• Step 2, travel from Innsbruck to Amsterdam by Nightjet, leaving Innsbruck Hbf 20:44, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 09:50.

  This is a new generation Nightjet with 1 & 2 bed sleepers with shower & toilet, 4-berth comfort couchettes, individual mini cabins and ordinary seats, see the new generation Nightjet page for a guide to accommodation.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers, couchettes & mini cabins.

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

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.

  You can also book it at the Dutch Railways international site www.nsinternational.com (in €, no fee) or the Austrian Railways site www.oebb.at (in €).  Suggested hotels in Amsterdam.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

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

Step 1, Venice to Innsbruck by new generation railjet, seen here at Verona Porta Nuova.  More about these railjets.

First class, in open saloons.		Business class, in 4-seat compartments.

Restaurant car.		Economy (2nd) class.

Mountains on the Brenner route between Verona & Innsbruck.

Step 2, Innsbruck to Amsterdam by new-generationet sleper train.  More about new-generation Nightjets.

Comfort Plus sleeper with shower & toilet.		Comfort sleeper with shower & toilet

4-berth couchettes.		Mini-cabins - enclosed individual capsules.

Option 2, Venice to Amsterdam with overnight stop in Munich - if you prefer day trains & scenery to sleepers.

• Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich by railjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 11:35, arriving Munich Hbf 18:28.

  Or leave Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35 Saturdays & Sundays, or Venice Mestre at 15:47 any day, arriving Munich Hbf 22:28, see timetable here.

  This swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st & business class a steward takes restaurant orders and serves you at your seat.  It's a wonderful journey, across the causeway over the lagoon from Venice to the mainland, on to Verona and through the mountains via the scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass scenery photos & video.

• Stay overnight in Munich.  The affordable Eden Hotel Wolff & NH Collection München 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.

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Amsterdam by ICE, leaving Munich Hbf at 07:46, change Düsseldorf, arrive Amsterdam Centraal 15:29.

  Or there are earlier and later departures.   ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  If you'd like a day in Munich, a direct ICE3neo leaves Munich Hbf at 16:28 every day, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 23:29.

• How much does it cost?

  Fares start at €74.90 in 2nd class or €89.90 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets

  Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Set departure time to 11:00 (or for the later departure, 15:00).  To get the overnight stop, click Stopovers and enter Munich with length of stay 13 hours (or if you're using the later departure, 10 hours).  Adjust length of stay to get the morning departure from Munich that you want.

  If you have any problems you can book Venice-Munich & Munich-Amsterdam separately, but it's cheaper booked as I suggest above.

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

Step 1, Venice to Munich by new generation railjet, seen at Verona Porta Nuova.  More about these railjets.

First class, in open saloons.		Business class, in 4-seat compartments.

Restaurant car.		Economy (2nd) class.

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

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

Mountains on the Brenner route.

Step 2, Munich to Amsterdam on ICE trains.  Above, an ICE3neo at Amsterdam Centraal.  More about ICE trains.

The restaurant car.  See current month's menu.		1st class seats on an ICE3neo.  Larger photo.

2nd class seats on an ICE3neo.  Larger photo.		Lunch:  I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier!

Option 3, Venice to Amsterdam using the Venice-Stuttgart Nightjet sleeper train - a comfortable and time-effective option

• Step 1, travel from Venice to Stuttgart by Nightjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05, arriving Stuttgart Hbf 08:38.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper 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.  See the guide to Nightjet accommodation.

  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 $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same fares).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

• 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 trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Exact times & interchange station may vary.

  Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Tip:  Change Transfer time from normal to 30 minutes.  I'd allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Stuttgart.

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

Venice to Stuttgart by Nightjet.  Above, the Nightjet at Venice Santa Lucia.

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

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

Option 4, Venice to Amsterdam with overnight stop in Paris

• Day 1, travel from Venice to Milan by high-speed Frecciarossa, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 11:48, arriving Milan Centrale 14:15.

  Frecciarossa trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  By all means book an earlier train and have lunch in Milan.

• Day 1, travel from Milan to Paris by Frecciarossa, leaving Milan Centrale at 15:53, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon 22:34.

  The Frecciarossa 1000 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.  More about the Paris-Milan journey.

  In Paris, change stations by metro or taxi from the Gare de Lyon to the Gare du Nord.

• 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 ck from Seat61 users.  See other suggested hotels near the Gare de Lyon or Gare du Nord.

• Day 2, travel from Paris to Amsterdam in 3h18 next morning on any Eurostar (formerly Thalys) train you like.

  For example, the 07:22 from Paris Gare du Nord arrives Amsterdam Centraal 10:44, but by all means book a later train, they leave every hour or so.  Eurostar trains have 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).

• How much does it cost?

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

  Milan to Paris starts at €35 in standard class, €49 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.

• How to buy tickets

  Buy tickets for each of these trains at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

  Book each train individually, adding it to your basket, then check out.

  These websites 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.  Small booking fee.  You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.

• Another way to buy tickets

  Alternatively, you can book each train separately, more effort, 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 €, requires Italian-language place names, see advice on using it), then book the TGV & Eurostar at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com.

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Venice to Luxembourg

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

• Step 1, travel from Venice to Stuttgart by Nightjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05, arriving Stuttgart Hbf 08:38.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper 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.  See the guide to Nightjet accommodation.

  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 $, international 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:  You can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.

• Step 2, travel from Stuttgart to Luxembourg, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 09:37, change at Koblenz, arriving Luxembourg 15:23.

  Stuttgart to Koblenz is by Intercity train, this runs via the Rhine Valley past vineyards, castles, river boats & the legendary Lorelei Rock, see the Rails Down the Rhine page.  Koblenz to Luxembourg is by double-deck regional train, this runs along the pretty Moselle river, sit on the left hand side leaving Koblenz for the best river views.

  Fares start at €31.99 in 2nd class or €41.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book from Stuttgart to Luxembourg at the German Railways website int.bahn.de,

  Tip:  To avoid buses and get an all-train journey, click Stopovers and enter Igel, leaving length of stay 00:00.

  I'd allow at least an hour between trains in Stuttgart.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print your tickets at any time.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

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

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

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

Option 2, Venice to Luxembourg with overnight stop in Zurich

• Day 1, travel from Venice to Zurich by EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:18, arriving Zurich HB 21:27.

  The superb EuroCity Giruno train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It heads for Zurich via the scenic Gotthard route, you'll glimpse Lake Como, pass through the Gotthard Base Tunnel (the world's longest rail tunnel) and pass Lake Lugano.  Treat yourself to dinner in the restaurant car as the mountains roll by.

  Earlier departures are possible with a change of train at Milan Centrale if you'd like more of an evening in Zurich.

  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 print your booking reference or show it on your phone.

• Stay overnight in Zurich.  For something 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 Ruby Mimi Hotel or the excellent 3-star Hotel St. Josef, 7 minutes walk from the station, see walking map.  If you're on a budget, book a private rooms in a 1-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station at www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2, travel from Zurich to Luxembourg, leaving Zurich HB at 07:59, change Frankfurt (Main) Hbf & Koblenz, arriving Luxembourg 17:23.

  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.  Times may vary.

  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.

  Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  To get this route with a through ticket, click Stopovers and enter Koblenz Hbf, leaving length of stay 00:00.

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

Koblenz to Luxembourg by double deck regional train.  This is a CFL double-decker at Luxembourg.

1st class on the upper deck. Larger photo.		2nd class on the upper deck.  Larger photo.

Scenery along the Moselle between Koblenz & Luxembourg in the morning sun, the mists still clearing.  For the best river views, sit on the right hand side of the train going east from Luxembourg, left hand side going west from Koblenz.

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Venice to Geneva, Zurich, Lucerne, Basel, Zermatt & Switzerland

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

• 15:18 direct train to Zurich

  A EuroCity train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 15:18 & Verona P. Nuova at 16:32 every day, arriving Zurich HB 21:27.

  This is a superb Swiss EuroCity Giruno train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the photos here.

  It takes the Gotthard route, past Lake Como, through the Gotthard Base Tunnel (the world's longest rail tunnel) and along beautiful Lake Lugano.  Change at Arth Goldau for Lucerne.

  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, they'll refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com afterwards) or the Italian Railways website www.trenitalia.com (you must use Italian language place names, see advice on using it).  Booking opens 3-4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you print your booking or can show it on your phone.

• 16:18 direct train to Brig, Montreux, Lausanne, Geneva.

  A EuroCity train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 16:18 & Verona P. Nuova at 17:32 every day, arriving Geneva 23:31 (after midnight some dates).

  This is a bullet-nosed ETR610 EuroCity train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the photos here.

  It takes the Simplon route through the Alps, along Lake Maggiore, though the historic Simplon Tunnel and along Lake Leman.  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, they'll refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com afterwards) or the Italian Railways website www.trenitalia.com (you must use Italian language place names, see advice on using it).  Booking opens 3-4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you print your booking or can show it on your phone.

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

• Step 1, take one of the hourly Frecciarossa train from Venice Santa Lucia to Milan Centrale in 2h25.

  Frecciarossas have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about Frecciarossas.

• Step 2, take a EuroCity train from Milan Centrale to Geneva, Lausanne, Montreux, Brig, Bern, Lucerne, Lugano, Basel SBB or Zurich HB.

