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This page explains how to travel by train from Venice to other cities all over Europe, and how to buy tickets the cheapest way. Information current for 2023.
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
Which station in Venice?
Venice Santa Lucia is the main station in Venice, often abbreviated to Venezia SL, located in the city of Venice itself on the banks of the Grand Canal, 20 minutes walk from the Rialto Bridge and 27 minutes walk from St Mark's Square. Trains reach the station by running over a causeway across the lagoon. On this page, 'Venice' means Venice Santa Lucia unless it says otherwise. Map of Venice showing stations. See Venice Santa Lucia station information.
Venice Mestre is an industrial area on the mainland at which most trains call on their way into or out of Venice S.L. So always make sure you buy tickets to or from Venice Santa Lucia, unless you specifically want Mestre.
Venice to other Italian towns & cities from 9.90, www.italiarail.com
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Most trains in Italy are operated by Trenitalia, the trading name for Italian State Railways.
Tickets for all Trenitalia long-distance trains come with a seat reservation automatically included, so yes, in theory trains can sell out although although there are so many trains & seats it's easy to buy tickets at the station on the day if you like, the real issue is price.
Trenitalia has airline-style variable pricing, so tickets are significantly cheaper booked in advance with a cheap Economy or Super-Economy advance-purchase fare, specified train only, limited or no refunds or changes to travel plans. If you buy on the day the Base fare applies, which is flexible and can be changed to another departure up to 60 minutes after the departure of the train you originally booked. So pre-book if you can.
Local, suburban and regional trains don't require reservations and have one fixed price called Ordinaria which you can pay at the station on the day and just hop on the next train, remembering to validate the ticket. There is no need to pre-book regional trains and no advantage in doing so other than saving a few minutes at the station.
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Buy Italian train tickets at www.raileurope.com, www.thetrainline.com, www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.
All these sell the same tickets, all offer ticketless travel for intercity & high-speed trains, you print out your booking or show it on your phone.
Booking for high-speed trains usually opens 4 months ahead, but not when the mid-December timetable change is imminent when the booking horizon shrinks to less than this with some trains loaded before others.
1. www.italiarail.com is easy to use, in , £, $ & Aus$. They charge a 3.50 booking fee but they'll refund this if you email seat61@italiarail.com after you book. It can be cheaper than Trenitalia.com for 2 or more people travelling together as explained here. Allows seat choice from a seat map.
2. www.thetrainline.com is also easy to use, in , £, $, small booking fee. Can also book trains in other countries. More about Thetrainline.
3. www.raileurope.com is easy to use, in , £ & $, small booking fee. Can also book trains in other countries. More about Raileurope.
4. www.trenitalia.com is Italian Railways' own site, it's fairly easy to use but requires Italian-language place names and has a few quirks, especially when booking sleepers, so see this advice on using it.
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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...
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Nobody flies any more...
Venice to Rome takes just 3h59 by hourly Frecciargento or Frecciarossa high-speed train, city centre to city centre with zero check-in and a departure every hour. Venice to Florence takes as little as 1h53, Venice to Naples 5h25. Flights will take 4 hours in total including the journey to and from the airports plus all the check-in and security hassle.
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A choice of operator: Trenitalia or Italo...
You have a choice of operator on the high-speed Venice-Florence-Rome Naples route: State-owned Trenitalia or privately-owned Italo. Both are excellent, red-hot competition has driven quality up & fares down, 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.
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How much does it cost?
Venice to Florence starts at 19.90 in 2nd class or 29.90 in 1st class.
Venice to Rome or Naples starts at 29.90 in 2nd class or 39.90 in 1st class.
Prices are dynamic like air fares, so book ahead for the cheapest prices.
Super-economy & Economy = advance-purchase fares with limited or no refunds or changes to travel plans.
Base = what you pay at the station on the day, refundable, changeable up to an hour after departure.
All tickets are for a specific train and come with a reserved seat. But there are almost always places available on the day, if you're happy paying the most expensive Base fare. These are Trenitalia's fare types, but it's a similar story on Italo.
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How to buy tickets...
Buy Trenitalia tickets at either www.italiarail.com, www.thetrainline.com, www.raileurope.com or Italian Railways' own site www.trenitalia.com, all linking to Trenitalia's ticketing system so all essentially the same price, see the section above to understand the differences.
Buy Italo tickets direct from Italo at www.italotreno.it. You can also book them at www.raileurope.com with no mark-up or fee.
Whichever operator or website you choose, it's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.
Venice to Verona...
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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...
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Regional trains run every hour, journey time 2h05, fare around 15, check times & prices at www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.
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You may as well buy a ticket at the station, as no advance reservation necessary or possible.
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Don't get on a Venice-Trieste train routed the long way round via Gorizia, as these take 3 hours.
Venice to Pompeii, Sorrento, Amalfi...
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Take a mainline train to Naples Centrale, booked at either at www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com. Then take the local Circumvesuviana Railway from Naples Centrale to Ercolano (Herculaneum), Pompeii Scavi & Sorrento, with onward buses to Amalfi. There are also ferries to Capri.
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How to reach Pompeii. How to reach Sorrento. How to reach Capri. How to reach Amalfi, Positano & Praiano.
Venice to Palermo, Catania, Siracuse & Sicily...
Option 1, Venice to Sicily by daytime train. Venice to Sicily in a single day, an epic ride...
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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.
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Fares start at 39.80 in 2nd class or 59.80 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets at either www.italiarail.com, www.thetrainline.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 print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead, except when the mid-June & mid-December timetable changes are imminent when the booking horizon shrinks to less than this with some trains loaded before others.
1. www.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.
2. www.thetrainline.com is also easy to use, in , £, $, small booking fee. Can also book trains in other countries. More about Thetrainline.
3. www.trenitalia.com is fairly easy to use but you need to use Italian-language place names and it has a few quirks, especially when booking sleepers, so see this advice on using it.
Option 2, Venice to Sicily using a Rome-Sicily sleeper train - the time-effective option...
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Step 1, take an early-evening Frecciarossa or Frecciargento train from Venice Santa Lucia to Rome Termini in around 3h50.
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Step 2, take one of the two direct sleeper trains from Rome to Palermo, Catania or Siracuse, one usually leaving Rome Termini around 21:05 weekdays or 21:31 weekends, the later one at around 23:00, see the timetable here.
Make sure you allow at least 1 hour between trains in Rome. In the morning these sleeper trains are shunted onto a ferry to cross the Straits of Messina, a unique experience, have your camera ready. They arrive in Sicily next morning.
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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.
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Florence to Rome starts at 19.90, then Rome to Sicily starts at 39.90 including a Comfort couchette or from 79.90 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets at either www.thetrainline.com or www.italiarail.com. If you'd like longer in Rome between trains (perhaps plan to have dinner there, or an afternoon wander) book each train separately, it makes no difference to the price. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.
Venice to London from 74...
Venice to Paris from 48.90...
Venice to Lyon from 44.90...
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Step 1, travel from Venice to Milan by high-speed Frecciargento, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 11:48 and arriving Milan Centrale at 14:15.
The Frecciargento has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
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Step 2, travel from Milan to Lyon by high-speed Frecciarossa 1000, leaving Milan Centrale at 15:53 arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 20:23.
The Frecciarossa 1000 has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. After an initial dash on the Milan-Turin high-speed line the train slows right down for a scenic meander through the Alps into France.
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How much does it cost?
Venice to Milan starts at 19.90 in 2nd class or 29.90 in 1st class.
Milan to Lyon starts at 25 in standard (2nd class), 32 in business (1st class) or 149 in executive (premium 1st).
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How to buy tickets...
Buy tickets at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, whichever you prefer, both easy to use, in , £ or $, small booking fee. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.
Venice to Nice, Cannes, Monte Carlo...
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There are several departures from Venice to Nice & the Cτte d'Azur every day, See the Italy to Nice page for details.
Take a Frecciarossa high-speed train from Venice Santa Lucia to the magnificent Milan Centrale in 2h17, an Intercity train from Milan to Ventimiglia on the French border in 3h45, then a TER local train from Ventimiglia to Menton, Monte Carlo, Nice, Antibes & Cannes taking another hour or so. It's a lovely journey along the Ligurian coast between Genoa & Ventimiglia, and along the scenic Cτte d'Azur between Ventimiglia, Nice & Cannes.
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Fares start at around 48 in 2nd class or 65 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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See the Italy to Nice page for full details with schedules, fares, photos, tips & how to buy tickets.
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Step 1, take a high-speed Frecciarossa from Venice to Milan in 2h17 at up to 300 km/h (186 mph). This is a Frecciarossa 500 at Milan Centrale. More information about Frecciarossas & explanation of the 4 classes. |
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Premium class seats on a Frecciarossa 500. |
Business (1st) class on a Frecciarossa 500. |
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Step 2, take an Intercity train from Milan to Ventimiglia in around 3h45. Here, a train is boarding at the magnificent Milan Centrale... |
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2nd class. Larger photo. |
1st class. Larger photo. |
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Step 3, take a TER local train from Ventimiglia to Monaco, Nice & Cannes. Ventimiglia to Nice takes an hour along the coast. Here, a TER rolls into Juan les Pins station, between Nice & Cannes. |
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Coastal scenery from the upper deck of the TER from Ventimiglia to Nice & Cannes... |
Venice to Brussels, Bruges & Belgium from 64...
Option 1, Venice to Brussels with overnight stop in Lyon - easy & time-effective...
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Day 1, travel from Venice to Milan by high-speed Frecciargento, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 11:48 and arriving Milan Centrale 14:15.
Frecciargentos have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more information about Frecciargentos. By all means book an earlier train and have lunch in Milan.
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Day 1, travel from Milan to Lyon by Frecciarossa, leaving Milan Centrale at 15:53 and arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 20:23.
The Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It's a scenic & relaxing run, at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) on the high-speed line from Milan to Turin, then a slow meander on the classic line through the alps to Lyon. 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. More information, photos & tips about the Milan-Lyon-Paris Frecciarossa.
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Stay overnight in Lyon, The Ibis Budget Lyon Centre - Gare Part Dieu is affordable & right next to Lyon Part Dieu station with good reviews, the Radisson Blu Hotel, Lyon also gets great reviews and is just a few minutes walk away.
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Day 2, travel from Lyon to Brussels by direct TGV, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi:
On Mondays to Saturdays you can leave Lyon Part Dieu at 05:50 arriving Brussels Midi at 09:43.
Or on any day of the week you can leave Lyon Part Dieu at 08:30 arriving Brussels Midi at 12:11
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How much does it cost?
Venice to Milan starts at 19.90 in 2nd class or 29.90 in 1st class.
Milan to Lyon starts at 25 in standard class, 32 in business class or 149 in executive class.
Lyon to Brussels starts at 39 in 2nd class or 59 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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How to buy tickets...
Buy tickets for each of these trains at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (whichever you prefer). Book each train individually, adding it to your basket, then check out.
www.raileurope.com and www.thetrainline.com connect to both the Italian and French booking systems so you can book all these trains in one place, in plain English, in , £ or $. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. There's a small booking fee.
The Italian trains are ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. For the TGV, you print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.
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How to buy tickets, advanced...
Alternatively, you can book each train separately, more work, more fiddly, same fares, but saves the booking fee.
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Milan to Lyon by Frecciarossa: A Frecciarossa 1000 at Milan Centrale. Interior photos courtesy of Nicholas Brooke. |
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Business class seats 1+2 across car width, with tables for 2, tables for 4 & complimentary prosecco. Larger photo. |
In business class you can order a simple meal at your seat, around 18... |
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Take a good book, a bottle o' red, and enjoy the scenery from Milan to Lyon with your feet up. These are mountains in Italy, between Turin and Lyon, courtesy of www.discoverbyrail.com. |
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And these are mountains in France... |
Option 2, Venice to Brussels with overnight stop in Turin...
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Day 1, travel from Venice Santa Lucia to Turin Porta Susa on any afternoon or evening train you like.
You can leave Venice Santa Lucia as late as 19:00, changing at Milan Centrale and reaching Turin Porta Susa at 22:59, but personally I'd take an earlier train for a pleasant evening or even a whole afternoon in Turin which is well worth a longer stop. It's possibly one of Italy's most under-rated cities, even if you're not a fan of the 1969 Michael Caine film The Italian Job.
Frecciarossas have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more information about Frecciarossas.
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Stay overnight in Turin. I suggest the Hotel Torino Porta Susa or Hotel Diplomatic or the small Al Porta Susa B&B, all right next to Turin Porta Susa station with good or great reviews.
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Day 2, travel from Turin to Paris by TGV, leaving Turin Porta Susa at 07:36 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 13:16.
The TGVs have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It's a comfortable & scenic journey, at low speed through the Alps, then a final dash along the high-speed line to Paris, see the video here. Bring a good book and a bottle of wine, and make it a relaxing afternoon with your feet up. For more information see the Paris-Milan by TGV page.
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Day 2, travel from Paris to Brussels by Thalys high-speed train, leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 14:22 and arriving Brussels Midi at 15:44.
Thalys trains have 3 classes, a cafe-bar, WiFi and power sockets at all seats, see the Thalys information page. Make sure you allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris, preferably a bit more.
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How much does it cost?
Venice to Turin starts at 19.90 in 2nd class or 29.90 in 1st class.
Turin to Paris starts at 29 in 2nd class or 44 in 1st class.
Paris to Brussels starts at 29 in 2nd class or 71 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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How to buy tickets...
The easiest place to buy tickets is at www.raileurope.com as it connects to both the Trenitalia and SNCF ticketing systems so you can book all your tickets together in one place, in plain English, in , £ or $. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. There's a small booking fee.
First book Venice to Milan & add to basket. Then book Milan to Brussels for the following day, add to basket & check out.
Tip: Before running the Milan to Brussels enquiry, click More options and enter Paris (any station) as a via point with a stopover duration of at least 1 hour to ensure a robust connection. If you don't do this, the system allows cross-Paris connections as tight as 40 minutes, which I consider too tight.
The Italian train is ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. For the two French trains, you print your own tickets or can select a mobile ticket to show on your phone.
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How to buy tickets, advanced...
Alternatively, you can book each train separately, more work, more fiddly, same fares, but saves the booking fee. First book the Italian train at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in , $ or £, they'll refund the 3.50 booking fee to seat61 users if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com afterwards) or www.trenitalia.com (in , more fiddly, requires Italian-language place names, see advice on using it), then book the TGV & Thalys at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com.
Option 3, Venice to Brussels using the Innsbruck-Cologne sleeper - scenic and time-effective...
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Step 1, travel from Venice to Innsbruck by EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 every day, arriving Innsbruck Hbf at 18:36.
This is a wonderful journey, over the causeway across the lagoon from central Venice to the mainland, over to Verona and up the wonderfully scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass scenery photos & video here.
Fares start at 19.90 in 2nd class or 39.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy this ticket at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.bahn.de (in , no fee). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or show it on your phone or laptop.
