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

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

  Frecciarossas have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the Frecciarossa page.  You can take the later 08:18 if you like, but I'd play safe take the 07:18 and have a coffee in Milan's magnificent Centrale station, well worth a look around in its own right.

  Fares start at €19.90 in standard or €29.90 in business.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.  It's ticketless, you just quote the reference on board.

• Step 2, travel from Milan to Frankfurt by ETR610 EuroCity train leaving Milan Centrale at 11:20 and arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 18:44.

  It's a lovely ride through the Alps past Lake Maggiore and via the famous Simplon & Lötschberg route.  The train has a restaurant car and power sockets at all seats.  Treat yourself to lunch as the lakes & mountains glide by.  You'll also pass through the world's longest rail tunnel, the Gotthard Base Tunnel, though the transit takes just 20 minutes.

• Step 3, travel from Frankfurt to Amsterdam by ICE3 high-speed train with bistro-restaurant & power sockets at all seats, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 19:29 and arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 23:28.  This train runs daily except Saturdays.

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

  Book from Milan to Amsterdam at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Step 1, take the afternoon EuroCity train leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 every day and arriving Innsbruck Hbf at 18:36.

  This is a wonderful journey, over the causeway across the lagoon from central Venice to the mainland, over to Verona and up the wonderfully scenic Brenner Pass with lunch in the elegant Austrian restaurant car. A real treat, see the Brenner Pass scenery video here.

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

  Buy a ticket at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee, using this allows you to book everything together in one place) or the German Railways website www.bahn.de (in €, no fee).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or smartphone.

  Tip:  You've time for dinner before boarding the sleeper, I recommend the excellent Tyrolean food at the Restaurant Europastüberl, part of the Grand Hotel Europa just across the road from the station and to the right.

  Tip:  If you have a sleeper ticket, you can use the ÖBB first class lounge at Innsbruck Hbf between trains, with free WiFi and complimentary tea, coffee, snacks & wine.

• Step 2, travel from Innsbruck to Amsterdam by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Innsbruck Hbf 20:44 & arriving Amsterdam Centraal 09:58.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich by Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 and arriving Munich Hbf at 20:26.

  On Saturdays & Sundays there's also a later Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35 arriving Munich Hbf at 22:27.

  This is a wonderful journey, over the causeway across the lagoon from central Venice to the mainland, over to Verona and up the wonderfully scenic Brenner Pass with lunch in the elegant Austrian restaurant car.  A real treat, see the Brenner Pass scenery photos & video here.

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

  Buy a ticket at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

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

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Amsterdam by ICE train, leaving Munich Hbf 07:45, change Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arrive Amsterdam Centraal 15:28.

  By all means choose an earlier or later departure.  ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mountains on the Brenner route...

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

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

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

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Amsterdam by ICE train, leaving Munich Hbf at 07:45, making one easy change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf and arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 15:28.  ICE trains have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

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

  Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

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

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

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

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Venice to Luxembourg...

Option 1, Venice to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train then daytime trains to Luxembourg - the most time-effective option

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

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

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

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Luxembourg, leaving Munich Hbf at 07:28 by ICE train, change at Mannheim & Trier, arriving Luxembourg 14:24.

  Fares start at €32.90 in 2nd class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book from Munich to Luxembourg at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, allowing at least 1 hour between trains in Munich. 

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

  Tip:  To avoid buses and get an all-train journey, click Add intermediate stops and enter Igel as a via station.

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

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

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

Option 2, by daytime trains with overnight stop in Zurich...

• Step 1, travel from Venice to Zurich by direct EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 17:18 and arriving Zurich HB at 23:27.

  By all means leave earlier for more of an evening in Zurich, although earlier departures involve a change of train at Milan Centrale.

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

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

• Stay overnight in Zurich.  For something special, look no further than the superb 5-star Hotel Schweizerhof, just across the road from Zurich station.  One of my favourite hotels, they'll even send a uniformed commissionaire to meet you at the station and carry your bags from the train.  For something cheaper but also near the station with great reviews, try the Hotel du Théatre or Hotel St Gotthard.  If you're on a tight budget you can book inexpensive private rooms in a one-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station using www.hostelworld.com.

• Step 2, travel from Zurich to Luxembourg on any service you like.