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

  It only takes a few minutes to change trains at Milan Centrale, it's a terminus so there's easy level access between platforms with no steps or stairs.  There's great scenery from Italy into Switzerland, past lakes and mountains.  Watch the video:  Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train.

• Step 3, take a Swiss connecting train if necessary, for example, Brig to Zermatt or Spiez to Interlaken Ost for Wengen & Lauterbrunnen.

• 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.

• How to buy tickets

  Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

  Both easy to use, in €, £ or $ (www.thetrainline.com also in CHF), international credit cards no problem, small booking fee.

  These connect to both the Italian and Swiss ticketing systems and can sell from Venice to anywhere in Switzerland, at least in principle.  Each handles the data slightly differently, I'd check both sites.

  Booking for Italian trains & the international EuroCity trains normally opens 4 months ahead, although booking for Swiss domestic trains now opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your tickets or can show them on your phone.

• How to buy tickets, advanced

  Now for the science bit.  Trenitalia's ticketing system can sell tickets for the EuroCity trains between Italy & Switzerland, and for its own trains in Italy, but can't access SBB's ticketing system so can't sell journeys involving a Swiss domestic train.

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

  Step 1, run an enquiry on the all-Europe online timetable provided by German Railways at int.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.  Pick a journey that suits you:  A Frecciarossa from Venice to Milan, a EuroCity (EC) train from Milan to Brig, then a Swiss train from Brig to Zermatt.  Then 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 $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, $ or £, they'll refund their 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.

  Step 3, now add a Swiss domestic ticket using either www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in CHF, €, £ or $, international 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.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

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

1st class seats.  Larger photo.		Restaurant car.  Larger photo.

Lunch in the restaurant car.		2nd class.  Larger photo.  360 degree photo.

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

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

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

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

This is much slower and more effort to book, but it's the best Swiss Alps train ride of all, over the fabulous narrow-gauge Bernina Railway.  Watch the video:  Milan to Zurich via the Bernina Pass.

• Step 1, travel from Venice to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 06:48, arriving Milan Centrale 09:15.

  Frecciarossa have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You can leave later in the morning if you don't want to use the Bernina Express itself and are happy to use 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 their booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com afterwards) 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 print your booking or can show it on your phone.

• 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.

  These Milan-Tirano regional trains run every hour or two through the day, fare around €12, check train times at www.thetrainline.com or www.trenord.it.  No reservation is necessary or possible, 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 next to the Rhätische Bahn station on the same town square.

• Step 3, travel from Tirano to St Moritz & Chur on the Bernina Express or one of the hourly Rhätische Bahn trains.

  This is the fabulous Bernina route over the Bernina Pass.  You can check times & prices from Tirano to St Moritz, Chur or Zurich at 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.

• 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.

  Check times and fares from Tirano to Zurich at www.sbb.ch.

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

The Bernina Express descends from the Bernina Pass.

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Venice to Barcelona, Madrid & Spain

Option 1, Venice to Barcelona & Spain via Lyon - the easiest & usually cheapest option

• Day 1, travel from Venice Santa Lucia to Milan Centrale on any afternoon or evening train you like.

  It takes just 2h20, a Frecciarossa leaves every hour, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• 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.

• Day 2, travel from Milan to Lyon by Frecciarossa, leaving Milan Centrale at 06:25, arriving Lyon Part Dieu 11:10.

  This is a lovely ride at low speed snaking through the Alps, see more about this journey.  The Frecciarossa 1000 has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, sit back and enjoy the ride.

  Have lunch in Lyon, see suggested brasserie near Lyon Part Dieu.

• Day 2, travel from Lyon to Barcelona by AVE, leaving Lyon Part Dieu at 14:35, arriving Barcelona Sants 19:33.

  This comfortable AVE S100 high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. 

  Look out for Béziers cathedral, colonies of flamingos on the étangs (lakes) in southern France, the Fort de Salses on the right approaching Perpignan and the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees.  More about the journey.

• Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Madrid by AVE, leaving Barcelona Sants at 21:00, arriving Madrid Atocha 23:46.

  This comfortable AVE S103 high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. 

  Earlier departures may be available with other operators, but I recommend allowing at least an hour between trains in Barcelona and it's better to stick with the same operator if you can when making connections, in this case Renfe.

• For other destinations, 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.

• Day 3, travel from Barcelona to other Spanish destinations:

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

  For Granada:  Leave Barcelona Sants at 06:45 by AVE 112 high-speed train, arriving Granada at 13:11.

  For Malaga:  Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE S103 high-speed train, arriving Malaga Maria Zambrano 15:05.

  For Cordoba & Seville:  Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE S103 high-speed train, arriving Cordoba 13:27 & Seville Santa Justa 14:32.

  For Valencia & Alicante:  Euromed trains link Barcelona Sants with Valencia & Alicante regularly through the day, for example one leaves Barcelona Sants at 07:15 Mondays-Saturdays arriving Valencia Nord 10:10 & Alicante 12:38 or at 10:15 every day arriving Valencia Nord 13:13 & Alicante 15:32.

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

• 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 €49 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.

• How to buy tickets

  The easiest way to buy tickets is to use either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com as you can buy all the tickets together in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $, international 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 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.

  You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.

• Another way to buy tickets

  You can of course book each train separately with the relevant operator.  More work, same prices, but no booking fee.

  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 their booking fee if you email seat61@italiarail.com afterwards) or Trenitalia's own website www.trenitalia.com, for that you'll need to use Italian-language place names, see advice on using it.  It's ticketless, you print your booking or can show it on your phone. 

  Step 2, book the train from Lyon to Barcelona at the Spanish Railways website, www.renfe.com (in €, fiddly, see advice on using it).

  Step 3, book onward trains in Spain at www.renfe.com (in €, fiddly, see advice on using it, you'll find www.thetrainline.com much easier!).

Option 2, Venice to Barcelona & Spain with overnight stop in Geneva - from the Alps to the Pyrenees

• Day 1, travel from Venice to Geneva by EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 16:18, arriving Geneva 23:31.

  The ETR610 EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Arrives after midnight on some dates.

  This train takes the Simplon route, along Lake Maggiore, though the historic Simplon Tunnel and along Lake Leman.  By all means take an earlier train to enjoy the Alpine scenery in daylight and arrive earlier in Geneva, with a change of train at Milan Centrale.

  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 allows you to book all your tickets 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 print out your booking or can show it on your phone.

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

• Day 2, travel from Geneva to Lyon by TER regional train, leaving Geneva at 09:30, arriving Lyon Part Dieu 11:22.

  It's a pleasant journey on spacious former inter-city cars through the Jura and along the river Rhône.

  The fare is a fixed-price €33.40 in 2nd class, €50.80 in 1st class.

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Have dinner in Lyon, see suggested restaurants near the station.

• Day 2, travel from Lyon to Barcelona by AVE, leaving Lyon Part Dieu at 14:35, arriving Barcelona Sants 19:33.

  This comfortable AVE S100 high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  It passes Béziers cathedral, flamingos on the étangs (lakes) in southern France, the Fort de Salses approaching Perpignan.  Look out for the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees.  More about the journey.

  Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 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 $, 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).

  For Madrid, a same-day connection is possible:  Leave Barcelona Sants at 21:00 by AVE, arriving Madrid Atocha 23:46.

• 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.

• Day 3, travel from Barcelona to other destinations in Spain:

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

  For Granada:  Leave Barcelona Sants at 06:45 by AVE 112 high-speed train, arriving Granada at 13:11.

  For Malaga:  Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE S103 high-speed train, arriving Malaga Maria Zambrano 15:05.

  For Cordoba & Seville:  Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE S103 high-speed train, arriving Cordoba 13:27 & Seville Santa Justa 14:32.

  For Valencia & Alicante:  Euromed trains link Barcelona Sants with Valencia & Alicante regularly through the day, for example one leaves Barcelona Sants at 07:15 Mondays-Saturdays arriving Valencia Nord 10:10 & Alicante 12:38 or at 10:15 every day arriving Valencia Nord 13:13 & Alicante 15:32.

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

  Buy tickets using 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).  Booking opens anything from 15 days to 9 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

Step 1, Venice to Geneva by EuroCity train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

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

Lake Maggiore, seen from the train.

Step 3, Lyon to Barcelona by AVE, seen here at Barcelona Sants.		2nd class seats, all with power sockets & free WiFi. Panorama photo of 2nd class.

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

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 Girona to Perpignan, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canigou.

Option 3, Italy to Barcelona by luxury cruise ferry

• Another excellent option is the Grimaldi Lines cruise ferry from Civitavecchia (an hour by regional train north of Rome) and Barcelona.  The ferry sails daily at 22:15 and arrives at 18:15 next day.  Grimaldi Lines also run a ferry several times a week between Barcelona and Livorno, and between Salerno (near Naples) and Valencia.

• Check times & book at the Direct Ferries website or go to www.grimaldi-lines.com.

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Venice to Lisbon & Portugal

Option 1, Venice to Lisbon via Barcelona & Madrid

• Days 1 & 2, travel from Venice to Madrid as shown in the Venice to Madrid section.

  You travel from Venice to Geneva, stay overnight, then travel from Geneva to Barcelona on day 2 and catch an evening train to Madrid.

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

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

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

• Days 1 & 2, travel from Venice to Barcelona as shown above.

• 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.

• Day 3, travel from Barcelona to Seville by AVE, leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:35, arriving Seville Santa Justa 14:32.