Tip: If you have a sleeper ticket, you can use the ΦBB lounge at Innsbruck Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.
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Step 2, travel from Innsbruck to Cologne by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 20:44 and arriving Cologne Hbf 06:51.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.
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Step 3, travel from Cologne to Brussels by high-speed ICE train, leaving Cologne Hbf at 07:42 and arriving Brussels Midi at 09:35.
The ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start from 18.90 in 2nd class or 27.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
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Step 1, Venice to Innsbruck by Austrian EuroCity train. Above, a EuroCity train at Innsbruck... |
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2nd class seats, some in open-plan saloons like this, some in 6-seat compartments. |
1st class leather seats. You'll also find seats in classic 6-seat compartments. |
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Mountains on the Brenner route between Verona & Innsbruck... |
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Step 2, Innsbruck to Cologne by Nightjet sleeper train. Above, a Comfortline sleeping-car on the Nightjet train about to leave Innsbruck. More information about Nightjet trains. |
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Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room |
Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo. |
Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo. |
Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo. |
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6-berth couchettes. |
4-berth couchettes. |
Nightjet couchette car... |
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Step 3, Cologne to Brussels by ICE. Above, an ICE3 at Cologne Hbf. More information about ICE. |
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2nd class seats on an ICE3M. Larger photo. |
1st class seats on an ICE3M. Larger photo. |
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Proper china, metal cutlery. I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier! See current month's menu. |
Restaurant car: This is the small 12-seat restaurant area on an ICE3M. Larger photo. |
Option 4, Venice to Brussels with overnight stop in Munich - Easy, scenic, ideal if you prefer day trains to sleepers...
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Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich by EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 arriving Munich Hbf at 20:26.
On Saturdays & Sundays there's also a later Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35 arriving Munich Hbf 22:27.
These comfortable Austrian trains travel through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass scenery video.
Fares start at 37.90 in 2nd class or 65.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
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Stay overnight in Munich. The affordable Eden Hotel Wolff & NH Collection Mόnchen are across the road from the station's north side exit with great reviews. Or consider the more upmarket 25 Hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian, Excelsior by Giesel & Mercure City Center. For a splurge, the luxurious Sofitel Munich Beyerpost occupies the former Royal Bavarian Post Office building of 1896-1900, at the station's south side exit.
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Day 2, travel from Munich to Brussels by ICE train, leaving Munich Hbf at 08:28, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi at 15:35.
ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Exact times may vary, earlier or later departures are also available.
Fares start at from 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Option 5, Venice to Brussels using the Venice-Stuttgart Nightjet sleeper train - a time-effective option...
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Step 1, travel from Venice to Stuttgart by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05 & arriving Stuttgart Hbf 08:37.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , a bit more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
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Step 2, travel from Stuttgart to Brussels by ICE, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 10:05, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi 15:35.
ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 37.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.
Tip: Click Stopover & change Duration of transfer to at least 30 minutes. I'd allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Stuttgart.
You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
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Venice to Stuttgart by Nightjet... Above, the Nightjet at Venice Santa Lucia. |
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Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room |
Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo. |
Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo. |
Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo. |
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6-berth couchettes. |
4-berth couchettes. |
Nightjet couchette car... |
Venice to Amsterdam from 79.80...
Option 1, Venice to Amsterdam in a single day - daily except Saturdays...
Incredibly, it's now possible to get from Venice to Amsterdam in a single day using top-quality high-speed trains, with some wonderful views of Italian & Swiss lakes. It's a long day, so consider using a sleeper (options 2, 4 & 5) or breaking up the journey with an overnight stop in Munich (option 3). But here's how to cross Europe in comfort by train in a single day...
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Step 1, travel from Venice to Milan by Frecciargento, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 07:18 every day arriving Milan Centrale at 09:45.
Frecciargento trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 19.90 in standard or 29.90 in business. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.
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Step 2, travel from Milan to Frankfurt by EuroCity train leaving Milan Centrale at 11:20 and arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 18:44.
The ETR610 EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
It's a lovely ride through the Alps past Lake Maggiore and via the famous Simplon & Lφtschberg route. 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, the transit takes just 20 minutes.
On arrival, have a coffee in Milan's magnificent Centrale station, well worth a look around in its own right - maybe you'll spot Mussolini...
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Step 3, travel from Frankfurt to Amsterdam by ICE3, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 19:28 and arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 23:29.
This train runs daily except Saturdays and a few other dates. ICE3 trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares from Milan to Amsterdam start at 59.90 in 2nd class or 119.90 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book from Milan to Amsterdam at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
You can also use www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, which keeps everything together in one place, if you don't mind the small booking fee. See suggested hotels in Amsterdam.
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An ETR610 at Milan Centrale, as used on the direct Milan-Frankfurt EuroCity train. More information about these trains. |
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Lake Maggiore, seen over lunch in the restaurant car... |
Option 2, Venice to Amsterdam via the scenic Brenner Pass then the Innsbruck-Amsterdam Nightjet sleeper train - comfortable, scenic & time-effective...
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Step 1, travel from Venice to Innsbruck by EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 every day & arriving Innsbruck Hbf 18:36.
This is a wonderful journey, over the causeway across the lagoon from central Venice to the mainland, over to Verona and up the wonderfully scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass scenery video here.
Fares start at 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy a ticket at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee, using this allows you to book everything together in one place) or the German Railways website www.bahn.de (in , no fee). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone.
Tip: If you have a sleeper ticket, you can use the ΦBB lounge at Innsbruck Hbf, with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.
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Step 2, travel from Innsbruck to Amsterdam by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Innsbruck Hbf 20:44 & arriving Amsterdam Centraal 09:59.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 159.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Dutch Railways international site www.nsinternational.nl (in , no fee). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.
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Step 1, Venice to Innsbruck by Austrian EuroCity train. This is a EuroCity train at Innsbruck. |
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2nd class seats, some in open-plan saloons like this, some in 6-seat compartments. |
1st class leather seats. You'll also find seats in classic 6-seat compartments. |
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Mountains on the Brenner route between Verona & Innsbruck... |
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Step 2, Innsbruck to Amsterdam by Nightjet sleeper train. Above, a Comfortline sleeping-car on the Nightjet train about to leave Innsbruck. More information about Nightjet trains. |
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Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room |
Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo. |
Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo. |
Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo. |
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6-berth couchettes. |
4-berth couchettes. |
Nightjet couchette car... |
Option 3, Venice to Amsterdam with overnight stop in Munich - easy, scenic, ideal if you prefer day trains to sleepers...
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Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich by EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 and arriving Munich Hbf at 20:26.
On Saturdays & Sundays there's also a later EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35 arriving Munich Hbf at 22:27.
This is a wonderful journey, across the causeway over the lagoon from central Venice to the mainland, on to Verona and through the mountains via the wonderfully scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass scenery photos & video here.
Fares start at 37.90 in 2nd class or 65.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy a ticket at the German Railways website www.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
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Stay overnight in Munich. The affordable Eden Hotel Wolff & NH Collection Mόnchen are across the road from the station's north side exit with great reviews. Or consider the more upmarket 25 Hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian, Excelsior by Giesel & Mercure City Center. For a splurge, the luxurious Sofitel Munich Beyerpost occupies the former Royal Bavarian Post Office building of 1896-1900, at the station's south side exit.
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Day 2, travel from Munich to Amsterdam by ICE train, leaving Munich Hbf 07:45, change Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arrive Amsterdam Centraal 15:29.
By all means choose a later departure. ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Check times and buy tickets at www.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets. Easy!
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A EuroCity train at Munich Hbf. More photos & information about these EuroCity trains. |
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2nd class seats, some in open-plan saloons like this, some in 6-seat compartments. |
1st class leather seats. You'll also find seats in classic 6-seat compartments. |
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Watch out for hilltop fortresses... See the Brenner Pass scenery video here. |
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Vineyards, mountains and castles south of Brenner as the train heads from Verona to Innsbruck... |
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Mountains on the Brenner route... |
Option 4, Venice to Amsterdam using the Venice-Stuttgart Nightjet sleeper train - a comfortable and time-effective option...
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Step 1, travel from Venice to Stuttgart by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05 & arriving Stuttgart Hbf at 08:37.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares. so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , a bit more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
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Step 2, travel from Stuttgart to Amsterdam by ICE, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 09:51, change Cologne Hbf, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 15:29.
The superb German ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 37.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.
Tip: Click Stopover & change Duration of transfer to at least 30 minutes. I'd allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Stuttgart.
You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
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Venice to Stuttgart by Nightjet... Above, the Nightjet at Venice Santa Lucia. |
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Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room |
Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo. |
Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo. |
Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo. |
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6-berth couchettes. |
4-berth couchettes. |
Nightjet couchette car... |
Option 5, Venice to Amsterdam with overnight stop in Paris...
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Day 1, travel from Venice to Milan by high-speed Frecciargento, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 11:48 and arriving Milan Centrale 14:15.
Frecciargentos have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more information about Frecciargentos. By all means book an earlier train and have lunch in Milan.
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Day 1, travel from Milan to Paris by Frecciarossa, leaving Milan Centrale at 15:53 and arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 22:34.
The Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It's a scenic & relaxing run, at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) on the high-speed line from Milan to Turin, then a slow meander on the classic line through the alps, then another high-speed dash on the French high-speed line to Paris. Bring a good book and bottle of wine, and make it a relaxing afternoon with your feet up, although some scenery will be in darkness depending on the time of year. For more information, photos & tips, see the Paris-Milan by train page.
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Stay overnight in Paris. If you want a hotel room on arrival at the Gare de Lyon, I suggest the Mercure Paris Gare De Lyon as it's part of the station complex. If you'd prefer to stay near the Gare du Nord I suggest the excellent 25 Hours Terminus Nord, directly across the road from the Gare du Nord with great reviews & great feedback from Seat61 users. See other suggested hotels near the Gare de Lyon or Gare du Nord.
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Day 2, travel from Paris to Amsterdam in 3h18 next morning on any train you like.
For example, the 07:22 from Paris Gare du Nord arrives Amsterdam Centraal at 10:44, but by all means book a later train, they leave every hour or so. Thalys trains have 3 classes, a cafe-bar, WiFi and power sockets at all seats, see more information about Thalys.
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How much does it cost?
Venice to Milan starts at 19.90 in 2nd class or 29.90 in 1st class.
Milan to Paris starts at 29 in standard class, 36 in business class or 165 in executive class.
Paris to Amsterdam starts at 35 in 2nd class or 79 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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How to buy tickets...
Buy tickets for each of these trains at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (whichever you prefer). Book each train individually, adding it to your basket, then check out.
www.raileurope.com and www.thetrainline.com connect to both the Italian and French booking systems so you can book all these trains in one place, in plain English, in , £ or $. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. There's a small booking fee.
Alternatively, you can book both Italian trains at www.trenitalia.com or www.italiarail.com (with seat choice from a seat map), then book the Thalys train at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com. Italiarail will refund their booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com.
The Italian trains are ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. For the Thalys, you print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.
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How to buy tickets, advanced...
Alternatively, you can book each train separately, more effort, more fiddly, same fares, but no booking fee. First book the Italian train at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in , $ or £, they'll refund their small booking fee to seat61 users if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com afterwards) or www.trenitalia.com (in , more fiddly, requires Italian-language place names, see advice on using it), then book the TGV & Thalys at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com.
Venice to Luxembourg...
Option 1, Venice to Luxembourg using the Venice-Stuttgart Nightjet sleeper train - the most time-effective option...
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Step 1, travel from Venice to Stuttgart by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05 every night, arriving Stuttgart Hbf 08:37.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead,
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, a bit more fiddly, in , no fee). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.
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Step 2, travel from Stuttgart to Luxembourg, leaving Stuttgart at 09:37 by Intercity train, change at Koblenz, arriving Luxembourg 15:23.
Fares start at 32.90 in 2nd class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book from Stuttgart to Luxembourg at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, allowing at least 1 hour between trains in Stuttgart.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Tip: To avoid buses and get an all-train journey, click Stopover and enter Igel as a via station.
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Venice to Munich by Nightjet... Above, the Venice-Munich Nightjet at Venice Santa Lucia. |
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Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room |
Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo. |
Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo. |
Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo. |
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6-berth couchettes. |
4-berth couchettes. |
Nightjet couchette car... |
Option 2, Venice to Luxembourg with overnight stop in Zurich...
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Day 1, travel from Venice to Zurich by EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:18 and arriving Zurich HB at 19:27.
Later departures are possible with a change of train at Milan Centrale, but don't risk any tight connections into last trains.
Fares for the direct train start at 39 in 2nd class or 59 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, both easy to use, in , £ or $, small booking fee. Booking usually opens up to 90 days ahead. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.
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Stay overnight in Zurich. For something really special, the 5-star Hotel Schweizerhof is one of my favourite hotels anywhere, just across the road from the station. They'll even send a uniformed commissionaire to meet you & carry your bags from the train. For something cheaper, also next to the station with great reviews, try the 4-star Hotel St Gotthard or the excellent 3-star Hotel St. Josef, 7 minutes walk from the station, see walking map. If you're on a tight budget you can book private rooms in a one-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station at www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 2, travel from Zurich to Luxembourg, leaving Zurich HB at 07:59, changing at Mannheim & Koblenz, arriving Luxembourg at 16:23.
Or have a leisurely breakfast and take the easiest departure with just 1 change, leaving Zurich HB at 10:59 by direct EuroCity train EC8 to Koblenz, time for coffee in Koblenz, then the 17:06 from Koblenz direct to Luxembourg arriving 19:23.
These are all comfortable air-conditioned trains and they all head along the scenic Rhine Valley route between Mainz and Koblenz past vineyards, castles, river boats & the legendary Lorelei Rock, see the Rails Down the Rhine page. They then run along the pretty Moselle river to Trier. The whole journey is made on a through ticket, so no worries about connections, they normally go like clockwork. There are earlier or later departures, too, just check online.
Tip: EuroCity train EC8 has a Swiss 1st class panorama car, to book it, see the advice on the Rails Down the Rhine page.
Fares start at 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book from Munich to Luxembourg at the German Railways website www.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Tip: To get an all-train journey and avoid journeys with a bus, click Stopover and enter Igel as a via station.
Venice to Geneva, Zurich, Lucerne, Basel, Zermatt & Switzerland from 18...
Choose between fast, comfortable & scenic (using mainline trains, either option 1 direct or option 2 with a change in Milan) and slow, comfortable, fabulous world-class highlight-of-your-trip scenic (option 3, via the narrow-gauge Bernina Express).
Option 1, Venice to Switzerland by direct train, twice a day - first see if these direct trains suit your schedule...
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15:18 direct train from Venice & Verona to Zurich...
A direct EuroCity train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 15:18 & Verona P. Nuova at 16:32 every day, arriving Zurich HB 21:27.
Change at Arth Goldau for Lucerne. The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the photos here.