  For example, leaving Zurich HB at 07:59, changing at Mannheim & Trier, arriving Luxembourg at 15:24.

  Or have a leisurely breakfast and take the easiest departure with just 1 change, leaving Zurich HB at 10:59 by direct EuroCity train EC8 to Koblenz, time for coffee in Koblenz, then the 17:06 from Koblenz direct to Luxembourg arriving 19:24.

  These are all comfortable air-conditioned trains and they all head along the scenic Rhine Valley route between Mainz and Koblenz past vineyards, castles, river boats & the legendary Lorelei Rock, see the Rails Down the Rhine page, then along the pretty Moselle river to Trier.  The whole journey is made on a through ticket, so no worries about connections, they normally go like clockwork.  There are earlier or later departures, too, just check online.

  Tip:  EuroCity train EC8 has a Swiss 1st class panorama car, to book it, see the advice on the Rails Down the Rhine page.

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

  Book from Munich to Luxembourg at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  Tip:  To get an all-train journey and avoid journeys with a bus, click Add intermediate stops and enter Igel as a via station.

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

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

Option 1, there are two daily direct trains from Venice to Switzerland - first see if these direct trains suit your schedule...

• 17:18 direct train from Venice & Verona to Zurich...

  A direct EuroCity train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 17:18 every day & arrives Zurich HB at 23:27.

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

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

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

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

  A direct ETR610 EuroCity train links Venice with Brig (for Zermatt) and Geneva every day, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 16:18 and arriving Geneva at 23:54.  Change in Brig for Zermatt.  This train is a bullet-nosed ETR610 EuroCity train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the photos here.

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

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

Option 2, by fast train to Milan, then EuroCity train from Milan to Brig, Geneva, Bern, Basel, Zurich, Lucerne - if the direct trains don't suit you...

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

  Frecciarossas have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the Frecciarossa page.

• Step 2, then take an EuroCity train from Milan Centrale to Geneva, Lausanne, Montreux, Brig, Bern, Lucerne, Lugano, Basel & Zurich HB.

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

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

• How much does it cost?

  Venice to Milan start at €19.90 in 2nd (standard) class or €29.90 in 1st (business) class.

  Milan to Geneva, Zurich & other Swiss cities start at €29 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class when using a direct train.

  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices

• How to buy tickets, the easy way...

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

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

  Booking for the international EuroCity trains opens 90 days ahead.  However, booking for Swiss domestic trains only opens 60 days ahead.

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

• How to buy tickets, advanced...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Option 3, the ultimate scenic ride, Venice to St Moritz, Chur, Zurich via the Bernina route.  This is much slower and a little more fiddly to book, but it's an amazing experience, arguably the best Swiss Alpine train ride of them all...

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

• Day 1, travel from Venice to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 06:48 for Milan Centrale.  Frecciarossas have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the Frecciarossa page.  By all means leave later in the morning if you don't want to use the panoramic Bernina Express itself but are happy on one of the hourly local trains.

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

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

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

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

  How to buy a cheap ticket from Tirano to Zurich from €29.90...  Normal Swiss fares are expensive, so see my instructions for buying a cheap advance-purchase ticket from Tirano to Chur or Zurich from €29.90 here.

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

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

The Bernina Express descends from the Bernina Pass...

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Venice to Barcelona, Madrid & Spain...

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

• Day 1, travel from Venice to Ventimiglia, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 07:18 by Frecciarossa, changing at Milan Centrale onto the 11:10 train to Ventimiglia, arriving around 15:00.  This is a lovely journey with great coastal scenery between Genoa & Ventimiglia.

  Update:  Due to Covid-19 there is currently no train from Milan to Ventimiglia at 11:10.  Without it, this journey no longer works, so please use option 2, or add another overnight stop in (say) Nice.

• Day 1, travel from Ventimiglia to Marseille by TER local train, leaving Ventimiglia at 16:55, change at Nice Ville, arriving Marseille St Charles 21:03.  There's more great coastal scenery between Ventimiglia and Toulon.

• 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 Spain by AVE-S100, leaving Marseille St Charles at 08:02, arriving Barcelona Sants 12:34 & Madrid Atocha 15:41.

  The AVE train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You'll pass Béziers cathedral, flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Montpelier & Perpignan, the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks, and get great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, see the photos & information here.