  The AVE S103 high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Fares start at €50.60 in standard class or €67.30 in comfort class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, in €, may reject some international credit cards).

• Day 3, travel from Seville to Faro by bus.

  An Alsa-Rede Express bus leaves from outside Seville Santa Justa at 15:30, arriving Faro 18:00.

  In Faro, the Alsa-Rede Express buses arrive at the Eva bus station next to the excellent Eva Senses Hotel, just 2 minutes walk from Faro railway station.  The bus continues to Lagos, or you can have a coffee and continue to Tunes & Lagos by train.

  The fare is €17-€25.

  Buy a ticket at Omio.com or www.alsa.es.  You print your own ticket.

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Venice to Andorra

• Day 1, travel from Venice to Marseille as shown in the Venice to Nice & Marseille section.

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee).

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

• Day 2, travel from Marseille to Toulouse by Intercité leaving Marseille St Charles at 07:19, arriving Toulouse Matabiau at 11:15.

  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 $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Day 2, travel from Toulouse Matabiau to Andorra la Vella by bus, leaving Toulouse Matabiau at 13:45 arriving Andorra 17:45.

  Check times at Andbus.net or Omio.com.  I'd allow at least an hour between train and bus in Toulouse in case of delay.

  The bus leaves from bus stand 15 in the Gare Routière (bus station) outside Toulouse Matabiau station.  Simply walk out of the station onto the forecourt and look to your right.  The bus station is the modern building with the glass-and-blue-framework, see the photos below.

  The fare is €36.

  Book the bus at Andbus.net or Omio.com.

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

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Venice to Berlin from €37.99

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

• Step 1, travel from Venice to Verona by Frecciarossa, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 08:18, arriving Verona Porta Nuova 09:30.

  Frecciarossas have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  A later connection from Venice is theoretically possible, but I'd want at least 45 minutes in Verona between trains in case of delay, ideally an hour.

• Step 2, travel from Verona to Berlin, leaving Verona Porta Nuova at 11:01, change at Munich Hbf, arriving Berlin Hbf 20:56.

  Verona to Munich is by swish Austrian railjet train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  The train travels through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the photos & video on the Brenner route page.

  Munich to Berlin is by German ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• An earlier departure is possible on the same route:

  Leave Venice Santa Lucia at 06:48, arriving Verona Porta Nuova 08:00.

  Leave Verona Porta Nuova at 09:01, change at Munich Hbf, arriving Berlin Hbf 18:56.

• An later departure is possible on the same route:

  Leave Venice Santa Lucia at 10:48, arriving Verona Porta Nuova 12:00.

  Leave Verona Porta Nuova at 13:01, change at Munich Hbf, arriving Berlin Hbf 22:52.

• How much does it cost?

  Venice to Verona starts at €9.90 in 2nd class or €19.90 in 1st class.

  Verona to Berlin starts at €37.99 in 2nd class or €47.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets

  Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com:

  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.

  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead, in fact up to 6 months for the Verona-Germany section.  Small booking fee.  You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.

• Another way to buy tickets

  Step 1, book the Venice to Verona train at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, $ or £, they'll refund their small booking fee if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian-language place names, see advice for using it). 

  Step 2, book from Verona to Berlin using the German Railways website int.bahn.de (in €, no booking fee).

A new generation railjet at Verona Porta Nuova, showing a low-floor section for easy boarding.  More about these railjets.

First class, in open saloons.		Business class, in 4-seat compartments.

Restaurant car.		Economy (2nd) class.

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

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

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

• Step 1, travel from Venice to Munich by Nightjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05, arriving Munich Ost 05:50.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper 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.  See the guide to Nightjet accommodation.

  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 $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, 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, journey time 8 minutes.

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Berlin by ICE, leaving Munich Hbf at 07:56, arriving Berlin Hbf 11:42.

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

  Fares start at €17.99 in 2nd class or €27.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

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

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

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

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

Step 2, Munich to Berlin by ICE with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Various types of ICE operate this route.  More about ICE trains.

2nd class seats on an ICE3.  Larger photo.		1st class seats on an ICE3.  Larger photo.

Restaurant.		Dinner in the diner.

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

• Step 1, travel from Venice to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 11:48, arriving Milan Centrale 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 $, international 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 print out your booking or can show it on your phone.

• Step 2, travel from Milan to Zurich by EuroCity, leaving Milan Centrale at 15:10, arriving Zurich HB 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 Lake Como, through the world's longest railway tunnel, the Gotthard Base Tunnel, then along Lake Lugano.  Have dinner in Zurich, I recommend steak-frites and a beer at the Brasserie Federal on the 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 $, international 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 print out your booking or can show it on your phone.

• Step 3, travel from Zurich to Berlin by Nightjet, leaving Zurich HB at 20:59, arriving Berlin Hbf 07:20.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper 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.  See the Nightjet guide.

  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 $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

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

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

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

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

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

• Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich by railjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 11:35, arriving Munich Hbf 18:28.

  Or leave Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35 Saturdays & Sundays, Venice Mestre 15:47 any day, arriving Munich Hbf 22:28, see timetable here.

  This swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st & business class a steward takes restaurant orders and serves you at your seat.  The train travels through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the photos & video on the Brenner page.

• Stay overnight in Munich.  The affordable Eden Hotel Wolff & NH Collection München 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.

• Day 2, travel from Munich Hbf to Berlin Hbf by ICE on any departure you like, they leave regularly taking as little as 3h58.

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

• Fares from Venice to Berlin start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €47.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Buy tickets from Venice to Berlin at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  To get the overnight stop in Munich, click Stopovers and enter Munich Hbf with a suitable length of stay, say 11 hours.  Adjust as necessary to get the trains you want either side of Munich.  A little trial & error may be needed!

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

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Venice to Munich from €37.99

Option 1, Venice to Munich by EuroCity train - the scenic daytime option!

• An Austrian railjet train leaves Venice Santa Lucia every day at 11:35, arriving Munich Hbf 18:28.

  This swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st & business class a steward takes restaurant orders and serves you at your seat.  It travels through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the photos & video on the Brenner page.

• A EuroCity train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35 Saturdays & Sundays, Venice Mestre 15:47 every day, arriving Munich Hbf 22:28.

• Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €47.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

• Earlier departures are available with a change in Verona:

  Travel from Venice to Verona Porta Nuova by hourly Frecciarossa, then Verona Porta Nuova to Munich Hbf by railjet.  Just make sure you allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Verona in case of 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 €37.99.

  To buy tickets with a change of train in Verona, go to www.raileurope.com and enter Venice Santa Lucia to Munich Hbf.  Before running the enquiry, click More options and enter Verona Porta Nuova as a via station with 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.

  Alternatively, book from Verona Porta Nuova to Munich or any German destination at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.  Then book a connecting train from Venice Santa Lucia to Verona Porta Nuova at www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.

A new generation railjet at Verona Porta Nuova, showing a low-floor section for easy boarding.  More about these railjets.

First class, in open saloons.		Business class, in 4-seat compartments.

Restaurant car.		Economy (2nd) class.

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

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

Mountains on the Brenner route.

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

• Every evening, a Nightjet sleeper train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05, arriving Munich Ost 05:50.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet 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.  See the Nightjet guide.

• 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 (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at (in €, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

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

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

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

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Venice to Frankfurt, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Hamburg & Germany

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

• Step 1, travel from Venice to Verona by Frecciarossa, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 08:18, arriving Verona Porta Nuova 09:30.

  Frecciarossas have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  A later connection from Venice is theoretically possible, but I'd want at least 45 minutes in Verona between trains in case of delay, ideally an hour.

• Step 2, travel from Verona to Germany, leaving Verona Porta Nuova at 11:01, arriving Munich Hbf 16:27.

  Verona to Munich is by swish Austrian railjet train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  The train travels through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the photos & video on the Brenner route page.

• Step 3, change at Munich Hbf for anywhere else in Germany.

  For example, you arrive at Cologne Hbf 22:06, Frankfurt (Main) Hbf 20:08 or Hamburg Hbf 22:55.

  Munich onwards is by German ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• An earlier departure is possible on the same route:

  Leave Venice Santa Lucia at 06:48, arriving Verona Porta Nuova 08:00.

  Leave Verona Porta Nuova at 09:01 arriving Munich Hbf 14:27.

  Change at Munich Hbf for Frankfurt (Main) Hbf 18:04, Cologne Hbf 20:05, Hamburg Hbf 20:58.

• An later departure is possible on the same route, using a direct Venice-Munich railjet:

  Leave Venice Santa Lucia at 11:35 by railjet to Munich, arriving Munich Hbf 18:28.

  Change at Munich Hbf for Frankfurt (Main) Hbf 22:04, Cologne Hbf 00:06.

• How much does it cost?

  Venice to Verona starts at €9.90 in 2nd class or €19.90 in 1st class.

  Verona to Cologne, Frankfurt, Hamburg starts at €37.99 in 2nd class or €47.99 in 1st class.

  On the 11:35 from Venice, Venice to Cologne, Frankfurt, Hamburg starts at €37.99 in 2nd class or €47.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets

  Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com:

  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.

  If you want the 11:35 departure from Venice, don't add any via.

  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead, in fact up to 6 months for the Verona-Germany section.  Small booking fee.  You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.

