• Step 2, travel from Koblenz to Luxembourg by regional train, leaving Koblenz at 06:03 Mondays-Fridays arriving Luxembourg 08:24, slightly different times apply at weekends, trains leave regularly, check times at www.bahn.de.

  The fare is €28 or €47.80 in 1st class, these are fixed prices, always available.

  Buy this ticket at the German Railways website www.bahn.de or you can just buy at the station when you get to Koblenz.

Option 2, by daytime trains...

• You can travel from Vienna to Luxembourg by daytime trains in a single day, usually changing at Frankfurt & Koblenz, but you'll find an 11:15 & 13:15 departure with just 1 change in Koblenz.

  You travel along the Rhine Valley between Mainz & Koblenz, past vineyards, river boats, castles and the legendary Lorelei Rock, it's worth making sure you do this bit in daylight.  See the Rails Down the Rhine page for photos & more information.

• Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  These 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.

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Vienna to Zurich, Basel, Geneva & Switzerland from €39.90...

Option 1, Vienna to Switzerland by railjet train - the scenic option, through the beautiful Arlberg Pass...

• Smart modern railjet trains leave Vienna Hbf at 05:30, 07:30, 09:30, 11:30, 13:30 & 15:30, taking 7h50 to reach Zurich HB.

  These railjet trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, treat this as a chill-out day, especially if you splurge on business class, a real treat.  Railjets travel at up to 230 km/h (143 mph) on new sections of line, and at lower speed on the classic lines, which account for the vast majority of this route.  They call at Linz, Salzburg and Innsbruck, then travel through the Arlberg pass, clipping a corner of Lichtenstein before running alongside the Walensee & Zürichsee lakes into Zurich.  The Arlberg offers some superb scenery, watch the Arlberg Pass video to see for yourself & see the Arlberg Railway page.  It's worth checking sunset times for your date of travel and making sure you do the Innsbruck-Zurich bit in daylight.

  Change at Zurich HB for onward Swiss trains to anywhere in Switzerland.

• Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class, €54.90 1st class or €69.90 business class (= premium 1st class).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

• Going beyond Zurich?  For example to Geneva, Bern, Zermatt, Lucerne, Wengen..?

  www.thetrainline.com and www.oebb.at can sell you a through ticket between Vienna and almost any town or city in Switzerland (in either direction) for one inclusive price.  You'll often find that this costs the same as (or only a little more than) a ticket to Zurich!

  Incidentally, I get a lot of people who think they will save money by using their Swiss Pass for the Swiss part of the journey.  But if (let's say) Thetrainline.com gives you a price of €39.90 from Vienna to Zurich and exactly the same price from Vienna to Lucerne (as budget train fares are no more related to distance than budget air fares), then using up an expensive day on a Swiss Pass to cover the Zurich-Lucerne part of the trip is potentially saving you a big fat zero!  So check prices before wasting a Swiss Pass day...

A railjet train about to leave Vienna...

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

A railjet at the impressive modern Vienna Hbf.  More photos & information about railjet trains		Economy class on railjet, in open saloons with large windows.  Some seats around tables, most unidirectional.

The mountains of Austria...

In the Arlberg pass itself, the railway hugs the valley side, past fir forests and meadows...		In railjet first & business class, the stewardess takes your order & serves lunch at your seat...

The railjet clips a corner of Liechtenstein, passing non-stop through the little station of Schaan-Vaduz.  Once in Switzerland, the railjet runs alongside the Zürichsee, then along the Walensee...

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

• An excellent nightjet sleeper train leaves Vienna Hbf at 21:27 every day and arrives Zurich HB at 08:20 next morning.

  This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has two double-deck sleeping-cars with 1 & 2-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet, 1 & 2-berth compartments with washbasin, and a few 3-berth compartments with washbasin.  The sleeper attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  The train also 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 accommodation, travel tips & photos.

  Tip:  If you have a sleeper ticket, you can use the ÖBB 1st class lounge at Vienna Hbf before boarding, with complimentary tea, coffee & wine.

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

  Tip:  In the search results you'll see a second sleeper train leaving Vienna around 23:25 and also arriving 08:20.  This is the Hungarian EuroNight (EN) sleeper train from Budapest to Zurich, which gets combined with the Vienna-Zurich Nightjet (NJ) in Salzburg.  By all means take this if you need to be in Vienna until late, but otherwise I'd stick with the Austrian Nightjet leaving 21:27 as this has higher quality cars, the option of deluxe sleepers with shower & toilet & a better breakfast.

  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.

The safe & comfortable Nightjet from Vienna to Zurich.  This is a double-deck sleeping-car arrived 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...

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Vienna to Venice, Milan, Florence, Rome & Italy from €29...

Option 1, Vienna to Italy by nightjet sleeper train - the time-effective option....

• A nightjet sleeper train leaves Vienna Hbf at 19:23 every day, arriving Bologna Centrale 05:20, Florence SMN 06:19 & Rome Termini 09:22 with a portion for Milan Porta Garibaldi arriving 08:10.

• Another nightjet sleeper train leaves Vienna Hbf at 21:27 every day, arriving Venice Santa Lucia on the banks of the Grand Canal at 08:34.

• These comfortable Austrian Nightjet trains have one or two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars, each with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There'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 trains have 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.

  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.

  Tip:  If you have a sleeper ticket, you can use the ÖBB first class lounge at Vienna Hbf before boarding, with complimentary tea, coffee & wine.

• 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.

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

The Nightjet sleeper train from Vienna, arrived at Venice Santa Lucia.  See more nightjet information, photos & video.

2-berth deluxe sleeper.  More info about Nightjet trains.		...en suite toilet & shower.		4-berth couchettes...

Option 2, Vienna to Italy via Venice - a scenic route over the wonderful Semmering railway...

• Step 1, two smart Austrian railjet trains link Vienna with Venice every day:

  The morning railjet train leaves Vienna Hbf at 06:25 and arrives Venice Santa Lucia at 14:14.

  The afternoon railjet train leaves Vienna Hbf at 12:25 and arrives Venice Santa Lucia at 20:04.

  These smart modern railjet trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  They travel via the UNESCO-listed Semmering railway through the mountains, a real treat.  See the Vienna to Venice by train page for more information, tips, photos & video.

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Venice to Florence, Rome or Naples by Frecciarossa.  If you take the morning railjet from Vienna, you can leave Venice Santa Lucia 15:26 arriving Florence SMN 17:39, Rome 19:25 & Naples Centrale 20:48.  If you take the afternoon railjet, stay overnight in Venice and continue next morning.

  These high-speed Frecciarossa trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Tip:  You can in theory arrive an hour earlier by changing at Venice Mestre on the mainland, but I wouldn't risk any tight connections on separate tickets and I couldn't pass through Venice without at least a glimpse of the Grand Canal outside Venice Santa Lucia.  In fact, I'd be tempted to book the later 16:26, 17:26 or 18:26 Frecciarossa and have a quick scoot to the Rialto Bridge & Piazza San Marco between trains.

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

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

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (keeping all your bookings together in one place) or at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, the small booking fee will be refunded if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com afterwards) or Italian Railways' own website www.trenitalia.com (requires Italian-language place names, read this advice on using it first).  Booking opens up to 120 days in advance.  It's ticketless, you simply quote the booking reference on the train.

The afternoon railjet to Venice, about to leave Vienna Hbf.  More photos & info about Vienna-Venice railjets.

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

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

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, Vienna to Italy via the Brenner Pass - another scenic route...

• Step 1, travel from Vienna to Italy via Innsbruck & the scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass photos & video.  Take a fast railjet train west to Innsbruck Hbf and change onto a comfortable Austrian EuroCity trains south through the Brenner Pass to Verona.  One a day continues to Bologna, one or two per day to Venice.  For example:

  Leave Vienna Hbf 06:30, change at Innsbruck Hbf, arriving Verona Porta Nuova 14:58 & Bologna Centrale at 16:19.

  Leave Vienna Hbf 08:30, change at Innsbruck Hbf, arriving Verona Porta Nuova 16:58 & Venice Santa Lucia at 18:25.

  Leave Vienna Hbf 09:55, change at Innsbruck Hbf, arriving Verona Porta Nuova 18:58.

  Leave Vienna Hbf 12:30, change at Innsbruck Hbf, arriving Verona Porta Nuova 20:56.

  Tip:  If you have a 1st class ticket you can grab a quick tea or coffee in the ÖBB 1st class lounge at Innsbruck Hbf.

• Step 2, take an onward Frecciarossa from in Verona (or on the first train of the day, from Bologna) to Florence, Rome & Naples.

  If you left Vienna Hbf at 06:30:  Leave Bologna Centrale at 17:10, arriving Florence SMN 17:50, Rome Termini 19:35, Naples Centrale 21:03.

  If you left Vienna Hbf at 08:30:  Leave Verona Porta Nuova at 17:52, arriving Florence SMN 19:24 & Rome Termini 21:10.

• How much does it cost?

  Vienna to Verona, Bologna or Venice starts at €29.90 in 2nd class, €39.90 1st class.

  Verona to Florence starts at €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 1st class.

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

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

• How to buy tickets...

  First try booking from Vienna to your Italian destination all in one go at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee.

  Booking for the Austrian trains opens up to 6 months ahead, booking for Italian trains opens up to 120 days ahead, but can vary.

  For Austrian trains, you print your own ticket, but Italian high-speed trains are ticketless, you simply quote the booking reference on the train.

  Tip:  The critical thing is to look through the search results carefully with brain engaged.  A journey from Vienna to Florence, Rome or Naples should have no more than 2 changes.  If a journey you find this way suits you, go ahead and buy.  If not, or if no journeys appear, read on...

• How to buy tickets, advanced...

  To buy tickets with more control so you can ensure more robust connections, or if no journeys appear when you try booking all in one go, split the booking.

