A railjet train about to leave Vienna...

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

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.

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...

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Vienna to Nice, Cannes, Monaco, Marseille...

Option 1, by sleeper from Vienna to Milan then a scenic coastal ride...

• Step 1, travel from Vienna to Milan by Nightjet sleeper train leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:23 every day, arriving Milan Porta Garibaldi 08:10.

  Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper.  Deluxe sleepers with shower & toilet are also available.  There's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the standard sleepers.  A light breakfast is included in the fare in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.

  Book this train at either www.trainline.eu (easiest to use) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.  More information about Nightjet sleeper trains.

  Transfer from Milan Porta Garibaldi to Milan Centrale by taxi (€6, 10 minutes) or walk (25 minutes) or local train.

• Step 2, travel from Milan to Monaco & the South of France by comfortable air-conditioned Thello train, leaving Milan Centrale at 11:10 and arriving Monte Carlo at 15:37, Nice at 15:53, Antibes 16:13, Cannes 16:26 & Marseille St Charles at 18:31.

  Buy tickets from just €15 also at www.trainline.eu.  It's ticketless, you just quite the booking reference on board.  It's a lovely scenic ride along the Italian Riviera between Genoa and Marseille.

• Change in Marseille for Avignon, Montpellier, Perpignan.  Allow at least 45 minutes between trains then book a separate onward ticket at www.trainline.eu.  An overnight stop in Marseille may be necessary in some cases.

Option 2, by day trains with overnight stop in Verona - the scenic route, mountains & coastline...

• Day 1, travel from Vienna Hbf to Verona from €39 in 2nd class or €69 in 1st class booked at either www.trainline.eu (easiest) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at.  You print your own ticket.

  Look carefully through the search results to see a sensible option with just 1 change.  You can leave around 12:30 by railjet train, changing at Innsbruck onto a comfortable EuroCity train through the wonderful Brenner Pass to Verona, arriving around Verona Porta Nuova at 20:56 - see the Brenner Pass scenery video here.  All these trains have an elegant waiter-service restaurant car, so treat yourself to dinner as the mountains roll by!  By all means take an earlier train for an afternoon or evening in Verona, they leave every couple of hours through the day.

• Stay overnight in Verona.  Hotels near the station with good or great reviews include the Corte Merighi Rooms & Breakfast, Novo Hotel Rossi, Guesthouse Verona or (a little closer to the centre but with fab reviews) the Relais Empire.

• Day 2, travel from Verona to Monte Carlo & Nice leaving Verona Porta Nuova at 09:32, one easy change in Milan's magnificent Centrale station onto a comfortable air-conditioned Thello train, arriving Monte Carlo late afternoon and Nice at 15:53, Antibes 16:13, Cannes 16:26 & Marseille St Charles at 18:31.  Book this from €34.90 also using www.trainline.eu.  It's ticketless, you just quote the reference on board.  It's a lovely scenic ride along the Italian Riviera between Genoa and Nice, through Savona and San Remo.

• Change at Marseille for Avignon, Montpellier, Perpignan.  Allowing at least 45 minutes between trains in Nice book a separate onward ticket at www.trainline.eu.  An overnight stop may be necessary in some cases.

Option 3, by day trains with afternoon & overnight stop in Venice...

• Day 1, take the 12:25 railjet train from Vienna Hbf arriving Venice Santa Lucia at 20:05, or for an afternoon in Venice take the earlier 06:25 railjet train arriving Venice Santa Lucia at 14:05.  Fares start at €29 in 2nd class, €44 in 1st class or €59 in business class (= premium 1st class, a real treat) booked at www.trainline.eu (easiest) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at.  You print your own ticket.  This train takes the lovely UNESCO-listed Semmering route through the mountains between Vienna & Villach.  There's a bistro-restaurant car, all seats have power sockets and there's free WiFi.

• Stay overnight in Venice - for a hotel that won't break the bank, but is 2 minutes walk from the station with good reviews, try the Hotel Maggior Consiglio or for a little more, the Hotel Abbazia.

• Day 2, take the 07:18 train from Venice Santa Lucia to Milan Centrale to connect with the 11:10 Thello train from Milan Centrale to Nice Ville arriving 15:53.  Or take the 11:18 train from Venice Santa Lucia to Milan Centrale to connect with the 15:10 Thello train from Milan Centrale arriving Nice Ville 19:51, Antibes 16:13, Cannes 16:26 & Marseille St Charles at 18:31.

  Check times & fares from €34.90 at either www.trainline.eu (easy to use, recognises English place names, a small booking fee applies), 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 Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (more fiddly to use, uses Italian language place names, no booking fee, read this advice on using it).  It's ticketless, you just quote the reference on board.

A Thello train to Nice about to leave Milan Centrale.  See more photos & information about these Thello trains...		1st class seats on Thello.  More space per person than 2nd, with seats arranged 2+1 across the car width.

2nd class seats on the Thello train.  Very comfortable, seat arranged 2+2 across the car width.		The small cafe-bar counter on the Milan to Nice & Marseille Thello train serving tea, coffee, wine, beer, soft drinks and snacks.

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

Option 4, by direct Russian sleeper train every Friday...

• The Moscow-Nice express enables you to leave Vienna Hbf every Friday around 22:44 arriving Nice Ville 18:30 next day.  Clean and modern 2 & 4 berth sleepers with washbasin, shower at the end of the corridor, 1 & 2 bed deluxe sleepers with toilet and shower, restaurant  car, it's identical to the excellent Paris-Moscow train shown here.  Book online at Russian Railways www.rzd.ru - see advice on using it.  Use the German word Wien for Vienna.

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Vienna to Brussels & Bruges from €59...

Option 1, by direct Nightjet sleeper train from Vienna to Brussels, twice a week - the comfortable & time-effective option...

• NEW!  Starting 19 January 2020, ÖBB Austrian Railways will extend their existing Vienna-Cologne Nightjet sleeper train through to Brussels twice a week.  It's hoped this will become daily from the timetable change in December 2020.  Note that it won't be extended to Brussels from 2 July to 29 August 2020.