• Another way to buy tickets

  Step 1, book the Venice to Verona train at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, $ or £, they'll refund their small booking fee if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian-language place names, see advice for using it). 

  Step 2, book from Verona to Berlin using the German Railways website int.bahn.de (in €, no booking fee).

  If you want the 11:35 departure from Venice, this can be booked in one transaction at int.bahn.de.

A new generation railjet at Verona Porta Nuova, showing a low-floor section for easy boarding.  More about these railjets.

First class, in open saloons.		Business class, in 4-seat compartments.

Restaurant car.		Economy (2nd) class.

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

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

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

• Step 1, travel from Venice to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 07:18, arriving Milan Centrale 09:45.

  Frecciarossas have 4 classes, 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 print your booking reference or show it on your phone.

  On arrival, have a coffee in the magnificent Milan Centrale, well worth a look around, maybe you can spot Mussolini!

• Step 2, travel from Milan to Frankfurt by EuroCity, leaving Milan Centrale at 11:10, arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf 18:44.

  The EuroCity Giruno train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It uses the Gotthard route, past Lake Como, through the Gotthard Base Tunnel (the world's longest railway tunnel) and along Lake Lugano, see photos & video of the Gotthard route.

  Change in Frankfurt for Cologne, Düsseldorf, Hamburg and other German destinations.

  Fares from Milan to Germany start at €59.99 in 2nd class or €119.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book from Milan to anywhere in Germany at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, looking for the 11:10 departure.

  Or you can book at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Tip:  If you're only going as far as Frankfurt, you may find the Italian price cheaper than the German Railways price for this direct train.  You can find the Italian price at www.thetrainline.com if you search for Milan to Frankfurt with departure time 11:00, then click the Direct only button at the top of the search results.

A Giruno train at Bellinzona on its way across Switzerland.

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

Giruno 2nd class.  Larger photo		Level boarding. Note the destination screen in the door.

Lake Maggiore, seen from the train.

Option 3, Venice to Hamburg using the Innsbruck-Hamburg Nightjet sleeper - scenic & time-effective

• Step 1, travel from Venice to Innsbruck by railjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 11:35, arriving Innsbruck Hbf 16:36.

  This swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st & business class a steward takes restaurant orders and serves you at your seat.  It's 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 $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Tip:  If you have a sleeping-car ticket, you can use the ÖBB lounge at Innsbruck Hbf between trains, with tea, coffee & free WiFi.

• Step 2, travel from Innsbruck to Hamburg by Nightjet, leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 20:44, arriving Hamburg Hbf 08:47.

  This is a new-generation Nightjet sleeper train with 1 & 2 bed sleepers all with shower & toilet, 4-berth comfort couchettes, individual mini cabins and ordinary seats, see the new generation Nightjet page for a guide to accommodation.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes.

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

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

Step 1, Venice to Innsbruck by new generation railjet, seen here at Verona Porta Nuova.  More about these railjets.

First class, in open saloons.		Business class, in 4-seat compartments.

Restaurant car.		Economy (2nd) class.

Mountains on the Brenner route between Verona & Innsbruck.

Step 2, Innsbruck to Hamburg by Nightjet.  More about new-generation Nightjets.

Comfort Plus sleeper with shower & toilet.		Comfort sleeper with shower & toilet

4-berth couchettes.		Mini-cabins - enclosed individual capsules.

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

• Step 1, travel from Venice to Stuttgart by Nightjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05, arriving Stuttgart Hbf 08:38.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper 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.  See the Nightjet guide.

  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 $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

• Step 2, travel from Stuttgart to Frankfurt, Cologne, Düsseldorf or Hamburg by ICE train, allowing at least 60 minutes in Stuttgart.

  If you leave Stuttgart Hbf after 09:40 you'd reach Cologne 12:05, Düsseldorf 12:35, Hamburg 16:14.

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

  Fares start at €27.99 in 2nd class or €47.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book from Stuttgart to anywhere in Germany at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

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

Venice to Stuttgart by Nightjet.  Above, the Nightjet at Venice Santa Lucia.

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

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

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

• Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich by railjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 11:35, arriving Munich Hbf 18:28.

  Or leave Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35 Saturdays & Sundays or Venice Mestre 15:47 any day, arriving Munich Hbf 22:28, see timetable here.

  This swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st & business class a steward takes restaurant orders and serves you at your seat.  The train travels through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the photos & video on the Brenner page.

• Stay overnight in Munich.  The affordable Eden Hotel Wolff & NH Collection München 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.

• Day 2, take an ICE train from Munich to anywhere in Germany.

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

• Fares from Venice to Germany start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €47.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Buy tickets from Venice to anywhere in Germany at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  To get the overnight stop in Munich, click Stopovers and enter Munich Hbf with a suitable length of stay, say 11 hours.  Adjust as necessary to get the trains you want either side of Munich.  A little trial & error may be needed!

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

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Venice to Vienna & Austria from €28.30

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

• Swish Austrian railjet trains link Venice with Vienna twice a day, city centre to city centre over the beautiful UNESCO-listed Semmering route through the mountains.  The journey isn't only transportation, it'll be a highlight of your trip.  Watch the video, Vienna to Venice by railjet.

  The morning railjet train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 09:56, arriving Vienna Hbf 17:36.

  The afternoon railjet train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 15:52, arriving Vienna Hbf 23:36.

• These modern railjet trains have a restaurant car serving snacks, meals, beer & wine, there are power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  They also have business class (premium 1st class), a real treat.  Just remember that the afternoon train may pass the best Semmering route scenery after dark, depending on the time of year.

  See the Vienna to Venice page for more about this journey.

• Fares start at €28.30 in 2nd class, €56.60 in 1st class or €71.60 in business class (= premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (in €, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  Look for the direct RJ train with 0 changes.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

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

Restaurant.  In 1st & business you're served at your seat.		Business class.  About business class.

First class.		Economy class.

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

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

• A Nightjet sleeper train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05 every night, arriving Vienna Hbf 07:58.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet 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.  See the Nightjet accommodation guide.

• 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 $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at (in €, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

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

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

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

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Venice to Salzburg from €21.90

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

• A comfortable railjet train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 09:56, final destination Vienna.  Change at Villach, arriving Salzburg Hbf 15:48.

  A second daily railjet train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 15:52, final destination Vienna.  Change at Villach, arriving Salzburg Hbf 21:48.

  This takes you over the scenic Tauern route through the mountains across Austria.

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

• Fares start at €21.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

Restaurant.  In 1st & business you're served at your seat.		Business class.  About business class.

First class.		Economy class.

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

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

• This is a couple of hours slower, but offers departures roughly every two hours from early morning until early afternoon.  The best departure is the direct railjet from Venice to Innsbruck:

  Leave Venice Santa Lucia at 11:35, change at Innsbruck Hbf, arriving Salzburg Hbf 19:02.

  The superb Austrian railjet has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It travels via the lovely Brenner Pass, see the Brenner photos & video.

  Other departures mean taking an Italian Frecciarossa from Venice to Verona, then an Austrian railjet to Innsbruck, then another train to Salzburg.

• To find journeys & buy tickets use www.raileurope.com.

  If you want the convenient 11:35 departure, just book from Venice to Salzburg as normal.

  If you want earlier or later departures, 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.

  You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.

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

• A Nightjet sleeper train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05 arriving Salzburg Hbf at 04:04.  But you don't need to get up early!

  The sleeper costs the same whether you get off in Salzburg Linz, St Pölten or Vienna, so book it to either Linz (06:04) or St Pölten (07:09).  Then you don't need to get up at 4am.

  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.  See the guide to Nightjet accommodation.

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

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

• On arrival in Linz or St Pölten, hop on an hourly double-deck Westbahn train back to Salzburg Hbf, 1h05 from Linz, 2h02 from St Pölten.

  You can either take the next train and pay the standard price to the conductor, €31.90 from Linz or €53.90 from St Pölten, or you can pre-book a much cheaper ticket, only good for the specified departure.  The sleeper might be late, so if booking a cheaper ticket I'd allow at least 1 hour in Linz or St Pölten.  Check Westbahn prices at www.thetrainline.com or www.westbahn.at.

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

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

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

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Venice to Innsbruck from €19.90

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

• Two direct trains link Venice and Innsbruck every day:

  One leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 11:35 every day, arriving Innsbruck Hbf 16:36.

  One leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35 Saturdays & Sundays or Venice Mestre 15:47 every day, arriving Innsbruck Hbf 20:36.

  The 11:35 is a swish Austrian railjet train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st & business class a steward takes restaurant orders and serves you at your seat.  The train travels through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the photos & video on the Brenner page.

  The later train is a EuroCity train with refreshment trolley, power sockets at all seats.  It also takes the Brenner route.

• Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €).

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

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

• Venice to Verona starts at €9.90 in 2nd class or €19.90 in 1st class.

  Verona to Innsbruck starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com.

  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.  You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.

A new generation railjet at Verona Porta Nuova, showing a low-floor section for easy boarding.  More about these railjets.

First class, in open saloons.		Business class, in 4-seat compartments.

Restaurant car.		Economy (2nd) class.

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

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

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Venice to Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Stockholm & Scandinavia

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

• Step 1, travel from Venice to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 11:48, arriving Milan Centrale 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 $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it).  You print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

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

  The EuroCity Giruno 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 recommend steak-frites & a beer at the Brasserie Federal on the 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 $, international 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 print your booking reference or show it on your phone.