  First use either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at to book from Vienna to the interchange point in Italy, either Verona Porta Nuova or (on the first train of the day) Bologna Centrale.

  Then book the onward Italian train separately.  I'd allow at least 40 minutes in Verona or Bologna between trains.  You can book it at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com to keep all your bookings together in one place, or to avoid the small booking fee, at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, the small booking fee will be refunded if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR) or the Italian Railways website www.trenitalia.com (requires Italian language place names, read this advice on using it first).

After running south through the Brenner Pass from Innsbruck, this EuroCity train has arrived at Verona.  You don't need to book a table in the restaurant car, just go along and sit down.  Dining on the move as the scenery glides by is one of the pleasures of travelling on trains like this.  More photos & information about these EuroCity trains.

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

Mountain scenery on the Brenner route...

Vineyards, mountains and castles south of Brenner as the train heads for Trento & Verona...

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

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Vienna to Trieste

Option 1, by direct EuroCity train...

• Starting 11 June 2021, a EuroCity train called the Emona leaves Vienna Hbf at 07:58 every day, arriving Trieste Centrale at 16:52.

  The Emona has comfortable air-conditioned Austrian 1st & 2nd class cars, 1st class is open-plan seating, 2nd class offers a choice of open-plan saloon seating or classic 6-seat compartments.  An excellent Slovenian restaurant car & Slovenian seats cars are attached between Vienna and Ljubljana.  Emona is the Roman name for Ljubljana.

  It's a lovely scenic ride.  South of Vienna the train travels over the UNESCO-listed Semmering Railway, a real treat, with more great scenery across the border in Slovenia along the beautiful River Sava.  Between Ljubljana & Trieste you'll discover where Prosecco comes from as you pass through Prosecco station, closed to passengers since 2012, see the photo & account of the journey on the Ljubljana-Trieste page.  And in my opinion, Trieste is one of Italy's most under-rated cities, along with Turin.

  Tip:  You can check the train formation, see carriage photos and view seating plans if you go to www.vagonweb.cz, select en top left for English, then click Train Formations and search for train EC 150 Emona westbound or EC 151 Emona eastbound.

• Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €80.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

The EuroCity train from Vienna to Trieste, about to leave Vienna Hbf.  Courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.

One car has 2nd class open-plan seating like this.  The other has classic 6-seat compartments.		1st class open-plan seating.  There's just one section of 1st class seats on this train.

A Slovenian restaurant car is attached between Vienna & Ljubljana, with freshly-cooked scrambled eggs or omelette.  How about a glass of fizz to go with that?

Between Vienna & Graz the Emona 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.

Scenery in Slovenia, between Maribor & Zidani Most....

Option 2, by Nightjet sleeper train via Venice...

• Step 1, travel from Vienna to Venice overnight by Nightjet sleeper train as shown above.

• Step 2, regional trains link Venice Santa Lucia (the station to change at if you want to have a wander around Venice between trains) and Venice Mestre (on the mainland, the place to change if you just want to get to Trieste).  These trains run every hour or so, journey time 2h05, no reservation necessary, fare around €14, buy a ticket at the station or online at www.trenitalia.com.

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Vienna to Sicily

• Step 1, travel from Vienna to Rome by Nightjet sleeper train as shown in Vienna to Italy section above, leaving Vienna Hbf in the evening and arriving Rome Termini next morning.  Buy tickets as shown above.

• Step 2, travel from Rome Termini to Messina, Taormina, Catania, Siracuse, Cefalu or Palermo on the 11:26 Intercity train arriving in the evening, as shown on the Trains to Sicily page.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.

  This train is shunted onto a ferry to cross the Straits of Messina, one of the few places in the world that trains go onto ships, and a unique experience, see the video here.  Buy tickets as shown on the Trains to Sicily page.

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Vienna to Barcelona, Madrid & Spain...

Option 1, Vienna to Spain via Nightjet sleeper to Zurich & Paris - the most time-effective option...

• Day 1, travel from Vienna Hbf to Paris Gare de Lyon using the comfortable Nightjet sleeper to Zurich and TGV-Lyria to Paris as shown in option 2 in the Vienna-Paris section above.  You leave Vienna in the evening on day 1 and arrive in Paris at lunchtime on day 2.

• Day 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 15:08 arriving Barcelona Sants at 21:46.

  This impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's a comfortable & scenic journey - I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views, click here for the sights to see from the train on the way.

  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 www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.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, same fares, but no fee).  Booking usually opens 120 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your smartphone.

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

• Step 1, from Vienna to Geneva, leaving Vienna Hbf at 09:30 by railjet train, changing at Zurich HB onto a Swiss train arriving Geneva at 20:18. 

  An earlier 07:30 or later 11:30 departure is also available.  The railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, it travels through the wonderfully scenic Arlberg Pass, watch the video & see the Arlberg Railway page.  Put your feet up and enjoy the ride, have lunch in the restaurant car...

  Vienna to Geneva starts at €39.90 in 2nd class, €54.90 in 1st class or €69.90 in business class (= premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares.

  Book from Vienna to Geneva as one transaction at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a little more fiddly, same fares).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

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

• Step 2, travel from Geneva to Barcelona, 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 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.

  The Geneva-Lyon fare is a fixed-price €29.60.  Lyon-Barcelona fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class, these fares vary like air fares.

  Buy tickets 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, 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, recommended), 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).

• Step 3, travel from Barcelona Sants to any Spanish destination next morning by high-speed train, check times & buying a ticket at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.  You print your own ticket.

  For Madrid:  AVE-S103 high-speed trains link Barcelona Sants with Madrid Atocha every hour or so in as little as 2h30, fares from €38.

  For Valencia & Alicante:  EuroMed trains link Barcelona 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 Granada:  A direct AVE S112 high-speed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 08:30 arriving Granada at 14:52.

  For Cordoba & Seville:  An AVE-S112 high-speed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 08:30 arriving Cordoba 13:12 & Seville Santa Justa at 14:02.  Fares start at around €53.

  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, or why not spend a morning in Barcelona and take the afternoon 15:50 AVE S112 high-speed train to Cordoba, Seville & Malaga arriving in the evening?  Fares for all these trains start at €53.

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

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...

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Vienna to San Sebastian...

Option 1, Vienna to San Sebastian using the Vienna-Zurich sleeper - the most time-effective option...

• Day 1, travel from Vienna Hbf to Paris Gare de Lyon using the Nightjet sleeper to Zurich and TGV-Lyria to Paris as shown in option 2 in the Vienna-Paris section above.

  Transfer by taxi or metro from the Gare de Lyon to the Gare Montparnasse.

• Day 2, travel from Paris to Hendaye on the Spanish border by TGV Duplex Océane, leaving Paris Montparnasse at 15:45, arriving Hendaye 20:28.

  The TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  An 07:52 departure is also available if you don't mind an early start.

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

• Day 2, walk out of Hendaye station and turn right, the little Euskotren station is in a corner of the main station forecourt.  Buy a ticket for €2.75 at the station from the machines or staffed counter and hop on the next half-hourly Euskotren metro from Hendaye to San Sebastian Amara station, journey time 37 minutes.  See the Paris to San Sebastian page for more information, photos & tips.

Option 2, Vienna to San Sebastian by day trains with overnight stop in Paris

• Day 1, travel from Vienna Hbf to Paris Gare de l'Est in a single day as shown in the Vienna-Paris section above.

  Transfer by taxi or metro from the Gare de l'Est to the Gare Montparnasse.

• Stay overnight in Paris...

  Hotels near Paris Gare de l'Est with good reviews include the Libertel Gare de l'Est Français (opposite the station, 3-star);  Libertel Gare du Nord Suede (350m from the station, 2-star).  Comfort Hotel Gare de l'Est (2-star).

  Hotels near Paris Gare Montparnasse with good reviews:  Mercure Paris Gare Montparnasse (150m from the station, 4-star);  Best Western Sevres Montparnasse (15 minute walk from station, 3-star);  La Maison Montparnasse (10 min walk from station, 2-star);  Hotel du Maine (5 min walk from station, 2-star).

• Day 2, travel from Paris to Hendaye on the Spanish border by TGV Duplex Océane, leaving Paris Montparnasse at 09:52, arriving Hendaye 14:28.

  The TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  An 07:52 departure is also available if you don't mind an early start.

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

• Day 2, walk out of Hendaye station and turn right, the little Euskotren station is in a corner of the main station forecourt.  Buy a ticket for €2.75 at the station from the machines or staffed counter and hop on the next half-hourly Euskotren metro from Hendaye to San Sebastian Amara station, journey time 37 minutes.  See the Paris to San Sebastian page for more information, photos & tips.

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Vienna to Lisbon & Portugal...

It's perfectly possible to travel from Vienna to Lisbon or Porto or Faro by train, in great comfort.  The whole journey takes 3 nights.

Option 1, via Geneva & Barcelona...

• Travel from Vienna to Barcelona as shown above.

• You'll need to overnight in Barcelona, see suggested hotels near the station.

• Travel from Barcelona to Lisbon as shown here.

Option 2, via Paris...

• Travel from Vienna to Paris as shown above.

• You'll need to overnight in Paris, see suggested hotels near the Gare du Nord & Gare de Lyon.

• Travel from Paris to Lisbon as shown here.

The Sud Express, about to leave Irun on the Franco-Spanish frontier, bound for Lisbon...  Courtesy of Ron Baker.  See panorama photo...		Gran Clase sleeper, in evening mode with the seats folded out...		....return from the bar & the attendant has made up the beds...		Gran Clase private toilet & shower...

Option 3, Vienna to Faro & the Algarve using a bus from Seville...

• Day 1, travel from Vienna 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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Vienna to Andorra...

• Step 1, travel from Vienna to Paris, leaving Vienna Hbf at 09:15, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est at 20:47.