• Day 2, travel from Barcelona to other Spanish cities by high-speed train:  There are regular trains from Barcelona Sants to Valencia or Alicante, there's a 15:50 direct AVE from Barcelona Sants to Cordoba, Malaga & Seville arriving in the evening, and a 15:30 Alvia train from Barcelona Sants to Pamplona & San Sebastian, arriving in the evening.

• How much does it cost?

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

  Milan to Ventimiglia starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €26.90 in 1st class.

  Ventimiglia to Nice by TER costs a fixed-price €8, although €7.50 or even €5 promotional fares are sometimes offered.

  Nice to Marseille by TGV starts at €15.

  Marseille-Barcelona starts at €25 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class.  Marseille-Madrid starts at €35 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.

  Barcelona to Malaga or Seville starts at around €45.  Barcelona to Pamplona or San Sebastian starts at around €28.

  All these fares (except for the TER) vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• How to buy tickets, the easy way...

  Go to either www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.  Book from Venice to Marseille on day 1 and add it to your basket.  Then book from Marseille to Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Alicante, Seville, Malaga or wherever for day 2, add it to your basket and check out.

  www.thetrainline.com & www.raileurope.com both connect to the Italian, French & Spanish rail ticketing systems, so you can buy all these tickets together in one place, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem.  There's a small booking fee.  If you have any problems, break the journey down into stages, if necessary booking each train separately.

  Booking for Trenitalia trains, French trains & the Marseille-Spain AVE normally opens up to 4 months ahead.  Booking for Spanish domestic trains opens 60 days ahead, but this varies.

  Trenitalia trains are ticketless, you just quote your booking reference to the conductor on board.  For the TERs and the Barcelona-Marseille AVE train, you print your own ticket or can choose a mobile ticket to show on your smartphone.  For trains in Spain, you print your own ticket.

• How to buy tickets, advanced...

  Alternatively, you can book each train separately, although it's more work, more fiddly, fares should be the same, just saves the booking fee.

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

  Step 2, book from Marseille to Barcelona or Madrid at the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly).  You print your own ticket.

  Step 3, book any onward trains within Spain at the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see this advice on using it).  You print your own tickets.

By TER local train from Ventimiglia to Nice.  Here, a TER rolls into Juan les Pins station, between Nice & Cannes.

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

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

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

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

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

Option 2, by daytime trains with overnight stop in Geneva...

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

• Day 1, travel from Venice to Geneva by direct ETR610 EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 16:18 and arriving Geneva at 23:54.

  By all means take an earlier train to enjoy the scenery in daylight through the Alps and arrive earlier in Geneva, although you'll then need to change trains in Milan.

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

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Geneva to Barcelona, leaving Geneva at 11:30 by TER regional train, change trains at Lyon Part Dieu (arrive 13:25, depart 14:28) onto the afternoon AVE-S100 high-speed train to Barcelona, arriving Barcelona Sants at 19:33.

  The AVE train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You'll pass Béziers cathedral, flamingos on the lakes in the South of France between Montpelier & Perpignan, the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks, and get great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, see the photos & information here.

  Geneva to Lyon is a fixed-price €29.60  Lyon to Barcelona starts at €39 in 2nd class or €59 1st class, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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

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

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

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

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

  For Cordoba & Seville:  Take the direct AVE-S112 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:30 arriving Cordoba 13:12 & Seville Santa Justa at 14:02.  Fares start at €53.  Alternatively, spend a morning in Barcelona and take the 15:50 AVE S112 high-speed train to Cordoba & Seville.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Restaurant car on an ETR160...		Lunch!

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Venice to Lisbon & Portugal...

Option 1, using the Madrid-Lisbon sleeper...

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

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

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

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

The trainhotel's café-bar serves drinks & food.  Grab a barstool early, it gets crowded later on!		4-berth tourist class sleepers (Turista Cama), cosy & inexpensive.  They convert from beds to seats.

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

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Seville by AVE-S112 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:30 and arriving Seville Santa Justa at 14:02.

  Fares start at around €46, book this at www.raileurope.com (easiest, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, only in €, may reject some international credit cards).

• Day 2, travel from Seville to Faro by bus.  Buses run from Seville Plaza de Armas to Faro several times daily, journey time around 3h40, fare around €16-€20.