• Step 3, travel from Zurich to Hamburg by Nightjet, leaving Zurich HB at 20:59, arriving Hamburg Hbf 07:53.

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

  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 $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

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

• Step 4, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:50, arriving Copenhagen 13:38.

  Fares start at €27.99 in 2nd class or €59.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book from Hamburg to Copenhagen at the German Railways website int.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 phone.

• Step 5, travel from Copenhagen to Sweden by train.

  For Malmö, travel from Copenhagen to Malmö Central by Öresund train every 20-30 minutes taking 40 minutes.

  For Gothenburg, travel from Copenhagen to Gothenburg Central by Öresund train, these leave every hour taking 3h50.

  For Stockholm, travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000 train leaving Copenhagen at 14:19, arriving Stockholm Central 19:37.  Times may vary and you may need to change at Malmö Central, check times at Omio.com or www.sj.se.

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

  Fares from Hamburg to Sweden start at €56.99.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book from Hamburg to Stockholm, Gothenburg or Malmö at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Gothenburg is listed as Göteborg Central.  If you don't see any affordable fares, split the booking, book Hamburg to Copenhagen at int.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).

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

Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train.  More about these EuroCity trains.

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

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

Zurich to Hamburg by Nightjet.

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.

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

Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train.  From June 2023, these trains are temporarily being operated by former German Railways intercity cars and a Danish electric locomotive, until new trains being built by Talgo arrive in 2026.  The current trains have 1st & 2nd class, power sockets at seats, but no catering so bring your own food & drink.  More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.

Above left, the 1st class car has 6-seat compartments like this. Above right, 2nd class seats are almost all open-plan like this.

Copenhagen to Stockholm by tilting 200km/h X2000, seen at Stockholm Central.  More about X2000 trains.

1st class on an X2000.  Larger photo.		2nd class on an X2000.  Larger photo.

Bistro seating on an X2000 train. Larger photo.		Bistro on an X2000 train. Larger photo.

Crossing the impressive Öresund bridge from Denmark to Sweden.

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

• Step 1, travel from Venice to Innsbruck by railjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 11:35, arriving Innsbruck Hbf 16:36.

  This swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st & business class a steward takes restaurant orders and serves you at your seat.  It's a wonderful journey, over the causeway across the lagoon from Venice to the mainland, over to Verona and up the scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass scenery 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 at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

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

  Have dinner in Innsbruck, see suggested restaurants.

  Tip:  If you have a sleeping-car ticket, you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Innsbruck Hbf between trains, with tea, coffee, soft drinks & free WiFi.

• Step 2, travel from Innsbruck to Hamburg by Nightjet, leaving Innsbruck Hbf 20:44, arriving Hamburg Hbf 08:47.

  This is a new generation Nightjet train with 1 & 2 bed sleepers with shower & toilet, 4-berth comfort couchettes, individual mini cabins and ordinary seats, see the new generation Nightjet guide.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers, couchettes & mini cabins.

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

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

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

• Step 3, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 10:53, arriving Copenhagen 15:38.

  Fares start at €27.99 in 2nd class or €47.99 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 int.bahn.de,  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Step 4, travel from Copenhagen to Sweden by train.

  For Malmö, travel from Copenhagen to Malmö Central by Öresund train every 20-30 minutes taking 40 minutes.

  For Gothenburg, travel from Copenhagen to Göteborg Central by Öresund train, these leave every hour taking 3h50.

  For Stockholm, travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000 train, check times at Omio.com or www.sj.se.

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

  Fares from Hamburg to Sweden start at €56.99.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book from Hamburg to Stockholm, Gothenburg or Malmö at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Gothenburg is listed as Göteborg Central.  If you don't see any affordable fares, split the booking, book Hamburg to Copenhagen at int.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).

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

Step 1, Venice to Innsbruck by new generation railjet, seen here at Verona Porta Nuova.  More about these railjets.

First class, in open saloons.		Business class, in 4-seat compartments.

Restaurant car.		Economy (2nd) class.

Mountains on the Brenner route between Verona & Innsbruck.

Step 2, Innsbruck to Hamburg by Nightjet.  More about new-generation Nightjets.

Comfort Plus sleeper with shower & toilet.		Comfort sleeper with shower & toilet

4-berth couchettes.		Mini-cabins - enclosed individual capsules.

Step 3, Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train.  From June 2023, these trains are temporarily being operated by former German Railways intercity cars and a Danish electric locomotive, until new trains being built by Talgo arrive in 2026.  The current trains have 1st & 2nd class, power sockets at seats, but no catering so bring your own food & drink.  More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.

Above left, the 1st class car has 6-seat compartments like this. Above right, 2nd class seats are almost all open-plan like this.

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

• Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich by Nightjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05, arriving Munich Ost 05:50.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper 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.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to accommodation.

  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 $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, 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, journey time 8 minutes.

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Copenhagen, leaving Munich Hbf 10:21, changing at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 21:38.

  Treat this as a chill-out day with a good book and a glass or two of wine (I can recommend DB's Spätburgunder red).  You travel from Munich to Hamburg by ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by comfortable EuroCity train with power sockets at all seats & a refreshment trolley.  More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.

  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 int.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Day 2 if you're going to Malmö, take an Öresund train from Copenhagen to Malmö Central in 40 minutes, these leave every 20-30 minutes.  You can book through from Munich to Malmö from €39.90 at int.bahn.de and print your own ticket.

• Stay overnight in Copenhagen.  The friendly Astoria Hotel is a 1930s design classic right outside Copenhagen station main entrance, see photos & information here.  Other hotels near the station with good reviews include the Nimb Hotel (5-star luxe), Radisson Blu Royal Hotel (5-star), Axel Guldsmeden (4-star), Andersen Boutique Hotel, First Hotel Mayfair (3-star), Hotel Ansgar (3-star), City Hotel Nebo (2-star).

• Day 3, travel from Copenhagen to Gothenburg or Stockholm:

  For Gothenburg, hourly Öresund train run from Copenhagen to Göteborg Central every hour, taking 3h50.

  For Stockholm, a 200 km/h X2000 train leaves Copenhagen at 08:19 arriving Stockholm Central 13:34.  Times may vary, an additional change may be needed at Malmö Central, check times at www.sj.se.

  You can book tickets from Copenhagen to anywhere in Sweden at the Swedish Railways site www.sj.se.

  However, it's cheaper to use a Munich-Sweden through ticket from €56.90.  Book from Munich to Gothenburg or Stockholm, to get the overnight stop click Stopovers and enter Copenhagen with a suitable length of stay, say 10 hours.  Adjust the stopover time to get the trains you want, it may take a bit of trial & error to get the trains you want.

Option 4, Venice to Copenhagen by day trains with overnight stop in Munich

• Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich by railjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 11:35, arriving Munich Hbf 18:28.

  Or leave Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35 Saturdays & Sundays or Venice Mestre 15:47 every day, arriving Munich Hbf 22:28, see timetable here.

  This swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st & business class a steward takes restaurant orders and serves you at your seat.  The train travels through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the photos & video on the Brenner page.

• Stay overnight in Munich.  The affordable Eden Hotel Wolff & NH Collection München 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.

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Copenhagen by train, leaving Munich Hbf at 08:17, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 19:38.

  Or there's a later departure leaving Munich Hbf at 10:21, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 21:38

• How much does it cost? 

  Venice to Copenhagen starts at €66.99 in 2nd class, €79.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets

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

  Set departure time to 11:00 (or if you want the later train, 15:00).  To get the overnight stop, click Stopovers and enter Munich with a length of stay 13 hours (9 hours if you want the later departure from Venice).

  In the search results, look for journeys with 2 changes, in Munich and Hamburg, marked RJ, ICE, EC.  Adjust length of stay to get whatever morning departure from Munich you want.  Easy!

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

Option 5, Venice to Copenhagen, Gothenburg & Stockholm by day trains with overnight stop in Hamburg

• Day 1, travel from Venice to Verona by Frecciarossa, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 06:48, arriving Verona Porta Nuova 08:00.

  Frecciarossas have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  A later departure from Venice is possible, but I'd allow plenty of time in Verona in case of delay.

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

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easiest, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com.

• Day 1, travel from Verona to Hamburg, leaving Verona P. Nuova at 09:01, change at Munich Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 20:58.

  Verona to Munich is by swish Austrian railjet train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st & business class a steward takes restaurant orders and serves you at your seat.  It through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the photos & video on the Brenner page.

  Munich to Hamburg is by superb German ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st class a steward takes restaurant orders and serves you at your seat.

  Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €47.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

• Stay overnight in Hamburg.  The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is 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.

• Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:50, arriving Copenhagen 13:38.

  The EuroCity train has power sockets at all seats & a refreshment trolley.  More about this journey.

  Fares start at €27.99 in 2nd class or €57.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  If you're only going as far as Copenhagen, buy a ticket at int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

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Venice to Oslo & Norway

Option 1, Venice to Oslo with overnight stop in Hamburg - by train all the way

• Day 1, travel from Venice to Verona by Frecciarossa, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 06:48, arriving Verona Porta Nuova 08:00.

  Frecciarossas have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  A later departure from Venice is possible, but I'd allow plenty of time in Verona in case of delay.

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

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easiest, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com.

• Day 1, travel from Verona to Hamburg, leaving Verona P. Nuova at 09:01, change at Munich Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 20:58.

