Step 2, Innsbruck to Verona, Bologna or Venice by new generation railjet.  Photos courtesy of @SimplyRailway.  Interior photos courtesy of ÖBB.

Economy class, open saloon.		Restaurant car.

First class, all in open saloons.		Business class = just four 4-seat compartments

Mountains 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.

Option 6, Amsterdam to Italy via the Gotthard route - with overnight stop in Heidelberg.

• This route is similar to option 1, but it can be nicer to split the journey over two days with a pleasant overnight stop somewhere in Germany.  There are many possible stopover cities - Cologne, Koblenz, Basel.  How about the pretty university town of Heidelberg?

• Day 1, travel from Amsterdam to Heidelberg in around 4h39.

  You travel on superb German ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Stay overnight in Heidelberg.  Check for hotels in Heidelberg near the station.

• Day 2, travel from Heidelberg to Milan in about 7h30.

  You travel from Heidelberg to either Basel SBB or Zurich HB by ICE with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Then from Basel SBB or Zurich HB to Milan Centrale by EuroCity train via the scenic Gotthard route through the Alps.

  The easiest way to book from Heidelberg to anywhere in Italy is at www.raileurope.com, click More options and enter Basel SBB as a via station with a duration of (say) 1 hour.  Try it again with Zurich HB as the stopover and see what you get.  You can pay in €, £ or $, small booking fee.

  Alternatively, book from Heidelberg to Basel SBB or Zurich HB at German Railways int.bahn.de (in €, no booking fee).  There's no booking fee and you can choose your seat from a seat map.

  Then book from Basel SBB or Zurich HB to anywhere in Italy at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, payment in €, $, £, the small booking fee will be refunded if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian-language place names, see advice on using it).

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

Option 7, Amsterdam to Italy via Munich & the scenic Brenner route - with overnight stop in Munich.

• A convenient and scenic route by daytime trains with an overnight stop in Munich - in fact, for going to Verona or Venice by daytime trains this is the route I'd recommend, as easiest, cheapest and with fewest changes.   With a good book and a bottle of wine, meals in the restaurant on the train, it's a chill out trip.

• Day 1, travel from Amsterdam to Munich by ICE on any departure you like, for example:

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 10:38, change at Düsseldorf, arriving Munich Hbf 18:07

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 12:38, change at Düsseldorf, arriving Munich Hbf 20:06

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 14:38, change at Düsseldorf, arriving Munich Hbf 22:10

  You travel on superb German ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Or if you'd like an afternoon in Munich, from 15 December 2024 a direct ICE3neo leaves Amsterdam Centraal at 08:32, arriving Munich Hbf 15:28.

  Check train times at the German Railways website int.bahn.de, but I'll explain how to buy tickets in a minute.

• Stay overnight in Munich.  The affordable Eden Hotel Wolff & NH Collection München are across the road from the station's north side exit with great reviews.  Or consider the more upmarket 25 Hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian, Excelsior by Giesel & Mercure City Center.  For a splurge, the luxurious Sofitel Munich Beyerpost occupies the former Royal Bavarian Post Office building of 1896-1900, at the station's south side exit.

For dinner, I recommend the Bavarian food & beer at the Augustiner Keller (www.augustinerkeller.de) at Arnulfstrasse 52, see walking map.

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Italy via the scenic Brenner Pass, see the timetable here.  For example:

  Leave Munich Hbf 07:32 by EuroCity, arriving Verona Porta Nuova 12:58, Venice Mestre 15:02 and (weekends only) Venice S. Lucia 14:25.

  Leave Munich Hbf 09:33 by railjet, arriving Verona Porta Nuova 15:01 & Bologna Centrale 16:08.

  Leave Munich Hbf 11:32 by railjet, arriving Verona Porta Nuova 16:58 & Venice Santa Lucia 18:25.

  Change at Verona P. Nuova (if you take the 07:32 or 11:32) or at Bologna Centrale (if you take the 09:33) for Florence, Rome & Naples.

  The swish Austrian railjet trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  They climb up and over the scenic Brenner Pass, see the video here.

• How much does it cost?

  Amsterdam to Verona, Bologna or Venice when using a direct train from Munich starts at €46.99 in 2nd class, €99.99 in 1st class.

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

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

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets

  You can buy all your tickets together in one place at www.raileurope.com, in plain English, in €, £ or $, small booking fee.

  German & Austrian trains open for booking up to 6 months ahead.  Onward Italian trains may only opens 4 months ahead.

  First book from Amsterdam to Munich for day 1 and add to basket.  Then book from Munich to Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples (or anywhere else in Italy) for day 2.

  If you are using a direct train from Munich to Verona, Bologna or Venice, no special instructions are necessary.  But if you are travelling from Munich to Italy with a change of train, for example Munich to Venice on the 09:33 with a change of train in Verona, or from Munich to Florence or Rome on the 09:33 with a change of train in Bologna, then before running the enquiry click More options and enter the name of the interchange point (Verona Porta Nuova or Bologna Centrale) with a stopover duration of 45 minutes to ensure a robust connection.

  Raileurope.com connects to both the Trenitalia and DB systems so can source both tickets either side of Verona (or Bologna) as one transaction.  You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.

• Another way to buy tickets

  It's a bit cheaper to buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de as there's no booking fee, and a through ticket from Amsterdam to Verona, Bologna or Venice with an overnight stop in Munich added using Bahn.de's Stopovers feature is cheaper than buying separate tickets Amsterdam-Munich and Munich-Verona/Bologna/Venice (which is what you get at www.raileurope.com)

  To get the overnight stop in Munich, before running the enquiry click Stopovers, enter Munich Hbf and a suitable length of stay, say 10 hours.  Adjust the departure time and length of stay to get the trains you want either side of Munich.  Some trial and error may be needed! 

  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in and check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Then add the connecting Italian train from Verona (or from Bologna, if using the 07:34 from Munich on weekdays, or the 09:34 from Munich any day of the week) to Florence, Rome, Naples or wherever at either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, their €3.50 booking fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (requires Italian language place names, a bit more fiddly so read this advice on using it first).

Option 8, Amsterdam to Italy via Paris from €64.  Fast & comfortable, but involves crossing Paris by metro or taxi

• This route is slightly faster than the route via Germany, if you don't mind changing trains & stations in Paris by taxi or metro.

• Day 1, travel from Amsterdam to Paris by Eurostar (formerly Thalys), leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 09:10 Mondays-Fridays arriving Paris Gare du Nord 12:35 or at 10:10 Saturdays & Sundays arriving 13:38.

  Eurostars run at up to 300 km/h with 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).

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

  Allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris, ideally more.  Why not book an earlier Eurostar and have lunch at the Train Bleu restaurant?

• Day 1, travel from Paris to Italy by Frecciarossa, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon 15:12, arriving Turin Porta Susa 21:18 & Milan Centrale 22:07.

  Trenitalia's high-speed Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's a scenic ride through the Alps, see more about this journey.

  Update:  The direct Paris-Milan line via Modane was blocked by a landslide in August 2023, and remains blocked at least until March 2025.  Until further notice, all direct Paris-Milan trains are cancelled.  Please use alternative routes.  More information.

• Stay overnight in Turin or Milan.  Both cities make a great stopover, but Turin is lovely. 

  In Turin I suggest the Hotel Torino Porta Susa or Hotel Diplomatic or small Al Porta Susa B&B, all right next to Turin Porta Susa station where the Frecciarossa arrives and where your onward train leaves next morning, with good or great reviews.  Alternatively, the excellent Turin Palace Hotel is in the centre right next to Porta Nuova station.  It's a 7 minute taxi ride, 3-stop €1.50 metro ride or 20 minute walk from Porta Susa, but next morning you can board your train to Venice, Florence, Rome or Naples at Porta Nuova station where these trains start their journey. 

  In Milan, affordable hotels & guesthouses with good or great reviews just outside Milan Centrale include the Hotel Bristol, Hotel Bernina, 43 Station Hotel, B&B Hotel Milano Central Station, Guesthouse Teodora.

• Day 2, take an onward train from Turin or Milan to Venice, Florence, Rome or Napes, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Milan to Venice only takes 2h35, Milan to Florence 1h40, Milan to Rome 2h55.

• How much does it cost?

  Amsterdam to Paris start at €35 in 2nd class (standard) or €79 in 1st class (plus).

  Paris to Turin or Milan start at €29 in 2nd class (standard), €36 in 1st class (business) or €165 in executive class with food included.

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

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

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets

  Buy at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com as you can then buy all your tickets together in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or £, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee.  Booking for each of these trains normally opens 4 months ahead.

  First book Amsterdam to Turin or Milan and add to basket.  You can book this as one journey, but I recommend clicking More options and entering Paris as a via station with a stopover duration of at least 1 hour.  You should always allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris, ideally more.  Then book from Turin or Milan to your Italian destination for the following day, add to basket and check out.

  You can also book Amsterdam-Paris at French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com with no booking fee, then the onward Italian Frecciarossa from Paris to Turin or Milan at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, their €3.50 booking fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (requires Italian language place names, a bit more fiddly so read this advice on using it first).

• Alternatively, travel Amsterdam-Paris on day 1, stay overnight, then travel Paris-Italy on day 2

  Take an early evening Eurostar (formerly Thalys) from Amsterdam Centraal to Paris Gare du Nord, stay overnight in Paris (see suggested hotels near the Gare du Nord & Gare de Lyon), then take the early morning Frecciarossa leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 07:25 for Turin & Milan (see the timetable here).  Change in Milan Centrale for Venice, Florence, Rome or Naples.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com as follows:  First book from Amsterdam to Paris, add to basket, then book from Paris to Italy for the following day, add to basket & check out.

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Amsterdam to Barcelona, Madrid & Spain from €74

Option 1, Amsterdam to Barcelona in a single day.  Onwards to Madrid, Alicante, Malaga, Granada or Seville next day

• Step 1, travel from Amsterdam to Paris by Eurostar (formerly Thalys).

  On Mondays-Saturdays, leave Amsterdam Centraal at 09:10, arriving Paris Gare du Nord 12:35.

  On Sundays, leave Amsterdam Centraal at 08:10, arriving Paris Gare du Nord at 11:35.

  Eurostars run at up to 300 km/h with 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).

  Fares start at €35 in 2nd class or €79 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Allow at least 60 minutes between trains, preferably more.  Why not book the 08:10 Eurostar any day of the week and have lunch at the wonderful Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon?

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 14:42, arriving Barcelona Sants 21:29.

  This impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number above 60 is upper deck.

  The train speeds along the Rhône valley past pretty villages & picturesque churches, then past Béziers cathedral, flamingos on the étangs (lakes) in southern France, the Fort de Salses approaching Perpignan and the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou in the Pyrenees.  More about the journey.

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

• Stay overnight in Barcelona.  The Hotel Barcelo Sants is the top choice here, it's part of Barcelona Sants station so easy to use when arriving & departing by train, with great reviews & good feedback from Seat61 users.  See other suggested hotels near the station.

• Step 3, travel from Barcelona to other Spanish destinations next morning.

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

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

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

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

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

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

• How to buy tickets

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

  These sites can book from Amsterdam to Barcelona as one easy transaction, and they connect to the Spanish Railways (Renfe) system to sell onward tickets in Spain.  International credit cards no problem, small booking fee.

  Booking for Eurostar & the TGV usually opens 4 months ahead.  Spanish domestic trains open anything from 15 days to 9 months ahead.

  First book from Amsterdam to Barcelona.  Look for an option with just 1 change.

  Tip:  If you want to stopover a few hours for lunch in Paris when using www.raileurope.com, just click More options and enter Paris, with a duration of however many hours you want.  In fact, I'd click More options and enter Paris anyway, as it'll then show separate prices either side of Paris and you can upgrade to 1st class if it's cheap to do so on one leg or the other, without having to upgrade throughout.  I'd allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris, ideally more - by default, the system allows as little as 40 minutes.

  If you are heading for Madrid, Malaga, Seville, Cordoba, Valencia or Alicante, first add the Amsterdam-Barcelona journey to your basket, then book Barcelona to your chosen Spanish destination for the following day, add this to your basket and check out, paying for both tickets as one transaction.

• Alternatively, you can book each train separately direct with the relevant operator, more work and same prices, but no booking fee.

  Book the Amsterdam-Paris Eurostar at www.sncf-connect.com.

  Then book the Paris-Barcelona TGV at www.sncf-connect.com.

  Then book onward trains in Spain at either www.renfe.com (no booking fee, but fiddly and may reject some overseas cards, see advice on using it) or use www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.petrabax.com (in $, small mark-up).

  Tip:  www.sncf-connect.com & www.thetrainline.com allow you to choose your seat from a seat map when booking 1st class tickets on the TGV.

Step 1, Amsterdam to Paris by Eurostar.  More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).

1st class, 2+1 across car width.  Larger photo.		2nd class, 2+2 across.  Larger photo.

The train sweeps across the Moerdijk Bridge over the Hollands Diep one lazy evening, between Rotterdam & Antwerp.

Step 2, Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex.  Here, a TGV Duplex is boarding at Paris Gare de Lyon.  More about the Paris-Barcelona journey.

Cafe-bar on upper deck in car 4, serving tea, coffee, soft drinks, wine, beer, snacks & microwave-style hot dishes.		2nd class seats on the upper deck.  There's a mix or tables for 4 and unidirectional seating.  360º photo.

1st class upper deck seats, club duo on the left, a club quatre on the right.  360º photo.		TGV Duplex at Barcelona.  The 1 near the door indicates 1st class, a 2 indicates 2nd class.

Dinner from the cafe-bar.		View from the train, passing Béziers.

Mt Canigou & the Pyrenees.  One of the highest peaks in the mighty Pyrenees, the 2,784m (9,137 feet) high Mt Canigou dominates the skyline on the right all the way from Perpignan to Girona, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canigou.

Option 2, Amsterdam to Paris, stay overnight in Paris, Paris to Barcelona & Spain next day

• Day 1, travel from Amsterdam to Paris by Eurostar (formerly Thalys), leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 18:15, arriving Paris Gare du Nord 21:39.

  By all means take an earlier train and spend some time in Paris, there's a train every hour or two.

  Eurostars run at up to 300 km/h with 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).

  Fares start at €35 in 2nd class or €79 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

• Stay overnight in Paris.  The Mercure Paris Gare De Lyon is part of the Gare de Lyon station complex, ideal for an early train next morning.  See other suggested hotels near the Gare du Nord & Gare de Lyon.

• Day 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 07:42, arriving Barcelona Sants 14:29.

  The impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has 1st & 2nd class, a café-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Book an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number above 60 is upper deck.

  The train speeds along the Rhône valley past pretty villages & picturesque churches, then past Béziers cathedral, flamingos on the étangs (lakes) in southern France, the Fort de Salses approaching Perpignan and the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou in the Pyrenees.  More about the journey.

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

• Day 2, travel onwards from Barcelona to other Spanish destinations:

  For Madrid, a high-speed AVE leaves Barcelona Sants at 15:25 Mondays-Fridays, arriving Madrid Atocha 17:55.

  Another AVE leaves Barcelona Sants at 16:00 every day, arriving Madrid Atocha 19:12.

  For Cordoba & Seville, a high-speed AVE leaves Barcelona Sants at 15:15, arriving Cordoba 20:16, Seville Santa Justa 21:24.

  For Malaga, a high-speed AVE leaves Barcelona Sants at 15:15, arriving Malaga Maria Zambrano 21:43.

  For Valencia & Alicante, a fast Euromed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 16:10 arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 19:02 & Alicante 21:34.

  All these trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• How to buy tickets

  The easiest way to book from Amsterdam to Spain is at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

  Both these sites connect to French Railways for Eurostar & TGV and to Spanish Railways (Renfe) for onward tickets in Spain.  You can use them wherever you live as international credit cards are accepted, fares in €, £ or $, small booking fee.

  Booking for Eurostar & TGV usually opens 4 months ahead, booking for Spanish trains opens anything fro 15 days to 9 months ahead.

  First book from Amsterdam to Paris, picking any direct Eurostar train you like.  Add this to your basket.

  Now book from Paris to Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga, Seville, Valencia or Alicante as one journey.  In the search results, look for Paris-Barcelona options with 0 changes, or Paris to Madrid/Malaga/Seville/Valencia/Alicante options with 1 change in Barcelona.  Add this to your basket and check out, paying for both journeys as one transaction.

• Alternatively, you can book each train separately, although this takes more effort and is unlikely to make it materially cheaper: 

  Book the Amsterdam-Paris Eurostar & Paris-Barcelona TGV at www.sncf-connect.com.