• This direct Nightjet sleeper train will leave  Vienna Hbf at 20:38 on Wednesdays & Sundays, also picking up passengers at Linz at 22:16 and arriving  Brussels Midi at 10:55 next morning. 

  See the Nightjet information page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video:  There are several deluxe sleepers with 1, 2 or 3 beds and en suite toilet & shower, regular sleepers with 1, 2 or 3 beds & washbasin, and couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments.  There's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.

  Between Mainz & Koblenz (06:04-07:05) the sleeper train runs along the scenic Rhine Valley past the legendary Lorelei Rock and many castles, mountains, vineyards & river boats.  A real treat!  The river will be on the right hand side.

• 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.

• Buy tickets for this Nightjet sleeper train at either www.trainline.eu (easy to use, plain English, international payment cards accepted, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly, has been known to reject some international cards, but no booking fee).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, but less than this when the mid-June or mid-December timetable changes intervene.  You print your own tickets or can show them on your smartphone.

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

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

  Option 2, using the Vienna-Cologne Nightjet sleeper train - on days when the direct Vienna-Brussels sleeper isn't running...

  • Step 1, take the excellent Nightjet sleeper train from Vienna to Cologne, leaving Vienna Hbf at 20:38 and arriving Cologne Hbf at 08:15.

    The train has deluxe sleepers with 1, 2 or 3 beds & en suite toilet & shower, regular sleepers with 1, 2 or 3 beds & washbasin, and couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments.  There's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.  See the Nightjet information page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video.

    Between Mainz & Koblenz (06:04-07:05) the sleeper train runs along the scenic Rhine Valley past the legendary Lorelei Rock and many castles, mountains, vineyards & river boats.  A real treat!  The river will be on the right hand side.

    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.

    Buy tickets for this Nightjet sleeper train at either www.trainline.eu (easy to use, plain English, international payment cards accepted, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly, has been known to reject some international cards, but no booking fee).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, but less than this when the mid-June or mid-December timetable changes intervene.  You print your own tickets or can show them on your smartphone.

    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 excellent www.vagonweb.cz.  Click the UK flag for English, click composition, then look under Austria & click nj.

  • Step 2, then book a connecting ICE train from Cologne to Brussels from just €19.90 in 2nd class or €49.90 in 1st class at www.bahn.de.  You'll usually find an 09:43 from Cologne Hbf arriving Brussels Midi at 11:35.  You can book through to Bruges & other Belgian stations using www.bahn.de if you like, for one inclusive price.

    If you want to stop off in Cologne - the lovely cathedral is right next to the station - there are also Thalys trains between Cologne & Brussels - you can book all the trains, Thalys and ICE, using the Belgian Railways site www.b-europe.com.

  Option 3, Vienna to Brussels in a single day - the high-speed daytime option...

  • You can travel from Vienna to Brussels in one chill-out day with one easy change at Frankfurt, on luxurious German ICE trains.  The ICE trains have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the ICE information page.  For example...

    Leave Vienna Hbf at 06:50 by ICE, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf onto another ICE, arrive Brussels Midi at 17:35,

    Leave Vienna Hbf at 09:15 by ICE, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf onto another ICE, arrive Brussels Midi at 19:35.

    Leave Vienna Hbf at 11:15 by ICE, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf onto another ICE, arrive Brussels Midi at 21:35.

  • Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class for the Vienna-Frankfurt sector and the same again for Frankfurt-Brussels.

  • The easiest way to book this journey is using Raileurope.co.uk as you can then book from Vienna to Brussels as one simple transaction.

    Just make sure you click More options and enter Regensburg in the via box, leaving duration as zero.

    In the search results, look for a journey with 1 change, if you then click on the down arrow for details you'll see one change at Frankfurt.  Don't be fooled by the ticket split at Regensburg - if you look closely you'll see it says 'stay on train', not 'interchange' which is exactly what you do, Regensburg is just where your tickets change over.  You print your own tickets.  Simples!

    Why do you need to split the ticket at Regensburg?  The German Railways ticketing system only sells tickets for journeys where the origin or destination is in Germany.  So for a journey across Germany and out the other side you must split the booking somewhere in Germany.  Raileurope.co.uk connects to the German Railways ticketing system and sells the same tickets at the same prices as the German Railways website bahn.de, but unlike bahn.de it can automatically split the ticket if you tell it where to do this. 

    Why split at Regensburg, not Frankfurt where you change trains?  Because in the unlikely event of a delay and missed connection in Frankfurt, as you are then travelling on a through ticket from Regensburg to Brussels you'd have a cast-iron 100% legal entitlement to onward travel on later trains at no extra charge - or even an overnight hotel - under the CIV conditions of carriage as explained here.

  • You can also check prices from Vienna to Brussels or anywhere in Belgium at the German Railways www.bahn.de, also with print-your-own tickets.  Look for journeys with just 1 change.  It can also be worth checking prices from Vienna to Brussels at the Austrian Railways www.oebb.at.

  • If you're still not seeing sufficiently cheap prices, try splitting the booking.  Step 1, go to www.bahn.de or www.oebb.at and book a morning ICE train from Vienna to Frankfurt from €29.90.  Step 2, now use www.bahn.de again to book an ICE train from Frankfurt to Brussels also from €29.90.

  An ICE-T from Vienna, arrived at Frankfurt am Main Hbf...

  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...

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  Vienna to Amsterdam from €49.90...

  Option 1, Vienna to Amsterdam in a single day - the high-speed daytime option...

  • You can travel from Vienna to Amsterdam in one leisurely chill-out day, with one easy change at Frankfurt, on comfortable (even luxurious) German ICE trains across 3 different countries.  The ICE trains have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the ICE information page.  For example...

    Leave Vienna Hbf at 06:50 by ICE, change at Wurzburg & Hannover onto an IC, arrive Amsterdam Centraal at 19:00.

    Leave Vienna Hbf at 09:15 by ICE, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf onto another ICE, arrive Amsterdam Centraal at 20:28.

    Leave Vienna Hbf at 11:15 by ICE, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf onto another ICE, arrive Amsterdam Centraal at 21:58.

  • Fares start at €49.90 in 2nd class or €79.90 in 1st class.

