend the day in Copenhagen and take the overnight DFDS cruise ferry to Oslo as also shown here.

Option 3, Venice to Copenhagen by daytime trains with an overnight stop in Munich...

Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich by direct EuroCity train with restaurant car, leaving Venice Santa Lucia in central Venice at 13:35 and arriving Munich Hbf around 20:25. This train takes the scenic Brenner Pass route, see the Brenner Pass scenery video here - you can enjoy the ride over a late lunch in the dining-car.
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... Try the Sofitel Munich Beyerpost, Eden Hotel Wolff, InterCity Hotel or (budget) the Pension Locarno, all right next to the station with great reviews.

Day 2, travel from Munich to Copenhagen by luxurious ICE & Danish IC3 intercity train with 1 easy change in Hamburg Hbf. There are several possible departures, for example at 06:15 from Munich Hbf arriving Copenhagen 17:33, or at 10:21 from Munich Hbf arriving Copenhagen 21:33.

How much does it cost? Fares work like air fares, book early for the cheapest prices...

Venice to Munich starts at €39.90 in 2nd class, €69.90 in 1st class.

Munich to Copenhagen starts at €39.90 in 2nd class, €69.90 in 1st class.

How to buy tickets... Booking usually opens 92 days ahead. Step 1, book from Venice to Munich at www.bahn.de looking for the direct EC train with 0 changes leaving at or around 13:35. Step 2, book from Munich to Copenhagen at www.bahn.de looking for a convenient option with just 1 change. You print out your own tickets or can show them on your smartphone or laptop.

Option 4, Venice to Hamburg day 1, overnight in Hamburg, Hamburg to Copenhagen, Stockholm or Oslo day 2...

Day 1, travel from Venice to Hamburg with easy changes of train at Verona and Munich. For example, you can leave Venice Santa Lucia in central Venice at 08:48, change at Verona and Munich Hbf to arrive Hamburg Hbf at 22:53.   You'll travel via the scenic Brenner Pass route, see the Brenner Pass scenery video here - you can enjoy the ride over lunch in the elegant Austrian dining-car.

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

Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by Danish IC3 intercity train leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:53 & arriving Copenhagen 13:33.

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

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

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

How much does it cost? Fares work like air fares, book early for the cheapest prices...

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.

How to buy tickets... Booking usually opens 92 days ahead.
Step 1, book from Venice to Hamburg at www.bahn.de as one journey, looking for the 08:50 departure with 2 changes with a cheap sparpreis fare shown in the Saver fare column. If you don't see such a fare, split the booking, booking Verona Porta Nuova to Hamburg Hbf at www.bahn.de then adding the Venice Santa Lucia to Verona Porta Nuova connection separately at www.trenitalia.com.

Step 2, book from Hamburg to Copenhagen, Malmö, Gothenburg or Stockholm as one journey at www.bahn.de.

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Venice to Prague from €68... Venice to Cesky Krumlov...

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 overnight on the comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 07:55 next morning.
Fares start at €59 in 6-berth couchettes, €69 in 4-berth couchettes, €99 per person in a 2-bed sleeper or €139 in a single-bed sleeper. Deluxe sleepers with shower & toilet also available. There's a shower & toilets at the end of the sleeper corridor for standard sleeper passengers. In sleepers & couchettes a light breakfast is included in the fare, served in your compartment.

Book this train online at www.trainline.eu (easiest to use, overseas cards no problem) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices but a bit more fiddly) and print your own ticket.

Step 2, travel from Vienna to Prague by smart modern Czech railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 09:10 & arriving Prague Hlavni at 13:13.
Fares start at just €14 in 2nd class, €29 in 1st class or €44 in business class (= premium 1st class).
These swish railjet trains have a bistro-restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the railjet train information page. Tip: With a 1st or business class ticket you can use the ÖBB lounge in Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.
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.trainline.eu or www.cd.cz - check prices on both sites as one is often cheaper than the other for the same train. You print your own ticket. Easy! It can also be booked at www.oebb.at, at the same prices as Trainline.

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

2-berth regular sleeper with washstand. Larger photo.

The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper...

Step 1, take the comfortable Austrian Nightjet train from Venice to Vienna. More information about Nightjet trains...

Austrian couchette car or liegewagen. Couchettes are the economical option, flat bunks with rug & pillow.

6-berth couchettes, the cheapest option...

4-berth couchettes, ideal for families...