  It's a day relaxing through the countryside of 3 different countries with a good book and a beer or glass of wine.  You travel from Vienna to Frankfurt on a luxurious German ICE-T train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Then from Frankfurt to Paris on a 320 km/h (199 mph) French double-deck TGV Duplex, book an upstairs seat for the best views, any seat number >60 is upper deck.  Suggested places for a beer or coffee between trains in Frankfurt.

  Vienna-Frankfurt starts at €37.90 in 2nd class or €56.90 in 1st class.  Frankfurt-Paris starts 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 journey at www.raileurope.com as you can then book from Vienna to Paris as one transaction.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You can book in €, £ or $.  There's a small booking fee.  More about Raileurope.

  Change stations from the Gare de l'Est to the Gare d'Austerlitz by metro or taxi.

• Step 2, take the Intercité de Nuit couchette train leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 22:12 and arriving l'Hospitalet pres l'Andorre at 08:46.

  This train has 1st class 4-berth couchettes, 2nd class 6-berth couchettes & reclining seats.  Fares start at €35 including a couchette.

  Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or en.oui.sncf (more fiddly, in €, but no fee).  You print your own ticket or can choose a mobile ticket.

• Step 3, take a taxi or taxi+bus from l'Hospitalet station to Andorra La Vella as explained on the London to Andorra page - just disregard the London-Paris part.

• Alternatively, you can travel from Paris to Toulouse on the same night train, leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 22:12 and arriving Toulouse Matabiau at 06:00.  Have breakfast in Toulouse (I can recommend the breakfast buffet at the Pullman Hotel around the corner from the station), then take a bus to Andorra la Vella.  A bus run by Andbus (www.andorrabybus.com) leaves from outside Toulouse Matabiau station (bus stand 15) at 11:00, arriving Andorra la Vella bus station at 15:00. This is also explained in more detail on the London to Andorra page.

The intercité de nuit overnight train from Paris to Toulouse & Latour de Carol has 1st class 4-berth & 2nd class 6-berth couchettes, each with lightweight sleeping-bag & mineral water...

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Vienna to Nuremberg, Frankfurt, Cologne & Germany from €27.90...

Option 1, Vienna to anywhere in Germany by ICE  - the fast daytime option...

• Every hour or two, a luxurious German ICE-T train leaves Vienna Hbf for Regensburg, Nuremberg & Germany

  Vienna Hbf depart 06:50 for Regensburg, Nuremberg, Frankfurt (Main) Hbf.

  Vienna Hbf depart 09:15 for Regensburg, Nuremberg, Frankfurt (Main) Hbf.

  Vienna Hbf depart 10:15 for Regensburg, Nuremberg, Berlin Hbf.

  Vienna Hbf depart 11:15 for Regensburg, Nuremberg, Frankfurt (Main) Hbf & via the Rhine Valley to Koblenz, Cologne. Dusseldorf & Dortmund.

  Vienna Hbf depart 13:15 for Regensburg, Nuremberg, Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, Hannover & Hamburg Hbf.

  Vienna Hbf depart 15:15 for Regensburg, Nuremberg, Frankfurt (Main) Hbf & via the Rhine Valley to Koblenz, Cologne. Dusseldorf & Dortmund.

  Vienna Hbf depart 17:15 for Regensburg, Nuremberg, Frankfurt (Main) Hbf.

  Change at Nuremberg or Frankfurt for destinations all over Germany.

  ICE trains are a pleasure to travel on, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the ICE information page.

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

• Buy tickets from Vienna 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 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.

An ICE-T arrived in Frankfurt from Vienna...

Table for two in 1st class, my favourite configuration.  There are also tables for four in both classes.		Lunch in the restaurant.  In 1st class you can choose to be served at your seat.  I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier!

You can see into the cab at each end of the train.		Comfortable 2nd class seats on the ICE-T to Vienna...

You'll glimpse the Inn and Danube rivers from the Vienna-Frankfurt ICE...

Option 2, by Nightjet sleeper train - the comfortable time-effective option...

• There are excellent Nightjet sleeper trains from Vienna to Munich, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Hannover, Hamburg & Berlin.

  Vienna Hbf depart 20:13, Koblenz 05:11, Cologne Hbf 06:51, Düsseldorf 07:23.

  Vienna Hbf depart 20:13, Hannover arrive 06:49 & Hamburg Hbf arrive 08:47.

  Vienna Hbf depart 22:10, Berlin Hbf arrive 09:51.

• These comfortable Austrian Nightjet trains each have an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 or 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.

  Tip:  If you have a sleeper ticket, you can use the ÖBB first class lounge at Vienna Hbf before boarding, with complimentary snacks & wine.

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

• Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (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.

A Nightjet sleeper 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 sleeper train...

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Vienna to Munich from €27.90...

Option 1, Vienna to Munich by railjet train - the fastest way...

• Smart Austrian railjet trains run from Vienna Hbf & Linz to Munich Hbf every two hours from 06:30 to 18:30.  Vienna to Munich takes only 4 hours from city centre to city centre, with a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class, €37.90 in 1st class or €52.90 in business class (= premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• 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.

• To book business class tickets at bahn.de, book 1st class then use the Show seats seat selection feature to select a seat in the low-density Business class car, usually seats 13-55 in car 27 - although they don't label it as business class so you have to engage brain!  It should then add the €15 business class upgrade to the first class fare when you pay.  You can also buy using www.thetrainline.com.

A railjet about to leave Vienna Hbf...

A railjet arrived at the impressive modern Vienna Hbf spot on time.  More photos & information about Railjet trains		Economy class on railjet, in open saloons with large windows.  Some seats around tables, most unidirectional.

Railjet first class, with black leather seats...		Business class...		Bistro-restaurant car...

Pleasant farmland scenery between Vienna & Salzburg...

This is the view of Salzburg's Fortress Hohensalzburg on your left hand side as the railjet crosses the River Salzach after leaving Salzburg Hbf....

Pleasant Bavarian scenery between Salzburg & Munich...

Option 2, Vienna to Munich by Westbahn/Bayerische Regiobahn - the slower, but more flexible option, cheaper at short notice...

• The excellent railjet trains link Vienna to Munich in just 4h from just €27.90 if you book in advance and commit to a specific train with limited refunds & no changes to travel plans.  What if you don't want to stay flexible & not commit to a specific departure way in advance?  Or all the cheap railjet tickets have sold out as you've left it too late?  On railjets, full-price paid on the day is around €100.  Ouch!

• The solution?  Westbahn!

  Every hour, smart double-deck Westbahn trains run from Vienna Westbahnhof to Salzburg Hbf, connecting with an hourly Bayerische Regiobahn regional train from Salzburg Hbf to Munich Hbf.

  The journey is slower at 4h28 overall but you pay just €33.50 for the Westbahn train (€1 more if you buy on board) and €25 for the Bayerische Regiobahn train using a Bayern Ticket valid any time after 09:00 on weekdays or at any time at weekends.

  You can pay the Westbahn fare to the conductor on board the train, no reservation necessary, although it's €1 cheaper if you buy from the Westbahn ticket machines or buy online at www.thetrainline.com or www.westbahn.at.  Buy the Bayern Ticket at the station in Salzburg on the day or online as shown here.  More info on Bayern Tickets.

• You can check Westbahn prices & times at www.thetrainline.com or www.westbahn.at.  You can check Bayerische Regiobahn times and prices at www.bahn.de, they are ones marked BRB.  All these tickets have unlimited availability at these prices - they cannot sell out!

Stairs to upper deck...		WESTbahn double-decker train to Salzburg at Vienna Westbahnhof...

Food vending area, 4 in each trainset...		Upper deck seats...

Option 3, Vienna to Munich by EuroNight sleeper train...

• As the daytime journey only takes 4 hours, most people travel by day.  But to save both daytime hours and a hotel bill, there's also a sleeper.

• The sleeper train Kalman Imre leaves Vienna Hbf at 23:36 and arrives Munich Hbf at 06:10.

  This is a Hungarian sleeper train en route from Budapest to Munich, it has an air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and an air-conditioned Hungarian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments.  See the Hungarian sleeping-car video & see photos of the sleeper & couchettes on this train in the Budapest to Munich section.

• Fares start at €49.90 with couchette in 6-berth, €59.90 with couchette in 4-berth, €89.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper, or €129.90 with a bed in a single-bed sleeper.

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 90 days ahead and you print your own ticket.

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Vienna to Berlin from €37.90...

Option 1, Vienna to Berlin by ICE train Berolina departing 10:15 - a leisurely daytime option with restaurant car...

• A superb German ICE train called the Berolina leaves Vienna Hbf at 10:15 every day, arriving Berlin Hbf at 17:58. 

  The ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more information about ICEs.

  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 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.

• Stopover in Nuremberg?

  The direct train goes via Nuremberg, but there are other trains between Vienna and Nuremberg, and between Nuremberg & Berlin.  In Nuremberg you'll find a pleasant old town, a railway museum and the infamous (but thought-provoking) Party Rally Grounds (take tram 9 from outside Nuremberg Hbf, it's well worth the trip).

  To book a ticket with a stopover at www.bahn.de, click Add intermediate stops, enter Nuremberg Hbf and a duration of up to 48 hours (the maximum stopover possible with a cheap sparpreis fare) or up to 8 hours (the maximum you can stop off and still get from Vienna to Berlin in a day, if you catch an early train from Vienna then a late train from Nuremberg to Berlin).  You'll now get a cheap fare from Vienna to Berlin with a stopover in Nuremberg included.  There are left luggage lockers in Nuremberg for your bags.

The ICE Berolina...  On the first day of the new timetable, 9 December 2018, the southbound Berolina from Berlin to Vienna has arrived at Vienna Hbf spot on time.  Courtesy Helmut Uttenthaler .