  • You can easily check times and buy tickets from Vienna to Amsterdam at either Raileurope.co.uk (in €, £ or $) or the German Railways website www.bahn.de (in €).  You print your own ticket.   It's worth also checking prices at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at as they sometimes have cheaper prices for exactly the same trains, you also print your own ticket.

    Tip:  It's often cheaper to split the booking, especially if you only see expensive prices when you try booking as one journey:  Use www.bahn.de or www.oebb.at to book Vienna to Frankfurt then use www.bahn.de again to book Frankfurt to Amsterdam.

  • How about a stopover in Nuremberg or Cologne?

    Both cities are worth a stop, in Cologne the cathedral is right next to the station, and in Nuremberg there's a pleasant old town, a railway museum and the historic Party Rally Grounds.  You can stop for 3 hours and still do the journey in a day, or stop overnight and have a more leisurely look round.  To programme in a stopover, use www.bahn.de to book Vienna to Amsterdam, but click Add intermediate stops, enter Cologne or Nuremberg, enter desired number of hours stopover and off you go.  You can have up to 2 stopovers each of up to 48 hours and still get an end-to-end sparpreis fare.

  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 Germany...

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

  Option 2, using the Nightjet sleeper train from Vienna to Cologne then luxurious ICE train to Amsterdam - the time-effective option.

  • Step 1, take the excellent Nightjet sleeper train from Vienna to Cologne, leaving Vienna Hbf at 20:38 and arriving Cologne Hbf at 08:15.

    Between Mainz & Koblenz (06:04-07:05) the sleeper train runs along the scenic Rhine Valley past the legendary Lorelei Rock and many castles, mountains, vineyards & river boats.  A real treat!  The river will be on the right hand side.

    Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 in a single-bed sleeper.  Deluxe sleepers with shower & toilet also available.  There's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.

    Book this using the German Railways website www.bahn.de and print your own ticket.  You can also book this train at www.trainline.eu which connects to the ÖBB system so can have cheaper prices, it's a good idea to check both sites!

    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 excellent www.vagonweb.cz.  Click the UK flag for English, click composition, then look under Austria & click nj.

  • Step 2, then take a luxurious ICE train with bistro-restaurant & free WiFi from Cologne to Amsterdam, leaving Cologne Hbf at 08:41 arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 11:28, with fares from €19.90 in 2nd class or €49.90 in 1st class booked at www.bahn.de.  You print your own ticket.

  2-berth regular sleeper with washstand.  Larger photo.		The toilet & shower in a deluxe sleeper...		Step 1, take a Nightjet sleeper from Vienna to Cologne.  This is a Comfortline sleeping-car as now used on the Nightjet train from Vienna to Cologne...

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

  Step 2, ICE3 from Cologne to Amsterdam...		ICE3 2nd class seats.  Larger photo.

  ICE3 1st class, with leather seats.  Larger photo.		ICE3 bistro car.  See sample menu.

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  Vienna to Luxembourg...

  Option 1, using Vienna-Koblenz sleeper train - the time-effective option...

  • Step 1, travel from Vienna to Koblenz by Austrian Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 20:38 and arriving in Koblenz at 07:05 next morning.

    This train has modern Austrian couchettes and a sleeping-car, see the Nightjet sleeper train page. You can book this train at either www.trainline.eu (easiest to use) or at Austrian Railways' own website www.oebb.at, with fares from €59 with a couchette in 6-berth, €69 with a couchette in 4-berth, €99 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €139 in a single-bed sleeper. You print your own ticket.

    Enjoy the run along the scenic Rhine Valley between Mainz & Koblenz (06:04-07:05), past the legendary Lorelei Rock and many castle, vineyards & river boats as a light breakfast is served in your sleeper compartment, included in the fare.

  • Step 2, now book a ticket from Koblenz to Luxembourg at the German railways website www.bahn.de or you can just buy at the station when you get to Koblenz.  The standard price for Koblenz to Luxembourg by regional train is around €41, but you can do this with a Rhineland-Pfalz+Luxembourg day ticket for €30, as is shown when you look up the journey on www.bahn.de.

  Option 2, by daytime trains...

  • Alternatively, you can travel from Vienna to Luxembourg by daytime trains in a single day with as few as one change at Koblenz. 

  • For the best price, split the booking like this:  Go to www.bahn.de and book from Vienna to Trier from €49.90.  Now add a regional train ticket from Trier to Luxembourg for a fixed-price €17 or so, also at www.bahn.de.  The reason you split the booking is that Trier is in Germany, and cheap sparpreis fares are only available for journeys to or from Germany.

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  Vienna to Zurich, Basel, Geneva & Switzerland from €39...

  Option 1, by daytime railjet train - the scenic option, through the beautiful Arlberg Pass...

  • There are four or five daily railjet trains from Vienna Hbf to Zurich HB in Switzerland between 05:30 and 15:30, journey time 7h50, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  The scenery through the Tirol via the Arlberg pass is superb, watch the Arlberg Pass video to see for yourself & see the Arlberg Railway page.

  • Fares from Vienna to Zurich and other Swiss cities start at €39 in 2nd class, €54 in 1st class or €69 in business class (= premium 1st class, a real treat).  Book ahead for the cheapest prices, on the day, the full-flex standard price from Vienna to Zurich is over €118.

  • You can buy tickets from Vienna to almost any Swiss station at either www.trainline.eu (easiest to use) or at Austrian Railways' own website www.oebb.at.  Booking opens up to 180 days ahead, you print your own ticket.

  • Going beyond Zurich, for example to Geneva, Zermatt, Lucerne, Lauterbrunnen or anywhere else in Switzerland?

    www.trainline.eu and www.oebb.at can sell you a through ticket between Vienna and almost any town or city in Switzerland (in either direction) from €29 upwards, one inclusive price covering both the railjet to Zurich and onward Swiss trains.  Indeed, you'll often find that Vienna to Interlaken, Chur, St Moritz, Geneva, Lucerne or wherever costs the same as 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) Trainline.eu gives you a price of €39 from Vienna to Zurich and exactly the same price from Vienna to Lucerne, €39, (as budget train fares are no more related to distance than budget air fares are), 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 safe, comfortable & time-effective option that saves a hotel bill...