  Buses are run by Damas, Eva-Bus & Alsa amongst others, you can check times & buy tickets for various bus companies all in one place at Omio.com.  You print your own ticket.

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Venice to Andorra...

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

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Marseille to Toulouse by Intercité leaving Marseille St Charles around 09:31 & arriving Toulouse Matabiau at 13:14.

  Fares start at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website en.oui.sncf (in €, more fiddly).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

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

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Venice to Berlin from €39.90

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

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

  Frecciarossas have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the Frecciarossa page.  A later departure from Venice is possible, but I'd allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Verona in case of delay which is why I suggest this departure.

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

• Step 2, travel from Verona to Berlin, leaving Verona Porta Nuova at 09:01 by Austrian EuroCity train, changing at Munich Hbf (arrive 14:26, depart 14:56) onto an ICE train, arriving Berlin Hbf at 19:29.

  The Austrian EuroCity train has an elegant restaurant car and goes via the scenic Brenner Pass, a real treat, see the Brenner Pass photos & video here.  The German ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Option 2, Venice to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, then on to Berlin by ICE train - the time-effective option...

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

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

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Berlin by ICE train, leaving Munich Hbf at 07:51 and arriving Berlin Hbf at 12:26.

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

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

  Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Step 4, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:55 & arriving Copenhagen at 13:33.

  Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book from Hamburg to Copenhagen at the German Railways website www.bahn.de or www.raileurope.com.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, you print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

• Step 5, travel from Copenhagen to Norway & Sweden...

  For Stockholm, travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000 train, leaving Copenhagen at 14:19 and arriving Stockholm at 19:36.  You should book from Hamburg to Stockholm as one transaction from €56.90 at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or smartphone.

  For Malmo or Gothenburg, Öresund Link trains run hourly from Copenhagen to Gothenburg in 3h53 and every half hour or better from Copenhagen to Malmo in 39 minutes.  You should book from Hamburg to Malmo or Gothenburg (= Goteborg Central) as one transaction from €56.90 at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.

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

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

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

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

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

• Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich by Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 and arriving Munich Hbf at 20:26.

  On Saturdays & Sundays there's also a later Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35 arriving Munich Hbf at 22:27.

  This comfortable Austrian EuroCity train has an Austrian restaurant car and goes via the scenic Brenner Pass, a real treat, see the Brenner Pass photos & video here.

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

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

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

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

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

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Venice to Munich from €39.90...

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

• A smart Austrian EuroCity train leaves Venice Santa Lucia every day at 13:35 and arrives Munich Hbf at 20:26.

  On Saturdays & Sundays there's a second Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35 arriving Munich Hbf at 22:27.

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

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

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

• You can leave Venice earlier if you change trains in Verona - a good idea in winter, so as not to miss scenery when it gets dark earlier.

  You can travel from Venice to Verona Porta Nuova by hourly Frecciarossa trains, then from Verona Porta Nuova to Munich Hbf by Austrian EuroCity train, these leave every twp hours.  So you can leave Venice earlier or later than the direct 13:35 train if you like.  Just make sure you allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Verona in case of any delay as you will be on separate tickets.

  Venice to Verona by Frecciarossa train starts at €9.90, Verona to Munich by EuroCity train starts at €39.90.

  To check train times & book a journey with a change of train in Verona, go to www.raileurope.com and enter Venice Santa Lucia to Munich Hbf.  But before running the enquiry, click More options and enter Verona Porta Nuova as a via station with a stopover duration at least 45 minutes.  Raileurope.com connects to both the Trenitalia & German ticket systems so can sell both tickets as one transaction.  Look for options with 1 change.  Easy!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mountains on the Brenner route...

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

• Every evening, a direct Nightjet sleeper train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05 and arrives Munich Hbf at 06:10 next morning.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Verona to Cologne, Dusseldorf or Hamburg, leaving Verona Porta Nuova at 09:01 by Austrian EuroCity train, changing at Munich Hbf onto an ICE train to Frankfurt, Cologne, Dusseldorf or Hamburg arriving in the early evening.

  The Austrian EuroCity train has an elegant restaurant car and goes via the scenic Brenner Pass, a real treat, see the photo & video here.  German ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  Frecciarossas have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the Frecciarossa page.