  Verona to Munich is by swish Austrian railjet train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st & business class a steward takes restaurant orders and serves you at your seat.  It through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the photos & video on the Brenner page.

  Munich to Hamburg is by superb German ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st class a steward takes restaurant orders and serves you at your seat.

  Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €47.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

• Stay overnight in Hamburg.  The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is 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.

• Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Gothenburg by EuroCity train & Öresund train:

  Leave Hamburg Hbf 08:50, arriving Copenhagen 13:38.  Leave Copenhagen at 14:30, arriving Göteborg Central 18:20.

  The EuroCity train from Hamburg to Copenhagen has power sockets at all seats & a refreshment trolley.  More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.  The Öresund train from Copenhagen to Gothenburg has power sockets & free WiFi, but bring your own food & drink.

  Have an early dinner in Gothenburg.

  Fares from Hamburg to Gothenburg start at €56.99.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy a ticket from Hamburg to Gothenburg at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

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

  Tip:  If you're clever, you can book a through ticket all the way from Verona to Gothenburg at int.bahn.de.  To get the overnight stop in Hamburg, click Stopovers and enter Hamburg Hbf with a suitable length of stay, say 10 hours.  Adjust departure time and length of stay to get the departure from Brussels you want and the 08:50 departure from Hamburg next morning.

  Tip:  If you don't see any affordable fares (which may be the case if you want 1st class), split the booking:  First book Hamburg to Copenhagen at int.bahn.de.  Then buy a ticket from Copenhagen to Göteborg Central at www.oresundstag.se.

• Day 2, travel from Gothenburg to Oslo by Norwegian train, leaving Göteborg Central at 20:10, arriving Oslo Sentral 23:47.

  The smart modern Norwegian train is run by Vy, it has power sockets & free WiFi, but bring your own food & drink.

  Fares start at 249 Krone (€24) if you book a few weeks ahead.

  Book this at the Vy website www.vy.no or at www.entur.no.

Option 2, Venice to Oslo by train all the way - another option

• Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich by Nightjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05, arriving Munich Ost 05:50.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper 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.  See the guide to Nightjet accommodation.

  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 $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, 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.

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Copenhagen, leaving Munich Hbf at 08:17, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 19:38.

  You travel from Munich to Hamburg by superb ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then from Hamburg to Copenhagen by comfortable EuroCity train, power sockets at all seats & refreshment trolley.

  Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €57.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book Munich to Copenhagen at the German Railways site int.bahn.de. 

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

• Stay overnight in Copenhagen.  The friendly Astoria Hotel is a 1930s design classic right outside Copenhagen station main entrance, see photos & information here.  Other hotels near the station with good reviews include the Nimb Hotel (5-star luxe), Radisson Blu Royal Hotel (5-star), Axel Guldsmeden (4-star), Andersen Boutique Hotel, First Hotel Mayfair (3-star), Hotel Ansgar (3-star), City Hotel Nebo (2-star).

• Day 3, travel from Copenhagen to Oslo by train, leaving Copenhagen at 07:30, change at Gothenburg Central, arriving Oslo Sentral 15:47.

  Or there are earlier & later departures, see the Copenhagen-Oslo timetable.

  Alternatively, spend a morning in Copenhagen, and after lunch take the overnight ferry to Oslo with a comfortable private cabin with shower & toilet, sailing from Copenhagen at 16:30 (15:00 some days) and arriving Oslo at 10:00 on day 3, as also shown here.  This is remarkably affordable, and saves a hotel bill.  Book the ferry at www.gonordiccruiseline.com or using the Direct Ferries website.

Option 3, Venice to Oslo via the Kiel-Oslo cruise ferry - the most comfortable way to Oslo

• Day 1, travel from Venice to Innsbruck by railjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 11:35, arriving Innsbruck Hbf 16:36.

  This swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st & business class a steward takes restaurant orders and serves you at your seat.  It's a wonderful journey, over the causeway across the lagoon from Venice to the mainland, over to Verona and up the 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 $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Tip:  If you have a sleeping-car ticket, you can use the ÖBB lounge at Innsbruck Hbf between trains, with complimentary tea, coffee & WiFi.

• Day 1, travel from Innsbruck to Hamburg by Nightjet, leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 20:44, arriving Hamburg Hbf 08:47.

  This is a new generation Nightjet sleeper train with 1 & 2 bed sleepers with shower & toilet, 4-berth comfort couchettes, individual mini cabins and ordinary seats, see the new generation Nightjet guide.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers, couchettes & mini cabins.

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Hamburg Hbf to Kiel Hbf by regional train, these leave several times each hour taking 1h10, fixed-price fare €27.40.

  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.

• Day 2, sail from Kiel to Oslo by luxurious overnight Color Line ferry, with a full range of cosy 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.

  Money-saving tip:  It appears that it's considerably cheaper to book on Color Line's Norwegian website www.colorline.no in Norwegian Krone, for example a €274 fare becomes the equivalent of €164.  You'll need to use Google to translate the Norwegian.  You are still able to enter a UK or other European address and contact details.  Feedback appreciated.

  Make sure you're on deck next morning as the ship sails through spectacular scenery up Oslo Fjord.  The ship docks at the modern Color Line terminal about 2 km from the city centre.  Color Line provide transfer buses to Oslo Sentral station costing 55 krone, or there are plenty of taxis.  If you have little luggage it's possible to walk.  See map of Oslo showing ferry terminal.

Step 1, Venice to Innsbruck by new generation railjet, seen here at Verona Porta Nuova.  More about these railjets.

First class, in open saloons.		Business class, in 4-seat compartments.

Restaurant car.		Economy (2nd) class.

Mountains on the Brenner route between Verona & Innsbruck.

Step 2, Innsbruck to Hamburg by Nightjet.  More about new-generation Nightjets.

Comfort Plus sleeper with shower & toilet.		Comfort sleeper with shower & toilet

4-berth couchettes.		Mini-cabins - enclosed individual capsules.

Step 3, sail from Kiel to Oslo with Color Line.  It's just a 6 minute walk across from Kiel Hbf to the Color Line terminal.  There's a lift up to a connecting walkway which takes you to the ferry terminal.  If you've booked one of Color Line's 5 star suites, check in at the desk rather than the machines to be directed to a VIP lounge with free tea, coffee, juice, snacks & WiFi.  You'll have priority boarding & free access to the on-board spa.  Photos courtesy of Philip Dyer-Perry except where shown.

Above left, cabin with TV, shower & toilet, luxury suites are also available.  Above right, restaurant with a view.

Restaurant and lounge on the Kiel-Oslo ferry.

Wake up to lovely scenery sailing up Oslo Fjord.

The Color Line ferry, arrived at Oslo.  Above right, there's a transfer bus to Oslo Sentral, photo courtesy of Andrew Leo.

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Venice to Helsinki & Finland

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

• Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich by Nightjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05, arriving Stuttgart Hbf 08:38.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper 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.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to accommodation.

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Stuttgart to Hamburg by ICE train, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 09:51, arriving Hamburg Hbf 16:14.

  Fares start at €27.99 in 2nd class or €56.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

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

  Tip:  You should book from Stuttgart to Skandinavienkai Terminal, Lübeck as one transaction as this gets you a through ticket to the ferry terminal covering the ICE from Berlin to Hamburg, the regional train to Lübeck and the bus to the Skandinavienkai Terminal.

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

  Finnlines sail from Travemünde in northern Germany to Helsinki every day, boarding 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.

• Book onward trains within Finland at the Finnish Railways website www.vr.fi.

Finnlines operate the Finnstar, Finnmaid & Finnlady on the Travemünde-Helsinki route.  Photo courtesy of Hubert Bartkowiak.  Photos below courtesy of Chris Russell.

Standard cabin.  Larger photo.		Gym with a view.		Sauna.

Option 2, Venice to Helsinki by train to Stockholm, then ferry

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Venice to Prague & the Czechia

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

• Step 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by Nightjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05 arriving Vienna Hbf 07:58.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper 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.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to accommodation.

  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 $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same fares).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

  Tip:  If you have a sleeping-car ticket and/or 1st class ticket for the onward train to Prague, you can use the ÖBB lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Prague by railjet, leaving Vienna Hbf at 09:10, arriving Prague Hlavni 13:15.

  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. 

  Why not 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.  Suggested hotels in Prague.

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

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

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

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

Step 2, Vienna to Prague by railjet, with economy, first & business class, restaurant car, free WiFi and draught beer on tap.  More about Vienna-Prague railjets.

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

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

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

• Step 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:56, arriving Vienna Hbf 17:36.

  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.  More about the journey.

  Fares start at €28.30 in 2nd class, €56.60 in 1st class or €71.60 in business class (premium 1st class).  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 €, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

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

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Prague by railjet, leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:10, arriving Prague Hlavni 23:19.

  The swish 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.  Suggested hotels in Prague.

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

Restaurant.  In 1st & business you're served at your seat.		Business class.  About business class.

First class.		Economy class.

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

Option 3, Venice to Prague with overnight stop in Vienna - same as option 3 but with overnight stop

• Day 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:52, arriving Vienna Hbf 23:36.

  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.  More about the journey.

  Fares start at €28.30 in 2nd class, €56.60 in 1st class or €71.60 in business class (premium 1st class).  Fares vary like air fares.