  • An excellent nightjet sleeper train leaves Vienna Hbf at 21:27 and arrives Zurich HB at 08:20.  It has double deck sleeping-cars with 1 or 2 bed deluxe compartments with en suite shower & toilet, 1, 2 & 3 bed standard compartments with washbasin, and (single-deck) 4 or 6 berth couchettes.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.  See the nightjet information page.

  • Book this sleeper train at www.oebb.at with 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.  You print your own ticket.

    Tip:  In the search results you may 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) at Salzburg.  By all means take this if you really need to be in Vienna until late, but otherwise I'd stick with the Austrian nightjet leaving 21:27.

    Tip:  If you like, you can check the consist for these trains, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz.  Click the UK flag for English, click composition, then look under Austria & click nj.

  • Going beyond Zurich?  www.oebb.at can sell you a through ticket to almost any town or city in Switzerland (in either direction) for one inclusive price covering both the sleeper train to Zurich and onward Swiss trains.  It's usually much cheaper than buying a separate onward ticket!

  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, by nightjet sleeper train - the safe, comfortable, time-effective option.  Saves a hotel bill too...

  • Two nightjet sleeper trains link Vienna with Italy every night:

    One leaves Vienna Hbf at 19:23 for Bologna Centrale arriving 05:20, Florence SMN 06:19 & Rome Termini 09:22 with a portion for Milan Porta Garibaldi arriving 08:10.

    The other leaves Vienna Hbf at 21:27 arriving at Venice Santa Lucia on the banks of the Grand Canal at 08:34.

  • These trains have modern Austrian Comfortline sleeping-cars with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin plus several deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower, see photos & information about nightjet trains.  There's a shower at the end of the sleeping-car corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The sleeper fare includes a complimentary sparkling wine on departure and breakfast served in your compartment.  These trains also have comfortable Austrian couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments.  The couchette fare includes a light breakfast.

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

  • Buy tickets online at either www.trainline.eu (easiest to use, accepts overseas credit cards, you print your own ticket) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly, you print your own ticket).  If it won't let you select the couchette or sleeper you want, try choosing a higher semi-flexible fare.  Booking usually opens up to 180 days ahead.  Do not use Trenitalia.com to book these trains if your journey starts in Austria, as tickets have to be collected at a Trenitalia station in Italy.

  • Tip:  If you like, you can check the consist for these trains, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz.  Click the UK flag for English, click composition, then look under Austria & click nj.

  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, by railjet train from €29 - the scenic option, via the wonderful Semmering railway...

  • Two smart Austrian railjet trains link Vienna with Venice every day, city centre to city centre over the beautiful UNESCO-listed Semmering railway through the mountains.  The journey is  a real treat.  Watch the video, Vienna to Venice by railjet.

    The morning railjet train leaves Vienna Hbf at 06:25 and arrives Venice Santa Lucia at 14:05.

    The afternoon railjet train leaves Vienna Hbf at 12:25 and arrives Venice Santa Lucia at 20:05.

    These smart modern railjet trains have a bistro-restaurant car serving snacks, meals, beer and wine, there are power sockets at all seats, free WiFi and the option of business class (= premium 1st class, a real treat).

    See the Vienna to Venice by train page for more information, tips, photos & video.

  • Fares start at €29 in 2nd class, €44 in 1st class or €59 in business class if you book in advance.  Booking opens up to 180 days ahead.

  • Buy tickets online at www.trainline.eu (easiest to use, accepts overseas credit cards, you print your own ticket) or at Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly, you print your own ticket).

  • Onward tickets from Venice to Florence, Rome, Naples and other Italian destinations should be booked separately at either www.trainline.eu easy to use, recognises English place names, a small booking fee applies) or 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 Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (much more fiddly to use, requires Italian language place names, no booking fee, read this advice on using it first). 

    Whichever site you use, high-speed trains in Italy are ticketless, you simply quote your booking reference on board the train.  I'd allow at least 45 minutes in Venice to make a connection, in case of any delay.

  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, via the Brenner Pass from €39 - another scenic daytime option...

  • You can also travel to Italy via Innsbruck & the scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass video, although it's a significantly longer way round than the direct route via Semmering.

  • You take a fast railjet train west to Innsbruck Hbf and change for one of the comfortable Austrian EuroCity trains running south through the Brenner Pass to Verona, with one a day continuing to Bologna, one of two per day continuing to Venice.

  • To buy tickets the easy way, book from Vienna to your Italian destination all in one go at www.trainline.eu.  The critical thing here is to look through the search results really carefully with brain engaged.  A journey to Florence or Rome or Naples should have no more than 2 changes, and if one of those changes is at Rosenheim, Jenbach or Innsbruck then the system is routing you via the Brenner Pass.  The other change will be at either Verona or Bologna.  If a journey you find this way suits you, go ahead and buy.  If not, read on...

  • To buy tickets with more control so you can ensure longer more robust connections for example, first use www.oebb.at to book from Vienna to your Italian destination (Venice, Rome, Florence and so on) but click via to the right of the origin/destination box and enter Innsbruck.

    It will give you times & prices, but it may say Ticket for section only.  That's because the fare shown covers the Austrian train from Vienna to Innsbruck and the Austrian EuroCity from Innsbruck to Verona, Bologna or Venice (depending on the service), but does not cover any Italian domestic train, which will be greyed out.  The Austrian Railways website cannot sell tickets for Italian domestic journeys.

  • So you now just need to book this Italian domestic section separately 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 Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (much more fiddly to use, requires Italian language place names, no booking fee, read this advice on using it first).  High-speed trains in Italy are ticketless, you simply quote your booking reference on board the train.  I'd allow at least 40 minutes in Verona or Bologna between trains.

  • For example the 07:30 from Vienna Hbf, change at Innsbruck Hbf, will get you to Venice Santa Lucia at 18:25.

  • Like I said, it's a longer way round then the direct route via Semmering!  But the scenery is just as good,,,

  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 Sicily

  • Step 1, travel from Vienna to Rome by Nightjet sleeper train as shown in Vienna to Italy section above, leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:23 and arriving Rome Termini at 09:22 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.  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 from €98...