  Book onward trains within Spain at www.renfe.com (in €, more fiddly, may reject some overseas payment cards, see advice on using it here) or much easier to use alternative sites www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.petrabax.com (in US$, small mark-up).

  Tip:  www.sncf-connect.com & www.thetrainline.com allow you to choose your seat from a seat map when booking 1st class tickets.

Option 3, Amsterdam to Paris by Eurostar, a French sleeper train to the Spanish border, then onward Spanish trains

• Step 1, travel from Amsterdam to Paris by Eurostar (formerly Thalys).

  On Mondays-Fridays & Sundays, leave Amsterdam Centraal at 17:10, arriving Paris Nord 20:35.

  Or any day of the week, leave Amsterdam Centraal at 16:10, arriving Paris Gare du Nord 19:35 with time for dinner in Paris.

  Eurostars run at up to 300 km/h with 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).

  Fares start at €35 in 2nd class or €79 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international cards no problem, small booking fee.

  They sell tickets for multiple operators so you can book all your trains together in one place.  About Raileurope.  About Thetrainline.

  Alternatively, you can buy tickets at the Dutch Railways website www.nsinternational.nl (which can also book connecting trains within the Netherlands, for example Arnhem-Paris) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

  Cross Paris by metro or taxi from the Gare du Nord to the Gare d'Austerlitz.

  Allow at least 90 minutes between trains in Paris when catching a sleeper.  Why not book an earlier Eurostar and have dinner at the Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon before strolling across the bridge over the Seine to the Gare d'Austerlitz?  Or try the floating restaurant Off Paris Seine next to the Gare d'Austerlitz.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Latour de Carol in the Pyrenees by French sleeper train, leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 22:13.

  This sleeper runs Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays all year, daily from June to September.

  Then take a local train from Latour to Barcelona Sants arriving at lunchtime. 

  There's also a sleeper from Paris to Cerbère on the Spanish border, this leaves Paris around 20:08, you'll need to leave Amsterdam earlier.

  See the Paris to Barcelona by sleeper train page for details & how to buy tickets.

• Step 3, travel from Barcelona to other Spanish destinations in the afternoon.

  For Madrid:  AVE-S103 high-speed trains link Barcelona Sants with Madrid Atocha every hour or two in as little as 2h30 from €35, check times at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

  For Cordoba, Seville & Malaga:  Take the direct AVE S103 high-speed train leaving Barcelona Sants at 15:15 arriving Cordoba, Seville Santa Justa & Malaga Maria Zambrano in the evening.  Fares start at around €45.

  For Valencia & Alicante:  A Euromed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 16:10 arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla at 19:02 and Alicante at 21:34.  Fares start from €23, check times at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

  Book Spanish trains at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, in €, see my advice before using it).  I'd allow at least 1 hour between trains in Barcelona.  Spanish trains should open for booking 60 days ahead, but it varies and can be less than this.

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Amsterdam to San Sebastian from €63

• Step 1, travel from Amsterdam Central to Paris Gare du Nord by Eurostar (formerly Thalys) in 3h20.

  Eurostars run at up to 300 km/h with 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).

  Fares start at €35 in 2nd class or €79 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris, ideally more.

• Step 2, travel from Paris Gare Montparnasse to Hendaye on the Spanish border by high-speed double-deck TGV Duplex Océane in around 4h40.

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

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

• For example:

  Leave Amsterdam Central 06:10 Mondays-Fridays, change in Paris, arriving Hendaye 16:47.

  Leave Amsterdam Central 09:10 on Saturdays, change in Paris, arriving Hendaye 18:47.

  Leave Amsterdam Central 11:10 daily except Saturdays, change in Paris, arriving Hendaye 20:47.

• Step 3, travel from Hendaye to San Sebastian Amara by Euskotren, every 30 minutes, journey 37 minutes, fare €2.75.

  Simply walk out of Hendaye station and turn right, the little Euskotren station is just 50m away.  Buy a ticket at the Euskotren station from the machines or staffed counter with cash or card and hop on the next half-hourly Euskotren to San Sebastian Amara.  Check times at www.euskotren.eus.  More about the Paris to San Sebastian journey.

• Buy tickets from Amsterdam to Hendaye at www.raileurope.com.  In the search results, look for journeys with just 1 change.

  If you'd like longer in Paris (I recommend allowing at least 70 minutes between trains, by default the system allows as little as 40), click More options, enter Paris (any station) and a desired stopover duration.

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

  Buy the ticket from Hendaye to San Sebastian at the Euskotren station in Hendaye from the ticket machines or staffed counter, with cash or card.

  Alternatively, book Amsterdam-Paris & Paris-Hendaye at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

• See the Paris to San Sebastian page for more details, including tips for the Paris-Hendaye-San Sebastian journey, with photos showing the location of the Euskotren station at Hendaye.

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Amsterdam to Ibiza & Mallorca

• Step 1, travel from Amsterdam to Barcelona as shown in the Amsterdam to Barcelona section.

  If you use option 2, you can leave Amsterdam early evening on day 1, stay overnight in Paris, reaching Barcelona at 14:29 on day 2.

• In Barcelona, it's a 4 km 46-minute walk from Barcelona Sants station to the Trasmed and Balearia ferry terminal at the foot of La Rambla, near the Columbus monument, see walking map.  A taxi costs around €20 & takes 13 minutes or take metro line L3 from Barcelona Sants to Drassane metro station (see www.tmb.cat), from where the Balearia terminal is 7 minutes walk, the Trasmed terminal is 9 minutes walk.  Map of Barcelona showing station and Trasmed/Balearia ferry terminals.

• Step 2, sail overnight from Barcelona to Ibiza or Palma de Mallorca by ferry.

  Ibiza:  Trasmed operate an overnight ferry from Barcelona to Ibiza on most nights of the week sailing at or around 22:00, arriving 07:00.  Times and dates vary, check times and buy tickets at the Direct Ferries website or www.trasmed.com.  Check-in for the ferry closes 30 minutes before sailing time.  You can pre-print your boarding pass to save time at the terminal.  Balearia also operate an overnight ferry to Ibiza on most nights of the week, sailing times vary but it typically sails at 22:00, arriving in Ibiza town (Ibiza Ciudad) at 06:00.  Check times & buy tickets at the Direct Ferries website or www.balearia.com.

  Mallorca:  There are two overnight ferries from Barcelona to Palma de Mallorca, both with restaurants, bars & cosy en suite cabins, both usually sailing from Barcelona around around 22:00 and arriving in Palma around 07:00.  One ferry is run by Trasmed (www.trasmed.com), the other run by Balearia (www.balearia.com).  Check times & buy tickets at the Direct Ferries website.

Balearia ferry in Ibiza harbour.  Courtesy of Discoverbyrail.com.

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Amsterdam to Algeciras & Gibraltar

• Day 1, travel from Amsterdam to Barcelona in a day as shown in the Amsterdam-Barcelona section.

• Stay overnight in Barcelona  The Hotel Barcelo Sants is the top choice here, it's part of Barcelona Sants station so easy to use when arriving & departing by train, with great reviews & good feedback from Seat61 users.  See other suggested hotels near the station.

• Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Algeciras, leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE, change at Antequera-Santa Ana onto a 15:09 Media Distancia train arriving San Roque-La Linea 18:07 & Algeciras 18:23.

  The high-speed AVE train is air-conditioned with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  There's great scenery both on the high-speed line between Barcelona and Antequera and on the classic line twisting through the hills from Antequera to Algeciras, the Spanish town across the bay from Gibraltar.  The Media Distancia is air-conditioned, but bring your own food & drink.

  Fares start at around €70.

  Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee, or at the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see this advice on using it first).  You print your own tickets.  Booking should open 60 days ahead but this varies.

• Day 2, take a bus or taxi from Algeciras to la Linea & walk into Gibraltar.

  A taxi from Algeciras railway station to La Linea costs €24.75 and takes about 22 minutes.  Taxis don't use the meter on this run, and aren't normally allowed to cross the border into Gibraltar.

  To go by bus, cross the roundabout outside Algeciras railway station and enter the San Bernado bus station, then take bus M-120 to La Linea for around €2.50.  Bus M-120 runs every 30 minutes Mon-Fri at xx.00 and xx.30 past each hour or every 45 minutes at weekends, journey time about 45 minutes to La Linea, for bus information see siu.ctmcg.es.

  La Linea is the Spanish town outside the border crossing to Gibraltar, and La Linea's bus stop and taxi rank are right outside the entrance to Gibraltar.  Walk through the Spanish then UK passport checkpoints into Gibraltar (5-10 minutes).  Then either (a) keep walking straight ahead of you into Gibraltar town, it's takes about 15 minutes to the centre or (b) take a frequent local Gibraltar bus from the border into town or (c) look for the taxi stop on the right just after the passport check and wait for a taxi to your hotel for a few pounds - Gibraltar taxis will accept euros.  The walk from the border to Gibraltar's Main Street takes you across Gibraltar airport's runway, though they stop cars and pedestrians when an aircraft is landing or taking off!   Map of Algeciras - La Linea - Gibraltar area.

• Or take a taxi/bus from San Roque-La Linea station:

  The closest station to Gibraltar is actually San Roque-La Linea, and all trains to Algeciras call here around 20 minutes before arriving at Algeciras.  So if you prefer, you can get off here and take a taxi to La Linea, or walk the 1.6 km (1 mile) to the Bar La Redonda bus stop on the main road on the M-120 bus route from Algeciras to La Linea.  Buses run to La Linea every 30 minutes weekdays, every 45 minutes weekends.  Taxis are usually available outside San Roque station, San Roque to the La Linea/Gibraltar border is about 16 km (10 miles) and it takes just over 30 minutes depending on traffic.

• How much does it cost?

  Amsterdam to Paris starts at €35 in 2nd class or €79 in 1st class.

  Paris to Barcelona starts at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.

  Barcelona to Madrid starts at €38 in standard class or €45 in comfort class.

  Madrid to Algeciras starts at €25 in standard class or €38 in comfort class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy the train tickets

  You can buy all your tickets together at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee.

  First book from Amsterdam to Barcelona, add this to your basket, then book Barcelona to Madrid and Madrid to Algeciras for the following day, add each of these to your basket & check out.

  Booking for Eurostar & TGV opens up to 4 months ahead, for the AVE & Intercity train 60 days ahead, but it varies.  You print your own tickets. 

  Alternatively, you can book from Amsterdam to Barcelona at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee) then book Barcelona to Madrid and Madrid to Algeciras at the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (in €, much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see this advice on using it), you'll find www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com much easier to use.

Algeciras station, across the road from the bus station.

Bus M-120 boarding at Algeciras bus station		Rock of Gibraltar, seen from a taxi near La Linea.

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Amsterdam to Lisbon Porto & Portugal

Option 1, Amsterdam to Lisbon via Barcelona & Madrid.

• Step 1, travel from Amsterdam to Paris by Eurostar (formerly Thalys), leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 18:10, arriving Paris Gare du Nord 21:39.

  By all means take an earlier train and spend some time in Paris, there's a train every hour or two.  Eurostars run at up to 300 km/h with 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).

  Fares start at €35 in 2nd class or €79 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone. 

  Using Raileurope or Thetrainline allows you to book your tickets in one place as they also connect to the Spanish ticketing system.

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

• Stay overnight in Paris.  The Mercure Paris Gare De Lyon is part of the Gare de Lyon station complex, ideal for an early train next morning.  See other suggested hotels near the Gare du Nord & Gare de Lyon.

• Day 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 07:42, arriving Barcelona Sants 14:29.

  The impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has 1st & 2nd class, a café-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Book an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number above 60 is upper deck.

  The train speeds along the Rhône valley past pretty villages & picturesque churches, then past Béziers cathedral, flamingos on the étangs (lakes) in southern France, the Fort de Salses approaching Perpignan and the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou in the Pyrenees.  More about the journey.

  Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.  Fares work like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com, www.thetrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com.

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

• Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Madrid by AVE, leaving Barcelona Sants at 15:25 Mondays-Fridays, arriving Madrid Atocha 17:55.

  Or on any day of the week, leave Barcelona Sants at 16:00 by AVE, arriving Madrid Atocha 19:12.

  These comfortable AVE S103 high-speed trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Fares start at €17.05 in standard class or €68.05 in comfort class.  Fares work like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Booking for Spanish trains opens anything from 15 days to 9 months ahead.

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

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

Option 2, Amsterdam to Porto & Lisbon via San Sebastian & Vigo - slightly slower, can be cheaper

• Day 1, travel from Amsterdam to San Sebastian, for example:

  Leave Amsterdam Central 06:10 Mondays-Fridays, change in Paris, arriving Hendaye 16:47.

  Leave Amsterdam Central 09:10 on Saturdays, change in Paris, arriving Hendaye 18:47.

  Leave Amsterdam Central 11:10 daily except Saturdays, change in Paris, arriving Hendaye 20:47.

  Amsterdam to Paris Nord is by Eurostar (formerly Thalys) with 3 classes, refreshments, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Paris Montparnasse to Hendaye is by double-deck TGV Duplex Océane with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number above 60 is upper deck.  Hendaye is on the French side of the Spanish border.

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

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

  Transfer from Hendaye to San Sebastian Amara by half-hourly local Euskotren as shown above, journey time 37 minutes.

  In San Sebastian it's an easy 10-minute walk from Euskotren's Amara station to the Renfe station, see walking route.

• Stay overnight in San Sebastian.  The Pension Regil is close to the old town with great reviews, 10 minutes walk from the Renfe station, 7 minutes walk from the Amara Euskotren station.  If you want something in the old town itself, try the Pension Garibai or Pension Alameda.  If you want to push the boat out, San Sebastian's most venerable hotel (which I can recommend personally, having stayed there) is the Hotel de Londres y Inglaterra, on the sea front.

• Day 2, travel across Spain from San Sebastian to Vigo on one of these two possible departures:

  Morning departure, every day:  Travel from San Sebastian to Madrid by Alvia, leaving San Sebastian Renfe station at 08:47, arriving Madrid Chamartin 13:51.  Then travel from Madrid to Vigo by Alvia, leaving Madrid Chamartin at 16:00, arriving Vigo Urzaiz 20:12.  The comfortable high-speed Alvia trains have a cafe-bar, standard & comfort class.  Vigo Urzaiz is an easy 10 minute 500m walk from Vigo Guixar, see how to walk between stations using the halo lift.

  Afternoon departure, Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays only:  Spend the morning in San Sebastian.  An Intercity train leaves San Sebastian Renfe station at 11:30 arriving Vitoria/Gasteiz 13:35.  This is a guaranteed connection into the Barcelona-Galicia Alvia train which leaves Vitoria/Gasteiz at 14:03 on Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays arriving Vigo Guixar at 22:51.

  San Sebastian to Vigo starts at €23 each way.  The price varies, book ahead for the cheaper prices.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.  Booking for Spanish trains should open 60 days ahead, but it varies & can be less.

  Tip:  If using the daily departure with a change in Madrid, you might need to treat San Sebastian-Madrid & Madrid-Vigo as separate bookings.

• Stay overnight in Vigo. The NH Collection Vigo hotel & cheaper Hotel Atlantico Vigo are both near the station with great reviews.

• Day 3, travel from Vigo to Porto by Celta regional express, leaving Vigo Guixar at 08:58 arriving Porto Campanhã at 10:20.

  The fare is €15.90, fixed price.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com,  Booking opens 60 days ahead, but it varies and can be less.

• Day 3, travel from Porto to Lisbon by Alfa Pendular, leaving Porto Campanhã at 11:40 and arriving Lisbon Santa Apolonia 14:30.

  Or book a later train and spend some time exploring wonderful Porto.

  Fares start at €15.

  Book this at the Portuguese Railways website www.cp.pt (in €) or at Omio.com (in €, £ or $).

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Amsterdam to Faro & the Algarve

Option 1, Amsterdam to Faro using a bus from Seville to Faro - fastest & easiest

• Day 1, travel from Amsterdam to Paris by Eurostar then Paris to Barcelona by TGV, as shown in the Amsterdam-Barcelona section.

• Stay overnight in Barcelona.  The Hotel Barcelo Sants is top choice here, it's located above Barcelona Sants station itself and gets great reviews, with nice rooms, a great breakfast buffet and a delightfully kitsch space theme.  Alternatively, the Nobu Hotel and AC Sants Hotel by Marriot are both just across the road from the station.  Other suggested hotels near the station.

• Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Seville by AVE, leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:35, arriving Seville Santa Justa 14:32.

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Seville to Faro by bus, an Alsa-Rede Express bus usually leaves Seville Santa Justa station at 15:30 arriving Faro 18:00.