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

Restaurant car... Courtesy David Malone

Economy (2nd) class... Courtesy Cortney Lollar

Option 2, Venice to Prague in a single day from €48, comfy, scenic, and possible once more from 10 December 2017...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by smart Austrian railjet train leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:55 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 17:35. The air-conditioned railjet train has a bistro-restaurant, 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 just €29 in 2nd class, €44 in 1st class or €59 in business class (= premium 1st class, a real treat).

Book this train at www.trainline.eu (easiest to use, overseas cards no problem) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices but a bit more fiddly). You print your own ticket.

If you have a 1st or business class ticket you can use the ÖBB first class lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains with complimentary tea, coffee & soft drinks & free 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 23:15. The excellent air-conditioned railjet train has a bistro-restaurant with draught beer on tap, free WiFi & power sockets at all seats.

Fares start at just €14 in 2nd class, €29 in 1st class or €44 in business class.

Book this train at www.trainline.eu or the Czech Railways site www.cd.cz, whichever is cheaper - when using cd.cz, change the Czech flag to the UK flag for English. You simply print your own ticket.

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

Railjet first class, with black leather seats...

Business class...

The restaurant...

A railjet at the impressive modern Vienna Hbf.

Economy class on railjet...

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 smart Austrian 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 bistro-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 just €29 in 2nd class, €44 in 1st class or €59 in business class (= premium 1st class, a real treat).
Book this train at www.trainline.eu (easiest to use, overseas cards no problem) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices but a bit more fiddly). 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 in 4h03 from €19 in 2nd class, €29 in 1st class or €44 in business class by modern Czech railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 07:10 arriving Prague Hlavni at 11:13. Or have a leisurely breakfast and take the 09:10 arriving 13:13. Your call...
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.
Book this train at either www.trainline.eu or www.cd.cz - check prices on both sites as one is often cheaper than the other for the same train. You print your own ticket. Easy!

Option 4, Venice to Prague by day trains with overnight stop in Munich - another scenic daytime option...

Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich via the scenic Brenner Pass on a comfortable Austrian EuroCity train with restaurant car leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 and arriving Munich Hbf at 20:25. See the Brenner Pass scenery 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. 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, take comfortable ALEX train from Munich Hbf to Prague Hlavni in 5h40 from just €15 in 2nd class or €35 in 1st class booked at Czech Railways www.cd.cz, see my tips for using cd.cz. Just avoid anything marked 'bus' in the search results. You'll find train times, photos & information for these Munich to Prague trains here.

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 travelling on trains like this. More photos & information about these EuroCity trains.

Second class seats, mostly in 6-seat compartments with side-corridor like this, but some cars are open-plan saloons...

First class leather seats. On a few trains you'll find 6-seat compartments too....

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...

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Venice to Bratislava from €70...

Step 1, take the 21:05 Nightjet sleeper train from Venice Santa Lucia arriving Vienna Hbf at 07:55, as shown in the Venice to Austria section above.
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
Book this online at either www.trainline.eu (easiest, no problem with overseas payment cards) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly) and print your own ticket. You can also book this train at www.trenitalia.com with ticket collection from the self-service machines at any main Italian station.

Step 2, when you arrive at Vienna Hbf simply buy a ticket for around €11.20 and hop on the next hourly local train to Bratislava, no reservation necessary or possible, journey time 1 hour 6 minutes. You can check times using www.trainline.eu or www.oebb.at.

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Venice to Budapest from €68...

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

Step 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by comfortable Nightjet sleeper train leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05 & arriving Vienna Hbf at 07:55.
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. Deluxe sleepers with shower and toilet are also available. There's a shower & toilets at the end of the corridor for passengers in the standard sleepers. A light breakfast is included in the fare in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment, see the Nightjet information page.

Book the Venice to Vienna sleeper online at www.trainline.eu (easiest to use, overseas cards no problem) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices but a bit more fiddly). You print your own ticket.

Step 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest by smart modern Austrian railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 09:42 & arriving Budapest Keleti 12:19.

Fares start at just €19 in 2nd class, €29 in 1st class or €44 in business class (= premium 1st class).

These swish railjet trains have a bistro-restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the railjet train information page. Tip: With a 1st or business class ticket you can use the ÖBB lounge in Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.
Book from Vienna to Budapest online at www.trainline.eu (easiest to use, overseas cards no problem) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices but a bit more fiddly). 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.

2-berth regular sleeper with washstand. Larger photo.

The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper...