  By daytime trains with overnight stop in Geneva...

  • Step 1, take a smart Austrian railjet train from Vienna to Zurich HB through the wonderfully scenic Arlberg Pass, with restaurant car available, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Change at Zurich HB onto a comfortable Swiss domestic train to Geneva.  There are several departures to choose from, but the best is arguably the 09:30 from Vienna Hbf, change at Zurich HB arriving Geneva at 20:18.  Put your feet up and enjoy the ride, have dinner in the restaurant car, watch this video & see the Arlberg Railway page.

    Vienna to Geneva starts at €39 in 2nd class, €54 in 1st class or €69 in business class (= premium 1st class, a treat).

    Book from Vienna to Geneva as one transaction at either www.trainline.eu (easiest to use, accepts overseas cards, you print your own ticket) or Austrian Railways' own website www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly, you print your own ticket).

  • Stay overnight in Geneva.  Hotels with good reviews near the station include Hotel Cornavin Geneve, Hotel Les Arcades, ibis Styles Geneva Gare.

  • Step 2, travel by train from Geneva to Barcelona.  Usually you'll find a TER regional train leaving Geneva at 11:30, change trains at Lyon Part Dieu (arrive 13:25, depart 14:28) onto a direct AVE-S100 high-speed train arriving Barcelona Sants at 19:33.  Fares start at around €69 in 2nd class.

    Book this at either Raileurope.co.uk (can be used by anyone from any country, a small booking fee applies) or www.trainline.eu (can also be used by anyone from any country, a small booking fee applies).  You usually print your own ticket.

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

  • If you're going further into Spain, 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, take a high-speed train from Barcelona Sants to any Spanish destination next morning, check times & book at Raileurope.co.uk.

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

    For Cordoba, Seville & Malaga:  An AVE-S112 high-speed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 08:30 arriving Cordoba 13:12 & Seville Santa Justa at 14:02 with a separate portion going to Malaga Maria Zambrano arriving at 14:30.

    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 €45. 

    For Granada:  A direct AVE S112 high-speed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 06:50 arriving Granada at 13:15.

    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.

  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 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 1, 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...

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  Vienna to Nuremberg, Frankfurt, Cologne & Germany from €29.90...

  Option 1, by day trains to anywhere in Germany - the fast daytime option...

  • Every hour or two, a luxurious German ICE-T train leaves Vienna Hbf for Regensburg, Nuremberg (4h12), most then continuing to Frankfurt (Main) Hbf (6h21), two per day continuing via the scenic Rhine Valley to Cologne Hbf & Dortmund (the 11:15 & 15:15 from Vienna), one per day continuing to Berlin Hbf (the 10:15 from Vienna) and one per day continuing to Hannover & Hamburg Hbf (the 13:15 from Vienna).

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

  • Fares from Vienna to anywhere in Germany start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.

  • Buy tickets & check train times from Vienna to anywhere in Germany using the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  You print your own ticket or can simply show it on your smartphone or laptop screen.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can always log in and check or re-print all your bookings.

    Tip:  It's also worth checking prices on the Austrian Railways site www.oebb.at as I have often found them cheaper for exactly the same train.

  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 direct Nightjet sleeper trains from Vienna to Munich, Frankfurt Flughafen, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Hamburg & Berlin.

    Vienna Hbf depart 20:38, Frankfurt Sud arrive 05:24, Frankfurt Flughafen Regional station at 05:36, Koblenz 07:05, Cologne Hbf 08:15, Düsseldorf 08:42.  Will not serve Dusseldorf on the two days a week when the sleeper goes to Brussels instead.

    Vienna Hbf depart 20:38, Hannover arrive 06:49 & Hamburg Hbf arrive 08:44.

    Vienna Hbf depart 22:10, Berlin Hbf arrive 09:48.

  • These sleepers have 4 & 6-berth couchettes and a sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, breakfast included, plus a limited number of deluxe sleepers with 1, 2 & 3 beds with en suite toilet & shower.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes on Nightjets, served in your compartment.  See the Nightjet information page.

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

  • You can book these online at www.bahn.de or www.trainline.eu - check both sites as one can be cheaper than the other.  You print your own ticket.

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

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

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  Vienna to Munich from €29.90...

  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 €29.90 in 2nd class, €39.90 in 1st class or €54.90 in deluxe Business class if you pre-book.  A reserved seat is optional and costs an extra €3-€4 - in business class seat reservation is compulsory but included in the fare.

  • Buy tickets at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  You print your own ticket or simply show it on your smartphone or laptop screen.

    I recommend registering when prompted, rather than booking as a guest, so you can always log in and check or re-print all your bookings.

  • 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.trainline.eu.

  • Tip:  It's worth checking www.trainline.eu as well, as this links to the Austrian system.  Although fares also start from €29 I've often seen significantly cheaper fares on the Austrian system than bahn.de on the same date & train.

  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 station....

  Pleasant Bavarian scenery between Salzburg & Munich...

  Option 2, Vienna to Munich by Westbahn/Meridian - slower, but more flexible, cheaper at short notice...

  • The excellent railjet trains link Vienna to Munich in just 4h from just €29.90 if you book in advance and commit to a specific train with limited refunds & no changes to travel plans allowed.  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, connecting with an hourly Meridian regional train from Salzburg to Munich.

    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 Meridian using a Bayern Ticket valid any time weekends or anytime after 09:00 weekdays.  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.trainline.eu 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.trainline.eu or www.westbahn.at.  You can check Meridian times and prices at www.bahn.de, the Meridians are the ones marked as M.  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, 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.

  Buy tickets for this sleeper train at www.trainline.eu or www.oebb.at.  You print your own ticket.

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  Vienna to Berlin from €39.90...

  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 every day at 10:15, arriving Berlin Hbf at 17:58.  The ICE train has a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the ICE information page.

    Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

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

    Tip:  Check Austrian Railways www.oebb.at as well, as although fares also start from €39 I've often seen significantly cheaper fares on oebb.at than bahn.de on a given date & train.  You also print your own ticket.

    Tip:  Consider a 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 of course 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, simply click Add intermediate stops, enter Nuremberg 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 €39.90 upwards from Vienna to Berlin with a stopover in Nuremberg.  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...