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Vienna to Prague by railjet, leaving Vienna Hbf at 07:10, arriving Prague Hlavni 11:15.

  Or have a leisurely breakfast and take the 09:10 arriving 13:11.  Your call.

  The swish 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 a later railjet & spend some time exploring Vienna?  Trains to Prague leave every two hours, see the timetable here.  Left luggage lockers are available at Vienna Hbf.

  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 www.cd.cz, check 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 €37.99, the cheapest option

• Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich by railjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 11:35, arriving Munich Hbf 18:28.

  Or leave Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35 Saturdays & Sundays or Venice Mestre 15:47 every day, arriving Munich Hbf 22:28, see timetable here.

  This swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st & business class a steward takes restaurant orders and serves you at your seat.  The train travels through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the photos & video on the Brenner page.

• Stay overnight in Munich.  The affordable Eden Hotel Wolff & NH Collection München 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.

• Day 2, travel from Munich Hbf to Prague Hlavni by express train in 5h40, see the timetable here.

  The trains have a refreshment trolley & free WiFi.  More about Munich to Prague trains.

• Fares from Venice to Prague start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  To build in the overnight stop in Munich, click Stopovers and enter Munich Hbf with a suitable length of stay, say 11 hours.  Adjust the length of stay to get an earlier or later train from Munich to Prague.

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

  If you have any problems booking this way, book each train separately.  First book the Venice to Munich train at the German Railways website int.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).

A new generation railjet at Verona Porta Nuova, showing a low-floor section for easy boarding.  More about these railjets.

First class, in open saloons.		Business class, in 4-seat compartments.

Restaurant car.		Economy (2nd) class.

Watch out for hilltop fortresses.

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

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

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Venice to Bratislava from €42

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

• Step 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet train leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:56, arriving Vienna Hbf 17:36.

  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.  More about the journey.

  Fares start at €28.30 in 2nd class, €56.60 in 1st class or €71.60 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 $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

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

• Step 2, when you reach Vienna, simply buy a ticket for €11.90 and hop on the next hourly regional express train from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna, no reservation necessary or possible, journey time 56 minutes, see the timetable here.  Check times at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at. 

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

Restaurant.  In 1st & business you're served at your seat.		Business class.  About business class.

First class.		Economy class.

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

Step 2, Vienna to Bratislava Hlavna by regional express train.  More about these Vienna-Bratislava trains.

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

• Step 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by Nightjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05, arriving Vienna Hbf 07:58.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper 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.  See the guide to Nightjet accommodation.

  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 $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at (same prices, in €).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

  Tip:  If you have a sleeper ticket, you can use the ÖBB lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.

• Step 2, when you reach Vienna, simply buy a ticket for €11.90 and hop on the next hourly regional express train from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna, no reservation necessary or possible, journey time 56 minutes, see the timetable here.  Check times at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at. 

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

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

6-berth couchettes.		4-berth couchettes.		Couchette car on a Nightjet.

Step 2, Vienna to Bratislava Hlavna by regional express train.  More about these Vienna-Bratislava 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

• Step 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by Nightjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05, arriving Vienna Hbf 07:58.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper 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.  See the guide to Nightjet accommodation.

  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 $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, in €).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

  Tip:  If you have a sleeping-car ticket and/or 1st class ticket for the train to Budapest, you can use the ÖBB lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & WiFi.

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

  This swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Why not 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 $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways site www.oebb.at (same prices, in €).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

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 about Nightjets.

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

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

Step 2, Vienna to Budapest by railjet.  A railjet at Vienna Hbf.  More about railjets.

Business class.  About business class.		Restaurant.  In 1st & business you're served at your seat.

First class.		Economy (2nd) class.

The railjet has landed.  A railjet on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti.

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

• Step 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:56, arriving Vienna Hbf 17:36.

  The swish Austrian 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.  More about this journey.

  Fares start at €28.30 in 2nd class, €56.60 in 1st class or €71.60 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 $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same fares).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

  If you have a 1st or business class ticket you can use the ÖBB lounge at Vienna Hbf with free WiFi & complimentary tea & coffee.

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

  The 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 $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same fares).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

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

Restaurant.  In 1st & business you're served at your seat.		Business class.  About business class.

First class.		Economy class.

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

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

• Day 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:52, arriving Vienna Hbf 23:36.

  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.  More about this journey.

  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 $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same fares).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

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

• Day 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest by railjet, leaving Vienna Hbf at 07:40, arriving Budapest Keleti 10:19.

  Or have a leisurely breakfast and take the 08:42 or 09:42 and so on, trains to Budapest leave every hour.

  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 $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same fares).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

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

• Day 1, travel from Venice to Ljubljana, taking a mid-afternoon regional train to Trieste and the evening regional train to Ljubljana, arriving late evening, see the Venice to Ljubljana page for timetable, fares & how to buy tickets.

  You can buy tickets at the station on the day, they cannot sell out.  I recommend taking an earlier train from Venice to see something of Trieste, one of Italy's most under-rated cities, or take the very early morning train to spend an afternoon in Ljubljana.

• Stay overnight in Ljubljana.  Consider the Hotel Slon which I have used myself, 13 minutes walk from the station with good reviews, the Hotel Emonec, or the Hotel Slamic 11 minutes walk from the station with great reviews.

• Day 2, travel from Ljubljana to Budapest on the mid-morning train Citadella, see times, 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.

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Venice to Bucharest, Brasov & Romania

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

• Step 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:56, arriving Vienna Hbf 17:36.

  The smart Austrian 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 €28.30 in 2nd class, €56.60 in 1st class or €71.60 in business class (premium 1st class).  Fares vary like air fares. 

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

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Romania on the Dacia Express, leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:42 every day, arriving next day in Simeria 07:17, Sighisoara 09:17, Braşov 12:50, Ploiești 14:47 & Bucharest Nord 15:26.

  From 14 December 2025 the Dacia will leave Vienna Hbf at 19:08, arriving Simeria 05:35, Alba Iulia 06:18, Sighișoara 07:31, Braşov 11:03, Sinaia 12:08, Ploesti Vest 13:00 & Bucharest Nord 13:38.

  The Dacia has an air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car of the latest type with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, plus several 1 or 2 bed compartments with shower & toilet.  It has a Romanian couchette car with 4-berth & 6-berth compartments, and 2nd class seats.

  A Hungarian restaurant car is attached between Vienna & Budapest, treat yourself to dinner.  However, there's no catering beyond Budapest so bring a picnic & bottle of wine.  There's wonderful Alpine scenery through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov and Bucharest, a 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 print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  You can also book this train at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.

  Click EN top right for English.  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  For Vienna type Wien, for Bucharest type Bucuresti.  It can book seats, couchettes or sleepers.  For Austria to Romania journeys you now print your own ticket.  Tip:  Prices might be cheaper than on oebb.at, so check both sites!

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

Restaurant.  In 1st & business you're served at your seat.		Business class.  About business class.

First class.		Economy class.

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

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.

The Dacia Express couchette car, boarding at Vienna Hbf.  Larger photo.

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

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

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

• Step 1, travel from Venice to Budapest as shown in the Venice to Budapest section.

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

• Step 2, travel from Budapest to Romania by sleeper train Ister, leaving Budapest Keleti at 19:10, arriving Braşov 08:48 & Bucharest Nord 11:35. 

  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.

• 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.

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

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

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Venice to Ljubljana & Slovenia, Zagreb

Option 1, Venice to Ljubljana & Zagreb via Villach - a comfortable option, easily booked

• Step 1, travel from Venice to Villach in Austria by railjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:52, arriving Villach 19:11.

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

  Step 2, travel from Villach to Ljubljana by train, leaving Villach at 20:53, arriving Lesce-Bled 21:45 & Ljubljana 22:30.

  Step 3 for Zagreb:  Stay overnight in Ljubljana and continue to Zagreb next day.  Suggested hotels in Ljubljana near the station.

• Fares start at €26.50 in 2nd class or €39.40 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easiest, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same fares).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, you print your own ticket.

Option 2, Venice to Ljubljana & Zagreb via Trieste - the historic direct route, with no need to pre-book

• Take an hourly regional train from Venice to Trieste, then one of 3 daily trains from Trieste to Ljubljana, over the original direct route from Italy to Slovenia, once used by the Simplon Orient Express.  If you've ever wondered where prosecco comes from, you'll find out on this route!

  Venice to Ljubljana costs around €24, no need to book in advance, just turn up, buy and go.

• See the Venice to Ljubljana & Zagreb page for details.

Looking back from the rear of the Austrian EuroCity train as it climbs out of Trieste.  Courtesy Helmut Uttenthaler.

Scenery in Slovenia on the way from Trieste to Ljubljana.  More about Venice-Trieste-Ljubljana.

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Venice to Dubrovnik & Split

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

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

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

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

• Step 1, book an overnight ferry with comfortable cabin 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 print out your booking or can 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.

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 & Serbia

• Step 1, travel from Venice to Villach in Austria by railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:52, arriving Villach 19:11.

  Book this from €19 at either www.thetrainline.com (easiest) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at.  You print your own ticket.

• Stay overnight in Villach. The Hotel Goldenes Lamm or Hotel City are both near the station with great reviews.

• Step 2, travel from Villach to Zagreb by train, leaving Villach at 06:25, arriving Zagreb 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.