Fares start at 39 in 2nd class or 59 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, recognises English place names, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, choice of paying in , $ or £, recognises English place names, the small booking fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (a bit more fiddly to use, you must use Italian language place names, read this advice on using it first). Booking usually opens 90 days in advance. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.
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16:18 direct train from Venice to Brig, Montreux, Lausanne, Geneva...
A direct EuroCity train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 16:18 & Verona P. Nuova at 17:32 every day, arriving Geneva 23:56.
This train is a bullet-nosed ETR610 EuroCity train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the photos here. It also calls at Brig (change in Brig for Zermatt), Montreux & Lausanne.
Fares start at 39 in 2nd class or 59 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, recognises English place names, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, choice of paying in , $ or £, recognises English place names, the small booking fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (a bit more fiddly to use, you must use Italian language place names, read this advice on using it first). Booking usually opens 90 days ahead. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.
Option 2, Venice to Switzerland with a change in Milan - if the direct trains don't suit you...
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Step 1, take one of the hourly Frecciarossa train from Venice Santa Lucia to Milan Centrale in 2h25.
Frecciarossas have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the Frecciarossa page.
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Step 2, then take a EuroCity train from Milan Centrale to Geneva, Lausanne, Montreux, Brig, Bern, Lucerne, Lugano, Basel & Zurich HB.
It only takes a few minutes to change trains at Milan Centrale, as it's a terminus you have easy level access between all platforms with no steps or stairs. The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Look out for great scenery on the routes from Italy into Switzerland, past lakes and mountains. Watch the video: Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train.
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Step 3, take a Swiss connecting train if necessary, for example from Brig to Zermatt or from Spiez to Interlaken.
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How much does it cost?
Venice to Milan start at 19.90 in 2nd (standard) class or 29.90 in 1st (business) class.
Milan to Zurich, Geneva, Bern & other Swiss cities start at 29 in 2nd class or 49 in 1st class when using a direct train.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead
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How to buy tickets, the easy way...
Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. Both easy to use, in , £ or $ (www.thetrainline.com can also sell in CHF), overseas credit cards are no problem, there's a small booking fee.
www.thetrainline.com connects to both the Italian and Swiss ticketing systems. www.raileurope.com connects to the Italian system and can sell full-flex Swiss tickets through an arrangement with French Railways. That means both sites can sell from Venice to anywhere in Switzerland, at least in principle. Each handles the data slightly differently, so I'd check both sites.
Booking for Italian domestic trains & the international EuroCity trains normally opens 4 months ahead. However, booking for Swiss domestic trains only opens 60 days ahead.
Italian high-speed trains & the EuroCity trains are ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. Swiss domestic tickets can be printed out or a mobile ticket can be shown on your phone.
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How to buy tickets, advanced...
Now for the science bit. Trenitalia's ticketing system can sell tickets for the international EuroCity trains between Italy & Switzerland, and obviously for its own trains within Italy, but cannot access SBB's ticketing system so cannot sell any journey involving a Swiss domestic train.
Meanwhile, the Swiss ticketing system can sell Swiss domestic tickets & tickets for the international EuroCity trains to Italy which it jointly runs with Trenitalia, but it cannot access Trenitalia's ticketing system so cannot sell Trenitalia's cheap fares within Italy.
Step 1, run an enquiry on the all-Europe online timetable provided by German Railways at www.bahn.de. Look for a suitable journey, ideally with as few changes as possible. Note down the trains you want, identifying the Italian train, the EuroCity train and any Swiss domestic train.
For example, say you ran an enquiry from Venice to Zermatt. You'd pick a journey that suits you: A high-speed Frecciarossa from Venice to Milan, a EuroCity (EC) train from Milan to Brig, then a Swiss train from Brig to Zermatt. Then you'd split the booking like this:
Step 2, book the Italian train and EuroCity train using the Italian ticketing system at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in , $ or £, they'll refund the 3.50 booking fee to seat61 users if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (in , more fiddly, requires Italian-language place names, see advice on using it).
In our example, you'd book from Venice to Brig. Booking opens 90 days ahead. Italian high-speed trains and the EuroCity are ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.
Step 3, now add a Swiss domestic ticket separately using either www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in CHF, , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Swiss Federal Railways site www.sbb.ch (in , no fee). Regular Swiss tickets are fixed-price, cannot sell out, and are good for any train that day, so this bit isn't as crucial. You could buy at the station on the day if you like!
In our example, you'd book from Brig to Zermatt. Booking opens 60 days ahead (if necessary, wait to book this bit). You print your own ticket.
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An ETR610 train used on Milan-Switzerland EuroCity trains and the direct Venice-Geneva & Venice-Zurich trains. More information about Switzerland-Italy EuroCity trains. |
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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... |
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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. |
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This is Lake Lugano, seen from a Venice-Milan-Zurich EuroCity train... |
Option 3, Venice to St Moritz, Chur, Zurich via the scenic narrow-gauge Bernina route...
This is much slower and a little more effort to book, but it's arguably the best Swiss Alps train ride of them all, an amazing experience. See video of a Milan to Zurich journey via the wonderful Bernina route.
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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.
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Step 1, travel from Venice to Milan by Frecciarossa 1000, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 06:48 & arriving Milan Centrale 09:15.
Frecciarossas have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the Frecciarossa page. By all means leave later in the morning if you don't want to use the panoramic Bernina Express itself but are happy on one of the hourly local trains.
Fares start at 19.90 in 2nd class or 19.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in , $ or £, they'll refund the 3.50 booking fee to seat61 users if you email them after booking at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $) or www.trenitalia.com (in , requires Italian-language place names, see advice on using it). It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.
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Step 2, travel from Milan Centrale to Tirano by Trenord regional train...
The 10:20 from Milan connects with the Bernina Express itself, with time for a sandwich and beer in Tirano, see the Bernina Express page.
However, these Milan-Tirano regional trains run every 2 hours throughout the day, fare around 12, you can check train times at www.thetrainline.com or www.trenord.it. No reservation is necessary or even possible, you just buy a ticket to Tirano from the self-service machines at Milan Centrale and hop on the next train. At Tirano, the Italian railways station is opposite the Rhδtische Bahn station on the same town square.
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Step 3, travel from Tirano to St Moritz & Chur on the Bernina Express or one of the hourly Rhδtische Bahn trains...
This is the fabulous Bernina route over the Bernina Pass. You can check times & prices from Tirano to St Moritz, Chur or Zurich at www.thetrainline.com or the Swiss Railways website www.sbb.ch. If you take one of the regular normal local trains, no reservation is necessary or possible, just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on. Only if you want to use the once or twice daily Bernina Express with its special all-reserved panoramic carriages do you need a seat reservation, see the Bernina Express page.
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Step 4, travel from Chur to Zurich by Swiss Intercity train...
On arrival in Chur, simply cross the platform to the waiting half-hourly InterCity or InterRegional train to Zurich. Again, no reservation necessary or possible, if you're bound for Zurich simply buy a ticket to Zurich in Tirano. You can check times and fares from Tirano to Zurich at www.sbb.ch.
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Bernina Express 1st class seats... |
the Bernina Express uses panoramic carriages... |
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The Bernina Express descends from the Bernina Pass... |
Venice to Barcelona, Madrid & Spain...
Option 1, Venice to Barcelona & Spain via Lyon - the easiest & usually cheapest option...
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Day 1, travel from Venice Santa Lucia to Milan Centrale on any afternoon or evening train you like.
It takes just 2h20, trains leave every hour, all these trains have cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
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Stay overnight in Milan: Affordable hotels with good or great reviews just outside Milan Centrale include the Hotel Bristol, Hotel Bernina, 43 Station Hotel, B&B Hotel Milano Central Station, Guesthouse Teodora. Pricier more upmarket hotels include HD8 Hotel, Glam Hotel, Made to Measure Business, Starhotel Echo or Starhotel Anderson.
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Day 2, travel from Milan to Lyon by Frecciarossa, leaving Milan Centrale at 06:25 & arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 11:10.
This is a lovely ride at low speed snaking through the Alps, see the photos & information here. The train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, sit back and enjoy the ride.
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Have lunch in Lyon, see suggested brasserie near Lyon Part Dieu.
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Day 2, travel from Lyon to Barcelona, leaving Lyon Part Dieu at 14:10, changing at Nimes Pont du Gard & arriving Barcelona Sants 21:25.
Lyon to Nimes Pont du Gard (an out-of-town TGV station) is by TGV with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, Nimes Pont du Gard to Barcelona is by TGV Duplex also with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
It's an enjoyable & scenic ride, the TGV Duplex passes Beziers cathedral, flamingos on the lakes between Montpelier & Narbonne, the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks before Perpignan, with (in summer when it's light) great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, see more photos & information about the journey.
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Stay overnight in Barcelona... The Hotel Barcelo Sants is the top choice here, it's part of Barcelona Sants station so easy to use when arriving & departing by train, with great reviews & good feedback from Seat61 users. See other suggested hotels near the station.
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Day 3, travel from Barcelona to anywhere else in Spain by high-speed train...
For Madrid: AVE-S103 high-speed trains link Barcelona Sants with Madrid Atocha every hour or two in as little as 2h30.
For Cordoba & Seville: Take the direct AVE-S112 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:35 arriving Cordoba 13:22 & Seville Santa Justa at 14:10. Or spend the morning in Barcelona and take the 15:15 AVE S112 high-speed train to Cordoba & Seville.
For Malaga: Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE-S112 high-speed train and change at Cordoba onto a high-speed AVE/Avant train arriving Malaga Maria Zambrano at 14:56. Or spend the morning in Barcelona and take the direct 15:15 AVE S112 high-speed train to Malaga.
For Granada: A direct AVE S112 high-speed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 08:35 arriving Granada at 15:00.
For Valencia & Alicante: EuroMed trains link Barcelona Sants with Valencia & Alicante regularly through the day, for example one leaves Barcelona Sants at 08:15 Mondays-Fridays arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 10:55 & Alicante 12:45 or at 10:15 every day arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 12:55 & Alicante 14:48.
For Santiago de Compostela, A Coruna & Vigo, there's a morning Alvia train to Galicia, see details here.
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How much does it cost?
Venice to Milan starts at 19.90 in 2nd class or 29.90 in 1st class.
Milan to Lyon starts at 25 in standard (2nd), 36 in business (1st) or 149 in executive class (premium 1st).
Lyon to Barcelona starts at 39 in 2nd class or 59 in 1st class.
Barcelona to Madrid starts at around 35. Barcelona to Seville or Malaga starts at around 45.
All these fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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How to buy tickets...
The easiest way to buy tickets is to use either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (whichever you prefer) as you can buy all the tickets together in one place, in plain English, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee. Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead. About Raileurope. About Thetrainline.
Step 1, book an afternoon or evening train from Venice to Milan Centrale for day 1 and add this to your basket.
Step 2, book the direct morning train from Milan Centrale to Lyon Part Dieu for day 2 and add to your basket.
Step 3, book the afternoon train from Lyon Part Dieu to Barcelona for day 2 and add to your basket.
Step 4 if going beyond Barcelona, book a train from Barcelona to your Spanish destination for day 3, add to basket & check out.
The Frecciarossa is ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. For TGVs you print your ticket or select a mobile ticket to show on your phone.
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How to buy tickets, advanced...
You can of course book each train separately with the relevant operator, with no booking fee. This means more work and it won't necessarily make it any cheaper.
Step 1, buy tickets from Venice to Milan and from Milan to Lyon at either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in plain English, allows seat choice from a seat map, they'll refund seat61 users their booking fee if you email seat61@italiarail.com afterwards) or Trenitalia's site www.trenitalia.com, but for that you'll need to use Italian-language place names and it has a few quirks so see this advice on using it. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.
Step 2, book from Lyon to Barcelona at the French Railways website, www.sncf-connect.com.
Step 3, book onward trains in Spain at www.renfe.com (in , fiddly, see advice).
Option 2, Venice to Barcelona & Spain with overnight stop in Geneva...
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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.
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Day 1, travel from Venice to Geneva by direct ETR610 EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 16:18 and arriving Geneva at 23:54.
By all means take an earlier train to enjoy the scenery in daylight through the Alps and arrive earlier in Geneva, although you'll then need to change trains in Milan.
Fares start at 39 in 2nd class or 59 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, small booking fee), using these means all your tickets can be booked together in one place. Or book at www.italiarail.com in , £ or $, the small fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com. Booking opens 90 days ahead. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.
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Stay overnight in Geneva. Suggested hotels with good reviews near the station include Hotel Cornavin Genθve, 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.
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Day 2, travel from Geneva to Barcelona, leaving Geneva at 07:14, change Lyon Part Dieu & Montpelier St-Roch, arriving Barcelona Sants 16:34.
Geneva to Lyon is by TER regional train along the river Rhτne, Lyon to Montpelier is by TGV with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, Montpelier to Barcelona is by TGV Duplex also with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
The TGV Duplex passes Beziers cathedral, flamingos on the lakes between Montpelier & Narbonne, the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks before Perpignan, with great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, see more photos & information about the journey.
Geneva-Lyon costs a fixed-price 29.40. Lyon-Barcelona starts at 39 in 2nd class or 59 in 1st class, book ahead for the cheapest prices.
Book from Geneva to Barcelona at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in , more fiddly). Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own tickets or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.
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Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Madrid, Valencia, Alicante and so on by high-speed train...
A high-speed AVE leaves Barcelona Sants at 18:25, arriving Madrid Atocha 20:55, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
A fast EuroMed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 18:15 arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 21:02 & Alicante 23:14.
For Granada, Seville, Cordoba & Malaga, stay in Barcelona overnight, I recommend the Hotel Barcelo Sants inside the station. Next morning a direct high-speed AVE train leaves Barcelona Sants at 08:35 for Granada, Cordoba & Seville Santa Justa, change Cordoba for Malaga Maria Zambrano.
Check times & buy tickets using either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, small booking fee) or Spanish railways own site www.renfe.com (in , much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it) or www.petrabax.com (in $, small mark-up). You print your own ticket.
Booking for Spanish trains normally opens only 60 days ahead, but this varies. Allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Barcelona.
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Venice to Geneva by EuroCity train, seen here at Milan Centrale. More information about these EuroCity trains. |
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The view from the train: Lake Leman on a wintry day. |
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To Barcelona by TGV. See more information, photos & tips for the TGV to Barcelona. |
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Cafe-bar on upper deck in car 4, serving tea, coffee, soft drinks, wine, beer, snacks & microwave-style hot dishes. |
2nd class seats on the upper deck. There's a mix or tables for 4 and unidirectional seating. 360Ί photo. |
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1st class upper deck seats, club duo on the left, a club quatre on the right. 360Ί photo. |
A TGV Duplex. The 1 near the door indicates 1st class, a 2 indicates 2nd class. |
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Dinner from the cafe-bar... |
View from the train, passing Bιziers... |
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Mt Canigou & the Pyrenees... One of the highest peaks in the mighty Pyrenees, the 2,784m (9,137 feet) high Mt Canigou dominates the skyline on the right all the way from Perpignan to Girona, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canigou. More photos of what to see on the Paris-Barcelona train journey. |
Option 3, Italy to Barcelona by luxury cruise ferry...