  • From 4 May 2020 onwards, a swish Czech railjet train will leave Vienna Hbf every day at 13:10 arriving Berlin Hbf 21:54.

  • This modern railjet train has 2nd class, 1st class, business class (= premium 1st class, just 6 luxurious seats) 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 €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

  • Book at the German railways website www.bahn.de and print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or smartphone.

    Tip:  Check Austrian Railways www.oebb.at & www.trainline.eu as well, as although fares also start from €39.90 I've seen cheaper fares on oebb.at than bahn.de on a given date & train.  You still get a print-at-home ticket.

  Option 3, Vienna to Berlin by nightjet sleeper train - the time-effective overnight option, saves a hotel bill too...

  • An excellent nightjet sleeper train leaves Vienna Hbf at 22:10 every night arriving Berlin Hbf at 09:48 next morning.

    This comfortable nightjet 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.

  • 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.  The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast, served in your compartment.

  • Book at the German Railways www.bahn.de or at www.trainline.eu, it's worth checking prices on both sites.  You print your own ticket.

  • Tip:  If you like, you can check the consist for these trains, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz.  Click the UK flag for English, click composition, then look under Austria & click nj.

  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 €39.90...

  • 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 21:13, or the 19:10 arrives Prague Hlavni at 23:15.  But 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.

  • It's cheapest to book this as one journey from Vienna to Berlin at www.bahn.de.  Simply 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.

  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 with an overnight stop in Hamburg..

  • Day 1, travel from Vienna to Hamburg by luxurious ICE train with bistro-restaurant car & free WiFi leaving Vienna Hbf at 13:15 and arriving Hamburg Hbf at 21:53.  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 €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Book at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

  • 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 comfortable Danish IC3 intercity train leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:53 arriving Copenhagen at 13:33.

    If you're only going as far as Copenhagen, book from Hamburg to Copenhagen from €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class at www.bahn.de and print your own ticket. 

    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 and 11 hours stopover - I have set up this link to Bahn.de for you with those parameters, just enter your date & number of passengers.

  • If you're going to Stockholm... 

    Travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000 train.  If you take the 08:53 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 €39.90 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).  

  • 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, 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).

  • If you're going to Oslo...

    Travel from Copenhagen to Gothenburg as shown above.  Trains then run several times per day from Gothenburg to Oslo, you can check times at www.bahn.de and buy at the station or at www.sj.se or (if you have any problems) www.acprail.com or www.snalltaget.se.

    Alternatively, sail overnight from Copenhagen to Oslo by direct cruise ferry with bars, restaurants and en suite cabins, booked at www.dfds.co.uk.  the ship sails around 16:30, don't risk any tight connections in Copenhagen.

  Option 2, Vienna to Copenhagen from €69 by comfortable daytime trains with an overnight stop in Munich...

  • Day 1, travel from Vienna to Munich by railjet train with restaurant car, 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.

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

  • Day 2, travel from Munich to Copenhagen with 1 easy change in Hamburg.  There are several possible departures, for example leaving Munich Hbf at 06:15 arriving Copenhagen 17:33, or at 10:21 arriving Copenhagen 21:33.

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

    Vienna to Munich starts at €29.90 in 2nd class, €59.90 in 1st class.

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

  • How to buy tickets...  Step 1, book from Vienna to Munich at www.bahn.de looking for the direct EC train with 0 changes leaving at or around 13:35.  Step 2, book from Munich to Copenhagen at www.bahn.de looking for a convenient option with just 1 change.  You print out your own tickets.

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

  2nd class seats on an IC3 train...		Boarding a train to Copenhagen in Hamburg.

  A Copenhagen-Stockholm X2000 train boarding at Copenhagen main station...		2nd class seats on an X2000 train from Copenhagen to Stockholm.

  X2000 bistro car...		X2000 bistro car seating area...		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, take the Austrian Nightjet sleeper train from Vienna to Hamburg, Vienna Hbf depart 20:38, Hamburg Hbf arrive 08:47.  This train has 1, 2 & 3 bed sleepers and 4 & 6 bunk couchettes.  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.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes.  Book this at German Railways www.bahn.de or at www.trainline.eu (check prices at both sites!) and print your own ticket.

  • Step 2, now take the 12:53 Danish IC3 intercity train from Hamburg Hbf to Copenhagen arriving 17:33  Fares from €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class at www.bahn.de.  You print your own ticket.

  • 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, journey time 35 minutes, and once an hour to Gothenburg, journey time 3h48.  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...

  • Step 1, travel from Vienna to Kiel on any suitable train.  Check times & buy tickets at the German Railways site www.bahn.de.  You can catch a daytime train and stay overnight, or use the Vienna-Hamburg sleeper and connection to Kiel. 

  • In Kiel it's just a 5-6 minute walk from Kiel Hbf to the Color Line ferry terminal, but allow several hours between trains and ferry for the ferry check-in and in case of any delay.

  • Step 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. 

    Check times & buy tickets at the seat61 Ferry Shop 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...

  • Although you can travel to Stockholm then take a ferry to Helsinki, you'll probably find it easier to take a direct ferry from Germany to Helsinki.

  • First, check for Finnlines ferries from Travemünde to Helsinki at www.finnlines.com.

  • Then use www.bahn.de to find connecting trains from Vienna to Travemünde.  Allow plenty of time for a transfer to the ferry terminal and the ferry check-in.

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  Vienna to Prague from €19...

  Option 1, by daytime railjet trains 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 power sockets, free WiFi & bistro-restaurant car link Vienna Hbf and Prague Hlavni every two hours, journey time just 4h05 from city centre to city centre and fares from just €14 - or €29 in first class or €44 in business class, see the Vienna to Prague page for details.

  Option 2, by competing RegioJet train

  • From 10 December 2017 these railjets are joined by up to four daily trains run by open-access competitor Regiojet with fares from just €15, 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, city centre to city centre from just €11 with two easy changes of train, at Ceske Velenice and Ceske Budejovice.  Departures are every two hours, leaving from Vienna's Franz Josef Bahnhof in the north of the city, see 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.  Go upper deck 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 only costs €9 if you book a cheap Sparschiene fare in advance (even booking just a day or two ahead), just remember that Sparschiene fares commit you to a specific departure, no refunds, no changes to travel plans.