  Times vary so check at Omio.com, I'd allow at least 40 minutes between train & bus.  Remember the 1h time difference between Spain & Portugal.

  Several other bus companies run this route including Damas, EuroLines & Iberobus, all leaving from Seville Plaza de Armas bus station.  I recommend Alsa-Rede Express as their buses start from outside Seville Santa Justa station for easy train-bus connections.  Simply walk out of the main exit and turn right, you'll see the pale blue Alsa-Rede Express bus waiting opposite McDonalds, see the photo below.

  The Alsa-Rede Express buses also call at Seville Plaza de Armas bus station after leaving Santa Justa, a better departure point if you're visiting Seville city centre.  The bus has power sockets, but no WiFi or toilet.  There's a brief toilet stop at Tavira bus station.

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

  The fare is around €17-€21 each way.

  Buy tickets for any of these bus companies at Omio.com and print your own ticket.

Option 2, Amsterdam to Faro via Lisbon - a longer way round, but all-train.

• Step 1, travel from Amsterdam to Lisbon as shown above.

• Step 2, take a train from Lisbon to Faro as shown here.

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Amsterdam to Andorra

Option 1, Amsterdam to Andorra in a day

• Step 1, travel from Amsterdam to Paris by Eurostar (formerly Thalys), leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 09:10, arriving Paris Gare du Nord 12:35.

  Eurostars run at up to 300 km/h with 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).

  Fares start from €35 in 2nd class (standard) or €72 in 1st class (comfort).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

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

  Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi.  Always allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris, but the longer the better.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Toulouse by TGV, leaving Paris Montparnasse at 15:07 arriving Toulouse Matabiau 19:41.

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

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

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).   You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Have dinner in Toulouse.

• Step 3, travel from Toulouse Matabiau to Andorra la Vella by bus, leaving Toulouse Matabiau at 21:45 arriving Andorra 01:45.

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

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

  The fare is €36.

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

Paris to Toulouse by TGV Duplex:  This is a TGV Duplex at Paris Gare Montparnasse. Click the images below for larger photos.

TGV Océane cafe-bar (above left) and 2nd class seats (above right).

TGV Océane 1st class seats.  All 1st class seats (except the end ones) rotate to face direction of travel.  There are USB & 2-pin outlets above each drop-down table.

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

Option 2, Amsterdam to Andorra using the Paris-Toulouse sleeper

• Day 1, travel from Amsterdam to Paris by Eurostar (formerly Thalys), leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 16:10, arriving Paris Gare du Nord 19:35.

  Daily except Saturdays you can also leave Amsterdam Centraal at 17:10, arriving Paris Gare du Nord 20:35

  Eurostars run at up to 300 km/h with 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).

  Fares start at €35 in 2nd class (standard) or €72 in 1st class (comfort).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).  You print your own ticket or can choose a mobile ticket.

  Cross Paris by metro or taxi from the Gare du Nord to the Gare d'Austerlitz.

  Allow at least 90 minutes between trains in Paris when catching a sleeper.  Why not book an earlier Eurostar and have dinner at the Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon before strolling across the bridge over the Seine to the Gare d'Austerlitz?  Or try the floating restaurant Off Paris Seine next to the Gare d'Austerlitz.

• Day 1, travel from Paris to Toulouse by Intercité de Nuit, leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 22:13 arriving Toulouse Matabiau 07:44.

  This train has 1st class 4-berth couchettes, 2nd class 6-berth couchettes & 2nd class seats.  More about Intercité de Nuit.

  Fares start at €29 in a 2nd class couchette or €59 in a 1st class couchette.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead, but this train has an annoying habit of opening late for booking, less than the expected 4 months ahead, so don't be impatient.  You print your own ticket or can choose a mobile ticket.

  Tip:  On arrival in Toulouse, I recommend the breakfast buffet at the nearby Pullman Hotel!

• Day 2, travel from Toulouse to Andorra by bus, leaving Toulouse Matabiau at 09:45, arriving Andorra la Vella bus station at 14:00.

  The bus is run by Andbus, check times at Andbus.net.  I'd allow at least an hour between train & bus in Toulouse in case of delay.

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

  The fare is €36 one-way.  Book the bus at Andbus.net.

• A better route, Fri/Sat/Sun, daily June-September:

  On Friday, Saturday & Sunday nights and every day from June to September, the same 22:13 Intercité de Nuit from Paris conveys 1st & 2nd class couchettes & reclining seats direct to Andorre-l'Hospitalet, the nearest station to Andorra, arriving 09:43.

  Book this Paris to Andorre-l'Hospitalet sleeper at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no fee).

  A bus run by Hife (www.hife.es) leaves l'Hospitalet station at 10:15, arriving Andorra La Vella bus station 11:30.

  The bus fare is €24, pre-book the bus at www.hife.es.

  Alternatively, a taxi from l'Hospitalet costs around €80 for up to 4 passengers, taking 47 minutes for the 38 km drive.  Pre-book a taxi to meet the train, call Altitud Taxis, 00 376 856255 or 00 33 561644714.  This is a nicer and faster option than the bus from Toulouse, when running.

Paris to Toulouse or l'Hospitalet by Intercité de Nuit.  More about Intercités de Nuit.

2nd class 6-berth couchettes.		A cosy 2nd class couchette.

1st class couchette, made up for the night.		1st class 4-berth couchettes.

If you choose to go via l'Hospitalet, you stay on the sleeper train as it climbs into the Pyrenees south of Toulouse.  This is Foix, between Toulouse & l'Hospitalet.  The castle is on the right just south of the station.

Beyond Foix, the sleeper train climbs higher into the mountains.

...and arrives at Andorre-l'Hospitalet station, pictured above right.

Road transport to Andorra.  This is a Toulouse to Andorra bus at Toulouse bus stand 15.		The bus station in Toulouse Matabiau forecourt.  Photo courtesy of Andrew McIntyre.

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Amsterdam to Cologne, Frankfurt & anywhere in Germany from €18.99

• Regular high-speed ICE trains link Amsterdam Centraal with Düsseldorf in 2h12, Cologne Hbf in 2h38 and Frankfurt (Main) Hbf in 3h53, with connections to anywhere in Germany.

  These superb German ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about ICEs.

• Fares start at €18.99 to Cologne, from €27.99 to Frankfurt or €37.99 to anywhere else in Germany in 2nd class.

  1st class fares start at €49.99 to Cologne, €59.99 to Frankfurt or €69.99 to anywhere else in Germany.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket (on A4 paper, US Letter size is fine) or can show it on your phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can always log in and check or re-print all your bookings.

  You can also book at the Dutch Railways international site www.nsinternational.nl.

• Tip:  Amsterdam-Frankfurt ICE trains cross the Rhine before entering Cologne Hbf, with the impressive towers of Cologne cathedral visible on the left right next to the station.  The train then leaves the same way it came in, re-crossing the Rhine before turning southwards.  Don't be surprised when your train changes direction at Cologne, and crosses the same Rhine bridge twice!

An ICE3neo at Amsterdam Centraal, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about ICE trains.

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

2nd class seats on an ICE3neo.  Larger photo.		Lunch and a beer!

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Amsterdam to Berlin from €37.99

Option 1, Amsterdam to Berlin by Intercity train - the daytime option

• Every two hours, a comfortable InterCity train leaves Amsterdam Centraal for Osnabrück (2h51), Hanover (4h01) & Berlin Hbf (5h51).

  Trains are the best option on this route, centre to centre with no airport hassle.  There's plenty of space for luggage and a refreshment trolley.

  See the timetable & more about the journey on the Amsterdam to Berlin page.

• Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  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.  You print your own ticket (on A4 paper, or US Letter size is fine) or can show it on your phone.

Amsterdam to Berlin by Intercity train.  More about these Intercity trains.

Option 2, Amsterdam to Berlin by European Sleeper - the overnight option, 3 times a week

• A sleeper train links Amsterdam & Berlin on Monday, Wednesday & Friday nights, see the European Sleeper page.

The European Sleeper.  This is a 5-berth couchette car, beyond is a stainless-steel sleeping-car. Click the interior photos for larger images.

Private sleeper, can be set up as 1, 2 or 3 bed.		5-berth couchette compartment.

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Amsterdam to Hamburg from €32.99

• You can travel from Amsterdam Centraal to Hamburg Hbf by train in as little as 5h15:

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 06:00, change at Osnabrück, arrive Hamburg Hbf 11:14.

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 08:00, change at Osnabrück, arrive Hamburg Hbf 13:14.

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 10:00, change at Osnabrück, arrive Hamburg Hbf 15:14.

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 12:00, change at Osnabrück, arrive Hamburg Hbf 17:14.

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 14:00, change at Osnabrück, arrive Hamburg Hbf 19:14.

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 16:00, change at Osnabrück, arrive Hamburg Hbf 21:14.

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 18:00, change at Osnabrück, arrive Hamburg Hbf 23:16.

  Amsterdam to Osnabrück is by Intercity train (end destination Berlin) with power sockets at all seats & a refreshment trolley.  Osnabrück to Hamburg is by ICE4 with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Fares start at €32.99 in 2nd class or €43.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, rather than booking as a guest, so you can always log in and check or re-print all your bookings.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  You can also book at the Dutch Railways international site www.nsinternational.nl.

Step 1, Amsterdam to Osnabrück by Intercity train, seen here at Amsterdam Centraal.  Power sockets at all seats and a refreshment trolley.  More about these Intercity trains.

1st class compartment.		2nd class.

Step 2, Osnabruck to Hamburg by ICE4.  These come with a waiter-service restaurant car, cafe counter, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about ICEs.

1st class on an ICE4.		Restaurant car on an ICE4.  Sample menu.

Bar counter at the other end of the kitchen.		2nd class seats on an ICE4.

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Amsterdam to Munich from €37.99

Option 1, Amsterdam to Munich by sleeper train - the time-effective overnight option

• A Nightjet leaves Amsterdam Centraal at 19:00 every day, arriving Munich Hbf 07:06.

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

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

• Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Dutch Railways international website www.nsinternational.nl (in €).

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.  Child under 6?  See here.

The Nightjet sleeper train boarding at Amsterdam Centraal.  More about Nightjet trains.

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

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

Option 2, Amsterdam to Munich by daytime trains

• A direct ICE3neo train leaves Amsterdam Centraal at 08:32 every day, arriving Munich Hbf 15:26.

  This new direct service started on 15 December 2024.  The ICE3neo has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Or there are other departures with a change of train:

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 06:38, change at Düsseldorf, arriving Munich Hbf 14:06

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 10:38, change at Düsseldorf, arriving Munich Hbf 18:07

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 12:38, change at Düsseldorf, arriving Munich Hbf 20:06

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 14:38, change at Düsseldorf, arriving Munich Hbf 22:10

  All of these trains are superb German ICE trains with a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  More about ICEs.  Times vary, check for your date at int.bahn.de.

• Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

  You can also book at the Dutch Railways international site www.nsinternational.nl.

• Tip:  Take the Rhine Valley scenic route!

  By default, the journey planner at int.bahn.de will send you the fastest way, either via Hannover or via the Cologne-Frankfurt high-speed line.  If you don't mind taking an extra hour you can use the classic curvaceous Rhine Valley route between Cologne and Frankfurt, past vineyards, mountains, castles, river boats and the legendary Lorelei Rock.  See the Rails Down the Rhine page.

  To get this option using int.bahn.de, simply click Stopovers and enter Koblenz Hbf leaving length of stay zero.  You'll now see options via Bonn & Koblenz in the search results, which means the Rhine Valley route.  Make sure you find seats on the left hand side of the train going south, as that's where the Rhine will be.

An ICE3neo at Amsterdam Centraal, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about ICE trains.

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

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

Option 3, Amsterdam to Munich with overnight stop in Cologne

• Day 1, travel from Amsterdam to Cologne by ICE, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 18:38 arriving Cologne Hbf 21:18.

  By all means book an earlier train for a pleasant evening in Cologne.

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

• Stay overnight in Cologne.  The good & inexpensive Ibis Hotel Köln-am-Dom is ideal as it's part of Cologne Hbf, the entrance is left of the station entrance, many rooms have a cathedral view.  Also near the station with good reviews are the Breslauer Hof Am Dom, Hotel Domspitzen, CityClass Hotel Europa am Dom, Hilton Cologne, Excelsior Hotel Ernst am Dom.

• Day 2, travel from Cologne to Munich on any morning train you like.

  For example, the 07:55 from Cologne Hbf arrives Munich Hbf 12:26.

  Or have a leisurely breakfast at your hotel and book a later train, they leave at least every hour.

• Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  To get the overnight stop, click Stopovers and enter Cologne Hbf with a suitable length of stay, say 11 hours.

  Why not allow time for a wander round Cologne, visiting the cathedral right next to the station?  You can add a stopover of up to 48h duration.  Adjust the departure time and length of stay to get earlier or later trains for each part of the journey with a longer or shorter overnight stop in Cologne.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in and check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.  You print your own ticket (A4 paper or U.S. Letter size is fine) or can show it on your phone.

• Tip:  Take the scenic route!

  If you have an extra hour, take the scenic route along the Rhine Valley from Cologne southwards, rather than the faster high-speed line.  Simply click Stopovers again and enter Koblenz Hbf leaving length of stay as 00:00.  You will now be routed via the twisting Rhine Valley line past castles, vineyards, river boats, and the legendary Lorelei Rock.  Indeed, you could make Koblenz the stopover instead of Cologne if you like, booking Amsterdam to Munich with Koblenz as the only and length of stay set to (say) 10 hours.  Sit on the left hand side going south as that's the side the river will be.  See the Rails Down the Rhine page.

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Amsterdam to Vienna from €49.99

Option 1, Amsterdam to Linz & Vienna by sleeper train - the most time-effective option

• A Nightjet leaves Amsterdam Centraal at 19:00 every day, arriving Linz 07:44 & Vienna Hbf 09:17.

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

  From April 2025 this train is due to become a new generation Nightjet, with new rolling stock including individual mini cabins.

  Tip:  You can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations and search for NJ 421.

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

• Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Dutch Railways international website www.nsinternational.nl (in €).  Child under 6?  See here.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You can also book at the Austrian Railways website, www.oebb.at (in €).  You print your own ticket.

The Nightjet sleeper train boarding at Amsterdam Centraal.  More about Nightjets.

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

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

Option 2, Amsterdam to Vienna in a day

• You can travel from Amsterdam to Vienna in a single chill-out day on superb ICE trains with one easy change of train.  For example,

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 06:38, change Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Vienna Hbf 18:47.

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 08:30, change Frankfurt Flughafen, arriving Vienna Hbf 20:47.

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 10:38, change Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Vienna Hbf 23:05.

  Take a good book and enjoy the ride, ICE trains have power sockets at all seats, free WiFi and a restaurant car serving tea, coffee, wine, beer, snacks & hot dishes - in 1st class orders for food & drink are taken and served at your seat.  I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier!

• Fares start at €49.99 in 2nd class or €79.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

  Tip:  If you want the 08:30 departure, change Transfer time from normal to 30 minutes.  That stops the journey planner finding a Westbahn (WB) train as the fastest connection to Vienna, which it can't ticket.

  Tip:  You can programme in a few hours stop in Cologne or Nuremberg if you like.  Book from Amsterdam to Vienna, but click Stopover, enter Cologne Hbf or Nuremberg Hbf, enter desired number of hours stopover (say 3) and off you go.

  You can also book at the Dutch Railways international site www.nsinternational.nl.

An ICE-T from Frankfurt to Vienna, at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf.  More about ICE-T trains.

Table for two in 1st class, my favourite configuration.  There are also tables for four in both classes.		Lunch in the restaurant.  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 Frankfurt-Vienna ICE.

Option 3, Amsterdam to Vienna with overnight stop in Cologne or Nuremberg

• If you'd rather break up the trip with an overnight stop, Cologne or Nuremberg are two good places for an overnight stop.

  Both cities are worth building in a few hours to look around - 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 (take tram 9 from outside Nuremberg Hbf). 

• Go to int.bahn.de and book from Amsterdam to Vienna, but click Stopovers, enter Cologne or Nuremberg, enter desired length of stay (say 10 hours) and off you go.

  You can programme up to 2 stopovers over two days and still get an end-to-end Sparpreis tickets.  Adjust the departure time and length of stay through trial & error until you see the trains that suit you either side of Cologne or Nuremberg.