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Another excellent option is the Grimaldi Lines cruise ferry from Civitavecchia (an hour by regional train north of Rome) and Barcelona. The ferry sails daily at 22:15 and arrives at 18:15 next day. To check times, fares, accommodation and to book online use the Direct Ferries website or go to www.grimaldi-lines.com. Grimaldi Lines also run a ferry several times a week between Barcelona and Livorno, and between Salerno (near Naples) and Valencia.
Venice to Lisbon & Portugal...
Option 1, Venice to Lisbon via Barcelona & Madrid...
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Day 1, travel from Venice to Madrid as shown in the Venice to Madrid section above.
You travel from Venice to Geneva, stay overnight, then travel from Geneva to Barcelona on day 2 and catch an evening train to Madrid.
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Stay overnight in Madrid. The classic Hotel Mediodia is across the road from Atocha with good reviews, or try the NH Hotel Madrid Atocha or Only YOU Hotel Atocha, also across the road from the station.
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Day 3, travel from Madrid to Lisbon by daytime trains as shown on the Madrid to Lisbon page.
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Change at Lisbon Oriente for trains to Porto & Faro, as shown in the Madrid to Lisbon section.
Option 2, Venice to Faro & the Algarve using a bus from Seville...
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Stay overnight in Barcelona... The Hotel Barcelo Sants is the top choice here, it's part of Barcelona Sants station so easy to use when arriving & departing by train, with great reviews & good feedback from Seat61 users. See other suggested hotels near the station.
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Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Seville by AVE-S112 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:35 and arriving Seville Santa Justa at 14:10.
Fares start at around 46, book this at www.raileurope.com (easiest, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, only in , may reject some international credit cards).
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Day 2, travel from Seville to Faro by bus. Buses run from Seville Plaza de Armas to Faro several times daily, journey time around 3h40, fare around 16-20.
Buses are run by Damas, Eva-Bus & Alsa amongst others, you can check times & buy tickets for various bus companies all in one place at Omio.com. You print your own ticket.
Venice to Andorra...
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Step 1, travel from Venice to Marseille as shown in the Venice to Nice & Marseille section above.
Book this at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee).
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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.
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Step 2, travel from Marseille to Toulouse by Intercitι leaving Marseille St Charles at 09:27 & arriving Toulouse Matabiau at 13:19.
Fares start at 25 in 2nd class or 45 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in , more fiddly). Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.
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Step 3, travel from Toulouse Matabiau station to Andorra la Vella by bus. Andbus run several buses per day taking 4 hours, fare 33. There's a bus leaving Toulouse Matabiau station (bus stand 15) at 15:00 arriving Andorra 19:00. Check times & book the bus at www.andorrabybus.com. I'd allow at least an hour between train and bus in Toulouse, just in case of delay.
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Travel from Toulouse to Andorra by bus, seen at bus stand 15. The bus station is right next to the rail station. |
Bus station in Toulouse Matabiau forecourt. Photos courtesy of Andrew McIntyre. |
Venice to Berlin from 39.90
Option 1, Venice to Berlin in a single day - a chill-out day via the scenic Brenner Pass...
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Step 1, travel from Venice to Verona by Frecciarossa, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 06:48 arriving Verona Porta Nuova at 08:00.
Frecciarossas have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the Frecciarossa page.
A later departure from Venice is possible, but I'd allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Verona in case of delay which is why I suggest this departure.Fares start at 9.90 in 2nd class or 19.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Step 2, travel from Verona to Berlin, leaving Verona Porta Nuova at 09:01 by EuroCity train, changing at Munich Hbf (arrive 14:26, depart 14:56) onto an ICE train, arriving Berlin Hbf at 19:31.
The comfortable Austrian EuroCity train travel along the scenic Brenner Pass, a real treat, see the Brenner Pass photos & video here. The German ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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A later journey is also possible, exactly the same as above, but two hours later: Leave Venice Santa Lucia at 09:02, change at Verona, leaving Verona Porta Nuova at 11:04, change at Munich Hbf and arrive Berlin Hbf 21:29.
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Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com as follows: Set up an enquiry from Venice to Berlin, click More options, enter Verona (any station) as a via station and set duration to 45 minutes. Now run the enquiry, looking in the search results for journeys with 2 changes that match the times above. The Venice-Verona train is ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. For Verona-Berlin you print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead (up to 6 months for the Verona-Germany section). There's a small booking fee.
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Alternatively, you can book the Venice to Verona train at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in , $ or £, they'll refund their booking fee to seat61 users if you email them after booking at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (in , more fiddly, requires Italian-language place names, see advice on using it). Then book from Verona to Berlin using the German Railways website www.bahn.de (in , no booking fee).
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A EuroCity train at Munich Hbf. More photos & information about these Austrian EuroCity trains. |
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2nd class seats, some in open-plan saloons like this, some in 6-seat compartments. |
1st class leather seats. You'll also find seats in classic 6-seat compartments. |
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Vineyards, mountains and castles south of Brenner as the train heads from Verona to Innsbruck... |
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Mountains on the Brenner route... See the Brenner Pass scenery video here |
Option 2, Venice to Berlin using the Venice-Munich Nightjet sleeper train - the time-effective option...
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Step 1, travel from Venice to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05 and arriving Munich Ost at 05:50.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has several couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, a little more fiddly, in ). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Transfer from Munich Ost to Munich Hbf by frequent S-Bahn train taking 8 minutes.
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Step 2, travel from Munich to Berlin by ICE train, leaving Munich Hbf at 07:55 and arriving Berlin Hbf at 11:53.
ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
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Step 1, Venice to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train... Above, the Nightjet at Venice Santa Lucia. |
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Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room |
The same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo. |
Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo. |
Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo. |
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6-berth couchettes. |
4-berth couchettes. |
Nightjet couchette car... |
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2nd class seats. Larger photo. |
Step 2, Munich to Berlin by ICE... |
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Restaurant car. Larger photo. |
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Bar car. Larger photo. |
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Boarding an ICE at Berlin Hbf... |
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1st class seats. Larger photo. |
Option 3, Venice to Berlin using the Zurich-Berlin sleeper...
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Step 1, travel from Venice to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 11:48 and arriving Milan Centrale at 14:15.
The Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 19.90 in 2nd class or 29.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (in , requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it). Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.
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Step 2, travel from Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train, leaving Milan Centrale at 15:10 and arriving Zurich HB at 18:27.
The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It's a lovely run through the Alps, past Italian and Swiss lakes and passing through the world's longest railway tunnel, the Gotthard Base Tunnel. Have dinner in Zurich, I can recommend the steak-frites and a beer at the Brasserie Federal on the main concourse at Zurich HB.
Fares start at 29 in 2nd class or 49 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (in , requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it). Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.
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Step 3, travel from Zurich to Berlin by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Zurich HB at 20:59 and arriving Berlin Hbf at 07:20.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has two air-conditioned double-deck sleeping-cars (1 & 2 bed compartments with washbasin, 1 & 2 bed deluxe compartments with shower & toilet, plus a few 3-berth compartments with washbasin), couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments & ordinary seats. The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee in the morning, see the Nightjet information page.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Switzerland & click nj.
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Zurich to Berlin by Nightjet sleeper train... More information about Nightjets. |
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Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room |
The same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo. |
Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo. |
Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo. |
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6-berth couchettes. |
4-berth couchettes. |
Nightjet couchette car... |
Option 4, Venice to Berlin with overnight stop in Munich - same as option 1 but with an overnight stop...
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Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich by EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 and arriving Munich Hbf at 20:26.
On Saturdays & Sundays there's also a later EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35 arriving Munich Hbf at 22:27.
This comfortable Austrian EuroCity train goes via the scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass photos & video here.
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Stay overnight in Munich. The affordable Eden Hotel Wolff & NH Collection Mόnchen are across the road from the station's north side exit with great reviews. Or consider the more upmarket 25 Hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian, Excelsior by Giesel & Mercure City Center. For a splurge, the luxurious Sofitel Munich Beyerpost occupies the former Royal Bavarian Post Office building of 1896-1900, at the station's south side exit.
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Day 2, travel from Munich Hbf to Berlin Hbf by comfortable ICE train on any departure you like, they leave regularly taking as little as 3h58.
ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
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Fares from Venice to Berlin start at 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets from Venice to Berlin at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.
To get the overnight stop in Munich, click Stopover and enter Munich Hbf as a via station with a suitable stopover duration, say 11 hours, in the hh:mm box. Adjust as necessary to get the trains you want either side of Munich. A little trial & error is sometimes needed!
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Venice to Munich from 39.90...
Option 1, Venice to Munich by EuroCity train - the scenic daytime option!
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A smart Austrian EuroCity train leaves Venice Santa Lucia every day at 13:35 and arrives Munich Hbf at 20:26.
On Saturdays & Sundays there's a second Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35 arriving Munich Hbf at 22:27.
These trains travel via the beautifully scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass photos & video.
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Fares start at 37.90 in 2nd class or 65.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
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You can leave Venice earlier if you change trains in Verona - a good idea in winter, so as not to miss scenery when it gets dark earlier.
You can travel from Venice to Verona Porta Nuova by hourly Frecciarossa trains, then from Verona Porta Nuova to Munich Hbf by Austrian EuroCity train, these leave every twp hours. So you can leave Venice earlier or later than the direct 13:35 train if you like. Just make sure you allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Verona in case of any delay as you will be on separate tickets.
Venice to Verona by Frecciarossa train starts at 9.90, Verona to Munich by EuroCity train starts at 39.90.
To check train times & book a journey with a change of train in Verona, go to www.raileurope.com and enter Venice Santa Lucia to Munich Hbf. But before running the enquiry, click More options and enter Verona Porta Nuova as a via station with a stopover duration at least 45 minutes. Raileurope.com connects to both the Trenitalia & German ticket systems so can sell both tickets as one transaction. Look for options with 1 change. Easy!
Alternatively, you can of course book from Verona Porta Nuova to Munich or any other chosen German destination using the German Railways website www.bahn.de and print your own ticket. Then book a suitable connecting train from Venice Santa Lucia to Verona Porta Nuova at either www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com. Price should be the same as Raileurope.com.
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A EuroCity train at Munich Hbf. More photos & information about these EuroCity trains. |
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2nd class seats, some in open-plan saloons like this, some in 6-seat compartments. |
1st class leather seats. You'll also find seats in classic 6-seat compartments. |
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Watch out for hilltop fortresses... See the Brenner Pass scenery video here. |
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Vineyards, mountains and castles south of Brenner as the train heads from Verona to Innsbruck... |
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Mountains on the Brenner route... |
Option 2, Venice to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train - The time-effective overnight option...
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Every evening, a direct Nightjet sleeper train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05 and arrives Munich Ost at 05:50 next morning.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has several couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
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Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at (in , same prices, more fiddly). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
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Venice to Munich by Nightjet... Above, the Venice-Munich Nightjet at Venice Santa Lucia. |
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Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room |
Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo. |
Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo. |
Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo. |
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6-berth couchettes. |
4-berth couchettes. |
Nightjet couchette car... |
Venice to Frankfurt, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Hamburg & Germany...
Option 1, Venice to Frankfurt, Cologne, Dusseldorf or Hamburg in a day via the scenic Brenner Pass - a scenic daytime option...
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Step 1, travel from Venice to Verona by Frecciarossa, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 06:48 and arriving Verona Porta Nuova at 08:00.
Frecciarossas have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the Frecciarossa page.
A later departure from Venice is possible, but I'd allow plenty of time in Verona in case of delay which is why I suggest this one.Fares start at 9.90 in 2nd class or 19.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Step 2, travel from Verona to Cologne, Dusseldorf or Hamburg, leaving Verona Porta Nuova at 09:01 by EuroCity train, changing at Munich Hbf onto an ICE train to Frankfurt, Cologne, Dusseldorf or Hamburg arriving early evening.
The comfortable Austrian EuroCity train goes via the scenic Brenner Pass, see the photo & video here. The superb German ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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A later journey is also possible on same route, running two hours later, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:00, change at Verona, leaving Verona Porta Nuova at 11:01, changing at Munich Hbf onto an ICE to Frankfurt, Cologne, Dusseldorf or Hamburg.
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Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com as follows: Set up an enquiry from Venice to your German destination, click More options, enter Verona (any station) as a via station and set duration to 45 minutes. Now run the enquiry, looking in the search results for journeys with 2 changes that match the times above. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead, although the Verona to Germany part opens up to 6 months ahead. There's a small booking fee.
The Venice-Verona journey is ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. For Verona to Germany you print your own ticket or show it on your phone.
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.
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A EuroCity train at Munich Hbf. More photos & information about these EuroCity trains. |
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2nd class seats, some in open-plan saloons like this, some in 6-seat compartments. |
1st class leather seats. You'll also find seats in classic 6-seat compartments. |
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Vineyards, mountains and castles south of Brenner as the train heads from Verona to Innsbruck... |
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Mountains on the Brenner route... See the Brenner Pass scenery video here |
Option 2, Venice to Frankfurt, Cologne, Dusseldorf or Hamburg in a day via Switzerland - another scenic daytime option...
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Step 1, travel from Venice to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 07:18 every day arriving Milan Centrale at 09:45.
Frecciarossas have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the Frecciarossa page.
Fares start at 19.90 in standard or 29.90 in business. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, it's ticketless you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.
On arrival, have a coffee in Milan's magnificent Centrale station, well worth a look around in its own right, maybe you can spot Mussolini!
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Step 2, travel from Milan to Frankfurt by ETR610 EuroCity train leaving Milan Centrale at 11:20 and arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 18:44.
The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It travels along Lake Maggiore and through the Swiss Alps via the famous Simplon & Lφtschberg route. Change in Frankfurt for Cologne, Dusseldorf and so on. It's even possible to reach Hamburg or Berlin shortly after midnight.
Fares from Milan to Germany start at 59.90 in 2nd class or 119.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book from Milan to anywhere in Germany at www.bahn.de or www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, looking for the 11:20 departure. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.
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The Milan-Frankfurt train at Frankfurt Hbf. There's a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Photo courtesy of @Nordkommission. |
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2nd class on a Trenitalia ETR610... |
1st class on a Trenitalia ETR610. |
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Lake Maggiore, seen from the train... |
Option 3, Venice to Frankfurt, Cologne, Dόsseldorf or Hamburg by EuroCity train to Innsbruck then Nightjet sleeper train - scenic & time-effective...
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Step 1, travel from Venice to Innsbruck by EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 and arriving Innsbruck Hbf at 18:36.
This is a wonderful journey, over the causeway across the lagoon from central Venice to the mainland, over to Verona and up the wonderfully scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass photos & video.