  You can take the 08:18 an hour later if you like, but I'd play safe take the 07:18 and have a coffee in Milan's magnificent Centrale station, well worth a look around in its own right.

  Fares start at €19.90 in standard or €29.90 in business.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, it's ticketless you just quote the reference on board.

• Step 2, travel from Milan to Frankfurt by ETR610 EuroCity train leaving Milan Centrale at 11:20 and arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 18:44.

  The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It travels along Lake Maggiore and through the Swiss Alps via the famous Simplon & Lötschberg route.  Change in Frankfurt for Cologne, Dusseldorf and so on.  It's even possible to reach Hamburg or Berlin shortly after midnight.

  Fares from Milan to Germany start at €59.90 in 2nd class or €119.90 in 1st class.

  Book from Milan to anywhere in Germany at www.bahn.de or www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, looking for the 11:20 departure.  You print your own ticket.

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

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

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

• Step 1, travel from Venice to Innsbruck by EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 and arriving Innsbruck Hbf at 18:36.

  This is a wonderful journey, over the causeway across the lagoon from central Venice to the mainland, over to Verona and up the wonderfully scenic Brenner Pass with lunch in the elegant Austrian restaurant car. A real treat, see the Brenner Pass photos & video.

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

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the German Railways website www.bahn.de (in €, no fee).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

  Tip:  You've time for dinner before boarding the sleeper, I recommend the excellent Tyrolean food at the Restaurant Europastüberl, part of the Grand Hotel Europa just across the road from the station and to the right.

  Tip:  If you have a sleeper ticket, you can use the ÖBB 1st class lounge at Innsbruck Hbf between trains, with complimentary tea, coffee & WiFi.

• Step 2, travel from Innsbruck to Germany by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 20:44 arriving next morning at Cologne Hbf at 06:51 & Düsseldorf 07:23, with a separate portion to Hamburg Hbf arriving 08:47.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Frankfurt, Cologne, Düsseldorf or Hamburg by ICE train.  If you leave Munich Hbf after 07:00 you'd reach Cologne around 12:05, Düsseldorf around 12:35, Hamburg around 12:55.

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

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

  Book from Munich to anywhere in Germany at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

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

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

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

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

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

• Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich by Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 and arriving Munich Hbf at 20:26.

  On Saturdays & Sundays there's also a later Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35 arriving Munich Hbf at 22:27.

  This comfortable Austrian EuroCity train has an Austrian restaurant car and goes via the scenic Brenner Pass, a real treat, see the Brenner Pass photos & video here.

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

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

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

• Buy tickets from Venice to any German destination at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

  To get the overnight stop in Munich, click Add intermediate stops and enter Munich Hbf as a via station with a suitable stopover duration, say 11 hours, in the hh:mm box.  Adjust as necessary to get the trains you want either side of Munich.  A little trial & error is sometimes needed!

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

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

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

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

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

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

• An excellent Nightjet sleeper train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05 every night, arriving Vienna Hbf at 07:55 next morning.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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 and arrive Salzburg 15:48.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A railjet at Vienna Hbf.		Economy class on railjet...

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

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

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

• There's a direct Austrian EuroCity train from Venice to Innsbruck at 13:35, change at Innsbruck for Salzburg. 

• There are other departures by Italian Frecciarossa to Verona, then Austrian EuroCity train to Innsbruck and connecting train to Salzburg.

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

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

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

• A Nightjet sleeper train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05 arriving Salzburg at 04:09 (ouch!)  But you don't need to get up that early...

  The sleeper costs exactly the same whether you book it to Salzburg or to Linz, St Pölten or Vienna, so I suggest booking it from Venice to Linz (06:01) or perhaps St Pölten (at 07:13) or even Vienna (07:55), then simply hop on the next hourly double-deck Westbahn train back to Salzburg, journey time 1h05 from Linz, 2h02 from St Pölten.  You pay the €14 fare from Linz or €22 fare from St Pölten to the conductor on board, no reservation necessary, see www.westbahn.at.  Then there's no need to get up at 4am.  Simples!

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

• Fares for the Nightjet start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

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

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

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

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

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Venice to Innsbruck from €19.90...

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

• A direct Austrian EuroCity train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 every day, arriving Innsbruck Hbf at 18:36.

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

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

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

• Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, looking for the 13:35 or 15:35 EC train with 0 changes.