  Booking this way is cheaper than buying two tickets.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in and check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

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Amsterdam to Salzburg, Innsbruck & Austria from €37.99

Option 1, Amsterdam to Austria by Nightjet sleeper train - the time-effective option

• A Nightjet sleeper train leaves Amsterdam Centraal at 19:00 every evening arriving Innsbruck Hbf 09:14, with another portion en route to Vienna arriving in Wels at 07:14. Change in Wels for a railjet train to Salzburg Hbf, arriving 08:49.

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

  Tip:  You can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations and search for NJ 421.

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

• Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Dutch Railways international website www.nsinternational.nl (in €, no fee).

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You can also book at the Austrian Railways website, www.oebb.at (in €).  You print your own ticket.

Above, a Comfortline sleeping-car on a Nightjet train at Innsbruck.  More about Nightjet trains.

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

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

Option 2, Amsterdam to Salzburg or Innsbruck by daytime trains

• You can travel from Amsterdam to Salzburg in a day with several departures to choose from, for example:

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 06:38, change Düsseldorf & Munich Hbf, arriving Salzburg Hbf 15:59.

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 08:30, change at Munich Hbf, arriving Salzburg Hbf 17:42.

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 10:38, change Düsseldorf & Munich Hbf, arriving Salzburg Hbf 20:26.

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 12:38, change Düsseldorf & Munich Hbf, arriving Salzburg Hbf 22:02.

  Most of these journeys are on superb German ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• You can travel from Amsterdam to Innsbruck in a day with several departures to choose from, for example:

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 06:38, change Düsseldorf & Munich Hbf, arriving Innsbruck Hbf 17:18.

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 08:30, change at Munich Hbf, arriving Innsbruck Hbf 19:18.

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 10:38, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Innsbruck Hbf 21:18.

  Most of these journeys are on superb German ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  You can book from Amsterdam or anywhere in the Netherlands to Salzburg, Innsbruck or anywhere in Austria.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in and check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Tip:  int.bahn.de won't suggest impossible connections, with a through ticket you can take later onward trains if there's a delay and missed connection.  However, it will suggest 10-minute connections with a high likelihood of being missed due to delay, so feel free to change Transfer time from normal to 30 minutes if you'd prefer a more robust journey.

Option 3, Amsterdam to Salzburg with overnight stop in Cologne.  Comfortable & time-effective

• Day 1, travel from Amsterdam to Cologne by ICE, for example leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 18:38 arriving Cologne Hbf 21:18.

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

• Stay overnight in Cologne.  The good & inexpensive Ibis Hotel Köln-am-Dom is ideal as it's part of Cologne Hbf itself, the entrance is left of the station entrance, many rooms have a cathedral view.  Also near the station with good reviews are the Breslauer Hof Am Dom, Hotel Domspitzen, CityClass Hotel Europa am Dom, Hilton Cologne, Excelsior Hotel Ernst am Dom.

• Day 2, travel from Cologne to Salzburg on any train you like, check times at int.bahn.de.

  A direct ICE4 train leaves Cologne Messe/Deutz at 08:29, arriving Salzburg Hbf 15:59, or there are other departures with a change of train.

• Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.

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

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

  To get the overnight stop, click Stopovers and enter Cologne Hbf with a suitable length of stay, say 11 hours.

  Why not allow time for a wander round Cologne, visiting the cathedral right next to the station?  Adjust the departure time and length of stay to get earlier or later trains for each part of the journey with a longer or shorter overnight stop in Cologne.

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

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Amsterdam to Copenhagen from €49.99

Option 1, Amsterdam to Legoland, Odense or Copenhagen in a single day

• You can travel from Amsterdam to Copenhagen in a single chill-out day, with three possible departures.

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 06:00, change at Osnabrück & Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 17:38.

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 08:00, change at Osnabrück & Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 19:38.

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 10:00, change at Osnabrück & Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 21:38.

  Take a good book, sit back and enjoy the ride.  You travel from Amsterdam to Osnabrück by comfortable Intercity train, then Osnabrück to Hamburg by ICE4 with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train.

  The Hamburg to Copenhagen EuroCity trains also call at Kolding (for Legoland) & Odense.

• How much does it cost?

  Fares start at €49.99 in 2nd class or €79.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets

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

  Tip:  I recommend changing Transfer time from normal to 30 minutes.

  You can book from Amsterdam or any station in the Netherlands to Copenhagen or any station in Denmark.

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

• If you're going to Malmö

  Catch the next Öresund train from Copenhagen to Malmö Central, these run every 15 minutes taking 40 minutes, crossing the water to Sweden on the impressive Öresund fixed link.  Simply use int.bahn.de to book from Amsterdam to Malmö, you'll get a through ticket.

Option 2, Amsterdam to Copenhagen with an overnight stop in Hamburg

• Day 1, travel from Amsterdam to Hamburg, with a choice of departures, for example:

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 12:00, easy change at Osnabrück, arrive Hamburg Hbf 17:14.

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 14:00, easy change at Osnabrück, arrive Hamburg Hbf 19:14.

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 16:00, easy change at Osnabrück, arrive Hamburg Hbf 21:14.

  You travel from Amsterdam to Osnabrück by comfortable Intercity train, then Osnabrück to Hamburg by ICE4 with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Stay overnight in Hamburg.  The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews.  Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski.  If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.

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

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

• How much does it cost?

  Fares start at €49.99 in 2nd class or €79.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets

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

  To get the overnight stop, click Stopovers, enter Hamburg Hbf with a length of stay of (say) 10 hours.  Adjust departure time and length of stay to get the trains you want.  A little trial and error may be needed!

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

• If you're going to Malmö, travel from Copenhagen to Malmö by Öresund train, these run every 20-30 minutes to Malmö, journey time 40 minutes.  Book from Hamburg to Malmö as one transaction at int.bahn.de.

Step 1, Amsterdam to Osnabruck by Intercity train, seen here at Amsterdam Centraal.  Power sockets at all seats and a refreshment trolley.  More about these Intercity trains.

1st class compartment.		2nd class.

Step 2, Osnabruck to Hamburg by ICE4.  These come with a waiter-service restaurant car, cafe counter, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about ICEs.

1st class on an ICE4.		Restaurant car on an ICE4.  Sample menu.

Bar counter at the other end of the kitchen.		2nd class seats on an ICE4.

Step 3, Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train.  From June 2023, these trains are temporarily being operated by former German Railways intercity cars and a Danish electric locomotive, until new trains being built by Talgo arrive in 2024.  The current trains have 1st & 2nd class, power sockets at seats, but no catering so bring your own food & drink.  More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.

2nd class seats are almost all open-plan like this.  There are a handful of 6-seat 2nd class compartments in one of the coaches, but only a few.

The 1st class car has 6-seater compartments like this. Larger photo.  Larger photo.

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Amsterdam to Stockholm & Sweden

Option 1, Amsterdam to Stockholm using the new Hamburg-Stockholm sleeper train - the time-effective option

• Step 1, travel from Amsterdam to Hamburg, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 14:00, change at Osnabrück, arriving Hamburg Hbf 19:14.

  You travel from Amsterdam to Osnabrück by comfortable Intercity train, then Osnabrück to Hamburg by ICE4 with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  A later departure at 16:00 is possible but with no wiggle room if there's a delay, so I'd stick with the 14:00.

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

  Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €59.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Hamburg to Stockholm by sleeper, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 22:03, arriving Stockholm Central 09:55.

  Run by SJ (Swedish Railways), this EuroNight sleeper train has one or two sleeping-cars with compact 1 & 2 berth compartments with washbasin, several 1, 2 or 3 bed deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower, couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  A bistro car is attached between Malmö and Stockholm.  More about the Hamburg-Stockholm sleeper train.

  Fares start at €44.90 with a couchette in 6-berth, €69.90 with a couchette in 4-berth, €79.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €164.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.  All prices per person per bed, fares vary like air fares so book ahead.

  Book tickets at SJ's website www.sj.se.

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

The inaugural Hamburg to Stockholm SJ EuroNight train in Hamburg on 1 September 2022. The author rode this first departure.  More about this train.		6-berth couchettes. Larger photo.

2-bed sleeper.		The inaugural train from Hamburg to Stockholm calls at Padborg.

Typical Swedish scenery on the morning run into Stockholm.

Option 2, Amsterdam to Stockholm with an overnight stop in Hamburg

• Day 1, travel from Amsterdam to Hamburg, with a choice of departures, for example:

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 12:00, change at Osnabrück, arrive Hamburg Hbf 17:14.

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 14:00, change at Osnabrück, arrive Hamburg Hbf 19:14.

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 16:00, change at Osnabrück, arrive Hamburg Hbf 21:14.

  You travel from Amsterdam to Osnabrück by comfortable Intercity train, then Osnabrück to Hamburg by ICE4 with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Stay overnight in Hamburg.  The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews.  Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski.  If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.

Option 3, Amsterdam to Stockholm with an overnight stop in Copenhagen

• Day 1, travel from Amsterdam Centraal to Copenhagen in a single chill-out day, with a choice of departure:

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 06:00, change Osnabrück & Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 17:38.

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 08:00, change Osnabrück & Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 19:38.

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 10:00, change Osnabrück & Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 21:38.

  Take a good book, sit back and enjoy the ride.  See more about the Hamburg to Copenhagen journey.

  If you're going to Malmö, hop on the next Öresund train to Malmö Central, these run every 15 minutes, taking 40 minutes.

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

Step 1, Amsterdam to Osnabrück by Intercity train, seen at Amsterdam Centraal.  More about these Intercity trains.

1st class compartment.		2nd class.

Step 2, Osnabrück to Hamburg by ICE4, with restaurant car, cafe counter, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about ICEs.

1st class on an ICE4.		Restaurant car on an ICE4.  Sample menu.

Bar counter at the other end of the kitchen.		2nd class seats on an ICE4.

Step 3, Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train.  From June 2023, these trains are temporarily being operated by former German Railways intercity cars and a Danish electric locomotive, until new trains being built by Talgo arrive in 2024.  The current trains have 1st & 2nd class, power sockets at seats, but no catering so bring your own food & drink.  More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.

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

Step 4, Copenhagen to Stockholm by tilting 200km/h X2000, seen at Stockholm Central.  More about X2000 trains.

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

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

Crossing the impressive Öresund bridge from Denmark to Sweden.

Option 4, Amsterdam to Gothenburg using Stena Line's Kiel-Gothenburg overnight ferry

• Step 1, travel from Amsterdam to Kiel by train, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 08:00, change at Hannover, arriving Kiel Hbf 15:17.

  You travel from Amsterdam to Hannover by comfortable Intercity train, then from Hannover to Kiel by ICE with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Times may vary, but look for the 1-change option.

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

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

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

  Tip:  Book the ferry first and confirm ferry times before booking the train, making sure you arrive in Kiel at least 2 hours before the ferry sails. 

  In Kiel, the ferry terminal is 750m from the station, a 9-minute walk, see walking map.

• Step 2, sail overnight from Kiel to Gothenburg by Stena Line ferry.

  The ferry normally sails at 18:45 and arrives around 09:15, but times may vary so check online.

  The ferry is a floating hotel with restaurants & bars, all passengers travel in a cosy private cabin with en suite toilet & shower.  You can add dinner & breakfast to your ticket when you book.

  Fares vary, you might pay €39 per passenger as basic fare plus €75-€89 per cabin for a private 1 or 2 bed room.

  Book the ferry at www.stenaline.com and print your ticket or show it on your phone.

  In Gothenburg, the ferry terminal is a short taxi ride (or 4.3 km 53-minute walk) from Göteborg Central station, see walking map.

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Amsterdam to Oslo & Norway

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

• Day 1, travel from Amsterdam to Hamburg leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 18:00, change at Osnabrück, arriving Hamburg Hbf 23:16.

  By all means take the earlier 16:00 or 14:00 departure from Amsterdam for more of an evening in Hamburg. 

  You travel from Amsterdam to Osnabrück by comfortable Intercity train, then from Osnabrück to Hamburg by ICE4 with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Fares start at €32.99 in 2nd class or €43.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

• Stay overnight in Hamburg.  The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews.  Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski.  If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.

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

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

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

  Have an early dinner in Gothenburg.

  Fares from Hamburg to Gothenburg start at €56.99 in 2nd class or €79.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Option 2, Amsterdam to Oslo via Hamburg & Copenhagen - by train all the way

• Day 1, travel from Amsterdam to Copenhagen by train in a day as shown above.

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

• Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Oslo by train, leaving Copenhagen at 07:30, change at Gothenburg Central, arriving Oslo Sentral 15:47.

  Earlier & later departures are available, see the Copenhagen-Oslo timetable & how to buy tickets.

Gothenburg to Oslo by Norwegian train.  Above, scenery between Gothenburg & Oslo. Courtesy of @Simply_Railway.

Above right, the Norwegian train arrived at Oslo Sentral.  Photos courtesy of @AndyBTravels & @Marcos Castro.

Option 3, Amsterdam to Oslo using the Copenhagen-Oslo overnight ferry

• Day 1, travel from Amsterdam to Copenhagen by train in a day as shown above.

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

• Day 2, spend the day in Copenhagen, then sail overnight from Copenhagen to Oslo in a cosy private cabin with shower & toilet.

  The ferry sails at 16:30 (15:00 some days), arriving Oslo at 10:00 on day 3, as shown here.

  This is remarkably affordable, and saves a hotel bill.  Book the ferry at www.dfds.com.

Option 4, Amsterdam to Oslo via the Kiel-Oslo cruise ferry - the most luxurious way to Oslo

• Step 1, travel from Amsterdam to Kiel, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 14:00, change at Hannover, arriving Kiel Hbf at 21:41.

  By all means book the earlier 12:00 departure instead for more of an evening in Kiel.

  You travel from Amsterdam to Hannover by comfortable Intercity train, then Hannover to Kiel by ICE with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

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

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

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

• Stay overnight in Kiel.  The InterCity Hotel Kiel gets good reviews, is relatively inexpensive and is right next to the station and a few minutes walk from the ferry.  The B&B Hotel Kiel City is also next to the station with good reviews, and is even cheaper.  For something upmarket, the Atlantic Hotel Kiel gets great reviews and is in Bahnhofsplatz in front of the station.

  In Kiel it's a 7 minute 450m walk from Kiel Hbf to the Color Line ferry terminal, see walking map.

• Step 2, sail from Kiel to Oslo by Color Line ferry, leaving Kiel at 14:00 and arriving Oslo at 10:00 next morning.

  The m/v Magic & m/v Fantasy are floating hotels with a wide range of en suite cabins, suites, restaurants, bars & lounges.

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

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

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

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

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

Restaurant and lounge on the Kiel-Oslo ferry.

Wake up to lovely scenery sailing up Oslo Fjord.

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

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Amsterdam to Helsinki & Finland

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

• Day 1, travel from Amsterdam to Hamburg, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 12:00, change Osnabrück, arriving Hamburg Hbf 17:14.

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

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

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

  Tip:  You should book from Amsterdam to Skandinavienkai Terminal, Lübeck as one transaction as this gets you a through ticket to the ferry terminal covering the train from Amsterdam to Hamburg, the regional train to Lübeck and the bus to the Skandinavienkai Terminal.  If you'd like time for dinner in Lübeck, click Stopovers and enter Lübeck Hbf with a length of stay of (say) 2 hours.

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg Hbf to Lübeck by regional train, you've time for dinner in Lübeck's old town, see suggested restaurant here.  Then take a bus to the Skandinavienkai ferry terminal in Travemünde.

  Sail from Travemünde to Helsinki by Finnlines ferry.  Finnlines sail from Travemünde to Helsinki every day, boarding at 23:30, sailing at 02:45 (the exact time varies) and arriving at Helsinki's Hansa Terminal in Vuosaari at 09:15 2 nights later (Day 3 from Amsterdam).

  For full details of the transfer, check-in arrangements & ferry crossing, see here.

  Book the ferry using the Direct Ferries website or at www.finnlines.com.

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

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

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

Option 2, Amsterdam to Helsinki by train to Stockholm & ferry to Helsinki

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Amsterdam to Prague from €46.99

Option 1, Amsterdam to Prague by European Sleeper - direct & time-effective, 3 times a week

• The European Sleeper leaves Amsterdam Centraal at 22:34 on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, arriving Prague Hlavni 11:24.

  The sleeper train has a comfortable sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed rooms with washbasin, economical couchette cars with 5 & 6 berth compartments and ordinary seats.  A light breakfast is included in the sleepers.  More about the European Sleeper.

  Enjoy a lovely scenic run along the Elbe river valley over breakfast between Dresden & Prague, see the scenery photos here.

  This train was extended to Prague in March 2024, restoring a welcome direct train from Amsterdam to Prague for the first time in 10 years.  Well done European Sleeper!