Fares start at 19.90 in 2nd class or 39.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the German Railways website www.bahn.de (in , no fee). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.
Tip: If you have a sleeper ticket, you can use the ΦBB 1st class lounge at Innsbruck Hbf between trains, with tea, coffee & free WiFi.
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Step 2, travel from Innsbruck to Germany by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 20:44 arriving next morning at Cologne Hbf at 06:51 & Dόsseldorf 07:23, with a separate portion to Hamburg Hbf arriving 08:47.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has several couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at (in , same prices, a little more fiddly). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
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Step 1, Venice to Innsbruck by Austrian EuroCity train. This is a EuroCity train at Innsbruck... |
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2nd class seats, some in open-plan saloons like this, some in 6-seat compartments. |
1st class leather seats. You'll also find seats in classic 6-seat compartments. |
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Mountains on the Brenner route between Verona & Innsbruck... |
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Step 2, Innsbruck to Cologne, Dόsseldorf or Hmaburg by Nightjet sleeper train. Above, the Nightjet train is about to leave Innsbruck. More information about Nightjet trains. |
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Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room |
The same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo. |
Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo. |
Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo. |
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6-berth couchettes. |
4-berth couchettes. |
Nightjet couchette car... |
Option 4, Venice to Stuttgart by Nightjet sleeper train, onwards by daytime ICE train - another time-effective option...
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Step 1, travel from Venice to Stuttgart by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05 and arriving Stuttgart Hbf at 08:37.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , a little more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
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Step 2, travel from Stuttgart to Frankfurt, Cologne, Dόsseldorf or Hamburg by ICE train, allowing at least 60 minutes in Stuttgart.
If you leave Stuttgart after 09:40 you'd reach Cologne 12:05, Dόsseldorf 12:35, Hamburg 16:14.
ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 37.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book from Stuttgart to anywhere in Germany at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
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Venice to Stuttgart by Nightjet... Above, the Nightjet at Venice Santa Lucia. |
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Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room |
The same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo. |
Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo. |
Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo. |
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6-berth couchettes. |
4-berth couchettes. |
Nightjet couchette car... |
Option 4, Venice to anywhere in Germany by daytime trains with overnight stop in Munich - same as option 1 but with an overnight stop...
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Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich by Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 and arriving Munich Hbf at 20:26.
On Saturdays & Sundays there's also a later Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35 arriving Munich Hbf at 22:27.
This comfortable Austrian EuroCity train goes via the scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass photos & video here.
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Stay overnight in Munich. The affordable Eden Hotel Wolff & NH Collection Mόnchen are across the road from the station's north side exit with great reviews. Or consider the more upmarket 25 Hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian, Excelsior by Giesel & Mercure City Center. For a splurge, the luxurious Sofitel Munich Beyerpost occupies the former Royal Bavarian Post Office building of 1896-1900, at the station's south side exit.
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Day 2, take an ICE or IC train from Munich to anywhere in Germany. ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
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Fares from Venice to Germany start at 37.90 in 2nd class or 65.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets from Venice to any German destination at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.
To get the overnight stop in Munich, click Stopover and enter Munich Hbf as a via station with a suitable stopover duration, say 11 hours, in the hh:mm box. Adjust as necessary to get the trains you want either side of Munich. A little trial & error is sometimes needed!
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Venice to Vienna & Austria from 29.90...
Option 1, Venice to Vienna by railjet train - the scenic daytime option...
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Swish Austrian railjet trains link Venice with Vienna twice a day, city centre to city centre over the beautiful UNESCO-listed Semmering route through the mountains. The journey isn't mere transportation, it's a highlight of your trip. Watch the video, Vienna to Venice by railjet.
The morning railjet train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 09:55 and arrives Vienna Hbf at 17:42.
The afternoon railjet train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arrives Vienna Hbf at 23:42.
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These modern railjet trains have a restaurant car serving snacks, meals, beer & wine, there are power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. There's also the option of business class, = premium 1st class, a real treat. Just remember that the afternoon train may pass the best Semmering scenery after dark, depending on the time of year.
See the Vienna to Venice by train page for more information, tips, photos & video.
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Fares start at 29.90 in 2nd class, 44.90 in 1st class or 59.90 in business class (= premium 1st). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (in , same prices, a bit more fiddly). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. Look for the direct RJ train with 0 changes. You print your own ticket.
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A Venice-Vienna railjet at Venice Santa Lucia. More photos & info about Venice-Vienna railjets. |
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Restaurant. In 1st & business you're served at your seat. |
Business class. About business class. |
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First class. |
Economy class. |
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The railjet travels over the famous Semmering Railway, opened in 1854 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the Vienna to Venice by train page for more information, photos & video. |
Option 2, Venice to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train - the time-effective option...
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An excellent Nightjet sleeper train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05 every night, arriving Vienna Hbf at 07:58 next morning.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
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Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at (same prices, in , more fiddly). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
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A comfortline sleeping-car on a Nightjet sleeper train at Vienna Hbf. More information about Nightjets. |
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Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room |
Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo. |
Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo. |
Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo. |
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6-berth couchettes. |
4-berth couchettes. |
Nightjet couchette car... |
Venice to Salzburg from 21.90...
Option 1, Venice to Salzburg via the scenic Tauern route - the daytime option, fastest route...
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A comfortable railjet train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 09:55, final destination Vienna. Change at Villach and arrive Salzburg Hbf 15:48.
A second daily railjet train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55, final destination Vienna. Change at Villach and arrive Salzburg Hbf 21:48.
This takes you over the scenic Tauern route through the mountains across Austria.
Don't worry about the 5-minute interchange at Villach, this is a recognised connection which many people make, it's a simple cross-platform switch across a platform. In any case you'll have a through ticket so will be looked after if there's a missed connection.
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Fares start at 21.90 in 2nd class or 59.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , a bit more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
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A Venice-Vienna railjet at Venice Santa Lucia. More photos & info about Venice-Vienna railjets. |
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Restaurant. In 1st & business you're served at your seat. |
Business class. About business class. |
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First class. |
Economy class. |
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The railjet travels over the famous Semmering Railway, opened in 1854 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the Vienna to Venice by train page for more information, photos & video. |
Option 2, Venice to Salzburg via Innsbruck scenic Brenner route - the daytime option, alternative route...
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This is a couple of hours slower, but offers departures roughly every two hours from early morning until early afternoon.
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There's a direct EuroCity train from Venice Santa Lucia to Innsbruck Hbf at 13:35, change at Innsbruck, arriving Salzburg Hbf 21:01.
There are other departures by Italian Frecciarossa to Verona, then EuroCity train to Innsbruck and connecting train to Salzburg.
These travel via the scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner photos & video here.
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To find journeys & buy tickets via this route, use www.raileurope.com as it can sell both Italian and Austrian tickets and has a stopover duration feature. Set up an enquiry from Venice to Salzburg, click More options and enter Verona Porta Nuova as a via station with a stopover duration of at least 45 minutes. That gets you a robust connection where the tickets change over.
The Frecciarossa is ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. For the Austrian trains, you print your own ticket.
Option 3, Venice to Salzburg by Nightjet sleeper train - the time-effective option...
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A Nightjet sleeper train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05 arriving Salzburg Hbf at 04:04 (ouch!) But you don't need to get up that early...
The sleeper costs exactly the same whether you book it to Salzburg or to Linz, St Pφlten or Vienna, so I suggest booking it from Venice to Linz (06:04) or perhaps St Pφlten (at 07:09), then simply hop on the next hourly double-deck Westbahn train back to Salzburg Hbf, journey time 1h05 from Linz, 2h02 from St Pφlten. You pay the 14 fare from Linz or 22 fare from St Pφlten to the conductor on board, no reservation necessary, see www.westbahn.at. Then there's no need to get up at 4am. Simples!
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The comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
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Fares for the Nightjet start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Book the Nightjet at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , a bit more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
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Venice to Linz or Vienna by Nightjet... Above, the Nightjet at Venice Santa Lucia. |
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Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room |
The same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo. |
Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo. |
Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo. |
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6-berth couchettes. |
4-berth couchettes. |
Nightjet couchette car... |
Venice to Innsbruck from 19.90...
Option 1, Venice to Innsbruck by direct train - the best option, if the afternoon departure suits you...
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A direct Austrian EuroCity train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 every day, arriving Innsbruck Hbf at 18:36.
On Saturdays & Sundays a second direct Austrian EuroCity train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35, arriving Innsbruck Hbf at 20:36.
These EuroCity trains travel through the wonderfully scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass photos & video.
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Fares start at 19.90 in 2nd class or 39.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, looking for the 13:35 or 15:35 EC train with 0 changes.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
You can also book using www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in , £ or $, overseas cards no problem) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , same prices but a bit more fiddly). These use the Austrian ticketing system, prices may differ from the German system.
Option 2, other departures with a change in Verona - if you want a morning departure...
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You take an Italian Frecciarossa train from Venice Santa Lucia to Verona Porta Nuova, then an Austrian EuroCity train to Innsbruck, these run every two hours. I'd allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Verona where you switch tickets.
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Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com as it can sell both Italian and Austrian tickets and has a stopover duration feature. Set up an enquiry from Venice to Innsbruck, click More options and enter Verona Porta Nuova as a via station with a stopover duration of at least 45 minutes. That gets you a robust connection where the tickets change over.
The Frecciarossa is ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. For the Austrian train, you print your own ticket.
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A EuroCity train at Innsbruck. More photos & information about these EuroCity trains. |
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2nd class seats, some in open-plan saloons like this, some in 6-seat compartments. |
1st class leather seats. You'll also find seats in classic 6-seat compartments. |
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Vineyards, mountains and castles south of Brenner as the train heads from Verona to Innsbruck... |
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Mountains on the Brenner route... See the Brenner Pass scenery video here. |
Venice to Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Stockholm & Scandinavia...
Option 1, Venice to Copenhagen & Stockholm using the Zurich-Hamburg sleeper - the most time-effective option...
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Step 1, travel from Venice to Milan by Frecciargento, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 11:48 and arriving Milan Centrale at 14:15.
The Frecciargento has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 19.90 in 2nd class or 29.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (in , requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it). It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.
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Step 2, travel from Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train, leaving Milan Centrale at 15:10 and arriving Zurich HB at 18:27.
The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It's a lovely run through the Alps, past Italian and Swiss lakes and passing through the world's longest railway tunnel, the Gotthard Base Tunnel.
Have dinner in Zurich, I can recommend the steak-frites and a beer at the Brasserie Federal on the main concourse at Zurich HB.
Fares start at 29 in 2nd class or 49 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (in , requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it). Booking opens up to 90 days ahead. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.
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Step 3, travel from Zurich to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Zurich HB at 20:59 and arriving Hamburg Hbf at 07:54.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has two air-conditioned double-deck sleeping-cars (1 & 2 bed compartments with washbasin, 1 & 2 bed deluxe compartments with shower & toilet, plus a few 3-berth compartments with washbasin), couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments & ordinary seats. The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee in the morning, see the Nightjet information page.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Switzerland & click nj.
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Step 4, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by Danish IC3 Intercity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:56 & arriving Copenhagen at 13:34.
From 17 June to 20 August 2023 an altered timetable applies, you leave Hamburg Hbf at 10:53 & arrive Copenhagen at 15:34.
Fares start at 27.90 in 2nd class or 59.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book from Hamburg to Copenhagen at the German Railways website www.bahn.de or (if you want to keep all your bookings together in one place) www.thetrainline.com. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, you print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.
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Step 5, travel from Copenhagen to Sweden by train...
For Stockholm, travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000 train leaving Copenhagen at 14:21 and arriving Stockholm Central at 19:36.
From 17 June to 20 August 2023 when you leave Hamburg later, leave Copenhagen at 16:21 and arrive Stockholm Central at 21:38.
For Gothenburg, travel from Copenhagen to Gothenburg Central by Φresund train, these leave every hour taking 3h53.
For Malmo, travel from Copenhagen to Malmφ Central by Φresund train every 20-30 minutes taking 39 minutes.
All these trains cross the water from Denmark to Sweden over the impressive Φresund fixed link.
Fares from Hamburg to Sweden start at 56.90. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book from Hamburg to Stockholm, Gothenburg or Malmφ as one transaction at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. Gothenburg is listed as Gφteborg Central. If you have any problems, for example if you don't see any affordable 1st class fares, split the booking, booking Hamburg to Copenhagen at www.bahn.de and booking Copenhagen to anywhere in Sweden at either Omio.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, small fee) or www.sj.se (in SEK, has been known to reject some overseas credit cards).
You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.
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Zurich to Hamburg by Nightjet... This is a double-deck sleeping-car at Zurich HB. Courtesy of DiscoverbyRail.com. |
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2-berth sleeper on lower deck... |
Stairs down to pair of lower compartments... |
1 or 2-bed sleeper on lower deck with washbasin, viewed through window. Set up as 1-bed. Note how compact the compartment is... |
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Nightjet couchette car... |
6-berth couchettes. |
4-berth couchettes. |
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Hamburg to Copenhagen by Intercity train seen here at Copenhagen. More about Hamburg to Copenhagen trains. |
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2nd class seats on an IC3 train. Larger photo. |
1st class seats on an IC3 train. Larger photo. |
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Copenhagen to Stockholm by tilting 200km/h X2000, seen at Stockholm Central. More about X2000 trains. |
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1st class on an X2000. Larger photo. |
2nd class on an X2000. Larger photo. |
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Bistro seating on an X2000 train. Larger photo. |
Bistro on an X2000 train. Larger photo. |
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Crossing the impressive Φresund bridge from Denmark to Sweden... |
Option 2, Venice to Copenhagen using the Innsbruck-Hamburg Nightjet sleeper train...
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Step 1, travel from Venice to Innsbruck by EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 and arriving Innsbruck Hbf at 18:36.
This is a wonderful journey, over the causeway across the lagoon from central Venice to the mainland, over to Verona and up the scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass scenery video here.
Fares start at 19.90 in 2nd class or 39.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Tip: If you have a sleeper ticket, you can use the ΦBB Lounge at Innsbruck Hbf between trains, with tea, coffee, soft drinks & free WiFi.
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Step 2, travel from Innsbruck to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Innsbruck Hbf 20:44 arriving Hamburg Hbf at 08:47 next morning.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 159.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, in , a bit more fiddly). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.
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Step 3, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by Danish IC3 intercity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 12:53 and arriving Copenhagen at 17:34.
Fares start at 27.90 in 2nd class or 47.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at either www.thetrainline.com (keeping all your bookings together in one place) or the German Railways website www.bahn.de, Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.