Table for two in 1st class, my favourite configuration.  There are also tables for four in both classes.		Lunch in the Bordrestaurant.  I highly recommend the Erdinger Weissbier!

You can see into the cab at each end of the train.		Comfortable 2nd class seats on the ICE-T to Vienna...

Option 2, Vienna to Berlin by railjet train departing 13:10 - a leisurely daytime option with restaurant car...

• A swish Austrian railjet train called the Vindobona leaves Vienna Hbf at 13:10 every day, arriving Berlin Hbf at 21:54.

  This modern railjet train has 2nd class, 1st class, business class (= premium 1st class, just 6 luxurious seats at one end of the train) and a restaurant car.  There's free WiFi & power sockets at all seats.  Although it takes a bit longer than the direct ICE train in option 2 below, this train is routed via Prague & Dresden, and in summer when it's light the scenery along the Elbe river valley between Prague & Dresden more than makes up for that, see the scenery photos & video for the Prague to Berlin part of the journey here.

• Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class, €69.90 in 1st class or €84.90 in business class (= premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Book 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.

Option 3, Vienna to Berlin by nightjet sleeper train - the time-effective option...

• An excellent nightjet sleeper train leaves Vienna Hbf at 22:10 every night arriving Berlin Hbf at 09:51 next morning.

  This comfortable Austrian nightjet train has a Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3 bed standard compartments with washbasin, three 1, 2 & 3 bed deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower, there's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in standard sleepers.  There are also 4 & 6 berth couchettes.  A light breakfast is included in the fare in both sleepers and couchettes.  See the nightjet sleeper train page for more photos, travel tips & information.

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.

Tip:  If you have a sleeper ticket, you can use the ÖBB 1st class lounge at Vienna Hbf before boarding, with complimentary tea, coffee & wine.

• Fares start at €59.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €69.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

• Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (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 and you print your own ticket.

Nightjet to Berlin...  On the first day of the new timetable, 9 December 2018, the very first Vienna to Berlin Nightjet prepares to leave Vienna Hbf.  See the nightjet page for more photos, tips & information.  Courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.

2-berth deluxe sleeper.  More info about Nightjet trains.		...en suite toilet & shower.		4-berth couchettes...

Option 4, Vienna to Berlin by day trains with overnight stop in Prague from €37.90...

• Day 1, take any railjet train you like from Vienna to Prague in 4h05.  For example the 17:10 from Vienna Hbf arrives Prague Hlavni 21:38, or the 19:10 arrives Prague Hlavni at 23:15.  By all means take an earlier train and have an evening or an afternoon in Prague.

• Stay overnight in Prague.  Hotels near the station with good reviews include the Esplanade Hotel (5-star), Falkensteiner Hotel Maria (4-star), Chopin Hotel (3-star).  To stay in the old town, try the Ventana Hotel or Old Town Square Hotel (both 5-star), Grand Hotel Prague, Hotel Rott (both 4-star), Zlatý kůň Golden Horse (3-star).  For dinner in Prague, consider a 6 minute 550m walk to the Restaurant Zvonice (www.restaurantzvonice.cz) which gets great reviews, see walking map.  It's usually open until midnight, ideal if you're catching a sleeper.  Feedback appreciated.

• Day 2, take any EuroCity train you like from Prague to Berlin in 4h09.  The 06:26 from Prague Hlavni arrives Berlin Hbf at 10:42 with a restaurant car for breakfast, but by all means take a later train, they leave every 2 hours.  The Elbe river scenery between Prague & Dresden is lovely, see the Prague to Berlin page for scenery photos, video & more information.

• Book from Vienna to Berlin at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

  To get the overnight stop in Prague, click Add intermediate stops, enter Prague and a duration of around 9 hours - I have set up this link to do that for you.  Vary the departure time and increase the stopover duration to get the trains you want -  a little trial & error is required until you see direct trains that suit you for both legs.

  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.

So civilised!  A meal in the Czech restaurant car as the Berlin-Prague express snakes along the beautiful Elbe river south of Dresden.  Photo courtesy of Philip Dyer-Perry.

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Vienna to Copenhagen, Stockholm & Scandinavia...

Option 1, Vienna to Copenhagen, Stockholm, Gothenburg or Oslo by daytime trains with an overnight stop in Hamburg.

• Day 1, travel from Vienna to Hamburg by ICE train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 13:15 and arriving Hamburg Hbf at 21:53. 

  This comfortable ICE-T train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  By all means take an earlier train if you like for a leisurely evening in Hamburg, but this is the ideal direct train, other departures require at least one change, usually in Wurzburg.

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

• Stay overnight in Hamburg.  Suggested hotels next to Hamburg Hbf with good reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski.

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

  If you're only going as far as Copenhagen, book from Hamburg to Copenhagen from €27.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class 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.

  Tip:  If you're only going as far as Copenhagen, it can be cheaper to book from Vienna to Copenhagen as one transaction, clicking Add intermediate stops, entering Hamburg Hbf with 11 hours in the hh:mm stopover box - I have set up this link to Bahn.de for you with those parameters, just enter your date & number of passengers.

• Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Norway or Sweden by onward train...

  For Stockholm, travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000 train.  If you take the 08:55 from Hamburg you'll make the 14:10 X2000 from Copenhagen arriving Stockholm Central at 19:38. 

  You should book from Hamburg to Stockholm as one transaction from €56.90 at www.bahn.de, looking for suitable departures with 1 change marked either 'ICE, X2' or 'EC, X2' (X2000s are shown as X2 on bahn.de for some reason).  

  For Malmö or Gothenburg, travel from Copenhagen to Malmö or Gothenburg by Öresund Link train, these run several times each hour to Malmö, journey time 39 minutes, and once an hour to Gothenburg, journey time 3h53.  Book from Hamburg to Malmö or Gothenburg as one transaction at www.bahn.de (Gothenburg is listed as Göteborg Central).

Option 2, Vienna to Copenhagen by daytime trains with an overnight stop in Munich...

• Day 1, travel from Vienna to Munich by railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 18:30 and arriving Munich Hbf at 22:31.

  These railjets run every couple of hours, so by all means book an earlier one to have a leisurely evening in Munich.  The train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• 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, either leaving Munich Hbf at 06:15 (05:55 certain dates) arriving Copenhagen 17:33, or leaving Munich Hbf at 10:22 arriving Copenhagen 21:33.

• How much does it cost? 

  Vienna to Munich starts at €27.90 in 2nd class, €56.90 in 1st class.

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

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

• How to buy tickets... 

  Step 1, book from Vienna 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, book from Munich to Copenhagen at www.bahn.de looking for a convenient option with just 1 change.

  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.

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 an IC3 train...		Boarding a train to Copenhagen in Hamburg.

Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000, seen boarding at Copenhagen main station...		2nd class seats on an X2000 train from Copenhagen to Stockholm.  Larger photo.

X2000 bistro car...		X2000 bistro car seating area.  Larger photo		Bistro self-service...

Winter scenery from a train between Copenhagen & Stockholm. Courtesy of Radoslav Sharapanov

Option 3, using the Vienna-Hamburg sleeper train...

• Step 1, travel from Vienna to Hamburg by comfortable Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 20:13, arriving Hamburg Hbf 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 are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by Danish IC3 intercity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 12:53 and arriving Copenhagen 17:33.

  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.

• If you're going to Malmö or Gothenburg, travel from Copenhagen to Malmö or Gothenburg by Öresund Link train, these run several times each hour to Malmö taking 39 minutes, and once an hour to Gothenburg taking 3h53.  Book from Hamburg to Malmö or Gothenburg as one transaction at www.bahn.de (Gothenburg is listed as Göteborg Central).

2-berth regular sleeper with washstand.  Larger photo.		The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper...		A Comfortline sleeping-car, as now used on the Austrian nightjet train from Vienna to Hamburg...

All Hamburg-Copenhagen trains are now Danish IC3 trains like this...

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Vienna to Oslo & Norway...

Option 1, via Hamburg & Copenhagen - by train all the way...

• See above.

Option 2, Vienna to Oslo via the Kiel-Oslo Color Line cruise ferry - the most comfortable way to Oslo...

• Day 1, travel from Vienna to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 20:13 and arriving Hamburg Hbf at 08:47.

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

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Hamburg Hbf to Kiel Hbf by regional train, these leave several times each hour taking 1h10, fixed-price fare around €23.

  In Kiel, the Color Line ferry terminal is only 5-6 minutes walk from Kiel Hbf, but allow several hours between train & ferry for the ferry check-in and in case of delay.

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

  Check times & buy tickets using the Direct Ferries website or www.colorline.com.

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

This photo is taken from the exit of Kiel station, so you can see how close the ferry is.  It's a 5-6 minute walk across the harbour, with a street lift up to a connecting walkway which takes you to the ferry terminal. If you have reserved one of what Color Line call their "5 star suites", check in at the desk rather than the machines and you'll be directed to a special lounge to wait with free tea, coffee, juice, snacks & WiFi.  You'll also have priority boarding of the ship.  Photos courtesy of Andrew Leo.

Boarding the Color Line ferry to Oslo in Kiel...

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

Wake up to this....

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Vienna to Helsinki...

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

• Day 1, travel from Vienna to Hamburg, leaving Vienna Hbf at 09:15, arriving Hamburg Hbf 18:36 (times may vary).

  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 train 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.

• Day 1, transfer from Hamburg Hbf to the Travemünde ferry terminal by train+bus and sail from Travemünde to Helsinki with Finnlines, see the Hamburg page for full details of the transfer, check-in arrangements & ferry crossing.

  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 3 from Munich).

  Check sailing dates, times & book the ferry using the Direct Ferries website or 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...

• Step 1, travel from Vienna to Stockholm as shown above.