• Step 3, travel from Zagreb to Belgrade by train, leaving Zagreb at 11:04, arriving Novi Beograd 18:04 & Belgrade Centar 18:12.

  This train was suspended due to Covid-19 and is still suspended in 2024.

  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.

  While the train is suspended, take a bus from Zagreb to Belgrade

  It's a 17-minute 1.3 km walk from Zagreb station to Zagreb bus station, see walking map.

  A Flixbus leaves Zagreb bus station at 14:00, arriving Belgrade bus station at 19:30.

  The fare is around €21, buy a ticket at www.flixbus.com.

• If you're going to Sofia, stay overnight in Belgrade. I recommend the historic Hotel Moskva.

• Step 4, travel from Belgrade to Sofia by daytime train, see the Belgrade to Sofia page for details.

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Venice to Sofia & Bulgaria

Option 1, Venice to Sofia via Budapest & Bucharest

• Day 1, travel from Venice to Budapest as shown in the Venice-Budapest section.

  Make sure you allow an hour or two between trains in Budapest.

• Day 2, travel from Budapest to Bucharest by sleeper, stay overnight in Bucharest, then Bucharest to Sofia by day train, as shown in the Budapest to Sofia section.

  You arrive in Sofia on the evening of day 4.  Book as shown.

Option 2, Venice to Sofia via Belgrade

• Not currently viable with the Zagreb-Belgrade and Belgrade-Sofia trains suspended.

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Venice to Bar, Budva, Kotor & Montenegro

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

• Step 1, travel from Venice Santa Lucia to Ancona by train, a 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 allow several hours in Ancona, check ferry check-in times, port location and procedures carefully.

  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 €).  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 print out your booking or can show it on your phone.

• Step 2, take the overnight ferry from Ancona to Bar in Montenegro, arriving next morning.

  Montenegro Lines used to sail from Bari to Bar but ceased trading in early 2017, Jadrolinija (www.jadrolinija.hr) took over this route but then abandoned it.  In 2024, Adria Ferries started a twice-weekly ferry from Ancona to Bar, which may run again in 2025.  Days and times varied.

  Check sailing dates & book online at www.adriaferries.com/en/lines/ancona-bar.html.

  You can book a private cabin or berth in a shared cabin.  There are also reclining seats, but a bed in a cabin means a safe & secure night's sleep.

  In July & August 2025 you'll also find a weekly ferry from Bari to Bar on Tuesdays run by Jadrolinija, www.jadrolinija.hr.

  If you find no sailings to Bar, book a sailing from Bari to Dubrovnik in Croatia with www.jadrolinija.hr.  From Dubrovnik it's a 3h45 bus ride to Bar.

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

The Montenegro Lines ferry to Bari at Bar ferry terminal.

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Venice to Warsaw, Krakow & Poland

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

• Day 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by Nightjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05, arriving Vienna Hbf 07:58.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper 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.  See the guide to Nightjet accommodation.

  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 $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

  Tip:  If you have a sleeping-car ticket and/or 1st class ticket for the onward train to Warsaw, you can use the ÖBB lounge at Vienna Hbf, with free WiFi and complimentary tea & coffee.

• Day 2, spend the morning in Vienna and travel to Poland in the afternoon.

  For Warsaw, travel from Vienna to Warsaw by EuroCity train Polonia, leaving Vienna Hbf at 14:10, arriving Warsaw Centralna 21:55.

  For Krakow, travel from Vienna to Krakow by EuroCity train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 16:10, arriving Krakow Glowny 21:25.

  From 14 December 2025, there's an earlier EuroCity train to Krakow, leaving Vienna Hbf at 12:10, arriving Krakow Glowny 17:46.

  The trains have comfortable air-conditioned Polish carriages and a restaurant car, treat yourself to a meal and a beer or two.

  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.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

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

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

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

Step 2, Vienna to Warsaw or Krakow by EuroCity train.  This is the Danubius to Krakow at Vienna Hbf on a winter afternoon.  That's the Czech through car to Wroclaw nearest the camera, the Polish cars to Krakow are ahead of it.  Courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.

Most 2nd class cars have compartments like this with side corridor & 6-seat compartments.

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

• Step 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:56, arriving Vienna Hbf 17:36.

  The smart Austrian 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 €28.30 in 2nd class, €56.60 in 1st class or €71.60 in business class (premium 1st class).  Fares vary like air fares. 

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easiest, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Have dinner in Vienna.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Poland by sleeper train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 23:19, arriving Krakow Glowny 06:20 & Warsaw Centralna 09:08.

  From 14 December 2025, it arrives Warsaw Centralna 08:00.  A separate portion arrives Krakow Glowny 07:25

  The EuroNight sleeper train Chopin has a comfortable air-conditioned Polish sleeping-car with eight 1, 2 or 3 bed compartments with washbasin and two 1 or 2 bed deluxe compartments with shower & toilet, see the photos below.  It also has a couchette car with 4-berth & 6-berth compartments and ordinary seats.  In the sleepers, a light breakfast with tea or coffee is included.

  Fares to Krakow start at €39 with a couchette, €43.50 in a 3-bed sleeper, €58.20 in a 2-bed sleeper or €116.70 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

  Fares to Warsaw start at €49 with a couchette, €53.50 in a 3-bed sleeper, €68.20 in a 2-bed sleeper or €126.70 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.

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

Restaurant.  In 1st & business you're served at your seat.		Business class.  About business class.

First class.		Economy class.

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

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

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

Option 3, Venice to Krakow or Warsaw with overnight stop in Vienna - if you prefer daytime trains & hotel to sleepers

• Day 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:52, arriving Vienna Hbf 23:36.

  The air-conditioned railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It takes the scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route, you might see something of this at least in summer when it's light until ten.  More about this journey.

  If you'd like an afternoon in Vienna, take the earlier railjet leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:56.

  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 $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same fares).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

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

• Day 2, travel from Vienna to Krakow by EuroCity train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 08:10, arriving Krakow Glowny 14:04.

  This is a comfortable train with restaurant car.  Change at Krakow Glowny for Warsaw, arriving Warsaw Centralna 17:20.

  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 or can show it on your phone.

  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.

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

Restaurant.  In 1st & business you're served at your seat.		Business class.  About business class.

First class.		Economy class.

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

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

Austrian restaurant car.  See larger photo.		Lunch with wine on board.

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

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Venice to Lviv, Kyiv & Moscow

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Vienna to Ukraine by direct sleeping-car, leaving Vienna Hbf at 16:42 daily, arriving Lviv 09:59 & Kyiv 16:41 next day.

  From 14 December 2025 the train will leave Vienna Hbf at 19:08, travelling via Budapest & Chop, arriving next day at Lviv 10:40 & Kyiv 17:23.

  Introduced in 2017, this train consists of 2 or sometimes 3 direct Ukrainian sleeping-cars attached to other trains.  The sleeping-cars have comfortable 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, see the photos below.  At Chop on the other side of the border the through sleeping-cars are jacked up to have their wheelsets changed from European standard gauge (4'8½") to Russian gauge used in Ukraine (5').

  Vienna to Lviv costs €71.20 in a 3-berth sleeper, €79.20 in a 2-berth sleeper or around €130 in a single sleeper.

  Vienna to Kyiv costs €89.60 in a 3-berth sleeper, €99.60 in a 2-berth sleeper or around €170 in a single sleeper.

  Book this train at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.

  Booking for these direct sleeping-cars opens 20 days ahead, but tickets sell out a day or two after booking opens, so book as soon as the booking period opens.  If the ÖBB website says Ticket not available within 20 days it means fully-booked, if it says that more than 20 days ahead it means booking isn't open yet.

  Tickets can now be printed out so you can book in either direction.  However, you must print the ticket, it cannot be shown on a mobile device.

• 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 kupé or €180 with a bed in a 2-berth spalny vagon.

  You can book tickets starting in Kyiv at the Ukrainian Railways site 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.

The Vienna-Kyiv sleeping-car at Vienna Hbf.

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

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Venice to Athens & Greece

Option 1, Venice to Greece by direct ferry, several times a week

• 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.

• 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

• 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 times, fares & how to buy tickets.

The ferry Superfast II from Bari to Patras, boarding at Bari.  Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com.

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Venice to Istanbul & Turkey

• Day 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:56, arriving Vienna Hbf 17:36.

• Day 1, travel from Vienna to Bucharest overnight on the sleeper train Dacia Express as shown in the Vienna to Romania section.

• Day 2, stay overnight in Bucharest.  The Hotel MyContinental Bucuresti Gara de Nord is walking distance from the station, inexpensive and gets great reviews.

• Day 3, travel from Bucharest to Istanbul by sleeper train as shown on the Bucharest to Istanbul page, arriving in the morning on Day 4.

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Railbookers custom-made tours

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

  UK call 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.

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Hotels in Venice

For advice on hotels in Venice, see the Venice Santa Lucia station page.

My favourite hotel search: www.booking.com Booking.com is my favourite hotel booking site and I generally use it to book all my hotels in one place.  I've come to trust booking.com's review scores, you won't be disappointed with any hotel that scores 8.0 or more.  Crucially, booking.com usually lets you book with free cancellation, which means you can confirm accommodation risk-free before train booking opens and/or you can hold accommodation while you finalise your itinerary and alter your plans as they evolve - a feature I use all the time when planning a trip.  I never book hotels non-refundably!

Backpacker hostels

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

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