• Fares start at €49 in a seat, €79 with a couchette in 6-berth, €99 with a couchette in 5-berth, €109 with a bed in 3-bed sleeper, €129 with a bed in 2-bed sleeper, €159 with a bed in single-bed sleeper.  All per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Buy tickets at www.europeansleeper.eu.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead although this varies.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.  Easy!

The European Sleeper.  This is a 5-berth couchette car, beyond is a stainless-steel sleeping-car. Click the interior photos for larger images.

1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper, set up as a single.		5-berth couchette compartment, day mode.

5-berth couchettes, night mode.		Breakfast can be added when you book.

On the glorious morning of 26 March 2024, the very first European Sleeper to Prague runs along the Elbe river valley between Dresden & Prague.

Option 2, Amsterdam to Prague by train in a single day - why not spend a few hours in Berlin?

• You can travel from Amsterdam to Prague in a single chill-out day with a good book and a bistro or restaurant car for your meals and the odd beer or glass of red.  Why not stop off for a few hours in Berlin?  For example,

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 06:00, change at Berlin Hbf, arriving Prague Hlavni 17:23.

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 08:00, change at Berlin Hbf, arriving Prague Hlavni 19:23.

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 10:00, change at Berlin Hbf, arriving Prague Hlavni 21:23.

  You travel from Amsterdam to Berlin by InterCity train, power sockets at all seats, refreshments available.  What's the journey like?

  You then travel from Berlin Hbf to Prague Hlavni by EuroCity train with restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's a lovely scenic run down the Elbe river valley south of Dresden, sit on the left-hand side of the train for the best views.  What's the Berlin to Prague journey like?  Suggested hotels in Prague.

• Fares start at €46.99 in 2nd class or €59.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

  It's also worth checking Amsterdam-Prague prices at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz as they sometimes have cheaper prices than the Germans for exactly the same trains, although booking only opens 90 days ahead on cd.cz.  See tips for using cd.cz.

• Why not build in some time in Berlin? 

  This breaks up the trip, there are left luggage lockers available and a stroll past the Reichstag building to the Brandenburg Gate takes just 17 minutes from the station, so even a couple of hours stopover is a worthwhile experience.  To book a ticket with a stopover, simply use int.bahn.de, click Stopovers, enter Berlin Hbf and a desired length of stay.  With the cheap advance tickets, you can programme in up to 2 stopovers within the tickets 2-day validity.  You can't add a stopover if you use cd.cz, unless you buy each leg of the trip separately.

Step 1, Amsterdam to Berlin by Intercity train.  More about these Intercity trains.

1st class compartment.		2nd class.

Step 2, Berlin to Prague by EuroCity train, seen here boarding in Berlin.

1st class seats.		2nd class seats in a compartment car.

So civilised!  A meal in the Czech restaurant car as the Berlin-Prague express snakes along the beautiful Elbe river south of Dresden.  Most Berlin-Prague trains use Czech carriages like this, a few use Hungarian air-conditioned carriages.  See more photos, tips & info for the Berlin to Prague train ride.  Photo courtesy of Philip Dyer-Perry.

Option 3, Amsterdam to Prague with an overnight stop in Berlin - breaks up the journey nicely, with a chance to see Berlin.

• Day 1, travel from Amsterdam to Berlin by Intercity train, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 16:00, arriving Berlin Hbf 21:51.

  By all means leave Amsterdam on the earlier 14:00 or 12:00 departures for more of an evening in Berlin, and perhaps an evening stroll past the Reichstag building to the Brandenburg Gate, 17 minutes walk from Berlin Hbf.

  See the Amsterdam to Berlin by InterCity train page for tips and photos of what to see on the way.

• Stay overnight in Berlin.  Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station.  If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com.  Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.

• Day 2, travel from Berlin to Prague EuroCity train on any departure you like, see the timetable here.

  For example, the 07:16 from Berlin Hbf will get you to Prague Hlavni at 11:23,  with breakfast in the restaurant car as you glide along the scenic Elbe river valley.  Or have a breakfast at your hotel and take a later train, they leave every two hours.

  Find a seat on the left-hand side of the train for the best views along the scenic Elbe river valley south of Dresden.  What's the Berlin to Prague journey like?  Suggested hotels in Prague.

• Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €79.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  To get the overnight stop, click Stopovers and enter Berlin Hbf with a suitable length of stay, say 12 hours.  Adjust the departure time and length of stay to get the trains you want either side of Berlin.  A little trial and error may be needed!

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

• If you've time for an afternoon or morning in Berlin, do it - it's a fascinating city.  Don't forget to visit Checkpoint Charlie museum and climb the tower at Berlin Alexanderplatz!

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Amsterdam to Český Krumlov & other Czech destinations

• Book from Amsterdam (or most other stations in the Netherlands) to most stations in the Czech Republic using the German Railways website int.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.

  Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €56.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in and check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Tip:  It's an all-day ride from the Netherlands to the Czech Republic, so select an early morning departure time to do it all in one day.

  Tip:  You might prefer breaking up a long journey with an overnight stop, perhaps Nuremberg, if your route goes that way.  To get an overnight stop, click Stopovers and enter Nuremberg, with a suitable length of stay, say 11 hours.

• For Český Krumlov (a lovely town that's the second most-visited place in the Czech Republic, see the Český Krumlov page) you need to book to České Budějovice, not Český Krumlov, because the branch line between České Budějovice and Český Krumlov is run by private operator GWTR and German Railways can't ticket that part.

  Simply book from Amsterdam to České Budějovice at int.bahn.de from €39.99, then buy the local ticket from České Budějovice to Český Krumlov either at the station in České Budějovice from the distinctive green and orange ticket kiosk in the main hall, or on board the train using the self-service ticket machines, contactless cards accepted.  You can check train times from České Budějovice to Český Krumlov at www.gwtr.cz.

• For Karlovy Vary or Plzen, book at int.bahn.de, looking for 3-change options via Frankfurt, Nuremberg & Cheb from €37.99.

• For Brno, book Amsterdam to Brno at int.bahn.de.  It tends to route you via Vienna, as this is slightly quicker.  By all means click Stopovers and enter PRAGUE, this can be cheaper.  By adding a suitable length of stay you can build in an overnight stop if you like.

  The most time-effective option from the Netherlands to Brno is to take the Nightjet sleeper train from Amsterdam to Vienna overnight as shown above, allow at least an hour between trains in Vienna, then take a Vienna-Brno train booked at either www.thetrainline.com (sells both Regiojet & ÖBB/CD trains), www.oebb.at (ÖBB/CD trains only) or www.regiojet.com (Regiojet trains only).

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Amsterdam to Bratislava & Slovakia from €46.99

Option 1, Amsterdam to Bratislava using the Amsterdam-Vienna Nightjet sleeper train - the most time-effective option

• Step 1, travel from Amsterdam to Vienna by Nightjet, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 19:00, arriving Vienna Hbf 09:17.

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

  From April 2025 this train is due to become a new generation Nightjet, with new rolling stock including individual mini cabins.

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

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Bratislava by regional express train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 10:14, arriving Bratislava Hlavna 11:10.

  The fare is €11, no reservation necessary, just buy a ticket and hop on, or buy online at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.  More about these Vienna-Bratislava trains.  Important: If travelling before 5 July 2025, see the update here.

• Step 3 if you're going to eastern Slovakia & the Tatra mountains:  Take an express from Bratislava to Poprad Tatry & Kosice.  In this case, you'd pre-book a ticket from Vienna to Poprad Tatry & Kosice from €29 at either www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.  You'll find a regional train leaving Vienna at 10:14, change at Bratislava Hlavna arriving Poprad Tatry late afternoon & Kosice  early evening.

Step 1, Amsterdam to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train, seen here at Amsterdam Centraal.  More about Nightjets.

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

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

Step 2, Vienna to Bratislava by hourly Regional Express train, seen at Vienna Hbf.  Behind the locomotive is a smart Slovakian air-conditioned intercity coach, the rest of the train consists of more basic non-air-con Austrian City Shuttle carriages, with interiors as shown in the photo above right.  Find a seat in the more Slovakian car if you can!  More about these trains.

Option 2, Amsterdam to Bratislava in a single day from €46.99

• You can travel from Amsterdam to Bratislava by train in a day, with a choice of two departures:

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 06:38, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf & Vienna Hbf, arriving Bratislava Hlavna 20:10.

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 08:30, change at Frankfurt Flughafen & Vienna Hbf, arriving Bratislava Hlavna 22:10.

  You travel from Amsterdam to Frankfurt by ICE3neo with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then Frankfurt to Vienna by superb ICE-T and Vienna to Bratislava by regional express train.  A chill-out day across Europe.

  Important: If travelling before 5 July 2025, see the update here.

• Fares start at €46.99 in 2nd class, €99.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Tip:  In the search results, look for journeys with just 2 changes. 

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

Option 3, Amsterdam to Bratislava using the Berlin-Bratislava sleeper - A comfy & time-effective option

• Step 1, travel from Amsterdam to Berlin by InterCity train, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 12:00, arriving Berlin Hbf 17:51.

  See the Amsterdam to Berlin by InterCity train page for tips and photos of what to see on the way.

  By all means leave Amsterdam on the earlier 10:00 or 08:00 departures to have more time in Berlin, left luggage lockers are available and a stroll past the Reichstag building to the Brandenburg Gate takes just 17 minutes, even a few hours stopover is a worthwhile experience.

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

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

  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in and check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Step 2, travel from Berlin to Bratislava by sleeper train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 19:21, arriving Bratislava Hlavna 06:02.

  The sleeper train Metropol has an air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, an air-conditioned couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and 2nd class seats.  A light breakfast is included in the fare in sleepers. 

  Departure from Berlin is at 19:47 from 10 August to 13 December 2025.

  Fares start at €49 with a couchette in a 6-berth compartment, €59 with a couchette in a 4-berth compartment, €79 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper with washbasin, €99 in a 2-bed sleeper with washbasin or €129 in a single-bed sleeper with washbasin. 

  Book this sleeper at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices, more fiddly).  You print your own ticket.

Step 1, Amsterdam to Berlin by Intercity train.  More about these Intercity trains.

1st class compartment.		2nd class.

Step 2, Berlin to Budapest by sleeper train Metropol, seen here boarding at Berlin Hbf.

1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper, set up as a 2 bed.  Larger photo.		4 or 6-berth couchettes.  Larger photo.

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Amsterdam to Budapest from €56.99

Option 1, Amsterdam to Budapest using the Amsterdam-Vienna Nightjet sleeper train - the time-effective overnight option

• Step 1, travel from Amsterdam to Vienna by Nightjet, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 19:00, arriving Vienna Hbf 09:17.

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

  From April 2025 this train is due to become a new generation Nightjet, with new rolling stock including individual mini cabins.

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

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

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

  Tip:  You can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations and search for NJ 421.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest by EuroCity, leaving Vienna Hbf at 10:42, arriving Budapest Keleti 13:19.

  This comfortable Hungarian EuroCity train has a restaurant car, treat yourself to lunch and a beer or two.

  Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways' own site www.oebb.at (same prices, in €, a bit more fiddly).  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Step 1, Amsterdam to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train.  More about Nightjets.

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

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

Step 2, Vienna to Budapest by EuroCity train.

1st class is usually in 6-seat compartments.  Larger photo.		2nd class, open-plan saloon type, modernised.  Larger photo.

Option 2, Amsterdam to Budapest in a single day from €56.99 - the daytime option

• You can travel from Amsterdam to Budapest by train in a day, with a choice of two departures:

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 06:38, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf & Vienna Hbf, arriving Budapest Keleti 22:19.

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 08:30, change at Frankfurt Flughafen & Vienna Hbf, arriving Budapest Keleti 00:19.

  You travel from Amsterdam to Frankfurt by ICE3neo with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then Frankfurt to Vienna by superb ICE-T, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Vienna to Budapest is by Eurocity train or railjet.  A chill-out day across Europe!

• Fares start at €56.99 in 2nd class or €99.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Book from Amsterdam Centraal to Budapest Keleti with an 06:00 departure time set.  Look for options with 2 changes.

  Tip:  Use the specific station Budapest Keleti as your destination rather than the generic BUDAPEST, this stops the journey planner picking up the privately-run Regiojet trains to Budapest Deli which DB can't sell.

An ICE3neo at Amsterdam Centraal, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about ICE trains.

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

2nd class seats on an ICE3neo.  Larger photo.		An ICE3neo at Cologne Hbf.

Option 3, Amsterdam to Budapest using the Berlin-Budapest sleeper - Another comfy & time-effective option

• Step 1, travel from Amsterdam to Berlin by InterCity train, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 12:00, arriving Berlin Hbf 17:51.

  See the Amsterdam to Berlin by InterCity train page for tips and photos of what to see on the way.

  By all means leave Amsterdam on the earlier 10:00 or 08:00 departures for more time in Berlin, left luggage lockers are available and a stroll past the Reichstag building to the Brandenburg Gate takes just 17 minutes, even a few hours stopover is worthwhile.

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

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, using this will allow you to book all your tickets together in one place, small booking fee) or the German Railways website int.bahn.de (in €, no fee).  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Step 2, travel from Berlin to Budapest by sleeper train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 19:21, arriving Budapest Nyugati 08:29.

  The sleeper train Metropol has an air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, an air-conditioned couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and 2nd class seats.  A light breakfast is included in the fare in sleepers.

  Departure from Berlin is at 19:47 from 10 August to 13 December 2025.

  Fares start at €49 with a couchette in a 6-berth compartment, €59 with a couchette in a 4-berth compartment, €79 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper with washbasin, €99 in a 2-bed sleeper with washbasin or €129 in a single-bed sleeper with washbasin.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

Step 1, Amsterdam to Berlin by Intercity train.  More about these Intercity trains.

1st class compartment.		2nd class.

Step 2, Berlin to Budapest by sleeper train Metropol.  This is the sleeping-car, boarding at Berlin Hbf.

1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper, set up as a 2 bed.  Larger photo.		4 or 6-berth couchettes.  Larger photo.

Option 4, Amsterdam to Budapest using the Stuttgart-Budapest sleeper - another time-effective option with dinner in Stuttgart

• Step 1, travel from Amsterdam to Stuttgart by ICE, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 12:38, change Cologne Hbf, arriving Stuttgart Hbf 18:08.

  ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier!  By all means book the earlier 10:38 departure for more time in Stuttgart.  Exact times may vary, make sure you arrive in Stuttgart at least an hour before the sleeper leaves.

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

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, will allow you to buy all your tickets in one place, small booking fee) or the German Railways int.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or show it on your phone.

  Have dinner in Stuttgart.

• Step 2, travel from Stuttgart to Budapest by sleeper train Kalman Imre leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 20:29, arriving Budapest Keleti 09:19.

  The EuroNight sleeper train Kalman Imre has an air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, an air-conditioned Hungarian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  In sleepers, a light breakfast is included.  More about this sleeper train.

  Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €69.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €88.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

Step 1, Amsterdam to Stuttgart by ICE with one easy change in Frankfurt.  ICEs have a restaurant, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about ICE trains.  Above, an ICE3neo at Amsterdam Centraal.

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

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

Step 2, Stuttgart to Budapest by sleeper train.  More about this sleeper train.

2 bed sleeper, can also be set up as 1 or 3 bed.		4-berth couchettes.		6-berth couchettes.

Option 5, Amsterdam to Budapest with overnight stop in Munich - if you prefer daytime trains & hotel to sleepers

• Day 1, travel from Amsterdam to Munich by ICE on any departure you like, for example:

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 10:38, change at Düsseldorf, arriving Munich Hbf 18:07

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 12:38, change at Düsseldorf, arriving Munich Hbf 20:06

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 14:38, change at Düsseldorf, arriving Munich Hbf 22:10

  You travel on superb German ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Or if you'd like an afternoon in Munich, a direct ICE3neo leaves Amsterdam Centraal at 08:32, arriving Munich Hbf 15:28.

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

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

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

• Stay overnight in Munich.  The affordable Eden Hotel Wolff & NH Collection München are across the road from the station's north side exit with great reviews.  Or consider the more upmarket 25 Hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian, Excelsior by Giesel & Mercure City Center.  For a splurge, the luxurious Sofitel Munich Beyerpost occupies the former Royal Bavarian Post Office building of 1896-1900, at the station's south side exit.

  For dinner, I recommend the Bavarian food & beer at the Augustiner Keller (www.augustinerkeller.de) at Arnulfstrasse 52, see walking map.

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Budapest on any railjet train you like.

  The 07:22 from Munich Hbf will get you to Budapest Keleti at 14:19, but by all means have a leisurely breakfast and take the 09:28 from Munich arriving Budapest 16:19, they leave roughly every two hours.