• Step 2, travel from Stockholm to Helsinki either by direct overnight cruise ferry, or by daytime or overnight ferry to Turku and connecting train to Helsinki as shown on the Trains & ferries from Stockholm page.

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Vienna to Prague from €14.90...

Option 1, Vienna to Prague by railjet train in just 4h05...

• The train is definitely the way to go, see the Vienna to Prague page for full details...

• Smart new railjet trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi link Vienna Hbf and Prague Hlavni every two hours, journey time 4h05 from city centre to city centre, fares from just €14.90 - or €29.90 in 1st class or €44.90 in business class, see the Vienna to Prague page for details.

Option 2, by competing RegioJet train

• From December 2017 these railjets have been joined by 4 daily trains run by open-access competitor Regiojet with fares from just €15, free WiFi and at-seat service, see the Vienna to Prague page for details.

A blue Czech railjet train from Prague to Vienna, seen at Prague Hlavni...

Option 3, by sleeper train.  This was discontinued from the timetable change in December 2018...

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Vienna to Český Krumlov for €11...

• You can travel from Vienna to Český Krumlov in around 4h29 from just €11 with two easy changes of train, at Ceske Velenice and Ceske Budejovice.  Departures are every two hours, leaving from Vienna Franz Josef Bahnhof in the north of the city, see station location map.

  The Austrian regional express (REX) train from Vienna to Ceske Velenice is 2nd class only, a comfortable City Shuttle train using ÖBB's double-deck air-conditioned Weasel trains.  Sit upstairs for the best views!

  At Ceske Velenice you simply get off and walk a few feet across the same platform to the waiting Czech regional train to Ceske Budejovice, also 2nd class only, but modern and air-conditioned - see the photo below.  If the Austrian train is a bit late the Czech train will wait.  Both Austrian & Czech trains have plenty of luggage space & toilets.  Bring food & drink with you if you want to.

  Incidentally, Ceske Budejovice might sound more familiar by its former Germanic name, Budweis.  That's right, where the name of the beer comes from!  The town is worth a look around in its own right.

  From Ceske Budejovice you take the little green-&-orange GWTR local train to Cesky Krumlov, a leisurely journey on a winding single track branch line past farmland & forest.  This runs every hour or so, taking 44 minutes.  The train has luggage space, a toilet, power sockets & free WiFi.

• How much does it cost?

  (1)  Vienna to Ceske Budejovice starts from €9.90 if you book a cheap Sparschiene fare in advance (even just a day or two ahead), just remember that Sparschiene fares commit you to a specific departure, no refunds, no changes to travel plans.  The price varies.

  If you want to stay flexible, buy a Standard (GünTar) ticket for around €38.40, this is good for any train on this route that day, unlimited availability so it cannot sell out, you can buy this ticket online or at the station on the day and hop on any train.  No reservations needed, you sit where you like.  On www.oebb.at this ticket is shown as Standard-Ticket (Local Trains in Czech Republic).

  (2)  Ceske Budejovice to Cesky Krumlov by GWTR local train costs 40 Koruna (around €1.55), bought on the day.

• To check train times & buy tickets...

  Go to Austrian Railways www.oebb.at and ask it for Vienna (just plain Vienna) to Cesky Krumlov.

  In the search results, look for journeys from Vienna Franz Josefs Bahnhof with 2 changes marked REX, Os and then a greyed out train symbol.  It'll specify via Ceske Velenice and Ceske Budejovice underneath.

  You'll also see journeys from Vienna Hbf routed via Linz (Donau) & Ceske Budejovice, this is a longer way round but the trains are faster so it doesn't take much longer.  The trains have 1st class on this route.  However, it's less frequent and more expensive with Sparschiene fares starting at €19.90, so I'd stick with the direct route unless leaving from the main Vienna Hbf is significantly more convenient for you.

  Whichever route you choose, www.oebb.at will show fares including Sparschiene tickets, but it will say Ticket for section only because ÖBB cannot sell tickets for the local train from Ceske Budejovice to Cesky Krumlov as this is run by private operator GWTR.  The fares shown are for Vienna to Ceske Budejovice, so go ahead and buy a cheap Sparschiene ticket, or you can buy the Standard Ticket (GünTar) online or at the station on the day.

  You buy the GWTR local ticket from Ceske Budejovice to Cesky Krumlov either at Ceske Budejovice station from the distinctive green-&-orange GWTR ticket counter in the ticket hall or (if time is short) simply board the GWTR train and buy from the on-board ticket machine which accepts cask or (reportedly) contactless Visa & MasterCard.  Tickets cannot sell out, you sit where you like, it's just local transport.  Easy! 

  If you want to double-check GWTR local train times for any reason, see jizdnirady.idnes.cz/vlaky/spojeni, English button bottom right.

Changing trains at Ceske Velenice.  That's the double-deck Austrian train from Vienna Franz Josefs Bahnhof arrived the right and the modern Czech regional train to Ceske Budejovice on the left.  Yes, all you have to do is walk across the platform!  Courtesy Colin Penfold.

The small but distinctive GWTR local train from Ceske Budejovice to Cesky Krumlov...  Courtesy of @wanisbunes

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Vienna to Brno from €7...

• The Vienna to Prague railjet trains call at Brno.  Departure from Vienna Hbf every 2 hours, journey time to Brno just 1h28.

• Advance-purchase First Minute fares start at €7, limited availability, specific train only, no refunds, no changes.  The full-flex fare bought on the day is around €26, good for any train that day.

• Book at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz and print your own ticket or show it on your smartphone.  Booking opens 90 days ahead.

• You can also book at Austrian Railways www.oebb.at or at www.thetrainline.com, Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, although the Czechs are usually cheaper for a given date & train.

• The Vienna-Prague Regiojet trains also serve Brno.  Book at www.regiojet.com and print your own ticket or show it on your smartphone.  Regiojet can be cheaper bat short notice, too.

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Vienna to Ostrava...

• Several times a day, direct EuroCity trains link Vienna Hbf with Ostrava, journey time 2h50, you can check times at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.

  The final destination of these trains is usually Warsaw, carriages are usually supplied by Polish Railways, comfortable and air-conditioned, and there's usually a restaurant car and power sockets at seats.  You can see the train formation, on-board facilities and photos if you go to www.vagonweb.cz and search for the train number once you have found that at www.oebb.at.

• Advance-purchase Sparschiene fares start at €19.90.

• Book at the www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (booking opens up to 6 months ahead) or at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz (where booking usually opens 90 days ahead).  You print your own ticket.

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Vienna to Bratislava for €11.20...

• Regional express trains link Vienna Hbf with Bratislava Hlavna every hour, see the Vienna to Bratislava page for details.

The hourly regional express train from Vienna to Bratislava Hlavna, about to leave from Vienna Hbf.

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Vienna to Poprad-Tatry & Kosice...

• Take the hourly regional express train from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna.  Change onto a Slovakian express train leaving every 2 hours or so for Poprad Tatry and Kosice, usually with restaurant car.

• Advance-purchase Sparschiene fares start at €24.90.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

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

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Vienna to Budapest from €9...

• Every hour, a smart Austrian railjet train or air-conditioned Hungarian EuroCity train links Vienna Hbf with Budapest Keleti in 2h40.

  Advance-purchase sparschiene fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44.90 in luxurious Business class.

  Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com and print your own ticket.  More information...

• In addition, starting 31 July 2020, private open-access operator Regiojet will operate 2 trains a day each way with 4 classes (lo-cost, standard, relax & business) with fares from just €9, book at www.regiojet.com and print your ticket or show it on your smartphone.  More information...

• See the Budapest to Vienna by train page for train times, fares, how to buy tickets & travel tips...

Railjet first class, with black leather seats...		Business class...		Bistro-restaurant car...

Economy class on railjet, in open saloons with picture windows.  Some seats around tables, most unidirectional.		A railjet from Vienna, arrived at Budapest Keleti spot on time.  More photos & information about railjet trains.

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Vienna to Sighisoara, Brasov & Bucharest from €58...

Option 1, by Dacia Express sleeper train from Vienna to Sighisoara, Brasov & Bucharest - the direct option...

• The Dacia Express leaves Vienna Hbf every day at 19:42 arriving next day at Sighisoara 10:34, Brasov 13:35 & Bucharest Gara de Nord at 16:04.

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

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

• Fares start at €59 with a couchette in a 6-berth compartment, €69 with a couchette in a 4-berth compartment, €79 with a bed in a 3-berth sleeper, €99 with a bed in a 3-berth sleeper or €159 with a bed in a single-berth sleeper all to yourself.  All per person per berth.

• Book this train at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.  Booking normally opens 90 days ahead.  In the search results, look for the direct train marked D with no changes.  If it says not available you can't book it (booking may not have opened yet), but if a sparschiene fare is shown you can.  You collect tickets from an ÖBB ticket machine in Vienna.

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

The sleeping-car of the Dacia Express, arrived at Bucharest Nord.  The Dacia Express has one, or at peak times two, air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-cars of the most modern type.  Photo courtesy of @PaliparanDotCom

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

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

Transylvania:  The Dacia Express passes villages in rural Transylvania. Courtesy of @PaliparanDotCom.

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

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

Carpathians:  Alpine scenery as the Dacia Express passes through the Carpathian mountains. Courtesy @PaliparanDotCom.

Option 2, by railjet to Budapest then the sleeper train Ister to Brasov & Bucharest - a good alternative...

• Step 1, travel from Vienna to Budapest by EuroCity train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 14:42 and arriving Budapest Keleti at 17:19.

  The EuroCity train has a restaurant car.  By all means take an earlier train and spend a day or an afternoon exploring Budapest.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class, €44.90 in business class (= premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead.

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

• Step 2, travel from Budapest to Romania by sleeper train, leaving Budapest Keleti 19:10, arriving Brasov 09:54, Bucharest Gara de Nord 12:33.