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

  You can also book using www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas cards no problem) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices but a bit more fiddly).  These use the Austrian ticketing system, prices may differ from the German system.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Option 1, Venice to Copenhagen & Scandinavia 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 and arriving Milan Centrale at 14:15.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Step 3, travel from Zurich to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Zurich HB at 19:59 and arriving Hamburg Hbf at 07:53.

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

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

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

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

• Step 4, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by Danish IC3 Intercity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:55 & arriving Copenhagen at 13:33.

  Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book from Hamburg to Copenhagen at the German Railways website www.bahn.de or (if you want to keep all your bookings together in one place) www.thetrainline.com.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, you print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

• Step 5, travel from Copenhagen to Norway & Sweden...

  For Stockholm, travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000 train, leaving Copenhagen at 14:19 and arriving Stockholm at 19:36.  You should book from Hamburg to Stockholm as one transaction from €56.90 at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or smartphone.

  For Malmo or Gothenburg, Öresund Link trains run hourly from Copenhagen to Gothenburg in 3h53 and every half hour or better from Copenhagen to Malmo in 39 minutes.  You should book from Hamburg to Malmo or Gothenburg (= Goteborg Central) as one transaction from €56.90 at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or smartphone.

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

Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train...  Photos courtesy of Andreas Wiedenhof.

Giruno, 1st class.  Larger photo.		Cafe-bar counter.  Larger photo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Step 1, travel from Venice to Innsbruck by EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 and arriving Innsbruck Hbf at 18:36.

  This is a wonderful journey, over the causeway across the lagoon from central Venice to the mainland, over to Verona and up the wonderfully scenic Brenner Pass with lunch in the elegant Austrian restaurant car. A real treat, see the Brenner Pass scenery video here.

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

  Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead,  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  Tip:  You've time for dinner before boarding the sleeper, I recommend the excellent Tyrolean food at the Restaurant Europastüberl, part of the Grand Hotel Europa just across the road from the station and to the right.

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Step 3, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by Danish IC3 intercity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 12:53 and arriving Copenhagen at 17:33.

  Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €47.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book this at either www.thetrainline.com (keeping all your bookings together in one place) or the German Railways website www.bahn.de,  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Copenhagen by ICE & Danish IC3 intercity train, leaving Munich Hbf at 10:22, making one easy change at Hamburg Hbf and arriving Copenhagen at 21:33.

  If you're just going to Copenhagen, book Munich to Copenhagen from €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class at the German Railways site www.bahn.de and print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or smartphone.

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

• Step 3 if you're going to Stockholm or Gothenburg, stay overnight in Copenhagen then travel to Stockholm in 5h15 by X2000 high-speed train or to Gothenburg in 3h53 by Öresund train.

  You can book tickets from Copenhagen to anywhere in Sweden at the Swedish Railways site www.sj.se, but there's a cleverer way to book if you are coming from Munich.  Use this special link to bahn.de to book from Munich to Stockholm from €39.90 with an overnight stop in Copenhagen programmed in using the Add intermediate stops feature - just enter your date of travel from Munich.  Adjust the intermediate stopover time as necessary to get the trains you want, or if no fares show up initially, it may take a bit of trial & error to get the trains you want.  This method works to book from Munich to Gothenburg, too - you'll find bahn.de lists Gothenburg as Göteborg Central.

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

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

• Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich by EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 and arriving Munich Hbf at 20:26. 

  This train has a restaurant car and takes the scenic Brenner Pass route, see the Brenner Pass scenery photos & video here.

  On Saturdays & Sundays there's also a later Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35 arriving Munich Hbf at 22:27.

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

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Copenhagen by ICE & Danish IC3 intercity train with 1 easy change in Hamburg Hbf.  There are several possible departures, for example at 06:15 from Munich Hbf arriving Copenhagen 17:33, or at 10:22 from Munich Hbf arriving Copenhagen 21:33.

• How much does it cost? 

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

  Munich to Copenhagen starts at €37.90 in 2nd class, €69.90 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices...

• How to buy tickets...

  Step 1, book from Venice to Munich at the German Railways website www.bahn.de looking for the direct EC train with 0 changes leaving at or around 13:35.  Step 2, now use www.bahn.de again to book from Munich to Copenhagen looking for a convenient option with just 1 change. 