  These swish Austrian railjet trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Look out for views of Salzburg citadel as you cross the river Salzach approaching Salzburg Hbf.  If you like, you can incorporate a stopover in Salzburg of a few hours or a day or two at no extra charge using the Stopover feature at int.bahn.de.  Left luggage lockers are available.

  Fares start at €39.99 in 2nd class, €69.99 in 1st class or €84.99 in business class (= premium 1st class).

  Book this at int.bahn.de too.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

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Amsterdam to Sighisoara, Brasov & Bucharest from €109

Option 1, Amsterdam to Romania using a sleeper from Budapest

• Step 1, travel from Amsterdam to Budapest using any of the options shown above.

  For example, you can leave Amsterdam Centraal at 19:00 every evening by Nightjet sleeper train to Vienna Hbf and an onward railjet train to Budapest Keleti arriving 13:19 next day.  Buy tickets as shown above.

  Or you can leave Amsterdam Centraal at lunchtime by comfortable daytime trains to Stuttgart, then take the Stuttgart-Budapest sleeper train Kalman Imre arriving 09:19, with a day to explore Budapest.  Buy tickets as shown above. 

  Spend some time in Budapest, left luggage lockers are available.  If you have a 1st class ticket or a ticket for a single or double sleeper you can use the 1st class lounge on platform 9 at Budapest Keleti for an hour or two after arrival and before departure.

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

  This sleeper train Ister has an air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin and a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  There's no restaurant car, so take a picnic and bottle of wine.  There's wonderful almost Alpine scenery through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov and Bucharest, a real treat.  Ister is the ancient name for the Danube.

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

  Book this train at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.

  Click EN top right for English.  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  For Bucharest type Bucuresti.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  You can also book at the Hungarian Railways website www.mav-start.hu, see my advice on using it.  For Bucharest type Bucuresti.  You show your ticket in the MAV app on your phone.

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

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

Option 2, Amsterdam to Romania using a sleeper from Vienna

• Step 1, travel from Amsterdam to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train as shown in the Amsterdam to Vienna section.  Book as shown.

• Spend a day in Vienna, left luggage lockers are available.

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

  The Dacia Express has a modern & comfortable Romanian sleeping-car (1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, plus two deluxe compartments with shower & toilet) and a Romanian couchette car with 4-berth & 6-berth compartments.  There's wonderful almost Alpine scenery through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov and Bucharest, a real treat.

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

  The Dacia Express also conveys a portion from Vienna to Cluj Napoca, also leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:42, arriving Cluj Napoca 10:44. This portion has a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.

  Fares start at €59 with a couchette in a 6-berth compartment, €69 with a couchette in a 4-berth compartment, €79 with a bed in a 3-berth sleeper, €99 with a bed in a 3-berth sleeper or €159 with a bed in a single-berth sleeper all to yourself.  All per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  In the search results, look for the direct train marked D with no changes.  If it says not available you can't book it, but if a Sparschiene fare is shown you can.  You collect tickets from an ÖBB ticket machine in Vienna.

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

  Click EN top right for English.  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  For Vienna type Wien, for Bucharest type Bucuresti.  It can book seats, couchettes or sleepers.  For Austria to Romania journeys you can now print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Tip:  Prices might be cheaper on one website than the other, so 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.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click D, then look for Dacia.

The Dacia Express sleeping-car at Vienna Hbf.  The Dacia has an air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car of their most modern type.  Each compartment can be sold as a single, double or triple.  Most have a washbasin, two compartments have a shower & toilet.  Beds fold away to form a private sitting room for day use.  Sleeper interior courtesy of Jose Carlos Barbosa.  Larger photo.

The Dacia Express couchette car, boarding at Vienna Hbf.  There is one Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6-berth compartments, bedding provided.  Larger photo.

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

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

Option 3, Amsterdam to Romania with overnight stop in Budapest - if you prefer day trains & a hotel to sleepers

• Day 1, travel from Amsterdam to Budapest in a day as shown in the Amsterdam to Budapest section.

• Stay overnight in Budapest.  Top choice for an inexpensive stay next to Budapest Keleti is the Intercity Hotel just across the square in front of the station.  Also try the Royal Park Boutique Hotel, the inexpensive Baross City Hotel across the road or the Elit Hotel two minutes walk away.  Of course, if you want to push the boat out, the luxurious Corinthia Hotel opened in 1896 was almost certainly the inspiration for the 2014 film The Grand Budapest Hotel, 20 minutes walk or 9 minutes by taxi from Keleti station.  More hotels in Budapest.

• Day 2, travel on one of the daytime air-conditioned Intercity trains from Budapest Keleti to Cluj, Arad, Timisoara, Simeria, Sibiu, Brasov & Bucharest.  See details of these trains here.

  Fares start at €26.30 in 2nd class or (where available) €40.50 in 1st class.

  Check times & buy tickets at the  Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice on using it.

  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  You show the ticket in the MAV app on your phone.

  You can also book at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.  Click EN top right for English.  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead.  For Bucharest type Bucuresti.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

The daytime train from Budapest to Bucharest has modern air-conditioned Romanian carriages.  Three cars travel all the way, additional cars are attached whilst in Hungary, and additional cars and a bar car are attached between Drobeta Turnu Severin & Bucharest.

On the left, the daytime train to Bucharest is about to leave Budapest Keleti.		Comfortable 2nd class seats on the Budapest to Bucharest train.  There are power outlets under the tables.  Larger photo.

A bar car is attached between Drobeta Turnu Severin & Bucharest.  Photos courtesy of @AndyBTravels, DiscoverByRail.com.

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Amsterdam to Ljubljana & Slovenia or Zagreb & Croatia from €72

Option 1, using the Amsterdam-Munich Nightjet sleeper train then scenic EuroCity train to Ljubljana & Zagreb

• Step 1, travel from Amsterdam to Munich by Nightjet, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 19:00, arriving Munich Hbf 07:06.

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

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Ljubljana or Zagreb, leaving Munich Hbf at 08:16 by railjet, change at Villach onto a waiting Slovenian & Croatian EuroCity train called the Sava, arriving Lesce-Bled on Lake Bled 13:50, Ljubljana 14:31 and Zagreb 17:10.

  The train ride is wonderfully scenic, across Austria on the Tauern route and along the beautiful River Sava between Ljubljana and Zagreb.  Enjoy!

  Important update:  The closure of the Tauern Tunnel affects this route between 17 November 2024 & 13 July 2025, check times at int.bahn.de.

  Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €56.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

  Booking tip:  If you don't see any cheap fares from Munich to Ljubljana or Zagreb using bahn.de (for example, if it says No special fares available), try going to the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at and booking from Salzburg to Ljubljana or Zagreb on exactly the same train (the train leaves Salzburg about 1h55 after leaving Munich), then using www.oebb.at again to add a ticket from Munich to Salzburg on the same train.

Option 2, by daytime trains to Stuttgart and Croatian sleeper train to Ljubljana & Zagreb - time-effective with dinner in Stuttgart

• Step 1, travel from Amsterdam to Stuttgart by ICE, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 12:38, change Cologne Hbf, arriving Stuttgart Hbf 18:08.

  The ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier!  By all means book the earlier 10:38 departure to have more time in Stuttgart.

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

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, using Trainline will allow you to buy all your tickets in one place, small booking fee) or the German Railways int.bahn.de.

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

  Have dinner in Stuttgart.

• Step 2, travel from Stuttgart to Ljubljana or Zagreb by sleeper train, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 20:29 and arriving Lesce-Bled 07:13, Ljubljana 08:09 & Zagreb 10:39.

  The comfortable sleeper train Lisinski  has a modern Croatian air-conditioned couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments and a modern air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car with comfortable 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, see the photos below and the Croatian sleeper video here.

  From 14 July to 29 September 2025 there's a direct Croatian sleeping-car for Rijeka, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 20:29 & arriving Rijeka 11:12.

  Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €66.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €86.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Important: This sleeper train is diverted via Graz due to work in the Tauern Tunnel and won't call at Lesce-Bled or Ljubljana from 17 November 2024 to 13 July 2025.  Arrival in Zagreb will be 11:33.  For Ljubljana, either use another option or get off the sleeper at Celje in northern Slovenia at 09:47 then take a local train leaving Celje at 11:36 arriving Ljubljana 12:43.  Check times for the local train at potniski.sz.si/en.

Step 1, Amsterdam to Stuttgart by ICE with one easy change in Frankfurt.  More about ICE trains.  Above, an ICE3neo at Amsterdam Centraal.

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

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

Step 2, Stuttgart to Ljubljana & Zagreb by sleeper train.  Above, the air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car from Stuttgart to Zagreb.  It has 10 compartments with washbasin, each of which can be used as 1, 2 or 3 berth, with toilets at the end of the corridor.  Compartments convert to a private sitting room for evening or morning use.  A light breakfast is included in the sleeper fare.  The Croatian couchette car is the next vehicle to the right, also modern & air-conditioned with 4 & 6 bunk compartments, ideal for families.  Couchettes convert from bunks to seats for evening or morning use.

1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper.		Set up as a single-berth.		4 or 6-berth couchettes. 360º photo.

Wake up to scenery like this between Ljubljana & Zagreb, along the river Sava.

Option 3, by daytime ICE train to Munich, overnight stop, then scenic EuroCity train to Ljubljana & Zagreb

• Day 1, travel from Amsterdam to Munich by ICE on any departure you like, for example:

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 10:38, change at Düsseldorf, arriving Munich Hbf 18:07

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 12:38, change at Düsseldorf, arriving Munich Hbf 20:06

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 14:38, change at Düsseldorf, arriving Munich Hbf 22:10

  You travel on superb German ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Or if you'd like an afternoon in Munich, a direct ICE3neo leaves Amsterdam Centraal at 08:32, arriving Munich Hbf 15:28.

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

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

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

• Stay overnight in Munich.  The affordable Eden Hotel Wolff & NH Collection München are across the road from the station's north side exit with great reviews.  Or consider the more upmarket 25 Hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian, Excelsior by Giesel & Mercure City Center.  For a splurge, the luxurious Sofitel Munich Beyerpost occupies the former Royal Bavarian Post Office building of 1896-1900, at the station's south side exit.

  For dinner, I recommend the Bavarian food & beer at the Augustiner Keller (www.augustinerkeller.de) at Arnulfstrasse 52, see walking map.

• Day 2, travel from Munich to Ljubljana or Zagreb, leaving Munich Hbf at 08:16 by railjet, change at Villach onto a waiting Slovenian & Croatian EuroCity train called the Sava, arriving Lesce-Bled at 13:50, Ljubljana at 14:31 & Zagreb at 17:10.

  The scenery across Austria is wonderful and the journey along the river Sava between Ljubljana and Zagreb is a delight.  If you'd like a morning in Munich, there's a later 12:18 EuroCity train direct to Lesce-Bled, Ljubljana and Zagreb.

  Important update:  The closure of the Tauern Tunnel affects this route between 17 November 2024 & 13 July 2025, check times at int.bahn.de.

  Fares start at €39.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at int.bahn.de (use this special link).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Tip:  If you don't see any cheap fares from Munich to Ljubljana or Zagreb using bahn.de (for example, if it says No special fares available), try going to the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at and booking from Salzburg to Ljubljana or Zagreb on exactly the same train (these trains leave Salzburg about 1h55 after leaving Munich), then using www.oebb.at again to add a ticket from Munich to Salzburg on the same train.

The 08:16 departure from Munich is a smart Austrian railjet across Austria to Villach on the Austrian-Slovenian border.  This is a railjet about to leave Munich Hbf.

Business class.  About.		Restaurant car.

First class.		Economy class.

Through the Austrian Alps.  Clinging to the mountainside high in the Austrian Alps, the railjet snakes along between snow-capped mountains, absolutely wonderful. If you use the morning train from Munich, there's a quick & simple cross-platform change of train at Villach onto a Slovenian & Croatian train called the Sava.

...along the Sava river in Slovenia.  Now across the border in Slovenia, the EuroCity train runs along the pretty River Sava all the way to Ljubljana & Zagreb.		Comfortable seats:  The 2nd class seats in the Slovenian cars are arranged 2+1 abreast, the same as 1st class!

More lovely scenery along the Sava between Ljubljana & Zagreb.

The EuroCity train Sava, arrived at Zagreb.		More scenery along the Sava between Ljubljana & Zagreb.

Option 4, using the Amsterdam-Vienna nightjet sleeper train, morning in Vienna, EuroCity train to Zagreb. 

• Step 1, travel from Amsterdam to Vienna by Nightjet, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 19:00 every day, arriving Vienna Hbf 09:17.

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

  From April 2025 this train is due to become a new generation Nightjet, with new rolling stock including individual mini cabins.

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

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

  You can also book at the Dutch Railways international website www.nsinternational.nl (in €, no fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, no fee).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Zagreb, leaving Vienna Hbf at 12:24, change at Villach, arriving Zagreb 20:45.

  You travel from Vienna to Villach by swish Austrian railjet train (end destination Venice), with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Enjoy the wonderful scenery over the UNESCO-listed Semmering Railway south of Vienna, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmering_railway.

  At Villach it's a quick and simple change onto a waiting Slovenian & Croatian train called the Mimara, just 3 carriages, all 2nd class.  There's no catering so take your own food & drink.  The Croatian car is open-plan & air-conditioned, the two Slovenian cars have classic non-air-con compartments with windows that open.  There's beautiful scenery along the Sava river between Ljubljana & Zagreb, I'd choose a compartment car with opening windows!  You can see the train formation at www.vagonweb.cz, change cs to English, click Train formations and search for Mimara.

  Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €49.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

Step 1, Amsterdam to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train, seen here at Amsterdam Centraal.  More about Nightjet trains.

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

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

Step 2, Vienna to Zagreb via the Semmering Railway.

Shortly after calling at Vienna Neustadt, the train travels over the 41km (25 mile) Semmering Railway, opened in 1854 and now a UNESCO World Heritage site.  You'll get these great views southbound in summer when it's light in the evening, and all year round from the northbound train.  Read more about the famous Semmering Railway at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmering_railway.  Sadly, this slow, curvaceous and steep section of line will be by-passed in the mid-2020s when the new Semmering Base Tunnel opens, though this could save up to 90 minutes.  The train snakes its way over the Semmering Railway, summiting near Semmering itself at 898m (2,946 feet) above sea level.

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Amsterdam to Belgrade & Montenegro

Option 1, Amsterdam to Belgrade using the Stuttgart-Budapest sleeper - due to start 8 December 2024 but postponed, see updates.

• Step 1, travel from Amsterdam to Berlin by InterCity train, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 12:00, arriving Berlin Hbf 17:51.

  See the Amsterdam to Berlin by InterCity train page for tips, photos and things to see along the way.

  By all means leave Amsterdam on the earlier 10:00 or 08:00 departures for more time in Berlin, left luggage lockers are available and a stroll past the Reichstag building to the Brandenburg Gate takes just 17 minutes, so even a few hours stopover is worthwhile.

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

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, using this will allow you to book all your tickets together in one place, small booking fee) or the German Railways website int.bahn.de (in €, no fee).  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Step 2, travel from Berlin to Budapest on the sleeper train Metropol, leaving Berlin Hbf at 19:21 & arriving Budapest Nyugati 08:29.

  The train has an air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, an air-conditioned couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and 2nd class seats.  In sleepers, a light breakfast is included in the fare.

  Departure from Berlin is at 19:47 from 10 August to 13 December 2025.

  Fares start at €49 with a couchette in a 6-berth compartment, €59 with a couchette in a 4-berth compartment, €79 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper with washbasin, €99 in a 2-bed sleeper with washbasin or €129 in a single-bed sleeper with washbasin.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

• Step 3, travel from Budapest to Belgrade, leaving Budapest Nyugati at 11:50, changing at Szeged & Subotica, arriving Belgrade Centar 18:38.

  You take a Hungarian Intercity train from Budapest to Szeged, a local train across the border to Subotica and a 200 km/h SOKO train to Belgrade, for details see the Budapest to Belgrade page.

  Fares start at around €23, see more about fares.

  Buy tickets as shown on the Belgrade to Budapest page.

• For onward trains to Montenegro, see the Belgrade to Podgorica & Bar page.

Step 1, Amsterdam to Berlin by Intercity train.  More about these Intercity trains.

1st class compartment.		2nd class.

Step 2, Berlin to Budapest by sleeper train Metropol.  This is the sleeping-car, boarding at Berlin Hbf.

1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper, set up as a 2 bed.  Larger photo.		4 or 6-berth couchettes.  Larger photo.