  This comfortable sleeper train is called the Ister, the ancient name for the river Danube.  It has an air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  There's no restaurant car so take a picnic and bottle of wine, although a bistro-bar is usually attached within Romania.  Enjoy the alpine scenery through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov & Bucharest.

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

  Book at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.  Click EN top right for English.  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  For Bucharest type Bucuresti.  It can book seats, couchettes or sleepers.  For Hungary to Romania journeys you print your own ticket.

  You can also normally book at the Hungarian Railways website www.mav-start.hu, see my advice on using it.  For Bucharest type Bucuresti.  You show your ticket in the MAV app on your smartphone.  However, since MAV revamped its website in 2020, it can't book couchettes or sleepers, only seats.  Though this should be fixed at some point.  Tip:  If it won't offer tickets for a 2-bed or 1-bed sleeper, book 3 tickets in a 3-bed sleeper to get sole occupancy.

Option 3, using daytime trains with overnight stop - if you prefer day trains & hotels to sleepers...

• Day 1, travel from Vienna to Budapest by railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 18:42 and arriving Budapest Keleti at 21:19.

  The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  By all means take an earlier train if you'd like an evening or an afternoon in Budapest.

  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 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 Budapest.  For an inexpensive hotel with great reviews right next to Keleti Station, try the Royal Park Boutique Hotel or the inexpensive Baross City Hotel just across the road or the Elit Hotel two minutes walk away.  More hotels in Budapest

• Day 2, travel from Budapest to Transylvania & Bucharest by daytime train.  A comfortable air-conditioned InterCity train called the Traianus leaves Budapest Keleti at 07:10 and arrives Bucharest Nord at 23:55.  Another InterCity train leaves Budapest Keleti at 10:10 via Simeria & Sibiu arriving Brasov 00:55.

  Fares start at €26.30 in 2nd class or €40.50 in 1st class.  These are advance-purchase fares with limited availability.

  Book these trains at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice on using it.  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  You show the ticket in the MAV app on your smartphone.

The morning train from Budapest to Bucharest at Budapest Keleti, with modern air-conditioned Romanian carriages...

On the left, the daytime train to Bucharest is about to leave Budapest Keleti...		Comfortable 2nd class seats in an air-conditioned Romanian carriage.  Larger photo.

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Vienna to Ljubljana & Slovenia...

• The air-conditioned EuroCity train Emona links Vienna with Ljubljana every day, leaving Vienna Hbf at 07:58 and arriving Ljubljana at 13:59.

  The Emona has a Slovenian restaurant car serving inexpensive cooked breakfast, beer & wine.  How about a glass of Slovenian fizzy with your omelette?  South of Vienna it takes the beautiful UNESCO-listed Semmering route through the mountains, sit back and enjoy the fabulous scenery.

  The Emona uses a mix of comfortable & spacious air-conditioned Austrian & Slovenian carriages with a choice of sitting in an open-plan saloon car (my own preference) or in classic 6-seater compartments with side corridor.  The Austrian cars have power sockets at seats, although the Slovenian ones don't.  Emona is the Roman name for Ljubljana.

  Tip:  If you like you can check the train formation & see what the carriages are like at www.vagonweb.cz - Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria and click EC then look for the Emona.

  Tip:  This train has now been extended to Trieste, so it will be shown on the departure boards as the EC train to Trieste.

• Other departures are available leaving Vienna Hbf around 12:25, changing at Villach to arrive Ljubljana around 18:33, and leaving Vienna around 14:25, changing at Villach onto a train to Ljubljana arriving around 20:42.

• Fares start at €24.90 in 2nd class or €34.90 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.  You print your own ticket.

The EuroCity train to Ljubljana & Trieste, about to leave Vienna Hbf.  Courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.

2nd class open-plan seating as used on the Emona.  Seats in classic 6-seat  compartments are also available...		1st class compartment as used on the Emona.  Seats in classic 6-seat compartment cars are also available...

The Emona has a Slovenian restaurant car with inexpensive freshly-cooked scrambled eggs or omelette.  How about a glass of fizz to go with that?

Between Vienna & Graz the Emona 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.

Scenery in Slovenia, between Maribor & Zidani Most....

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Vienna to Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik & Croatia...

Option 1, all year round...

• The air-conditioned EuroCity train Croatia links Vienna & Zagreb every day, leaving Vienna Hbf at 15:58 and arriving in Zagreb at 22:33.

  The Croatia has an Austrian restaurant car, so treat yourself to dinner, and at least in summer enjoy the fabulous scenery along the beautiful UNESCO-listed Semmering route through the mountains between Vienna & Graz.

  The Croatia uses comfortable and spacious air-conditioned Austrian carriages, with power sockets at seats and a choice of sitting in an open-plan saloon car (my own preference) or in classic 6-seater compartments with side corridor.

  If you like you can check the train formation & see what the carriages are like at www.vagonweb.cz - Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria and click EC then look for the Croatia.

• Another good departure is available leaving Vienna Hbf at o7:58 by EuroCity train Emona, changing at Zidani Most onto a Croatian train to Zagreb arriving around 17:12.  And at 12:25, change at Villach, arriving 20:51.  This train also takes the UNESCO-listed Semmering route.

• Fares start at just €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 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.

• For Split, either stay overnight in Zagreb and take a daytime train from Zagreb to Split next day (a great idea as it's a lovely scenic route well worth seeing by day) or take the overnight sleeper from Zagreb to Split.  The fare by daytime train is only around €20 in 2nd class.  See the Trains from Zagreb page for details.

  Buy tickets at the Croatian Railways website www.hzpp.hr - though it's not usually a problem to get places on the day.  www.hzpp.hr can sell daytime tickets and couchettes on the night train, but not sleepers.

• For Dubrovnik, take a bus from Split to Dubrovnik.  Buses leave every hour or even every half hour from Split bus station taking between 3h45 and 4h35 to Dubrovnik bus station.  There are various operators, the fare is between €13 & €17.  Buy at the bus station on the day, it's easy.

• See suggested hotels in Zagreb & Split.

Vienna to Zagreb on the Croatia:  This is an elegant Austrian restaurant car of the type used on the Croatia, a very civilised & comfortable train...

1st class open-plan seating as used on the Croatia.  1st class seats in classic 6-seat  compartments are also available...		2nd class compartment seating as used on the Croatia.  Seats in open plan saloon cars also available

Between Vienna & Graz the Croatia 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.

Scenery in Slovenia, between Maribor & Zidani Most....

Sevnica Castle, seen from the train between Zidani Most & Zagreb....

Zagreb to Split by train:  These fast, tilting, air-conditioned ICN trains link Zagreb & Split once or twice a day through great scenery.  Above right, first class seats.  You can now buy tickets online at www.hzpp.hr.

Scenery between Zagreb and Split seen from the train...  Photo courtesy of Páraic Maguire.

Option 2, Vienna to Split by direct sleeper train (for bus to Dubrovnik), runs Tuesdays & Fridays in summer - with a proper sleeping-car, recommended.

• A EuroNight sleeper train leaves Vienna Hbf at 18:01 and arrives Split at 09:50 next morning.

  This runs on Tuesdays & Fridays from 18 June to 10 September 2021.

  The train starts its journey in Bratislava, with a comfortable air-conditioned Slovakian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and ordinary seats.

  Fares from €29.90 in a seat, €79.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €99.90 in a 2-bed sleeper, €149.90 in a single-bed sleeper.

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

  For Dubrovnik, take a bus from Split.  There are buses every hour or even every half hour, run by several companies.  Journey time between 3h45 and 4h35, fare around €13-€17.  Buy a ticket at the bus station in Split.

The comfortable air-conditioned Slovakian sleeping-car on the train from Bratislava & Vienna to Split.  Each compartment can be sold as a single, double or triple, and comes with soap, towel, fully-made up beds and a washbasin.  Larger photo.  Courtesy of Michael Allsopp.

Option 3, using the Regiojet sleeper train from Bratislava to Zagreb & Split, with bus to Dubrovnik - summer only, 3 times a week, recommended!

• Open-access operator Regiojet introduced this overnight train to Rijeka last year and it was the surprise runaway success of 2020, with every 500-seat train averaging 90% occupancy and carrying tens of thousands of passengers on holiday.  It will be back for summer 2021, expanded to serve Zagreb, Rijeka and Split, with bus connections to other resorts along the Croatian and Montenegrin coast.

• Step 1, travel from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna by regional train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:16 and Bratislava Hlavna at 20:23.  By all means travel earlier and have dinner in Bratislava, these trains leave every hour at xx:16 minutes past each hour, journey time 1h07.  See the Vienna to Bratislava to page for more information.

• Step 2, travel from Bratislava to Zagreb or Split by Regiojet train.  This will run 3 times a week from 28 May until 26 September 2021, increased to daily in July & August.

  It will leave Bratislava Hlavna at 21:17 on Fridays, Sundays & Tuesdays (daily in July & August), arriving Zagreb 05:23 and Split 13:44.

  This excellent Regiojet train has 4-berth couchettes and seats.  The couchette fare includes all necessary bedding and a light breakfast.   There's excellent on-board at-seat service from an extensive menu, with complimentary bottled water and excellent Illy coffee.  There's free WiFi and you'll see great scenery in daylight between Zagreb & Split.

  On most departures there's a bus connection from Split to Dubrovnik, leaving Split bus station at 14:31, arriving Dubrovnik bus station 18:10.

  The fare is €34.90 in a seat or €41.90 with a couchette in a shared 4-berth compartment, or €125.60 for sole occupancy of a whole couchette compartment for 1 to 4 people.  Fares vary by departure.

  Buy an e-ticket online at www.regiojet.com.  Booking is a breeze, it even allows you to choose your exact place from a carriage plan.  Booking for the summer is now open!  You can book through to Dubrovnik & many other Adriatic resorts as one integrated booking.