Step 1, take the comfortable Austrian Nightjet train from Venice to Vienna. More information about Nightjet trains...

Austrian couchette car or liegewagen. Couchettes are the economical option, flat bunks with rug & pillow.

6-berth couchettes, the cheapest option...

4-berth couchettes, ideal for families...

Step 2, Vienna to Budapest by railjet train.... A Railjet arrived at Budapest Keleti. More information about Railjet trains.

Business class costs €15 more than normal 1st class...

Economy class on railjet, comfortable open saloons with large picture windows. Some seats around tables, some unidirectional.

Option 2, Venice to Budapest in a single day from €48, comfy, scenic, and possible once more from 10 December 2017...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by swish modern railjet train leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:55 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 17:35.
The air-conditioned railjet train has a bistro-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 just €29 in 2nd class, €44 in 1st class or €59 in business class (= premium 1st class, a treat).

Book from Venice to Vienna at www.trainline.eu (easiest to use, overseas cards no problem) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices but a bit more fiddly). You print your own ticket.
If you have a 1st or business class ticket you can use the ÖBB first class lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains with complimentary tea, coffee & soft drinks plus free WiFi.

Step 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest by swish modern railjet train leaving Vienna Hbf at 18:42 and arriving Budapest Keleti at 21:19.

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

Fares start at just €19 in 2nd class, €29 in 1st class or €44 in business class.

Book from Vienna to Budapest online at www.trainline.eu (easiest to use, overseas cards no problem) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices but a bit more fiddly). You print your own ticket.

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

Railjet first class, with black leather seats...

Business class...

The restaurant...

A railjet at the impressive modern Vienna Hbf.

Economy class on railjet...

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 by day trains 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 comfortable Austrian 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 bistro-restaurant car, free WiFi & power sockets at all seats. See the Venice to Vienna by train page for more information, tips, photos & video.
Fares start at €29 in 2nd class, €59 in 1st class or €59 in business class.
Book from Venice to Vienna online at www.trainline.eu (easiest to use, overseas cards no problem) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices but a bit more fiddly). 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 in 2h37 from just €19 in 2nd class, €29 in 1st class or €44 in business class by smart Austrian railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 07:42 and arriving at 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?
Book from Vienna to Budapest online at www.trainline.eu (easiest to use, overseas cards no problem) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices but a bit more fiddly). You print your own ticket.

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Venice to Bucharest, Brasov & Romania...

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

Step 2, now take the overnight EuroNight sleeper train Ister leaving Budapest Keleti at 19:10 and arriving Brasov at 09:53 & Bucharest Nord at 12:30 next day. This comfortable train has 4 & 6 berth couchettes and a modern air-conditioned sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, also deluxe sleepers with 1 or 2 beds and shower/toilet. See the photos on the London to Romania page.

You can book the Budapest to Bucharest sleeper train with fares from €49 in a 2-bed sleeper at the Hungarian railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, collecting your tickets from the yellow ticket machines at Budapest Keleti station.

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Venice to Ljubljana & Slovenia, Zagreb...

Option 1, 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. Just €22 or so gets you from Venice to Ljubljana, any day, any date, no prior reservation necessary, it cannot sell out, just buy at the station on the day. Click here to see full details of times & fares, and photos on the Venice to Ljubljana & Zagreb page. And if you've ever wondered where prosecco comes from, you'll find out on this route!

The hourly regional train from Venice to Trieste. No reservation necessary, turn up & go! You sit where you like.

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

Option 2, with overnight stop in Austria - a useful alternative...

Until 3 October 2020, to both Ljubljana & Zagreb..

Step 1, travel from Venice to Villach in Austria near the Slovenian border by comfortable Austrian railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Villach at 19:11. Book this from €19 at either www.trainline.eu (easiest) or Austrian Railways' own website www.oebb.at.

Stay in Villach overnight - try the Hotel Goldenes Lamm or Hotel City, both near the station with great reviews.

Step 2, travel from Villach to Ljubljana & Zagreb by direct train, leaving Villach at 06:25 and arriving Ljubljana at 08:11 and Zagreb at 10:43. Buy this ticket at the station, likely to be around €20 to Ljubljana, €40 to Zagreb.

From 4 October 2020, only to Zagreb...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Bruck an der Mur in Austria by comfortable Austrian railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Bruck an der Mur at 21:44. Book this from €19 at either www.trainline.eu (easiest) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at. You print your own ticket.