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Step 1, Venice to Innsbruck by Austrian EuroCity train. This is a EuroCity train at Innsbruck. |
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2nd class seats, some in open-plan saloons like this, some in 6-seat compartments. |
1st class leather seats. You'll also find seats in classic 6-seat compartments. |
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Mountains on the Brenner route between Verona & Innsbruck... |
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Step 2, Innsbruck to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train. Above, a Comfortline sleeping-car on the Nightjet train about to leave Innsbruck. More information about Nightjet trains. |
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Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room |
Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo. |
Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo. |
Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo. |
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6-berth couchettes... |
4-berth couchettes... |
Couchette car on the Nightjet train... |
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Step 3, Hamburg to Copenhagen by Intercity train. This is a Hamburg to Copenhagen IC3 leaving platform 5 at Hamburg Hbf on a busy summer day. The yellow stripe above the windows indicates first class, located at one end of both 3-car units. More information about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey. |
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2nd class seats on a IC3 train. Larger photo. |
An IC3 train to Copenhagen at Hamburg. |
Option 3, Venice to Copenhagen using the Venice-Munich sleeper - also a time-effective option...
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Step 1, travel from Venice to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05, arriving Munich Ost at 05:50.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , a bit more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Transfer from Munich Ost to Munich Hbf by frequent S-Bahn train taking 8 minutes.
Step 2, travel from Munich to Copenhagen, leaving Munich Hbf 09:55, changing at Hamburg Hbf and arriving Copenhagen at 21:34.
From 17 June to 20 August 2023 an altered timetable applies, leave Munich Hbf 11:56, change Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen 23:34
Treat this as a chill-out day with a good book and a glass or two of wine (I can recommend DB's Spδtburgunder red). You travel from Munich to Hamburg by ICE train with restaurant car for lunch, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. You travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by comfortable Danish intercity train with free WiFi whilst in Denmark, but no catering car so bring your own food & drink.
If you're only going as far as Copenhagen, book from Munich to Copenhagen from 37.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class at the German Railways site www.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.
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Step 3 if you're going to Malmo, simply take a regular Φresund train from Copenhagen to Malmφ Central in 39 minutes, these leave at least twice an hour. You can book through from Munich to Malmφ from 39.90 at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.
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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 Φresund train.
You can book tickets from Copenhagen to anywhere in Sweden at the Swedish Railways site www.sj.se, but there's a cleverer way to book if you are coming from Munich. Use this special link to bahn.de to book from Munich to Stockholm from 56.90 with an overnight stop in Copenhagen programmed in using the Stopover feature - just enter your date of travel from Munich. Adjust the intermediate stopover time as necessary to get the trains you want, or if no fares show up initially, it may take a bit of trial & error to get the trains you want. This method works to book from Munich to Gothenburg, too - you'll find bahn.de lists Gothenburg as Gφteborg Central.
Option 4, Venice to Copenhagen by daytime trains with an overnight stop in Munich...
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Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich by EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 and arriving Munich Hbf at 20:26.
This train takes the scenic Brenner Pass route, see the Brenner Pass scenery photos & video here.
On Saturdays & Sundays there's also a later Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35 arriving Munich Hbf at 22:27.
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Stay overnight in Munich. The affordable Eden Hotel Wolff & NH Collection Mόnchen are across the road from the station's north side exit with great reviews. Or consider the more upmarket 25 Hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian, Excelsior by Giesel & Mercure City Center. For a splurge, the luxurious Sofitel Munich Beyerpost occupies the former Royal Bavarian Post Office building of 1896-1900, at the station's south side exit.
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Day 2, travel from Munich to Copenhagen by train, leaving Munich Hbf at 09:55, 1 easy change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen at 21:34.
From 17 June to 20 August 2023 an altered timetable applies, leave Munich Hbf 07:55, change Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen 19:34 or there's a later departure at 11:56 arriving 23:34.
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How much does it cost?
Venice to Munich starts at 37.90 in 2nd class, 65.90 in 1st class.
Munich to Copenhagen starts at 37.90 in 2nd class, 69.90 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead...
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How to buy tickets...
Step 1, book from Venice to Munich at the German Railways website www.bahn.de looking for the EC train with 0 changes leaving at 13:35.
Step 2, now use www.bahn.de again to book from Munich to Copenhagen looking for a convenient option with just 1 change.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own tickets or can show them on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
Option 5, Venice to Copenhagen, Gothenburg & Stockholm by daytime trains with an overnight stop in Hamburg...
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Day 1, travel from Venice to Hamburg, leaving Venice Santa Lucia 08:48, changing Verona P. Nuova & Munich Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 22:53.
An earlier 06:48 departure is also available if you prefer, on the same route. You travel via the scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass photos & video.
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Stay overnight in Hamburg. The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews. Other hotels near 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, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by Danish IC3 intercity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:56 & arriving Copenhagen 13:34.
An altered timetable applies from 17 June to 20 August 2023, see the timetable here.
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Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Sweden...
For Stockholm, take an X2000 train from Copenhagen to Stockholm, leaving Copenhagen at 14:21 & arriving Stockholm Central 19:36.
From 17 June to 20 August 2023, either take the 06:45 from Hamburg Hbf connecting with the 12:21 Copenhagen-Stockholm arriving Stockholm Central at 17:37, or the 10:53 from Hamburg Hbf connecting with the 16:21 Copenhagen-Stockholm arriving 21:38.
For Malmo or Gothenburg, Φresund trains run hourly from Copenhagen to Gothenburg Central in 3h53 and every half hour or better from Copenhagen to Malmφ Central in 39 minutes.
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How much does it cost?
Venice to Hamburg starts at 39 in 2nd class, 69 in 1st class.
Hamburg to Copenhagen starts at 29 in 2nd class, 59 in 1st class.
Hamburg to Stockholm or Gothenburg starts at 29 in 2nd class, 59 in 1st class.
Fares work like air fares, book early for the cheapest prices...
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How to buy tickets...
Step 1, book from Venice to Hamburg at www.raileurope.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) as one journey, first clicking More options, entering Verona Porta Nuova as a via station with a stopover duration of at least 45 minutes. That gets you a robust connection.
Alternatively, book the Venice-Verona train at Italian Railways www.trenitalia.com then book Verona to Hamburg at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, allowing at least 45 minutes between trains in Verona.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. The Italian train is ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. For the Austrian/German trains you print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone
Step 2, book from Hamburg to Copenhagen, Malmφ, Gothenburg or Stockholm at www.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone
Venice to Oslo & Norway...
Option 1, Venice to Oslo by train all the way...
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Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05, arriving Munich Ost at 05:50.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , a bit more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Transfer from Munich Ost to Munich Hbf by frequent S-Bahn train taking 8 minutes.
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Day 2, travel from Munich to Copenhagen by ICE & Danish IC3 intercity train, leaving Munich Hbf at 09:55, making one easy change at Hamburg Hbf and arriving Copenhagen at 21:34.
From 17 June to 20 August 2023 an altered timetable applies, leave Munich Hbf 07:55, change Hamburg Hbf, arrive Copenhagen 19:34.
Fares start at 39.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book Munich to Copenhagen at the German Railways site www.bahn.de. You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone.
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Stay overnight in Copenhagen. Hotels near the station with good reviews include the Nimb Hotel (5-star luxe), Radisson Blu Royal Hotel (5-star), Axel Guldsmeden (4-star), Andersen Boutique Hotel, First Hotel Mayfair (3-star), Hotel Ansgar (3-star), City Hotel Nebo (2-star).
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Day 3, travel from Copenhagen to Oslo by train, leaving Copenhagen at 09:27, change at Gothenburg Central, arriving Oslo Sentral 17:43.
Earlier & later departures are available, see the Copenhagen-Oslo timetable & information here.
Alternatively, spend a morning in Copenhagen, and after lunch take the DFDS overnight ferry to Oslo with a comfortable private cabin with shower & toilet, sailing from Copenhagen at 14:15 and arriving Oslo at 09:15 on day 3, as also shown here. This is remarkably affordable, and saves a hotel bill. Book the ferry at www.dfds.co.uk.
Option 2, Venice to Oslo via the Kiel-Oslo cruise ferry - the most comfortable way to Oslo...
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Day 1, travel from Venice to Innsbruck by EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 and arriving Innsbruck Hbf at 18:36.
This is a wonderful journey, over the causeway across the lagoon from central Venice to the mainland, over to Verona and up the wonderfully scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass photos & video.
Fares start at 19.90 in 2nd class or 39.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the German Railways website www.bahn.de (in , no fee). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.
Tip: If you have a sleeper ticket, you can use the ΦBB 1st class lounge at Innsbruck Hbf between trains, with complimentary tea, coffee & WiFi.
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Day 1, travel from Innsbruck to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 20:44 arriving at Hamburg Hbf at 08:47.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has several couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at (in , same prices, a little more fiddly). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
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Day 2, travel from Hamburg Hbf to Kiel Hbf by regional train, these leave several times each hour taking 1h10, fixed-price fare around 23.
In Kiel, the Color Line ferry terminal is only 6 minutes walk from Kiel Hbf, but allow several hours between train & ferry for the ferry check-in and in case of delay.
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Day 2, sail from Kiel to Oslo by luxurious overnight Color Line ferry, with a full range of en suite cabins, suites, bars, restaurants and lounges. The m/v Magic or m/v Fantasy normally sails at 14:00 arriving Oslo at 10:00 next morning (day 3).
Check times & buy tickets using the Direct Ferries website or www.colorline.com.
Make sure you're on deck next morning as the ship sails through spectacular scenery up Oslo Fjord. The ship docks at the modern Color Line terminal about 2 km from the city centre. Color Line provide transfer buses to Oslo Sentral station costing 55 krone, or there are plenty of taxis. If you have little luggage it's possible to walk. See map of Oslo showing ferry terminal.
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Step 1, Venice to Innsbruck by Austrian EuroCity train... This is a EuroCity train at Innsbruck. |
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2nd class seats, some in open-plan saloons like this, some in 6-seat compartments. |
1st class leather seats. You'll also find seats in classic 6-seat compartments. |
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Mountains on the Brenner route between Verona & Innsbruck... |
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Step 2, Innsbruck to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train and transfer to Kiel by regional train. Above, the Nightjet train about to leave Innsbruck. More information about Nightjets. |
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Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room |
Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo. |
Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo. |
Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo. |
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6-berth couchettes. |
4-berth couchettes. |
Nightjet couchette car... |
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Step 3, sail from Kiel to Oslo with Color Line... This photo is taken from the exit of Kiel station, so you can see how close the ferry is. It's a 5-6 minute walk across the harbour, with a street lift up to a connecting walkway which takes you to the ferry terminal. If you have reserved one of what Color Line call their "5 star suites", check in at the desk rather than the machines and you'll be directed to a special lounge to wait with free tea, coffee, juice, snacks & WiFi. You'll also have priority boarding of the ship. Photos courtesy of Andrew Leo. |
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Boarding the Color Line ferry to Oslo in Kiel... |
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A 5 Star Suite on the ferry... |
More cruise liner than ferry! The restaurant. |
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Wake up to this.... |
Venice to Helsinki & Finland...
Option 1, Venice to Helsinki using a Finnlines ferry from Germany - the easiest option...
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Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05 and arriving Stuttgart Hbf at 08:37.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, more fiddly, in ). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.
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Day 2, travel from Stuttgart to Hamburg by ICE train, leaving Stuttgart at 09:51 and arriving Hamburg Hbf 16:14. Times may vary.
Fares start at 27.90 in 2nd class or 56.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
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Day 2, transfer from Hamburg Hbf to the Travemόnde ferry terminal by local train+bus and sail from Travemόnde to Helsinki with Finnlines, as shown in detail on the Hamburg page.
Finnlines sail from Travemόnde in northern Germany to Helsinki every day, boarding at 23:30, sailing at 02:45 (the exact time varies) and arriving at Helsinki's Hansa Terminal in Vuosaari at 09:15 2 nights later (Day 4 from Rome). Check sailing dates, times & book the ferry at www.finnlines.com.
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Book onward trains within Finland at the Finnish Railways website www.vr.fi.
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Finnlines operate the Finnstar, Finnmaid & Finnlady on the Travemόnde-Helsinki route. Photo courtesy of Hubert Bartkowiak. Photos below courtesy of Chris Russell. |
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Standard cabin. Larger photo. |
Gym with a view... |
Sauna... |
Option 2, Venice to Helsinki by train to Stockholm, then ferry...
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Step 2, travel from Stockholm to Helsinki either by direct overnight cruise ferry, or by daytime or overnight ferry to Turku and connecting train to Helsinki as shown on the Trains & ferries from Stockholm page.
Venice to Prague, Cesky Krumlov & the Czech Republic...
Option 1, Venice to Prague via the Venice-Vienna sleeper - comfortable, safe & time-effective with a chance to see Vienna on the way...
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Step 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05 arriving Vienna Hbf at 07:58 next morning.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Tip: If you have a sleeper ticket and/or 1st class ticket for the onward train to Prague, you can use the ΦBB lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Prague by Czech railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 09:10 and arriving Prague Hlavni at 13:35.
Fares start at 14.90 in 2nd class, 29.90 in 1st class or 44.90 in business class (= premium 1st class). Fares vary like air fares.
These swish railjet trains have a restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the railjet information page.
Why not book book a later railjet & spend some time exploring Vienna? Railjets to Prague leave every two hours, see the timetable here. Left luggage lockers are available in Vienna. In Prague, you arrive in the city centre walking distance from the old city square.
Book this train at either www.thetrainline.com or the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz. Check prices on both sites as one is often cheaper than the other for the same train. Booking opens 6 months ahead on www.thetrainline.com, 90 days ahead at www.cd.cz. You print your own ticket. See suggested hotels in Prague.
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Step 2 if you're going to Cesky Krumlov: Travel from Vienna Franz-Josefs-Bahnhof to Cesky Krumlov in 4h26 as explained here.
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Step 1, Venice to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train. This is a comfortline sleeping-car on a Nightjet sleeper train arrived at Vienna Hbf. More information about Nightjet trains. |
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Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room |
The same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo. |
Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo. |
Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo. |
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6-berth couchettes... |
4-berth couchettes... |
Couchette car on the Nightjet train... |
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Step 2, Vienna to Prague by smart modern railjet train, with economy, first & business class, restaurant car, free WiFi and draught beer on tap... |
Option 2, Venice to Prague in a single day from 48, comfy, scenic...
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Step 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:55 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 17:42.
The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, free WiFi & power sockets at all seats. It takes the beautifully scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route from Vienna to Graz, a real treat, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmering_railway. Treat yourself to lunch with wine as the mountains glide by. See the Venice to Vienna by train page for more information, tips, photos & video.
Fares start at 29.90 in 2nd class, 44.90 in 1st class or 59.90 in business class (= premium 1st class, a real treat). Fares vary like air fares.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in , £ or $, overseas cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (in , more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Tip: If you have a 1st or business class ticket you can use the ΦBB Lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains with complimentary tea, coffee & WiFi.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Prague by swish modern Czech railjet train leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:10 and arriving Prague Hlavni at 23:37.