    If you want to stay flexible, buy a Standard (GünTar) ticket for around €38.20, 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.

    (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, 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 Bratislava for €11.20...

  • Trains link Vienna Hbf with Bratislava Hlavna every hour, see the Vienna to Bratislava page for full details.

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

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  Vienna to Budapest from €19...

  • Every hour or two, a smart Austrian railjet train or air-conditioned EuroCity train links Vienna Hbf with Budapest Keleti in only 2h40.  Advance-purchase sparschiene fares start at €19 in 2nd class, €29 in 1st class or €44 in luxurious Business class, booked at www.trainline.eu.

  • See the Budapest to Vienna by train page for timetable, 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 11:22, Brasov 14:05 & Bucharest Gara de Nord at 16:35.

    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 couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments.

    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...

  • You can book this train at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at which can sell cheap sparschiene fares from Vienna to Bucharest for as little as €49 with a couchette in a 6-berth compartment, €69 with a bed in a 3-berth sleeper, €89 with a bed in a 2-berth sleeper or €149 with a bed in a single-berth sleeper all to yourself.

    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 excellent www.vagonweb.cz.  Click the UK flag for English, click composition, then look under Austria, click D and look for Dacia.

  Option 2, by railjet to Budapest then Ister sleeper train 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.  By all means take an earlier train and spend a day or an afternoon exploring Budapest.

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

    To check times and buy tickets use either www.trainline.eu (easiest, accepts overseas cards) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly).  You print your own ticket.

  • Step 2, take the EuroNight sleeper train Ister leaving Budapest Keleti at 19:10 and arriving next day at Brasov at 09:53 & Bucharest Gara de Nord at 12:30.

    This comfortable train has 4 & 6 berth couchettes and a modern air-conditioned sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, also deluxe sleepers with 1 or 2 beds and shower/toilet.  Ister is the historic name for the river Danube.  There's no restaurant car so take a picnic and bottle of wine.  Enjoy the alpine scenery through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov & Bucharest.

    Fares from Budapest to Bucharest start at €39 with a couchette or €59 with a bed in a sleeper.  There's wonderful scenery in the morning over breakfast in Transylvania and through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov and Bucharest.

    To book the Budapest to Bucharest train, use the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see advice on how to use mavcsoport.hu & how you collect your tickets from the yellow self-service machines at Budapest.  Click EN for English top right and use Bucuresti for Bucharest.  If www.mavcsoport.hu won't offer tickets for a 2-bed or 1-bed sleeper, simply book 3 tickets in a 3-bed sleeper to get sole occupancy.

  The Dacia Express couchette car boarding at Vienna Hbf.  Always book a couchette, not just a seat.  Couchettes convert from bunks at night to seats by day.		4 or 6-berth couchettes.  Larger photo.

  A 1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper with washbasin.  Larger photo.		The Dacia Express arrived at Sighisoara.  Sleepers convert from beds to private sitting rooms for day use.  Courtesy of Philip Dyer-Perry.

  Enjoy breakfast in the bar-bistro eastbound, or an evening beer westbound, as a bar-bistro is attached in Romania to both the Ister & Dacia Express.  Bar-bistro photos courtesy of Philip Dyer-Perry.

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

  • Day 1, take an air-conditioned railjet train from Vienna to Budapest, leaving Vienna Hbf at 18:42 and arriving Budapest Keleti at 21:19.  By all means take an earlier train if you'd like an evening or even a whole afternoon in Budapest.

    Book this train from just €19 in 2nd class or €29 in 1st class at either www.trainline.eu (easiest to use, accepts overseas cards, you print your own ticket) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly, 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.  More hotels in Budapest.

  • Day 2, take a daytime train from Budapest to Transylvania & Bucharest.  A comfortable air-conditioned InterCity train called the Traianus leaves Budapest Keleti at 07:10 and arrives Bucharest Nord at 23:44.  Another comfortable air-conditioned InterCity train leaves Budapest Keleti at 09:10 via Simeria & Sibiu arriving Brasov 22:54. 

    Book these trains from €29 (but no equivalent 1st class offer, so my advice is to stick with 2nd) at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, clicking EN for English top left.  You collect your tickets from the yellow ticket machines at Budapest Keleti station.

  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...

  • A direct air-conditioned EuroCity train called the Emona links Vienna with Ljubljana every day, leaving Vienna Hbf at 07:58 and arriving in Ljubljana at 14:08.

    The Emona has a Slovenian restaurant car serving inexpensive waiter-service meals, beer & wine.  Enjoy the fabulous scenery along the beautiful UNESCO-listed Semmering route through the mountains between Vienna & Graz.

    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.

    If you like you can check the train formation & see what the carriages are like at www.vagonweb.cz - click the UK flag for English, click composition then look for Austria and click EC then look for the Emona.

  • 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.

  • Cheap sparschiene fares from Vienna to Ljubljana start at €24 in 2nd class or €34 in 1st class.

  • Buy tickets at www.trainline.eu (quickest & easiest to use, accepts overseas cards, you print your own ticket) or at Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly, you print your own ticket).

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

  The Emona has a Slovenian restaurant car with inexpensive freshly-cooked meals, beer & wine...

  Between Vienna & Villach 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...

  • A direct air-conditioned EuroCity train called the Croatia links Vienna with Zagreb every day, leaving Vienna Hbf at 15:58 and arriving in Zagreb at 22:36.

    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 all seats with 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 - click the UK flag for English, click composition then look for Austria and click EC then look for the Croatia.

  • Another good departure is available leaving Vienna Hbf around 08:25 by railjet train, changing at Villach onto a Croatian train to Zagreb arriving around 17:10.  And at 12:25, change at Villach, arriving 20:51.  This train also takes the UNESCO-listed Semmering route.

  • Cheap sparschiene fares from Vienna to Zagreb start at just €29 in 2nd class or €39 in 1st class.

  • Buy tickets at www.trainline.eu (quickest & easiest to use, accepts overseas cards, you print your own ticket) or at Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly, 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 photos & full details.