Stay overnight in Bruck an der Mur - try the Hotel Landskron, 14 minutes walk from the station.

Step 2, travel from Bruck to Zagreb by train, leaving Bruck an der Mur at 06:20 and arriving Zagreb at 11:27. 2nd class only, bring your own food & drink along. Book this from €29 at either www.trainline.eu or www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.

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Venice to Dubrovnik & Split...

You can travel overland all the way from Venice to Zagreb as shown above, then take a train from Zagreb to Split (daytime or sleeper) then a bus Split to Dubrovnik (4 hours, many buses). But it can be time-effective to go by comfortable overnight ferry from Italy to Croatia as follows. Incidentally, there are no longer any direct ferries from Venice to Split or Dubrovnik.

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 with your booking reference. It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.

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

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

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Venice to Belgrade & Sofia...

Until 3 October 2020, with overnight stop in Villach, Austria - the cheapest and simplest option...

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

Stay in Villach overnight - try the Hotel Goldenes Lamm or Hotel City, both near the station with great reviews.

Step 2, travel from Villach to Belgrade by train, leaving Villach at 06:25 and arriving Belgrade Centar station at 18:07. There's lovely scenery along the River Sava between Ljubljana & Zagreb. You can buy the ticket at Villach station, fare around €97 if bought on the day, there are always places available. To reduce the cost you could pre-book a Villach to Zagreb advance-purchase sparschiene ticket from €29 at either www.trainline.eu or www.oebb.at, but you'll then need to ask the Croatian conductor to sell you an onward ticket from Zagreb to Belgrade, likely to be about €35, or break your journey in Zagreb for a day to buy a new ticket. Zagreb is a city well worth a stopover!

Step 3, if you're going to Sofia, spend the night in Belgrade, I recommend the historic Hotel Moskva. Travel from Belgrade to Sofia by daytime train, see the Belgrade to Sofia page for full details. From mid-June to mid-September there's a direct train called the Balkan which leaves Belgrade Topcider station at 09:12 and arrives Sofia Central Station at 20:30. 2nd class only, bring your own picnic and bottle of wine as there's no catering. At other times of year you leave Belgrade Centar station at 06:10, change at Nis & Dimitrovgrad arriving Sofia at 19:00. Buy this ticket at the station for €20.60, there are always places available, even on the day. It cannot be booked online, and there's no need.

From 4 October 2020 onwards, with overnight stop in Bruck an der Mur Austria - the cheapest and simplest option...

Step 1, travel from Venice to Bruck an der Mur in Austria by comfortable Austrian railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Bruck an der Mur at 21:44. Book this from €19 at either www.trainline.eu (easiest) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at. You print your own ticket.

Stay overnight in Bruck an der Mur - try the Hotel Landskron, 14 minutes walk from the station.

Step 2, travel from Bruck to Zagreb by train, leaving Bruck an der Mur at 06:20 and arriving Zagreb at 11:27. 2nd class only, bring your own food & drink along. Book this from €29 at either www.trainline.eu or www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.

Step 3, travel from Zagreb to Belgrade on the daily train, leaving Zagreb at 13:04 and arrives Novi Beograd at 20:17 & Belgrade Centar at 20:25. The fare is around €29, it cannot be bought online so buy at the station or on board the train.

Step 4, if you're going to Sofia, spend the night in Belgrade, I recommend the historic Hotel Moskva. Travel from Belgrade to Sofia by daytime train, see the Belgrade to Sofia page for full details. From mid-June to mid-September there's a direct train called the Balkan which leaves Belgrade Topcider station at 09:12 and arrives Sofia Central Station at 20:30. 2nd class only, bring your own picnic and bottle of wine as there's no catering. At other times of year you leave Belgrade Centar station at 06:10, change at Nis & Dimitrovgrad arriving Sofia at 19:00. Buy this ticket at the station for €20.60, there are always places available, even on the day. It cannot be booked online, and there's no need.

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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, book an overnight ferry with comfortable en suite cabin from Bari in Italy to Bar in Montenegro. Montenegro Lines (www.montenegrolines.net) sail several times a week, leaving around 22:00 and arriving 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.

Step 2, now add a train ticket from Venice Santa Lucia to Bari Centrale using www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €). Italiarail will refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference. It's ticketless, you just quote your booking reference on board.

You should choose a train which arrives in Bari 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.

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...

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Venice to Warsaw, Krakow & Poland...

Option 1, by Nightjet sleeper then day train...