The excellent air-conditioned railjet train has a restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 14.90 in 2nd class, 29.90 in 1st class or 44.90 in business class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com or the Czech Railways site www.cd.cz, whichever is cheaper. Booking opens 6 months ahead on www.thetrainline.com, 92 days ahead at www.cd.cz. You print your own ticket. See suggested hotels in Prague.
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A Venice-Vienna railjet at Venice Santa Lucia. More photos & info about Venice-Vienna railjets. |
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Restaurant. In 1st & business you're served at your seat. |
Business class. About business class. |
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First class. |
Economy class. |
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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...
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Day 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 23:42.
This train takes the beautiful UNESCO-listed Semmering route, you might see something of this at least in summer when it's light until ten. The air-conditioned railjet train has a restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. See the Venice to Vienna by train page for more information, tips, photos & video.
Fares start at 29.90 in 2nd class, 44.90 in 1st class or 59.90 in business class (= premium 1st class, a real treat). Fares vary like air fares.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , a bit more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
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Stay overnight in Vienna. Hotels near the station with good reviews include the Motel One Vienna Hbf, GraetzlHotel, Hotel Schani Wien.
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Day 2, travel from Vienna to Prague by Czech railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 07:10 arriving Prague Hlavni at 11:35.
Or have a leisurely breakfast and take the 09:10 arriving 13:35. Your call...
The excellent air-conditioned railjet train has a restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. You arrive in the city centre, walking distance from the old city. Why not book book a later Railjet & spend some time exploring Vienna? Trains to Prague leave every two hours, see the timetable here, left luggage lockers are available.
Fares start at 14.90 in 2nd class, 29.90 in 1st class or 44.90 in business class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at either www.thetrainline.com or www.cd.cz - check prices on both sites as one is often cheaper than the other for the same train. Booking opens 6 months ahead on www.thetrainline.com, 92 days ahead at www.cd.cz. You print your own ticket.
Option 4, Venice to Prague by day trains with overnight stop in Munich - from 37.90, the cheapest option...
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Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich by EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 and arriving Munich Hbf at 20:26.
This train takes the scenic Brenner Pass route, see the Brenner Pass scenery photos & video here.
On Saturdays & Sundays there's also a later Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35 arriving Munich Hbf at 22:27.
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Stay overnight in Munich. The affordable Eden Hotel Wolff & NH Collection Mόnchen are across the road from the station's north side exit with great reviews. Or consider the more upmarket 25 Hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian, Excelsior by Giesel & Mercure City Center. For a splurge, the luxurious Sofitel Munich Beyerpost occupies the former Royal Bavarian Post Office building of 1896-1900, at the station's south side exit.
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Day 2, travel from Munich Hbf to Prague Hlavni by air-conditioned express train in 5h40, see the timetable here.
The trains have a refreshment trolley & free WiFi. More information about Munich to Prague trains.
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Fares from Venice to Prague start at 37.90 in 2nd class or 69.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy a ticket at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.
To build in the overnight stop in Munich, click Stopover and enter Munich Hbf as a via station with a suitable stopover duration, say 11 hours, in the hh:mm box. I have set up this link to Bahn.de for you, just enter your date and number of passengers. Adjust the stopover duration to get an earlier or later train from Munich to Prague.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.
If you have any problems booking this way, book each train separately. First book the Venice to Munich train at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, then book a Munich to Prague train at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz (booking at cd.cz opens 92 days ahead).
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This is a EuroCity train at Munich Hbf. More photos & information about these EuroCity trains. |
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2nd class seats, some in open-plan saloons like this, some in 6-seat compartments. |
1st class leather seats. You'll also find seats in classic 6-seat compartments. |
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Watch out for hilltop fortresses... |
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Vineyards, mountains and castles south of Brenner as the train heads from Verona to Innsbruck... |
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Mountains on the Brenner route... See the Brenner Pass scenery video here... |
Venice to Bratislava from 42...
Option 1, Venice to Bratislava by daytime train - the scenic option...
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Step 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet train leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:55 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 17:42.
The air-conditioned railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It takes the beautifully scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route from Vienna to Graz, a real treat - see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmering_railway. Treat yourself to lunch with wine as the mountains glide by. See the Venice to Vienna by train page for more information, tips, photos & video.
Fares start at 29.90 in 2nd class, 44.90 in 1st class or 59.90 in business class (= premium 1st). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , same prices, a little more fiddly). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Tip: If you have a 1st or business class ticket you can use the ΦBB Lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains with complimentary tea, coffee & WiFi.
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Step 2, when you reach Vienna, simply buy a ticket for 10.20 and hop on the next hourly regional express train from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna, no reservation necessary or possible, journey time 1h06, see the timetable here. Check times at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.
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Step 1, Venice to Vienna by railjet, seen at Venice Santa Lucia. More information about Venice-Vienna railjets. |
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Restaurant. In 1st & business you're served at your seat. |
Business class. About business class. |
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First class. |
Economy class. |
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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. |
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Step 2, Vienna to Bratislava by hourly Regional Express train, seen at Vienna Hbf. Behind the locomotive is a smart Slovakian air-conditioned intercity coach, the rest of the train consists of non-air-con Austrian City Shuttle carriages, as shown in the photo above right. Find a seat in the more Slovakian car if you can! More information about these trains. |
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Option 2, Venice to Bratislava using the Venice-Vienna sleeper train - the time-effective option...
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Step 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05 arriving Vienna Hbf at 07:58 next morning.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at (same prices, in , a bit more fiddly). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you have a sleeper ticket, you can use the ΦBB lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.
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Step 2, when you reach Vienna, simply buy a ticket for 10.20 and hop on the next hourly regional express train from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna, no reservation necessary or possible, journey time 1h06, see the timetable here. Check times at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.
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Step 1, Venice to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train. This is a comfortline sleeping-car on a Nightjet sleeper train arrived at Vienna Hbf. More information about Nightjet trains. |
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Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room |
The same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo. |
Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo. |
Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo. |
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6-berth couchettes... |
4-berth couchettes... |
Couchette car on the Nightjet train... |
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Step 2, Vienna to Bratislava by hourly regional express train, seen about to leave Vienna Hbf. Behind the locomotive is a smart Slovakian air-conditioned intercity coach, whilst the rest of the train consists of more basic non-air-con Austrian City Shuttle carriages, with interiors as shown in the photo above right. Find a seat in the more comfortable Slovakian car if you can! More about these trains. |
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Venice to Budapest from 68...
Option 1, Venice to Budapest using the Venice-Vienna Nightjet sleeper train - safe, comfortable, time-effective...
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Step 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05 arriving Vienna Hbf at 07:58 next morning.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, a bit more fiddly, in ). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Tip: If you have a sleeper ticket and/or 1st class ticket for the onward train to Budapest, you can use the ΦBB 1st class lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with free WiFi and complimentary tea, coffee & snacks.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest by railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 09:42 & arriving Budapest Keleti 12:19.
These swish Austrian railjet trains have a restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more information about railjets. 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.
Fares start at 19.90 in 2nd class, 29.90 in 1st class or 44.90 in business class (= premium 1st). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book from Vienna to Budapest at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways site www.oebb.at (same prices, a little more fiddly, in ). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
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Step 1, Venice to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train. This is a comfortline sleeping-car on a Nightjet sleeper train arrived at Vienna Hbf. More information about Nightjet trains. |
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Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room |
Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo. |
Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo. |
Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo. |
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6-berth couchettes. |
4-berth couchettes. |
Nightjet couchette car... |
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Step 2, Vienna to Budapest by railjet. A railjet at Vienna Hbf. More information about railjets. |
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Business class. About business class. |
Restaurant. In 1st & business you're served at your seat. |
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First class. |
Economy (2nd) class. |
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The railjet has landed... A railjet on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti. More information about railjets. |
Option 2, Venice to Budapest in a single day - comfortable &, scenic...
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Step 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:55 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 17:42.
The swish modern railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It takes the beautifully scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route from Vienna to Graz, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmering_railway. Treat yourself to lunch with wine as the mountains glide by. See the Venice to Vienna by train page for more information, tips, photos & video.
Fares start at 29.90 in 2nd class, 44.90 in 1st class or 59.90 in business class (= premium 1st). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , a little more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
If you have a 1st or business class ticket you can use the ΦBB 1st class lounge at Vienna Hbf with free WiFi & complimentary tea & coffee.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest by railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 18:42 and arriving Budapest Keleti at 21:19.
The swish air-conditioned railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 19.90 in 2nd class, 29.90 in 1st class or 44.90 in business class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , a bit more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
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A Venice-Vienna railjet, at Venice Santa Lucia. More information about Venice-Vienna railjets. |
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Restaurant. In 1st & business you're served at your seat. |
Business class. About business class. |
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First class. |
Economy class. |
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The railjet travels over the famous Semmering Railway, opened in 1854 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the Vienna to Venice by train page for more information, photos & video. |
Option 3, Venice to Budapest with overnight stop in Vienna - same as option 2 but an overnight stop breaks up the journey nicely...
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Day 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 23:42.
This train takes the scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route, you might see something of this at least in summer when it's light until ten. The air-conditioned railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. See the Venice to Vienna by train page for more information, tips, photos & video.
Fares start at 29.90 in 2nd class, 44.90 in 1st class or 59.90 in business class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , a bit more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
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Stay overnight in Vienna. Hotels near the station with good reviews include the Motel One Vienna Hbf, GraetzlHotel, Hotel Schani Wien.
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Day 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest by railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 07:40 and arriving Budapest Keleti at 10:19.
Or have a leisurely breakfast and take the 08:42, or 09:42, and so on, trains to Budapest leave every hour or two. Why not book book a later railjet & spend some time exploring Vienna?
Fares start at 19.90 in 2nd class, 29.90 in 1st class or 44.90 in business class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , a bit more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Option 4, Venice to Budapest with overnight stop in Ljubljana - cheapest option at short notice & a chance to see Trieste & Ljubljana on the way...
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Day 1, travel from Venice to Ljubljana, taking a mid-afternoon regional train to Trieste and the evening regional train to Ljubljana, arriving late evening, see the Venice to Ljubljana page for timetable, fares & how to buy tickets.
You can buy tickets at the station on the day, they cannot sell out. I recommend taking an earlier train from Venice to see something of Trieste, one of Italy's most under-rated cities, or take the very early morning train to spend an afternoon in Ljubljana.
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Stay overnight in Ljubljana. Consider the Hotel Slon which I have used myself, 13 minutes walk from the station with good reviews, or the Petkovek River View Hotel, 800m (10 minutes walk) from the station with great reviews.
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Day 2, travel from Ljubljana to Budapest on the mid-morning train Citadella, see the timetable, fares & how to buy tickets on the Ljubljana page. You reach Budapest late afternoon. This train cannot be booked online, just buy at the station, there are always places.
Venice to Bucharest, Brasov & Romania...
Option 1, Venice to Romania by railjet to Vienna and Dacia Express sleeper train to Sighisoara, Brasov & Bucharest...
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Step 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:55 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 17:42.
The air-conditioned railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It takes the beautifully scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route from Vienna to Graz, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmering_railway. Treat yourself to lunch as the mountains glide by...
Fares start at 29.90 in 2nd class, 44.90 in 1st class or 59.90 in business class (= premium 1st class). Fares vary like air fares.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easiest, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, a bit more fiddly, in ). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Romania on the Dacia Express, leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:42 every day and arriving next day in Simeria 07:13, Sighisoara 09:21, Braşov 12:35, Ploeşti 14:27 & Bucharest Nord at 15:05.
It has a modern air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, plus several deluxe compartments with en suite shower & toilet. It has a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and 2nd class seats.
A Hungarian restaurant car operates between Vienna and Budapest, treat yourself to dinner. A bar car is attached in the morning between Arad & Bucharest, serving drinks & snacks. There's wonderful almost Alpine scenery through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov and Bucharest, a real treat...
Fares start at 59 with a couchette in a 6-berth compartment, 69 with a couchette in a 4-berth compartment, 79 with a bed in a 3-berth sleeper, 99 with a bed in a 3-berth sleeper or 159 with a bed in a single-berth sleeper all to yourself. All per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.
Booking normally opens 90 days ahead. In the search results, look for the direct train marked D with no changes. You collect tickets from an ΦBB ticket machine in Vienna.
You can also (as of 2022) book this train at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro. Click EN top right for English. Booking opens up to 90 days ahead. For Vienna type Wien, for Bucharest type Bucuresti. It can book seats, couchettes or sleepers. For Austria to Romania journeys you now print your own ticket. Tip: Prices might be cheaper than on oebb.at, so check both sites!
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Step 1, Venice to Vienna by railjet, seen here at Venice Santa Lucia. More information about Venice-Vienna railjets. |
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Restaurant. In 1st & business you're served at your seat. |
Business class. About business class. |
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First class. |
Economy class. |
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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. |
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Step 2, Venice to Romania by Dacia Express seen here at Vienna Hbf. This is the sleeping-car. Sleeper photo courtesy of @PaliparanDotCom. Larger photo. |
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The Dacia Express couchette car, boarding at Vienna Hbf. Larger photo. |
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Transylvania: The Dacia Express crosses rural Transylvania. Courtesy of @PaliparanDotCom. |
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The Carpathian mountains: Almost Alpine scenery between Brasov & Bucharest... Courtesy of @PaliparanDotCom |
Option 2, Venice to Romania using the sleeper from Budapest to Brasov & Bucharest - longer, sometimes cheaper, with afternoon in Budapest.
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Step 1, travel from Venice to Budapest as shown in the Venice to Budapest section above.
You leave Venice Santa Lucia in the evening by Nightjet sleeper train and change at Vienna Hbf onto a railjet train to Budapest Keleti, arriving at lunchtime. You've an afternoon to explore Budapest.
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Step 2, take the overnight sleeper train Ister leaving Budapest Keleti at 19:10 and arriving Brasov at 08:40 & Bucharest Nord at 11:19 next day.
This comfortable train has an air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, see the photos on the London to Romania page.
Fares start at 39 with a couchette in 6-berth, 46 with a couchette in 4-berth, 69 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, 84 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or 162 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself. All prices per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro. Click EN top right for English. Booking opens up to 90 days ahead. For Bucharest type Bucuresti. It can book seats, couchettes or sleepers. You print your own ticket.
You can also try booking at the Hungarian Railways website www.mav-start.hu, see my advice on using it. For Bucharest type Bucuresti. You show your ticket in the MAV app on your phone.
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Alternative step 2: Stay overnight in Budapest, top choice for an inexpensive stay next to Budapest Keleti is the Intercity Hotel just across the square in front of the station. Also try the Royal Park Boutique Hotel, the inexpensive Baross City Hotel across the road or the Elit Hotel two minutes walk away. Next day, take a daytime train across Transylvania to Cluj, Timisoara, Simeria, Brasov or Bucharest as shown on the Trains from Budapest page. These daytime trains are also bookable from 26.30 at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice on using it. Booking opens 60 days ahead. You show the ticket in the MAV app on your phone.