The holiday train...  Above left, Regiojet overnight train at Prague Hlavni.  Above right, a 4-berth couchette compartment on this train, in daytime mode.  The seat back hinges up to form the upper berths.  See video of this overnight journey, taken during the 2020 season.

Arrived in Croatia...		Couchette...

Option 4, using the Budapest-Split sleeper train Adria, runs in summer June-September...

• Step 1, travel from Vienna to Budapest by railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 13:40 and arriving Budapest Keleti 16:19.

  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 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 Budapest to Split by direct sleeper train Adria, this runs from mid-June to early September, leaving Budapest Keleti around 18:53 every day and arriving Split around 08:56 next morning.

  The Adria has a comfortable Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments and a couchette car with 4 & 6 bunk compartments.

  The fare is around €79 with couchette or from €92 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper.

  Check to see if it is bookable online at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu.  If not, you will need to book at the station or by phone with a ticketing agency in your home country.

• For Dubrovnik, take a bus from Split.  There are buses every hour or even every half hour, run by several companies.  Journey time between 3h45 and 4h35, fare around €13-€17.  Buy a ticket at the bus station in Split.

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Vienna to Belgrade, Sofia & Montenegro...

Vienna to Belgrade via Zagreb, unaffected by engineering works...

• This is a round-about route, but the direct Vienna-Budapest-Belgrade route is currently blocked for several years by major track rebuilding.

• Step 1, travel from Vienna to Zagreb by EuroCity train Croatia, leaving Vienna Hbf at 15:58 and arriving Zagreb Glavni Kolod at 22:42.

  The Croatia has a restaurant car serving snacks, meals, beer & wine so treat yourself to dinner, and at least in summer enjoy the fabulous scenery along the beautiful UNESCO-listed Semmering route through the mountains between Vienna & Graz.

  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 (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices but a little more fiddly).  You print your own ticket.

• Stay overnight in Zagreb.  There are good hotels just a stone's throw from the station, I suggest the Esplanade Hotel, Palace Hotel or Central Hotel, all near the station with good reviews.

• Step 2, travel from Zagreb to Belgrade by train, leaving Zagreb at 11:04 and arriving Novi Beograd 18:04 & Belgrade Centar at 18:12.

  This train is still currently suspended due to Covid-19.

  This train has air-conditioned Serbian carriages with comfortable 2nd class seats, but no 1st class.  There's no catering, so bring a picnic and some beer or wine.

  The fare is around €29 bought at the station in Zagreb or paid on board the train, tickets cannot be bought online.

• Step 3 for Sofia, stay overnight in Belgrade (I recommend the historic Hotel Moskva) and travel from Belgrade to Sofia next day (day 3), see the Belgrade to Sofia page for schedule, fares & how to buy tickets.

• Step 3 for Montenegro, stay overnight in Belgrade (I recommend the historic Hotel Moskva), transfer to Belgrade Topcider station next morning and take the daytime train Tara to Podgorica or Bar.  See the Belgrade to Montenegro page for schedule, fares & how to buy tickets.

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Vienna to Warsaw & Krakow from €42...

Option 1, Vienna to Warsaw by daytime train...

• Two comfortable air-conditioned EuroCity (EC) trains with restaurant car link Vienna with Warsaw every day, city centre to city centre:

  The EuroCity Sobieski leaves Vienna Hbf at 06:06 and arrives Warsaw Centralna at 13:40.

  The EuroCity Polonia leaves Vienna Hbf at 14:10 and arrives Warsaw Centralna at 21:22.

  Take a good book and treat yourself to an inexpensive meal in the restaurant car with beer or wine, see the photos below.

  Tip:  You can check the train formation & see photos of the cars inside and out if you go to www.vagonweb.cz, Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria, click EC and locate your specific train.

• Fares start at €42.90 in 2nd class or from €52.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Book online at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

Option 2, Vienna to Krakow by daytime train...

• A air-conditioned EuroCity train leaves Vienna Hbf at 08:10 and arrives Krakow Glowny at 13:51, final destination Przemysl.

  This train consists of comfortable air-conditioned Austrian cars, some with side corridor and 6-seat compartments, some with open-plan saloon seating, see the photos below.  The 1st class car is normally one with 6-seat compartments.  An Austrian restaurant car is available as far as Bohumin.

  Tip:  Most people prefer the open-plan saloon seating car.  If you are a group of 5 or 6 family or friends you may prefer the compartment car.

  You can check the train formation & see photos of the cars inside and out if you go to www.vagonweb.cz, Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria, click EC then locate your specific train, the EuroCity Sobieski.

• Later departures are possible with one simple change of train:

  Leave Vienna Hbf at 14:10, change trains at Katowice, arrive Krakow Glowny 21:04.

• Fares start at €32.90 in 2nd class or from €42.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Buy tickets at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

The morning EuroCity train from Vienna to Warsaw & Gydnia, at Vienna Hbf.  On these PKP Polish Railways cars, the green stripe above the windows indicates 2nd class.  Yellow indicates first class.  Red indicates the restaurant car.  Courtesy of Jennifer Delaney.

Polish restaurant car on the morning EuroCity train from Vienna to Warsaw & Gydnia.  Courtesy www.discoverbyrail.com.		Breakfast in the Polish restaurant car between Vienna and Bohumin.  Courtesy www.discoverbyrail.com.

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

Option 3, Vienna to Krakow or Warsaw by EuroNight sleeper train - the time-effective option...

• A EuroNight sleeper train called the Chopin leaves Vienna Hbf at 22:10 arriving Krakow Glowny at 05:41 & Warsaw Centralna at 08:33.

  This train has a safe & comfortable air-conditioned Polish sleeping-car with 1, 2 or 3 beds per compartment.  It also has two 1 or 2 bed deluxe compartments with shower & toilet, see the photos below.  It also has a couchette car with 4 & 6-bunk compartments.

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

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

• Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, happily accepts overseas payment cards) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly), you print your own ticket.

  Tip:  If using www.thetrainline.com and no sleepers appear, try selecting Semi-Flex at the top instead of Cheapest.  If using oebb.at, if it says Please choose a different service when trying to select a couchette or sleeper, scroll back up to the fares section, click More services and select the higher-priced fare instead of the cheapest sparschiene price.  It means couchettes and/or sleepers are no longer available in conjunction with the cheapest sparschiene rates.

Modern Polish sleeping-car of the type used Vienna-Warsaw.  Photo courtesy of WieselFahrer...

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

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Vienna to Vilnius, Riga, Tallinn...

• Day 1, travel from Vienna to Warsaw overnight by EuroNight sleeper train Chopin, as shown in the Vienna to Warsaw section above.

  Fares start at €39 including a couchette.

  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 and you print your own ticket.

  You've now a morning free in Warsaw...

• Day 2, travel from Warsaw to Kaunas & Vilnius, leaving Warsaw at lunchtime, changing at Bialystok and arriving Kaunas in Lithuania in the evening, with connections to Vilnius, see the Warsaw to Vilnius page for details.  Warsaw-Vilnius costs around €24, buy a ticket at the station in Warsaw.

• Day 3, for onward travel from Vilnius to Riga, see here.

• Day 4, for onward travel from Riga to Tallinn, see here.

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Vienna to Lviv, Kiev & Ukraine...

Option 1, by direct sleeping-car from Vienna to Lviv & Kiev.  See Ukrainian news report showing the new Vienna-Kiev sleeping-car service.

• A direct sleeping-car leaves Vienna Hbf at 16:42 every day, travels via Budapest & Chop and arrives next day at Lviv at 10:14 & Kiev at 17:21.

  Introduced in 2017, this train consists of one (or at peak times two) Ukrainian sleeping-cars with comfortable 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, see the photos below.  At Chop on the other side of the border the through sleeping-car is jacked up to have its wheelsets changed from European standard gauge (4'8½") to Russian gauge used in Ukraine (5').

  A Hungarian restaurant car operates between Vienna and Zahony (on the Ukrainian border just before Chop), treat yourself to dinner.

• Book the train from Vienna to Lviv or Kiev online at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.

  This will only book one-way or round trip starting in Vienna because tickets need to be collected from an ÖBB station in Austria.  They cannot be collected in Ukraine.  Booking this way you pay no fee or mark-up, just the official fare.

  If you have any problems or want a one-way ticket starting in Ukraine, you can also book the Vienna-Kiev train via reliable agency www.polrail.com, with tickets posted or couriered to you for a small fee.  Polrail are based in Poland so charge in zlotys, but as they have access to Ukrainian ticketing system they are good for booking this train.  The sleeper has become popular, it can sell out.

  Suggested hotels in Lviv:  The famous George Hotel or Grand Hotel.

• Booked through oebb.at:

  Vienna to Kiev costs €80.50 in a 3-berth sleeper, €90.50 in a 2-berth sleeper or €152.90 in a single sleeper.

  Vienna to Lviv costs €62.10 in a 3-berth sleeper, €70.10 in a 2-berth sleeper or €119.30 in a single sleeper.

• Booked through Polrail:

  Vienna to Kiev costs around €138 in a 3-berth sleeper €149 in a 2-berth sleeper, or €241 in a single-berth sleeper.

  Vienna to Lviv costs around €120 in a 3-berth sleeper €129 in a 2-berth sleeper, or €207 in a single-berth sleeper.

• Booked at the station in Ukraine, Kiev to Vienna costs around €80, Lviv to Vienna around €60, in both cases with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper.

Boarding the Vienna to Kiev sleeping-car at Vienna Hbf.  The Ukrainian sleeping-car to Lviv & Kiev is attached to the back of a EuroCity train to Zahony.  Photo courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.

The Vienna-Kiev sleeper about to leave Vienna Hbf... Courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.		The sleeper corridor.  Courtesy Helmut Uttenthaler.		A comfortable 1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper.