Step 1, take the 21:05 Nightjet sleeper train from Venice Santa Lucia arriving Vienna Hbf at 07:55, with fares from €59 with couchette in 6-berth, €69 with couchette in 4-berth, €99 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper or €139 in a single-bed sleeper as shown in the Venice to Austria section above.
Book this train at either www.trainline.eu (easiest, overseas payment cards no problem) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly) and print your own ticket. Alternatively, you can also book a www.trenitalia.com, collecting tickets from the self-service machines at any main station in Italy.

Step 2, spend a morning in Vienna, then take the EuroCity train leaving Vienna Hbf at 14:10 and arriving Warsaw Centralna at 21:24. From €29 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class booked with Austrian Railways at www.oebb.at. You collect tickets from the ÖBB self-service machines in Vienna.

Or spend all day in Vienna, then take the overnight sleeper train from Vienna to Krakow & Warsaw as shown in the Austria to Poland page, booked online at either www.trainline.eu or www.oebb.at from €39 with couchette or €69 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper. You collect tickets from the ÖBB self-service machines in Vienna.

Option 2, by day train then sleeper. Given the scenery, the best option!

Step 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by swish modern railjet train leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:55 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 17:35. The air-conditioned railjet train has a bistro-restaurant, 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...
Fares start at just €29 in 2nd class, €44 in 1st class or €59 in business class (= premium 1st class, a real treat).

Book this train at either www.trainline.eu (easiest) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.

Step 2, travel from Vienna to Krakow or Warsaw by sleeper Chopin leaving Vienna Hbf at 22:10 arriving Krakow Glowny at 06:22 and Warsaw Centralna at 09:40.
This train has a comfortable and secure sleeping-car with 1, 2 or 3 beds per compartment 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.

Vienna to Krakow starts at €39 plus €26 supplement for a bed in a 3-bed sleeper or €39 for a bed in a 2-bed sleeper (per person, berths sold individually).

Book this train online at www.trainline.eu or www.oebb.at and collect tickets from an ÖBB ticket machine in Vienna.

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...

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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.

Enjoy the best part of a day in Vienna, left luggage lockers are available.

Day 2, travel from Vienna to Lviv or Kiev by direct Ukrainian sleeping-car. leaving Vienna Hbf at 16:42 every day and arriving next day (day 3) at Lviv at 10:14 & Kiev at 17:21.
Introduced in December 2017, this train has a Ukrainian sleeping-car with comfortable 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, see the photos below. At Chop on the other side of the border the through sleeping-car is jacked up to have its wheelsets changed from 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.

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Venice to Athens & Greece...

There are direct ferries from Bari to Patras in Greece every day, check times, dates and buy tickets online at www.superfast.com. Superfast operate good modern ships, they sail overnight leaving every day, usually in the evening. You can book a basic deck place and sleep on deck, or you can book a reclining seat, or preferably a cabin berth, either in a shared cabin or your own private cabin with en suite shower & toilet. You'll also find direct ferries to Greece from Ancona, see www.superfast.com & www.anek.gr. There are restaurants and bars on board, it's a lovely crossing, see the photos below.

Now book a train from Venice to Bari Centrale at either www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com from €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class. It's ticketless, you simply quote the reference number on board the train.

In Bari, it's a 25 minute walk or 5 minute taxi ride to the ferry terminal near the old town. Allow at least 3 hours to connect between train and ship as there's a 2-hour ferry check-in.

Buses link Patras and Athens in just a few hours, see the London to Greece page for more details.

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

Relaxing on deck...

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

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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 you can 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.

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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 020 3327 0761, 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 & other cities


◄ Favourite hotel search & price comparison: hotelscombined.com

www.hotelscombined.com checks all the main hotel booking sites at once to find the widest choice of hotels & the cheapest seller. It's been named as the World's Leading Hotel Comparison Site in the World Travel Awards and I recommend it to find hotels in even the smallest places and to check that another retailer isn't selling the same hotel for less.

► Favourite hotel booking site: www.booking.com

www.booking.com is my favourite hotel booking site, and unless HotelsCombined throws up major price differences I prefer doing my bookings 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.

Other hotel sites worth trying...

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

www.booking.com is my own preferred hotel booking system (Hotels Combined being a search/comparison system). It has a simple interface, a good selection in most countries worldwide, useful online customer reviews of each hotel, and decent prices, usually shown inclusive of unavoidable extras such as taxes (a pet hate of mine is systems that show one price, then charge you another!).