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

Option 5, Venice to Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm by daytime trains with an overnight stop in Hamburg...

• Day 1, travel from Venice to Hamburg, leaving Venice Santa Lucia 08:48, changing Verona P. Nuova & Munich Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 22:53. 

  An earlier 06:48 departure is also available if you prefer, on the same route.  You travel via the scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass photos & video, you can enjoy the scenery over lunch in the restaurant car.

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

• Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by Danish IC3 intercity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:55 & arriving Copenhagen 13:33.

• Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Norway & Sweden...

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

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

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

• How much does it cost? 

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

  Hamburg to Copenhagen starts at €29 in 2nd class, €59 in 1st class.

  Hamburg to Stockholm or Gothenburg starts at €29 in 2nd class, €59 in 1st class.

  Fares work like air fares, book early for the cheapest prices...

• How to buy tickets...

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

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

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

  Step 2, book from Hamburg to Copenhagen, Malmö, Gothenburg or Stockholm at www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone

Back to top

Venice to Helsinki & Finland...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  Book this at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or smartphone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

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

  Finnlines sail from Travemünde in northern Germany to Helsinki every day, boarding from 22:30 to 24:00 and arriving Helsinki Vuosaari ferry terminal at 09:00 2 nights later (Day 4 from Rome).  Check sailing dates, times & book the ferry at www.finnlines.com.

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

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

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

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

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

• Step 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05 arriving Vienna Hbf at 07:55 next morning.

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

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

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

  Tip:  If you have a sleeper ticket and/or 1st class ticket for the onward train to Prague, you can use the ÖBB first class lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with free WiFi and complimentary tea, coffee & snacks.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Prague by Czech railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 09:10 and arriving Prague Hlavni at 13:38.

  Fares start at €14.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44.90 in business class (= premium 1st class).  Fares vary like air fares.

  These swish railjet trains have a restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the railjet information page. 

  Why not book book a later railjet & spend some time exploring Vienna?  Railjets to Prague leave every two hours, see the timetable here.  Left luggage lockers are available in Vienna.  In Prague, you arrive in the city centre walking distance from the old city square.

  Book this train at either www.thetrainline.com or the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz.  Check prices on both sites as one is often cheaper than the other for the same train.  Booking opens 6 months ahead on www.thetrainline.com, 90 days ahead at www.cd.cz.  You print your own ticket.  See suggested hotels in Prague.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 17:35.

  The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, free WiFi & power sockets at all seats.  It takes the beautifully scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route from Vienna to Graz, a real treat, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmering_railway.  Treat yourself to lunch with wine as the mountains glide by.  See the Venice to Vienna by train page for more information, tips, photos & video.

  Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class, €44.90 in 1st class or €59.90 in business class (= premium 1st class, a real treat).  Fares vary like air fares.

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Prague by swish modern Czech railjet train leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:10 and arriving Prague Hlavni at 23:15.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Day 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:52 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 23:35.

  This train takes the beautiful UNESCO-listed Semmering route, you might see something of this at least in summer when it's light until ten.  The air-conditioned railjet train has a restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  See the Venice to Vienna by train page for more information, tips, photos & video.

  Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class, €44.90 in 1st class or €59.90 in business class (= premium 1st class, a real treat).  Fares vary like air fares.

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Vienna to Prague by Czech railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 07:10 arriving Prague Hlavni at 11:38. 

  Or have a leisurely breakfast and take the 09:10 arriving 13:38.  Your call...

  The excellent air-conditioned railjet train has a restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You arrive in the city centre, walking distance from the old city.  Why not book book a later Railjet & spend some time exploring Vienna?  Trains to Prague leave every two hours, see the timetable here, left luggage lockers are available.

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

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

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

• Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich by EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 13:35 and arriving Munich Hbf at 20:26. 

  This train has a restaurant car and takes the scenic Brenner Pass route, see the Brenner Pass scenery photos & video here.

  On Saturdays & Sundays there's also a later Austrian EuroCity train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35 arriving Munich Hbf at 22:27.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Watch out for hilltop fortresses...

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

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

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

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

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, $ or £, they'll refund the €3.50 booking fee to seat61 users if you email them after booking at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly, requires Italian-language place names, see advice on using it).

  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you simply quote to booking reference on the train.

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.