    You can check times & buy tickets online at the Croatian Railways website www.hzpp.hr - though it's not usually a problem to get places on the day.

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

  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 & Villach 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, using the Budapest-Split sleeper train Adria, runs in summer June-September...

  • Step 1, take the 13:40 railjet train from Vienna Hbf to Budapest Keleti in 2h40 from €19 booked at www.trainline.eu.  You print your own ticket.  Make sure you allow at least an hour in Budapest between trains to be on the safe side.

  • Step 2, travel from Budapest to Split by direct sleeper train called the Adria.  This runs from mid-June to early September, leaving Budapest Keleti around 18:53 every evening arriving Split around 08:56 next morning.  It 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 by major track upgrading.

  • Step 1, travel from Vienna to Zagreb by an air-conditioned EuroCity train Croatia leaving Vienna Hbf at 15:58 and arriving Zagreb Glavni Kolod (main station) at 22:42.  Book this from €29 in 2nd class or €39 in 1st class at www.trainline.eu (easiest to use, overseas payment cards no problem) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices but a bit more fiddly).  You print your own ticket.

    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.

  • 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.  Until 4 October 2020 it leaves Zagreb at 11:03 and arrives Novi Beograd at 18:00 & Belgrade Centar at 18:07.  From 5 October 2020 onwards it leaves Zagreb at 13:04 and arrives Novi Beograd at 20:17 & Belgrade Centar at 20:25.

    This train has air-conditioned Serbian carriages with comfortable 2nd class seats, but no 1st class.  There's no dining-car, 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, but tickets cannot be bought online.

  • Step 4 for Sofia, stay overnight in Belgrade and take the train from Belgrade to Sofia next day (day 3) arriving in the evening.  See the Belgrade to Sofia page for schedule, fares & how to buy tickets.

  • Step 4 for Montenegro, transfer to Belgrade Topcider station and either take the overnight sleeper Lovcen to Podgorica and Bar arriving in the morning on day 3, or stay overnight in Belgrade and take the daytime train Tara next day.  See the Belgrade to Montenegro page for schedule, fares & how to buy tickets.

  • If you need to stay overnight in Belgrade, I recommend the historic Hotel Moskva.

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Vienna to Warsaw & Krakow from €42...

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

• Two 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 13:11.

  The EuroCity Polonia leaves Vienna Hbf at 14:10 and arrives Warsaw Centralna at 21:24.

  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, select English, click Composition then select EC under Austria and locate your specific train.

• Sparschiene fares start at €42 in 2nd class or from €52 in 1st class if booked in advance, including seat reservation.

• Book online at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.

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

• A direct EuroCity train leaves Vienna Hbf at 08:10 and arrives Krakow Glowny at 15:05, 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, select English, click Composition then select EC under Austria and 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 with time for dinner, arrive Krakow Glowny 22:20.

• Sparschiene fares start at €42 in 2nd class or from €52 in 1st class if booked in advance, including seat reservation.

• Check times and buy tickets at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.  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, to Krakow or Warsaw by EuroNight sleeper train - the time-effective option...

• A safe & comfortable EuroNight sleeper train called the Chopin leaves Vienna Hbf at 22:10 arriving Krakow Glowny at 06:22 & Warsaw Centralna at 09:40.

  This train has a comfortable and secure sleeping-car with 1, 2 or 3 beds per compartment.  It's air-conditioned and also has a couple of 1 or 2 bed deluxe compartments with shower & toilet, see the photos below. 

  In summer June-August and at Easter, Christmas & New Year the train also has economical couchettes in 4 & 6-bunk compartments.

• Vienna to Krakow starts at €19 or Vienna to Warsaw at €29, these are the cheapest possible advance-purchase sparschiene fare, the price varies with limited availability at each price level.  You then need to add one of the following supplements to get a bed:

  €20 for a couchette in 6-berth, €30 for a couchette in 4-berth, €35 for a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €50 for a bed in a 2-bed sleeper, €100 for a bed in a single-bed sleeper, €70 for a bed in a 2-berth deluxe sleeper with shower & toilet, or €120 for a single-bed deluxe sleeper with shower & toilet (all per person, berths are sold individually).

• Book this train online at www.trainline.eu (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.trainline.eu 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 a 3-berth.  It can also be sold as a single or double.		Deluxe sleeper, set up as a 2-berth, showing TV & wardrobe.		Deluxe sleeper:  En suite shower & toilet...

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Vienna to Kiev & Ukraine...

Option 1, by new 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.

• 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.  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 www.oebb.at and collect at the station.

• 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 next to Budapest Keleti, try the Royal Park Boutique Hotel.  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.  You collect tickets from the blue or yellow machines in Budapest.

  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, take the direct sleeper train from Vienna to Kiev, leaving Vienna Hbf at 16:42 and arriving Kiev at 17:21 the next day.  To book this, contact agency www.polrail.com or try contacting ÖBB (Austrian Railways) telesales via www.oebb.at - it seems tickets aren't being sold online.  See the photos & journey details in the section above.

• Step 2, take one of the various Kiev to Moscow sleeper trains, 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 https://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 - see my advice for using rzd.ru.

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 pass.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 pass.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 & 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 by air-conditioned EuroCity train Avala as shown above from €34, booked as shown in that section.

• 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, take the direct overnight train leaving Belgrade Centar station at 18:35 for Thessaloniki in Northern Greece as shown on the Trains from Belgrade page for €42 including couchette.  You can buy at this price at the station on the day if you like, there are almost always places available and it's not expensive.  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...

After leaving Thessaloniki, the InterCity train runs along the Aegean coast and past Mount Olympus (seen above, from the train), mythical home to the Greek gods...		Between Larissa & Athens, the train snakes through the mountains, over the famous Gorgopotamos viaduct, blown up by the British S.O.E. in WW2...

Emerging from the mountains, the train descends a spectacular escarpment (above left), with the Greek plain laid out hundreds of feet below...

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 with couchette or from €99 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper or €139 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 just €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.  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 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 2-night journey.

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 020 3327 0761, www.railbookers.co.uk.

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

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

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

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

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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.

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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