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A 1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper with washbasin. Larger photo. |
The sleeping-car (vagon de dormit) on the westbound Ister at Bucharest. Sleepers convert from beds to private sitting rooms for day use. Courtesy of @AndyBTravels, DiscoverByRail.com. |
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The vagon cuseta (couchette car) on the westbound Ister, boarding at Bucharest. Couchettes convert to seats by day. Courtesy of @AndyBTravels, DiscoverByRail.com . |
4 or 6-berth couchettes. Larger photo. |
Venice to Ljubljana & Slovenia, Zagreb...
Option 1, Venice to Ljubljana & Zagreb by the direct route through Trieste...
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Direct trains from Italy to Slovenia were restored in September 2018. Two modern air-conditioned trains now run from Trieste to Ljubljana every day, with connections from Venice. In June 2021 a third train was added, an Austrian EuroCity train en route to Vienna. Just 22 or so gets you from Venice to Ljubljana using the regional trains, any day, any date, no prior reservation necessary, it cannot sell out, just buy at the station on the day. If you've ever wondered where prosecco comes from, you'll find out on this route!
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Click here to see full details of times & fares, and photos on the Venice to Ljubljana & Zagreb page.
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Looking back from the rear of the Austrian EuroCity train as it climbs out of Trieste. Courtesy Helmut Uttenthaler. |
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Scenery in Slovenia on the way from Trieste to Ljubljana. More information about Venice-Trieste-Ljubljana. |
Option 2, Venice to Ljubljana & Zagreb with overnight stop at Villach - a useful alternative...
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Step 1, travel from Venice to Villach in Austria by swish modern railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Villach at 19:11.
The railjet has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 19.90 in 2nd class or 29.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easiest, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways' own website www.oebb.at (in , a little more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, you print your own ticket.
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Stay overnight in Villach - the Hotel Goldenes Lamm or Hotel City are both near the station with great reviews.
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Step 2, travel from Villach to Ljubljana & Zagreb by train, leaving Villach at 06:25 and arriving Ljubljana at 08:09 & Zagreb at 10:39.
Buy this ticket at the station, likely to be around 20 to Ljubljana, 40 to Zagreb. It cannot be booked online.
Venice to Dubrovnik & Split...
Option 1, Venice to Split & Dubrovnik by train via Zagreb - overland all the way...
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Step 1, travel overland from Venice to Zagreb by train as shown above.
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Step 2, take a train from Zagreb to Split (daytime or sleeper) then a bus Split to Dubrovnik (4 hours, lots of buses).
Option 2, Venice to Split & Dubrovnik by ferry from Ancona or Bari - more time-effective...
Step 1, book an overnight ferry with comfortable en suite cabin either from Ancona to Split or from Bari to Dubrovnik. www.jadrolinija.hr sails on both routes several times a week, leaving 19:45-22:00 and arriving 07:00-08:00. You can choose a private cabin or cheaper berth in a shared cabin. There are also reclining seats, but I always recommend a bed in a cabin for a safe and secure night's sleep. Make sure you're on deck with your camera ready as the ship approaches the beautiful Croatian coast!
Step 2, now add a train ticket from Venice Santa Lucia to either Ancona Centrale or Bari Centrale using www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in , £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in ). Italiarail will refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com afterwards. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.
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.
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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...
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Step 1, travel from Venice to Villach in Austria by railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Villach at 19:11.
Book this from 19 at either www.thetrainline.com (easiest) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at. You print your own ticket.
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Stay overnight in Villach. The Hotel Goldenes Lamm or Hotel City are both near the station with great reviews.
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Step 2, travel from Villach to Zagreb by train, leaving Villach at 06:25 and arriving Zagreb at 10:39.
The train is 2nd class only, bring your own food & drink along.
Book this from 29 at either www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.
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Step 3, travel from Zagreb to Belgrade by train, leaving Zagreb at 11:04 and arriving Novi Beograd 18:04 & Belgrade Centar at 18:12.
This train was suspended due to Covid-19 and is still suspended in 2023.
The train is comfortable, 2nd class only, it has no catering so bring your own food & drink.
The fare is around 29, it cannot be bought online so buy at the station or on board the train.
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If you're going to Sofia, spend the night in Belgrade. I recommend the historic Hotel Moskva.
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Step 4, travel from Belgrade to Sofia by daytime train, see the Belgrade to Sofia page for details.
Venice to Bar, Budva, Kotor & Montenegro...
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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!
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Step 1, travel from Venice Santa Lucia to Bari Central, an enjoyable and scenic ride along the Adriatic coast. Obviously, check ferry operating dates and times first and work out a suitable connecting train after booking the ferry. You should choose a train which arrives in Bari at least 3 hours before the ferry sails, to allow for transfer to the port and check-in.
Fares start at 29.90 in 2nd class or 39.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book the train at www.thetrainline.com (in , £ or $, easy to use, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in , £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in , more fiddly). Italiarail will refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference.
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.
In Bari it's a 25 minute walk via Bari's pleasant old town to the ferry terminal, or a 10 minute taxi ride.
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Step 2, sail from Bari to Bar in Montenegro by overnight ferry with a comfortable en suite cabin. Montenegro Lines ceased trading in early 2017, but Croatian ferry line Jadrolinija (www.jadrolinija.hr) will resume sailings shortly with one sailing per week all year round, twice a week in high summer. You can choose a private cabin or cheaper berth in a shared cabin. There are also reclining seats, but I always recommend a bed in a cabin for a safe and secure night's sleep.
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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.
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The Montenegro Lines ferry to Bari at Bar ferry terminal... |
Venice to Warsaw, Krakow & Poland...
Option 1, Venice to Krakow & Warsaw using the Venice-Vienna sleeper...
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Day 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05 arriving Vienna Hbf at 07:58 next morning.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment. See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, a bit more fiddly, in ). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you have a sleeper ticket and/or 1st class ticket for the onward train to Warsaw, you can use the ΦBB 1st class lounge at Vienna Hbf, with free WiFi and complimentary tea & coffee.
You now have a morning free in Vienna.
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Day 2, travel from Vienna to Warsaw by EuroCity train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 14:10 and arriving Warsaw Centralna at 21:29.
The train has a restaurant car, treat yourself to dinner. For Krakow, change at Katowice, arriving Krakow Glowny at 20:12.
Fares start at 29.90 in 2nd class or 59.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at. You print your own ticket.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, but if booking Vienna to Krakow more than 30 days ahead it'll say Ticket for section only and only sell you the Vienna-Katowice train. You can buy the connecting Katowice-Krakow ticket at the station in Katowice, or online at the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl, booking for Polish domestic trains opens 30 days ahead.
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Alternatively, spend all day exploring Vienna, then take the overnight sleeper train to Krakow & Warsaw as shown in the Vienna to Poland section of the Vienna page, booked at either www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.
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Step 1, Venice to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train... Above, the Nightjet at Venice Santa Lucia. |
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Deluxe sleeper. Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room. Larger photo. Video of deluxe room |
The same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out. Larger photo. |
Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided. Larger photo. |
Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open. It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth. Larger photo. |
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6-berth couchettes. |
4-berth couchettes. |
Nightjet couchette car... |
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Step 2, Vienna to Warsaw by EuroCity train... This is a EuroCity train from Vienna to Warsaw at Vienna Hbf. On these PKP Polish Railways cars, the green stripe above the windows indicates 2nd class. Yellow indicates first class. Red indicates the restaurant car. Courtesy of Jennifer Delaney. |
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Restaurant car... |
Option 2, Venice to Krakow & Warsaw using the Vienna-Krakow-Warsaw sleeper. Given the scenery between Venice & Vienna, perhaps the better option!
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Step 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:55 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 17:42.
The air-conditioned railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It takes the beautifully scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route from Vienna to Graz, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmering_railway. Treat yourself to lunch as the mountains glide by...
Fares start at 29.90 in 2nd class, 44.90 in 1st class or 59.90 in business class (= premium 1st class). Fares vary like air fares.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easiest, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, a bit more fiddly, in ). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Poland by sleeper train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 22:10, arriving Krakow Glowny 05:46 & Warsaw Gdanska 08:56.
The EuroNight sleeper train Chopin has a safe & comfortable sleeping-car with 1, 2 or 3 bed compartments including a couple of 1 or 2 bed deluxe compartments with shower & toilet, see the photos below. The train also has economical couchettes in 4 & 6-bunk compartments.
Fares to Krakow start at 39.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 49.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 54.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 69.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Fares to Warsaw start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 88.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at and print your own ticket. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.
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Step 1, Venice to Vienna by railjet, seen here at Venice Santa Lucia. More information about Venice-Vienna railjets. |
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Restaurant. In 1st & business you're served at your seat. |
Business class. About business class. |
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First class. |
Economy class. |
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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. |
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Step 2, Vienna to Krakow & Warsaw by sleeper train... This is the modern Polish sleeping-car from Vienna to Krakow & Warsaw, boarding at Vienna Hbf. |
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Standard sleeper in evening/morning mode with seats folded out. |
Standard sleeper set up as a 3-berth, can also be sold as a single or double. |
Deluxe sleeper, set up as a 2-berth, showing TV & wardrobe. |
Deluxe sleeper: En suite shower & toilet... |
Option 3, Venice to Krakow or Warsaw with overnight stop in Vienna - if you prefer daytime trains & hotel to sleepers...
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Day 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:55 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 23:42.
This train takes the scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route, you might see something of this at least in summer when it's light until ten. The air-conditioned railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. See the Venice to Vienna by train page for more information, tips, photos & video.
If you'd like an afternoon in Vienna, take the earlier railjet leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:55.
Fares start at 29.90 in 2nd class, 44.90 in 1st class or 59.90 in business class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , a bit more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
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Stay overnight in Vienna. Hotels near the station with good reviews include the Motel One Vienna Hbf, GraetzlHotel, Hotel Schani Wien.
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Day 2, travel from Vienna to Krakow by EuroCity train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 08:10 and arriving Krakow Glowny at 13:46.
This is a comfortable train with restaurant car. Change at Krakow Glowny for Warsaw, arriving Warsaw Centralna at 17:17.
Fares start at 29.90 in 2nd class or 59.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this using www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.
Bookings for the direct train from Vienna to Krakow open up to 6 months ahead. However, bookings involving a connecting train within Poland normally open only 60 days ahead.
Alternatively, if you'd like a morning in Vienna, there's an afternoon departure from Vienna to Warsaw with connections for Krakow, see the trains from Vienna page.
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Day 1, Venice to Vienna by railjet, seen here at Venice Santa Lucia. More information about Venice-Vienna railjets. |
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Restaurant. In 1st & business you're served at your seat. |
Business class. About business class. |
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First class. |
Economy class. |
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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. |
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Day 2, Vienna to Krakow by EuroCity train, seen here boarding at Vienna Hbf. |
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Austrian restaurant car. See larger photo. |
Lunch with wine on board... |
Venice to Lviv, Kyiv & Moscow...
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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.
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Day 2, enjoy the best part of the day in Vienna, left luggage lockers are available.
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Day 2, travel from Vienna to Lviv or Kyiv by sleeping-car. leaving Vienna Hbf at 16:42 and arriving next day at Lviv at 11:00 & Kyiv at 18:30.
Introduced in December 2017, this is one or two direct Ukrainian sleeping-cars 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 Kyiv 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 ΦBB 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-Kyiv 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 Kyiv 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 Kyiv 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.
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Day 3, take a sleeper train from Kyiv to Moscow. Train 6 leaves Kyiv at around 19:36 and arrives Moscow Kievskaya at around 10:09 next day (day 4 from Italy). Taking the route via Kyiv avoids Belarus, so no need for a Belarus visa.
All Kyiv-Moscow trains were suspended due to Covid-19 and remain suspended due to the war in Ukraine...
The fare is around 92 with a bed in 4-berth kupι or 180 with a bed in a 2-berth spalny vagon.
You can book tickets starting in Kyiv at the Ukrainian Railways site https://booking.uz.gov.ua/en/ booking from Kyiv to Moskva Kievskaya. You collect tickets at the station in Kyiv. Feedback appreciated!
Change in Moscow for fast trains to St Petersburg, see the train travel in Russia page.
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The Vienna-Kyiv sleeping-car at Vienna Hbf. |
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The Vienna-Kyiv sleeper about to leave Vienna Hbf... Courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler. |
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The sleeper corridor. Courtesy Helmut Uttenthaler. |
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1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper compartment. |
Venice to Athens & Greece...
Option 1, Venice to Greece by direct ferry, several times a week...
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There are ferries from Venice to Igoumenitsa, Corfu and Patras in Greece several times each week, usually leaving from a terminal on the mainland. Check ferry times, dates, prices & buy tickets using the Direct Ferries website or see www.anek.gr.
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It's about 3 hours from Patras to Athens by bus/train combo. There's a bus/train combined timetable from Patras to Athens on www.hellenictrain.gr but it takes a bit of finding. Buy the bus ticket when you reach Patras, it costs around 18.
Option 2, Venice to Bari by train, then Bari to Greece by daily ferry - recommended
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You can leave Venice in the morning on a fast train to Bari, sail overnight to Patras in Greece and take a bus/train into Athens arriving in the early evening. See the Italy to Athens page for details of times, fares & how to buy tickets.
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The ferry Superfast II from Bari to Patras, boarding at Bari. Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com. |
Venice to Istanbul & Turkey...
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Day 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:55 and arrives Vienna Hbf at 17:35.
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Day 1, travel from Vienna to Bucharest overnight on the sleeper train Dacia Express as shown in the Vienna to Romania section.
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Day 2, stay overnight in Bucharest. The Hotel MyContinental Bucuresti Gara de Nord is walking distance from the station, inexpensive and gets great reviews.
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Day 3, travel from Bucharest to Istanbul by sleeper train as shown in the Bucharest to Istanbul section, arriving in the morning on Day 4.
Railbookers custom-made tours
If you just want to buy train tickets at the cheapest price, book online as shown on this page. However, if you want someone to sort out your whole trip for you, arranging all your trains, hotels and transfers, and to look after you if anything affects your arrangements, talk to Railbookers. Railbookers can tailor-make a train trip around Europe to your own specification. Just tell them what you want and they'll advise you on the best trains, routes & hotels. They get good reports and a lot of repeat business! They now have offices in the UK, North America and Australia.
UK call 0207 864 4600,
www.railbookers.co.uk.
US call free 1-888-829-4775,
see
website.
Canada call free 1-855-882-2910,
see website.
Australia call toll-free 1300 971 526,
see website.
New Zealand call toll-free 0800 000 554 or
see
website.
Hotels in Venice
Other hotel sites worth trying...
www.tripadvisor.com is the place to find independent travellers' reviews of all the main hotels.
Backpacker hostels...
www.hostelworld.com: If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels. Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in most cities at rock-bottom prices.