Step 3, Budapest to Belgrade on a connecting 3-train combo, starts 8 December 2024.  This includes a 200 km/h double-deck Serbian SOKO train from Subotica to Belgrade Centar, with refreshments, toilets, power outlets at all seats & free WiFi.  Soko is Serbian for falcon, hence the logo!  Photo courtesy of Hugo van Vondelen.

Option 2, Amsterdam to Belgrade & beyond using the Stuttgart-Zagreb sleeper - currently involves a bus

• Step 1, travel from Amsterdam to Stuttgart by ICE, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 12:38, change Cologne Hbf, arriving Stuttgart Hbf 18:08.

  The ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier!  By all means book the earlier 10:38 departure to have more time in Stuttgart.

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

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, will allow you to buy all your tickets in one place, small booking fee) or the German Railways int.bahn.de.

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

  Have dinner in Stuttgart.

• Step 2, travel from Stuttgart to Zagreb by sleeper train, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 20:29, arriving Zagreb at 10:39. 

  The sleeper train Lisinski has a modern air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car with comfortable 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, and a modern Croatian air-conditioned couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, see the photos below & the Croatian sleeper video here.

  Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €66.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €86.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Update:  Due to work in the Tauern Tunnel, arrival in Zagreb is at 11:33 until 13 July 2025.

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

  This train was suspended due to Covid-19 and remains suspended.

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Step 4 for Montenegro, take the overnight sleeper Lovcen from Belgrade Centar to Podgorica & 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.

Step 1, Amsterdam to Stuttgart by ICE with one easy change in Frankfurt.  More about ICE trains.  Above, an ICE3neo at Amsterdam Centraal.

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

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

Step 2, Stuttgart to Zagreb by sleeper:  Above, the air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car from Stuttgart to Zagreb.  It has 10 compartments with washbasin, each of which can be used as 1, 2 or 3 berth, with toilets at the end of the corridor.  Compartments convert to a private sitting room for evening or morning use.  A light breakfast is included in the sleeper fare.  The Croatian couchette car is the next vehicle to the right, also modern & air-conditioned with 4 & 6 bunk compartments, ideal for families.  Couchettes convert from bunks to seats for evening or morning use.

1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper.		Set up as a single-berth.		4 or 6-berth couchettes. 360º photo.

Wake up to scenery like this between Ljubljana & Zagreb, along the river Sava.

Option 3, Amsterdam to Belgrade & beyond using the Zurich-Zagreb sleeper - currently involves a bus

• Step 1, travel from Amsterdam to Zurich, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 08:30, change at Mannheim, arriving Zurich HB 17:00.

  You travel by ICE3neo from Amsterdam to Mannheim with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Then by comfortable Swiss Eurocity train with restaurant car.  Don't risk any tight connections when catching a sleeper, allow at least 1-2 hours between trains in Zurich.

  Have dinner in Zurich, I recommend the steak-frites at the Brasserie Federal at Zurich HB.

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

  Book this at either www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, small booking fee, using Thetrainline allows you to buy both tickets together in one place) or the German Railways website int.bahn.de (in €, no fee).  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Step 2, travel from Zurich to Zagreb by sleeper train, leaving Zurich HB at 20:40 and arriving in Zagreb at 10:39 next morning.

  The train has an excellent air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car (1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin), a modern air-conditioned Croatian couchette car (4 & 6 berth compartments) and ordinary seats (not recommended).  Watch the Croatian sleeper video.

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

  Due to work in the Tauern Tunnel, arrival in Zagreb will be at 11:33 until 13 July 2025.

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

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

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

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

  Tip:  Although Belgrade Centar is slightly closer to the city centre, you have to rely on a single bus line.  Trams 7 & 9 link Novi Beograd station with the site of the now-defunct old Belgrade station on the edge of the old city every 5-10 minutes so you may prefer to get off at Novi Beograd and take a tram, see the Belgrade station page for more information.

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

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

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

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

• Step 4 for Montenegro, take the overnight sleeper Lovcen from Belgrade Centar to Podgorica & 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.

The Zurich-Zagreb sleeper train boarding at Zurich HB as the sun sets on a summer day.  That's the Croatian couchette car on the right, the Croatian sleeping-car on the left.  See the Croatian sleeper video.

1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper.		Set up as a single-berth.		4 or 6-berth couchettes. 360º photo.

Wake up to scenery like this between Ljubljana & Zagreb, along the river Sava.

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Amsterdam to Sofia

Option 1, Amsterdam to Sofia via Bucharest

• Day 1, travel from Amsterdam to Vienna using the Amsterdam-Vienna Nightjet sleeper train, as shown above.

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

• Day 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest by railjet, leaving Vienna Hbf at 11:40, arriving Budapest Keleti 14:19.

  The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  By all means take an earlier train if you'd like more time in Budapest, perhaps for lunch.

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Budapest to Bucharest by sleeper train Muntenia, leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:10, arriving Bucharest Nord 09:36.

  The Muntenia has 4 & 6-berth couchettes and ordinary seats.  A Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments is attached from Arad (depart 20:57) to Bucharest.  There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink.

  Fares start at €40 with a couchette in 6-berth or €47 with a couchette in 4-berth.  These are limited-availability advance-purchase fares

  Book this at the Romanian Railways international website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en.  You print your own ticket.

  If you want the comfort & privacy of a proper sleeper from Arad to Bucharest, (1) book a 2nd class seat from Budapest to Arad from €17 using bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en.  You print your own ticket.  (2) Now book berths in a 1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper from Arad to Bucharest Nord at the Romanian domestic website bilete.cfrcalatori.ro and print your own ticket.

• Day 3, travel from Bucharest to Sofia by daytime train as shown in the Bucharest>Sofia section of the Trains from Bucharest page.

  You leave Bucharest Nord at 10:47 and arrive Sofia Central at 20:35 after a pleasant day meandering across the Danube and through the river valleys of Bulgaria.  In summer it's direct, in winter you have to switch trains at Ruse.  There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink.

  The fare is around €34.

  Book this at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en.  You print your own ticket.

Step 1, Amsterdam to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train.  More about Nightjets.

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

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

Step 2, Vienna to Budapest by railjet, seen here arrived at Budapest Keleti.  More about railjets.

Business class.  About.		Restaurant car.

First class.		Economy class.

Step 3, Budapest to Bucharest on the sleeper train Muntenia.  Photo courtesy of @AndyBTravels, DiscoverByRail.com .		4 or 6-berth couchettes.  Larger photo.

A Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 or 3-bed compartments is attached between Timisoara & Bucharest. Courtesy of @AndyBTravels, DiscoverByRail.com.  Larger photo.

Option 2, Amsterdam to Sofia via Belgrade

• Not currently viable while Zagreb-Belgrade, Budapest-Belgrade and Belgrade-Sofia trains remain suspended.

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Amsterdam to Warsaw & Poland from €49.99

Option 1, Amsterdam to Warsaw in a single day - why not spend a few hours in Berlin on the way?

• You can travel from Amsterdam to Poznan or Warsaw in a single chill-out day with a good book and a restaurant car for a meal and a beer or glass of red or two.  You take a comfortable InterCity train from Amsterdam to Berlin, see an account of the journey & things to see, then a EuroCity train with restaurant car from Berlin to Poznan & Warsaw.  For example:

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 06:00 daily, change at Berlin Hbf, arrive Warsaw Centralna 19:00.

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 08:00 daily, change at Berlin Hbf, arrive Warsaw Centralna 21:00.

  Leave Amsterdam Centraal 10:00 daily except Saturdays, change at Berlin Hbf, arrive Warsaw Centralna 23:00.

  You've time between trains in Berlin for a meal or for a stroll past the Reichstag to the Brandenburg Gate, just 17 minutes walk from the station.

• Fares start at €49.99 in 2nd class or €79.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Booking to Poland normally only opens 60 days ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in and check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Step 1, Amsterdam to Berlin by Intercity train.  More about these Intercity trains.

Lunch in the bistro car.		2nd class seats.

Step 2, Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity train, seen here boarding on platform 11 at Berlin Hbf.

1st class compartment.		2nd class compartment.

Restaurant car.  You don't need to reserve a table, just go along and sit down.

Zurek soup, a tasty starter.		Kotlet Schabowy, served on proper china.

Option 2, Amsterdam to Warsaw using the Amsterdam-Berlin European Sleeper - the most time-effective way, runs 3 times a week

• Step 1, travel from Amsterdam to Berlin by European Sleeper, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 22:34 on Monday, Wednesday & Friday arriving Berlin Hbf 06:16.

  The European Sleeper has a comfortable sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed rooms with washbasin, economical couchette cars with 5 & 6 berth compartments and ordinary seats.  Check times at www.europeansleeper.eu as they can vary.  More about the European Sleeper.

  Fares start at €49 in a seat, €79 with a couchette in 6-berth, €99 with a couchette in 5-berth, €109 with a bed in 3-bed sleeper, €129 with a bed in 2-bed sleeper, €159 with a bed in single-bed sleeper.  All per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book the sleeper at www.europeansleeper.eu.

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

• Step 2, travel from Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity, leaving Berlin Hbf at 09:52, arriving Poznan 12:36 & Warsaw Centralna 15:00.

  This EuroCity train is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with restaurant car serving drinks, snacks and full meals.  Treat yourself to an inexpensive lunch and a beer or two, I recommend the excellent Zurek soup and Kotlet Schabowy.  More about this EuroCity train.

  Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €56.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Booking opens 60 days months ahead, you can book the sleeper and leave this until later if necessary.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Step 1, Amsterdam to Berlin by European Sleeper.  This is a 5-berth couchette car at Amsterdam Centraal, beyond is a stainless-steel sleeping-car.

1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper, set up as a single.		5-berth couchette compartment.

Step 2, Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity train, seen here boarding on platform 11 at Berlin Hbf.

1st class compartment.		2nd class compartment.

Restaurant car.  You don't need to reserve a table, just go along and sit down.

The bar counter.		Decent food, served on proper china.

Option 3, Amsterdam to Warsaw with overnight stop in Berlin - breaks up the trip nicely, with a chance to see Berlin.

• Day 1, travel from Amsterdam to Berlin by InterCity train, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 16:00, arriving Berlin Hbf 21:51.

  By all means take the earlier 14:00 or 12:00 departure for more time in Berlin.  More about the journey & things to see from the train.

• Stay overnight in Berlin.  Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station.  If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com.  Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.

• Day 2, travel from Berlin Hbf to Warsaw Centralna on any EuroCity train you like:

  You can leave Berlin Hbf at 05:51 Mondays-Saturdays, arriving Warsaw Centralna 11:00.

  Or have a leisurely breakfast and leave Berlin Hbf at 09:52 every day, arriving Warsaw Centralna 15:00.

  Or spend the morning in Berlin and take a later train, see the timetable here.

• Fares from Amsterdam to Warsaw start at €49.99 in 2nd class or €63.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Book from Amsterdam to Warsaw at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  To get the overnight stop in Berlin, click Stopovers and enter Berlin Hbf with a length of stay of (say) 10 hours.

  Adjust the length of stay and departure time to get the trains you want each side of Berlin.

  Booking to Poland normally opens 60 days ahead, but you can book from Amsterdam to Berlin separately up to 6 months ahead if you like.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in and check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

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Amsterdam to Krakow from €49.99

Option 1, Amsterdam to Krakow in a day

• Step 1, travel from Amsterdam to Berlin by Intercity, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 10:00, arriving Berlin Hbf 15:51.

  By all means take the earlier 08:00 departure for a more robust connection and time for lunch in Berlin.

  The Intercity train has power sockets all seats & a refreshment trolley.

• Step 2, travel from Berlin to Krakow by EuroCity, leaving Berlin Hbf 16:52, arriving Wroclaw 20:47, Katowice 22:54 & Krakow Glowny 23:47.

  The EuroCity train Oder is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with a restaurant car serving drinks, snacks & meals.  Treat yourself to an inexpensive dinner with a beer or two, I recommend the excellent Zurek soup & Kotlet Schabowy.  More about this EuroCity train.

• Fares start at €49.99 in 2nd class or €79.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Booking to Poland normally opens 60 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Step 1, Amsterdam to Berlin by Intercity train.  More about these Intercity trains.

Lunch in the bistro car.		2nd class seats.

Step 2, Berlin to Krakow by EuroCity train Wawel.  This is the Wawel on platform 11 at Berlin Hbf.

2nd class compartment.		1st class compartment.

Restaurant car.  You don't need to reserve a table, just go along and sit down.  Larger photo.

Zurek soup - an excellent tasty starter.		Kotlet schabowy, served on proper china.

Option 2, Amsterdam to Krakow using the Amsterdam-Berlin European Sleeper - runs 3 times a week

• Day 1, travel from Amsterdam to Berlin by European Sleeper, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 22:34 on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays arriving Berlin Hbf 06:16.

  The European Sleeper has a comfortable sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed rooms with washbasin, economical couchette cars with 5 & 6 berth compartments and ordinary seats.  Check times at www.europeansleeper.eu as they can vary.  More about the European Sleeper.

  Fares start at €49 in a seat, €79 with a couchette in 6-berth, €99 with a couchette in 5-berth, €109 with a bed in 3-bed sleeper, €129 with a bed in 2-bed sleeper, €159 with a bed in single-bed sleeper.  All per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book the sleeper at www.europeansleeper.eu.

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

• Day 2, travel from Berlin to Krakow by EuroCity train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 08:52, arriving Wroclaw 12:52, Katowice 15:09 & Krakow Glowny 16:09.

  This EuroCity train is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train called the Galicija with restaurant car serving drinks, snacks and meals.  Treat yourself to an inexpensive lunch and a beer or two, I recommend the excellent zurek soup & kotlet schabowy.  More about this EuroCity train.

  Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €56.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Booking opens 60 days months ahead, you can book the sleeper and leave this until later if necessary.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Step 1, Amsterdam to Berlin by European Sleeper.  This is a 5-berth couchette car at Amsterdam Centraal, beyond is a stainless-steel sleeping-car.

1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper, set up as a single.		5-berth couchette compartment.

Step 2, Berlin to Krakow by EuroCity train, seen on platform 11 at Berlin Hbf.

2nd class compartment.		1st class compartment.

Restaurant car.  You don't need to reserve a table, just go along and sit down.  Larger photo.

Zurek soup - an excellent tasty starter.		Kotlet schabowy, served on proper china.

Option 3, Amsterdam to Krakow with overnight stop in Berlin - if you prefer day trains & hotel to sleepers, departures every day

• Day 1, travel from Amsterdam to Berlin by InterCity train, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 16:00, arriving Berlin Hbf 21:51.

  By all means take the earlier 14:00 or 12:00 departure for more time in Berlin.  More about the journey & things to see from the train.

• Stay overnight in Berlin.  Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station.  If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com.  Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.

• Day 2, travel from Berlin to Krakow by EuroCity, leaving Berlin Hbf at 08:52, arriving Wroclaw 12:52, Katowice 15:09 & Krakow Glowny 16:09.

  The EuroCity train is comfortable & air-conditioned with restaurant car, treat yourself to lunch and a beer or two.

  Later trains are available, see timetable.

• Fares from Amsterdam to Krakow start at €49.99 in 2nd class or €63.99 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Book from Amsterdam to Krakow at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  To get the overnight stop in Berlin, click Stopovers, enter Berlin Hbf and a length of stay of (say) 10 hours.

  Adjust the length of stay and departure time to get the trains you want each side of Berlin.

  Booking to Poland normally opens 60 days ahead, although you can book from Amsterdam to Berlin separately up to 6 months ahead if you like, and book the Berlin-Poland part later.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in and check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

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Amsterdam to Vilnius. Riga, Tallinn

Amsterdam to Lithuania with overnight stop in Warsaw

• Day 1, travel from Amsterdam to Warsaw as shown in the Amsterdam to Warsaw section.  You can do this in a day.

• Stay overnight in Warsaw.  The Polonia Palace Hotel is excellent, historic, relatively inexpensive for such a good hotel, and it's just across the road from the station.  For something much cheaper, but still with great reviews and near the station, try the Hotel Metropol next door to the Polonia Palace or the nearby Novotel Warsaw Centrum.  Also see the Warsaw Centralna station & city information.

• Day 2, travel from Warsaw to Kaunas & Vilnius by train as shown on the Warsaw to Vilnius page.

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

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

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Amsterdam to Kyiv & Ukraine

Option 1, Amsterdam to Lviv & Kyiv via Vienna - fastest & most comfortable, but often fully-booked

• Day 1, travel from Amsterdam to Vienna by daily Nightjet sleeper train, as shown above.