The Vienna-Kiev sleeper is jacked up to have its bogies changed at Chop on the Ukrainian border.  Photo Helmut Uttenthaler.

The Vienna-Kiev sleeping-car arrived Kiev Pass.  Photos courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.

Option 2, using the Vienna-Lviv daytime connection, also useful to Kiev if the direct sleeper is full...

• Step 1, travel from Vienna to Przemysl by EuroCity train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 08:10 and arriving Przemysl at 18:24.

  Fares start at €32, buy this ticket at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.

• Step 2, travel from Przemysl to Lviv, leaving Przemysl at 18:59 and arriving Lviv at 22:40 and Odessa at 11:15 next day.  This train has 4-berth kupé sleepers.  The connection at Przemysl isn't long, but I understand this is a recognised connection.  Feedback appreciated.

  The fare to Lviv is about €12 in kupé, book this train at the Ukrainian Railways site booking.uz.gov.ua/en.

 Option 3, using the Budapest-Lviv daytime connection, also useful to Kiev if the direct sleeper is full...

• Step 1, take any afternoon or evening train you like from Vienna Hbf to Budapest Keleti booked online at www.oebb.at from €19 in 2nd class or €29 in 1st class.  Trains leave every hour or two, journey 2h45.

• Stay overnight in Budapest.  For an inexpensive hotel with great reviews right next to Keleti Station, try the Royal Park Boutique Hotel or the inexpensive Baross City Hotel just across the road or the Elit Hotel two minutes walk away.  More hotels in Budapest

• Step 2, travel from Budapest to Chop on the Ukrainian border by air-conditioned Hungarian intercity train Latorca, leaving Budapest Nyugati station at 07:23 every day arriving Chop at 13:40.

• Step 3,  travel from Chop to Lviv & Kiev by Ukrainian train called the Desna, leaving Chop at 16:58, arriving Lviv at 22:18 and then travelling overnight to Kiev, arriving 07:27.

• To buy tickets from Budapest to Lviv:

  Step 1, pre-book Budapest to Zahony on the 07:23 InterCity Latorca from Budapest Nyugati for around €17.50 at www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice on using it.

  Step 2, Zahony to Chop costs €2.50, you buy this at the station at Zahony.  The train spends an hour at Zahony station, so plenty of time!

  Step 3, pre-book Chop to Lviv for around €6 in a 4-berth sleeper or €12 in a 1st class 2-berth at the Ukrainian Railways website www.uz.gov.ua on train 81 Desna leaving Chop at 16:58.  Or book to Kiev if going there, obviously!

• Feedback and any photos of the Hungarian or Ukrainian train inside or out would be most welcome, please email me if you travel this way!

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Vienna to Moscow, St Petersburg & Russia...

Option 1, via Kiev - runs daily & avoids Belarus, the route I'd recommend...

• Step 1, travel from Vienna to Kiev by direct sleeping-car, leaving Vienna Hbf at 16:42 and arriving Kiev at 17:21 the next day.  See the Vienna-Kiev section above for details, and how to buy tickets.

• Step 2, travel from Kiev to Moscow by sleeper train, there are several, for example one leaves at 19:36 arriving Moscow Kievskaya station at 10:09 the next morning.

  The fare is around €92 with a bed in 4-berth kupé or €180 with a bed in a 2-berth spalny vagon.

  You can ask www.polrail.com to book this for you too, or you can book tickets from Kiev to Moscow at the Ukrainian Railways site booking.uz.gov.ua/en/ booking from Kyiv to Moskva Kievskaya.  You collect tickets at the station in Kiev.  Feedback appreciated.

Option 2, by direct train, aboard the weekly Nice-Moscow Express...

• The direct weekly Russian sleeping-car from Vienna to Moscow was discontinued in December 2017.  But you can travel from Vienna to Moscow on the weekly Nice-Moscow Express run by RZD Russian Railways.  This leaves Vienna Hbf around 16:41 on Sundays arriving Moscow around 22:00 on Monday.  It's identical to the Paris-Moscow train shown here.  You can book it online at the Russian Railways website www.rzd.ru and print your own ticket.

• Don't forget to arrange both your Russian visa and Belarus transit visa as the train runs via Belarus.  See my important update about travel to Russia through Belarus.

Option 3, with a day in Warsaw, daily...

• Step 1, take the daily EuroNight sleeper train Chopin from Vienna to Warsaw as shown in detail above, booking this train online at www.oebb.at.

• Spend the day exploring Warsaw.

• Step 2, travel from Warsaw to Moscow by Russian sleeper train, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 19:15 every day and arriving Moscow Belorussky at 16:58 next day.  You can check times at the Russian Railways website www.rzd.ru.

  This train uses impressive Austrian-built sleeping-cars with 4-berth compartments built in 2014, see photos of this type of sleeper here & see panorama photo inside one of these modern sleepers.  Each compartment can be sold as 1st class 1-berth, 1st class 2-berth or 2nd class 4-berth.  The train consist of two or three sleeping-car which start their journey in Prague.  There's a bistro car in Poland and a Russian restaurant car is attached between Brest (on the Polish/Belarus border) & Moscow.

  You can book this train by contacting reliable Polish train ticketing agency www.polrail.com - their booking system is at http://booking.polrail.com.  Tickets can be collected in Warsaw or (at extra charge) shipped to any address worldwide.

Alternatively, you can book with Russian Railways at www.rzd.ru although it's a little quirky and may not accept some overseas credit cards.

Don't forget to arrange both your Russian visa and Belarus transit visa as the train runs via Belarus.  See my important update about travel to Russia through Belarus.

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Vienna to Athens & Greece...

Option 1, overland by train through the Balkans, an adventure...

• Day 1, travel from Vienna to Belgrade as shown above.

• Spend a night & day in Belgrade.  I recommend the excellent and well-located Hotel Moskva, at the end of Belgrade's premier pedestrianised shopping street.

• Day 2, travel from Belgrade to Thessaloniki in Greece by direct overnight train, leaving Belgrade Centar station at 18:35 for Thessaloniki in Northern Greece as shown on the Trains from Belgrade page.  This train now runs summer-only, from mid-June to mid-September.

• Day 3, take a very scenic 4h09 train ride from Thessaloniki to Athens, either bought at the station or booked online in advance for €45 at www.trainose.gr with the advice shown here.

The Belgrade to Thessaloniki couchette car...  Below, scenery between Thessaloniki & Athens...

Option 2, by train to Italy then ferry...

• Day 1, take the comfortable Nightjet sleeper train from Vienna to Venice as shown above from €59.90 with couchette or from €109.90 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, light breakfast included.  You could also take the earlier 19:23 sleeper from Vienna to Bologna instead, this works just as well.  Book this at www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.

• Day 2, take a train from Venice (or Bologna) to Bari, booked at either www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com from €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.  I'd allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Venice.

• Day 2, sail from Bari to Patras in Greece by cruise ferry.  The ferry usually sails daily except Sundays at 19:30, arrives Patras around 13:00 next day (day 3 from Vienna).  Fares from around €60 with a deck place, rising to over €120 or so if you want a cabin - check times, prices and buy tickets at www.superfast.com.  It's a wonderful journey, past Ithaca & Kefalonia on a ship with cabins, sun decks, bars & restaurants.  Then catch a bus from Patras to Athens.

• Day 3. travel from Patras to Athens by bus/train combo.  You'll find more details about both the ferry and onward transport from Patras to Athens on the London to Greece page, just ignore the London to Bari part.

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

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

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Vienna to Istanbul & Turkey...

Option 1, via Budapest & Bucharest...

• Take an afternoon railjet train from Vienna to Budapest in 2h41 from €19.90 bought at www.oebb.at.

• Then pick up the overnight sleeper train Ister from Budapest to Bucharest and the onward train from Bucharest to Istanbul as explained in detail in this section on the London to Turkey page, buying tickets as shown on that page.  It's a 3-night journey, including one night in a hotel in Bucharest.

Option 2, via Belgrade & Sofia...

• Take a train from Vienna to Sofia as explained above.

• Then take overnight sleeper train from Sofia to Istanbul as explained on the as described on the Trains from Sofia page.

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Railbookers custom-made tours

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Hotels in Vienna

Suggested hotels near Vienna Hbf...

• There are a number of good and relatively inexpensive hotels just outside Vienna Hbf, try the Novotel Vienna Hbf, Motel One Vienna Hbf, Hotel Zeitgeist Vienna Hbf.

Suggested hotels in the city centre...

• Hotels in the city centre close to the sights tend to be expensive, but try the 3-star Pension Nossek (with art nouveau rooms, just 5 minutes walk from St Stephen's cathedral), 4-star K&K Palais Hotel, Mercure Centrum Wien or Le Meridien Vienna.  If you really want to push the boat out, there's the 5-star Palais Hansen Kempinski Vienna & Park Hyatt Vienna.

• For something inexpensive try the Best Western Plus Amedia Hotel, a little way out of the centre and a taxi ride from the station.

My favourite hotel search site: www.booking.com www.booking.com is my favourite hotel booking site and I generally prefer booking my hotels all in one place here.  You can usually book with free cancellation - this allows you to confirm your accommodation at no risk before train booking opens.  It also means you can hold accommodation while you finalise your itinerary, and alter your plans as they evolve - a feature I use all the time when putting a trip together.  I never book hotels non-refundably.  I have also come to trust their review scores - you won't be disappointed with anything over 8.0. Tip:  It can pay to compare prices across multiple hotel sites:  HotelsCombined.com is a price comparison site which compares hotel prices on Booking.com, Hotels.com, Expedia, Accor, Agoda and many others.  Though if there's not much in it, I prefer keeping all my bookings together in one place at www.booking.com.

Other hotel sites worth trying...

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

Backpacker hostels...

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

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