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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Europe by train introduction
How to buy European train tickets...
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Bernina Express 1st class seats...		the Bernina Express uses panoramic carriages...


A Thello train to Nice about to leave Milan Centrale. See more photos & information about these Thello trains...		1st class seats on Thello, with seats arranged 2+1 across the car width. See larger photo.


2nd class seats. Comfortable seats arranged 2+2 across the car width. See larger photo.		The small cafe-bar counter on the Thello train serving tea, coffee, wine, beer, soft drinks & snacks.


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


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


Austrian couchette car or liegewagen...		6-berth couchettes...		4-berth couchettes...


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


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


The restaurant car on an ETR610...		Dinner in the diner, northbound...


A Thello train to Nice about to leave Milan Centrale. See more photos & information about these Thello trains...		1st class seats on Thello. All seats have power sockets. Plenty of luggage room on racks & between seat backs...


2nd class seats on the Thello train. All seats have power sockets, with plenty of luggage space on racks and between seat backs.		The small cafe-bar counter on the Milan to Nice & Marseille Thello train serving tea, coffee, wine, beer, soft drinks and snacks.


Marseille to Barcelona & Madrid by Spanish S100 AVE train. See more photos & information about these AVE-S100 high-speed trains.		2nd class seats, all with power sockets. Luggage goes on the racks at the car ends or above the seats. Panorama photo of 2nd class


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


Step 1, Venice to Geneva by bullet-nosed ETR610 EuroCity train. More information about ETR610 trains.		2nd class seats on an ETR610, all with power sockets. See panorama photo.


Step 2: Geneva via Valence to Barcelona by TGV Duplex. Above left, 1st class seats on TGV Duplex upper deck. That's a 'club duo' on the left & a 'club quatre' on the right. Above right, a TGV Duplex at Barcelona Sants.


The cafe-bar on the upper deck in car 4, serving tea, coffee, soft drinks, wine, beer, snacks and microwave-style hot meal dishes....		2nd class seats on TGV Duplex upper deck. There's a mix of unidirectional seating and some tables for four like this...


Gran Clase sleeper, in evening mode with the seats folded out...		...return from dinner to find the attendant has made up the beds...		Gran Clase sleepers have a private toilet & shower...		The trainhotel Lusitania from Madrid to Lisbon is an articulated Spanish Talgo train. Seen here at Madrid Chamartin station.


An ETR610 train at Milan. One train per day runs direct to Frankfurt. More information about ETR610 trains.		2nd class seats on the ETR610 EuroCity train. Larger photo.


The restaurant car on an ETR610. Larger photo.		Dinner in the diner...


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

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? Santa Lucia!

Venice to other Italian towns & cities from €9.90!

Venice to Florence, Rome & Naples...

Venice to Verona...

Venice to Trieste...

Venice to Pompeii, Sorrento, Amalfi...

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

Venice to Paris from €29...

Venice to Nice from €35. Venice to Cannes, Monte Carlo, Marseille, Avignon...

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

Venice to Amsterdam from €70...

Venice to London from €74...

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

Venice to Barcelona & Spain from €91...

Venice to Lisbon & Portugal...

Venice to Berlin from €39.90

Venice to Frankfurt, Cologne, Dusseldorf or Hamburg from €39.90...

Venice to Munich or anywhere else in Germany from €39.90...

Venice to Vienna & Austria from €29..

Venice to Salzburg or Innsbruck...

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

Venice to Prague from €68... Venice to Cesky Krumlov...

Venice to Bratislava from €70...

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 020 3327 0761, 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 & other cities

◄ Favourite hotel search & price comparison: hotelscombined.com

► Favourite hotel booking 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 railjet at the impressive modern Vienna Hbf.		Economy class on railjet...


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


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


2-berth regular sleeper with washstand. Larger photo.		The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper...		Step 1, take the comfortable Austrian Nightjet train from Venice to Vienna. More information about Nightjet trains...


Restaurant car... Courtesy David Malone		Economy (2nd) class... Courtesy Cortney Lollar


Step 2, Vienna to Budapest by railjet train.... A Railjet arrived at Budapest Keleti. More information about Railjet trains.		Business class costs €15 more than normal 1st class...		Economy class on railjet, comfortable open saloons with large picture windows. Some seats around tables, some unidirectional.


The hourly regional train from Venice to Trieste. No reservation necessary, turn up & go! You sit where you like.


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.


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...


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.