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

• Day 2, travel from Vienna to Lviv or Kyiv by Ukrainian sleeping-car. leaving Vienna Hbf 16:42, arriving Lviv 09:59 & Kyiv 16:41 next day (day 3).

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

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

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

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

  Booking for these direct sleeping-cars opens 20 days ahead, but tickets sell out a day or two after booking opens, so book as soon as the booking period opens.  If the ÖBB website says Ticket not available within 20 days it means fully-booked, if it says that more than 20 days ahead it means booking isn't open yet.

  Tickets can now be printed out so you can book in either direction.  However, you must print the ticket, it cannot be shown on a mobile device.

The Vienna-Kyiv sleeping-car boarding at Vienna Hbf.

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

Option 2, Amsterdam to Lviv & Kyiv via Budapest - comfortable, easy to book, usually has good availability.

• Day 1, travel from Amsterdam to Vienna by daily Nightjet sleeper train, as shown above.

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

• Day 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest by railjet, leaving Vienna Hbf at 11:40, arriving Budapest Keleti 14:19.

  The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  By all means take an earlier train if you'd like more time in Budapest, perhaps for lunch.

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Budapest to Ukraine by sleeper train, leaving Budapest Keleti at 22:40, arriving Lviv 13:38 & Kyiv Pass 19:11 (day 3).

  The sleeper train Transcarpathia consists of up to 8 Ukrainian sleeping-cars, with one car of 1st class 2-berth compartments (spalny vagon), and up to 7 cars of 2nd class 4-berth compartments (kupé). 

  Bedding is provided, there are toilets & washrooms at the end of the corridor.  The sleeper attendants can provide snacks and delicious Ukrainian tea, but bring your own food as there's no catering car.  The train is jacked up at Chop on the Ukrainian border to have its bogies changed from standard gauge (4' 8½") to Ukrainian gauge (5').

  You can check the consist and car numbers for this train using www.vagonweb.cz.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, and search for Transcarpathia.

  Fares start at:

  €63.10 with a bed in a 2nd class 4-berth sleeper.

  €76.10 with a bed in a 2-berth 1st class sleeper.

  These are limited-availability fares book online in advance.

  Buy tickets at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my tips for using it.

  Booking opens 3 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone in the MAV app.

  Tip:  You should select 2-bed compartment (double) or sleeping-car, 4-bed compartment.  Single and triple options are shown, but result in a ticket without reservation.  If it says x Reservation not included, do not proceed.  Like I said, select double or 4-berth!

Above left, the Transcarpathia on its first day of operation.  Above right, a 1st class 2-bed sleeper.  Courtesy of Ukrainian Railways Укрзалізниця.

Option 3, Amsterdam to Lviv & Kyiv via Prague - also easy to book with good availability

• Day 1, travel from Amsterdam to Prague by European Sleeper, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 22:34 on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays arriving Prague Hlavni 11:24 (day 2).

  The European sleeper has 1, 2 & 3 bed sleepers, 5 & 6 berth couchettes and 2nd class seats.  Enjoy the scenic ride along the Elbe river valley over breakfast.  For details see the European Sleeper page.

  Fares start at €49 in a seat, €79 with a couchette in 6-berth, €99 with a couchette in 5-berth, €109 with a bed in 3-bed sleeper, €129 with a bed in 2-bed sleeper, €159 with a bed in single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.  Children under 4 travel free, without their own berth.  Children under 12 travel at a child rate.

  Book the sleeper at www.europeansleeper.eu.

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

  You now have a day free to explore Prague.  Left luggage lockers are available.  Suggested restaurants for dinner in Prague.

• Day 2, travel from Prague to Przemysl by Regiojet sleeper train, leaving Prague Hlavni at 21:47 every day, arriving Przemysl 07:35 (day 3).

  A connecting Ukrainian Intercity train leaves Przemysl at 09:35, arriving Lviv 12:27 & Kyiv Pass at 19:57 (day 3).

  The Regiojet sleeper train has 3 & 4 berth couchettes set up with full bedding like a sleeping-car.  You can book an inexpensive berth in a shared compartment or you can book a whole compartment for sole occupancy if you like.  Refreshments are available from the train staff.

  The Ukrainian intercity train is comfortable and air-conditioned with cafe-bar.  Regiojet have an allocation of seats and a Regiojet ticket from Prague to Lviv or Kyiv includes a 2nd class seat on this train, booked as one combined ticket from Prague to Lviv/Kyiv.

  Prague to Lviv or Kyiv starts at €58 with a berth in a shared compartment, or €119.90 for sole occupancy of a 4-berth couchette compartment for 1 to 4 people.  Fares vary slightly according to demand.  The fare includes the sleeper and a 2nd class seat on the connecting Ukrainian train.

  Book from Prague to Lviv or Kyiv at www.regiojet.com.

  Booking opens 1-2 months ahead, so book your other trains first then book this one a month or two before travel.  There is usually plenty of availability 3+ weeks before departure, although it can sell out with a week or two to go.  You print your ticket or show it on your phone.

1. Amsterdam to Prague by European Sleeper, seen here at Amsterdam Centraal.  This is a 5-berth couchette car, beyond it is the stainless steel sleeping-car.

1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper, set up as a single.		5-berth couchettes, daytime mode.

5-berth couchettes, night mode.		Breakfast can be added when you book.

In the morning, the European Sleeper runs along the Elbe river valley between Dresden & Prague.  See more photos.

2. Prague to Przemysl by Regiojet sleeper train

3. Intercity train, Przemysl to Lviv & Kyiv.		1st class. Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com.

2nd class. Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.		Cafe counter. Courtesy DiscoverByRail.

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Amsterdam to Moscow, St Petersburg & Russia

Option 1, Amsterdam to Moscow using the daily Warsaw-Moscow sleeper train - suspended due to sanctions

• Day 1, travel from Amsterdam to Berlin by InterCity train, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 16:00, arriving Berlin Hbf 21:51.

  By all means take an earlier train for a leisurely afternoon or evening in Berlin.

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

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

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

• Stay overnight in Berlin.  Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station.  If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com.  Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.

• Day 2 morning, travel from Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity train leaving Berlin Hbf at 09:52 daily arriving Warsaw Centralna at 15:09.

  Fares start at €27.99 in 2nd class or €39.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at int.bahn.de too.  Booking normally opens 60 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

  Alternatively, there's an earlier 05:51 EuroCity train on Mondays to Saturdays arriving 11:15, giving you time to explore Warsaw, see Warsaw Centralna station & city information.   Warsaw's historic old town is a 30 minute walk from Centralna station - if you fancy a modest splurge, the celebrated Ufukiera restaurant (www.ufukiera.pl) is excellent and right on the square in the heart of Warsaw's old town.  The Palace of Culture (a wedding cake style Soviet skyscraper and distinctive Warsaw landmark, www.pkin.pl) is right next to the station and has a viewing terrace on the 30th floor.

• Day 2 evening, 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 (day 3 from Amsterdam).  You can check times at the Russian Railways website www.rzd.ru.

  This train was suspended due to Covid-19 and remains suspended due to sanctions.

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

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

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

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

• For St Petersburg it's best to travel via Moscow.  Moscow to St Petersburg takes as little as 3h50 by daytime Sapsan trains, or can be done an a number of traditional overnight sleepers.  See the train travel in Russia page to buy tickets within Russia.

Option 2, Amsterdam to Moscow using the Berlin-Moscow Strizh (Swift) sleeper train, twice a week - suspended due to sanctions

• Step 1, take the Amsterdam to Berlin InterCity train leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 12:00, arriving Berlin Hbf 17:51 with fares from €37.99.  Or by all means take one of the earlier trains at 08:00 or 10:00 and have more time in Berlin.  Book this train at int.bahn.de.

• Step 2, travel from Berlin to Moscow by direct Russian sleeper train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 20:08 on Mondays & Saturdays, arriving at Moscow Belorussky station at 21:24 next day.

  This train was suspended due to Covid-19 and remains suspended due to sanctions.

  This train is an articulated Spanish-built Talgo train branded Strizh (Russian for swift) which started running in 2016.  It has ordinary seats, 2nd class 4-berth sleepers, 1st class 1 or 2 berth sleepers with washbasin and deluxe 1 or 2 berth sleepers with en suite shower & toilet.  There's a restaurant & bistro car.

  Russian track gauge is 5', but most of Europe (including the UK) is 4' 8½", so at Brest on the Belarus frontier the Talgo train runs through a special gauge-changing shed and the axles automatically adjust to the new gauge.  Once in Russia, the scenery is rolling hills, birch tree forests, and villages of small wooden houses.  Approaching Moscow, you may glimpse the plaques on the station building marked '1812' and '1942' as the train passes through the small station of historic Borodino.

  You can book the Berlin-Moscow train at the Russian Railways website www.rzd.ru and print your own ticket, it's a little fiddly but usually works, or you can easily buy it online with English language after-sales service if you need it, using the Real Russia online system here.

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

The Strizh sleeper train from Berlin to Moscow, seen here boarding in Berlin.  It's a Spanish-built articulated Talgo train - note the relatively small size of each car, just one axle between each car.  Courtesy of Stuart Wilks & Jaap van Ginkel.

2-berth sleeper with washbasin, in night & daytime modes.				Complimentary toiletry pack.

Option 3, Amsterdam to Moscow via Kyiv - avoiding the need for Belarus visa

• It's not difficult to get a Belarus transit visa, but many people want to avoid the bureaucracy and cost of yet another visa, and you can easily travel via Kyiv, as most EU nationals don't need a visa for Ukraine.

• Step 1, travel from Amsterdam to Kyiv as shown in the Amsterdam to Kyiv section above.

• Step 2, travel from Kyiv to Moscow by overnight train.  There are several night trains and times vary by date, but for example train 6 leaves Kyiv around 19:36 and arriving in Moscow Kievskaya station next morning at around 10:09, with 2-berth and 4-berth sleepers available.  Check times for your date using int.bahn.de.  Note that there's also a direct train from Kyiv to St Petersburg, but this passes through a small corner of Belarus, requiring a Belarus visa.

  These trains were suspended due to Covid-19 and remain suspended due to the war in Ukraine.

• Use reliable Polish ticketing agency www.polrail.com to book both your Warsaw-Kyiv and Kyiv-Moscow trains.  You collect tickets in Warsaw.

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Amsterdam to Athens, Corfu & Greece

Option 1, Amsterdam to Athens by train & ferry via Italy - the leisurely option with an Adriatic cruise thrown in

• The easiest option is to pick up a ferry in Bari.  The whole scenic and relaxing journey from Amsterdam to Athens takes around 3 nights, depending how the connections work out on your date.

• Day 1, travel from Amsterdam to Milan in Italy as shown above, using whichever option you like best.

• Stay overnight in Milan:  Affordable hotels with good or great reviews just outside Milan Centrale include the Hotel Bristol, Hotel Bernina, 43 Station Hotel, B&B Hotel Milano Central Station, Guesthouse Teodora.  Pricier more upmarket hotels include HD8 Hotel, Glam Hotel, Made to Measure Business, Starhotel Echo or Starhotel Anderson.

• Day 2, travel from Milan to Bari, leaving Milan Centrale at 08:05 on a pleasant journey along the Adriatic coast arriving Bari Centrale 15:27.

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

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, easy to use, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly).  Italiarail will refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference.  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

• In Bari, transfer from station to port, see map of Bari showing station, port entrance, check-in building & Superfast Ferries berth.

  You can walk the 1.9 km from the station to the port entrance in 25 minutes, a stroll through Bari's pleasant old town, see correct walking map from the station to the port entrance gate - if Google tells you any different, trust me, not Google!

  Alternatively, bus 50 runs from Bari Centrale station to the road outside the port gate roughly every 40 minutes.  A taxi will take 10 minutes.

• Day 2, sail overnight from Bari to Patras in Greece with Superfast Ferries.

  The ferry sails from Bari at 19:30 on Mondays-Saturdays, arriving Patras at 13:00 next day (Day 3).

  On Sundays the ship sails at 13:30, too early to make connections from Milan.

  You can check sailing times & dates at using the Direct Ferries website or at www.superfast.com or www.ferriesingreece.com.

  You should check in at the Superfast desk on the ground floor of the cruise terminal (Terminal Crociere) at Bari port with passport & booking number to get your boarding pass, ideally 3 hours before departure in summer, although in practice 2 hours or even 1½ hours is normally fine.

  You then walk 500m from check-in to the ferry, board the ferry via the foot passenger gangway at the stern and head up the escalator to the main lounge and reception desk to get your cabin key.

  The ship is comfortable, with self-service restaurant, lounge, bar and sun deck.  You can book a deck place (a good & cheap option in summer if you have your own sleeping bag), a reclining seat or various types of cabin, all with private shower & toilet.  Strolling the decks in the morning sun as the ship cruises past the islands of Cephalonia and Ithaca is the nicest part of the trip, and it's a wonderful way to arrive in Greece.

  In Patras, the ferry arrives at the new South ferry terminal a few km from the town centre.  Bus 18 links the port with the Patras bus station every hour on the hour, fare €1.20 or you can hop in a taxi for around €9, journey time 15-20 minutes.

• Day 3, travel from Patras to Athens by Greek Railways bus/train combo.

  Hellenic Train (Greek Railways) operate an integrated bus/train service from Patras to Athens every hour or two, total journey time 3h02, fare around €18.  No prior reservation is necessary, just buy a ticket to Athens at Patras railway station ticket office.

  For example, at the time I write this, buses leave from outside Patras railway station at 14:15, 15:15, 16:00, 17:15 & 18:15, taking 90 minutes to reach Kiato railway station near Corinthos.  At Kiato they connect with a modern air-conditioned regional train taking 78 minutes to Athens Larissa Station in downtown Athens.  You can check Patra to Athens bus/train times using the journey planner at www.hellenictrain.gr.

• Corfu:  The Bari-Patras ferry calls at Corfu on certain dates in summer.  It calls at Igoumenitsa on the Greek mainland on all departures year-round.  If you can't find a direct ferry to Corfu, book the ferry from Bari to Igoumenitsa, then take the local ferry from Igoumenitsa to Corfu with Kerkyra Lines (kerkyralines.com).  These sail half a dozen times a day, crossing time 60-90 minutes, fare around €5-€10.  Buy a ticket at kerkyralines.com or when you get to Igoumenitsa.

The ferry Superfast II from Bari to Patras, boarding at Bari.  Photos courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com.

The passenger gangway, onto the ferry.		Reception desk & lounge on the ferry.

Lounge and bar on the Superfast II.		Self-service restaurant.

Private cabin with en suite toilet & shower.

The ferry passes Cephalonia & Ithaca then approaches mainland Greece.  This is what travel to Greece should be like!

The ferry approaches the new port of Patras.

Option 2, Amsterdam to Athens overland by train via Munich & Belgrade - a rail adventure across the Balkans, currently suspended

• This is no longer a viable option.

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Amsterdam to Istanbul & Turkey

This is an overland adventure, taking 3 nights

• Step 1, travel from Amsterdam to Bucharest using any option shown above.

  Do not risk any tight connections in Bucharest, I'd allow a minimum of 2 hours, or plan an overnight stop.

• Step 2, travel overnight from Bucharest to Istanbul as shown on the Bucharest to Istanbul page.

• Book online as shown on those pages, but you should consider using an Interrail pass for the flexibility it gives.  You'll find more info about using a pass for a journey like this on the London to Istanbul 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 as a package, arranging trains, hotels & transfers, and to look after you if anything affects your arrangements, talk to Railbookers.  Railbookers can tailor-make a train trip around Europe to your own specification.  Just tell them what you want and they'll advise you on the best trains, routes & hotels.  They now have offices in the UK, North America and Australia.

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

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

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

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

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

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Hotels in Amsterdam

Book your accommodation in Amsterdam early, it can be difficult to find rooms at peak periods at short notice, the better & cheaper rooms quickly sell out.  You'll also find prices vary significantly even at the same hotel, depending on the season and what's going on in the city.

The ultimate Amsterdam hotel:  The Grand

The ultimate place to stay is The Grand, now the Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam.  From around €300 per night upwards for a double room, this is one of the most famous hotel in Amsterdam, 5 minutes walk from Dam Square and 10 minutes walk from Centraal Station.  For something smaller, slightly cheaper but equally special, try the Canal House boutique hotel, 15 minutes walk from the station, €205 upwards.

Mid-range to top end

The Park Plaza Victoria Hotel gets great reviews and is very convenient as it's on the corner just across the road from Amsterdam Centraal station, doubles from around €135 upwards per night.  In a similar price bracket, try the Kimpton de Witt Amsterdam Centre, 6 minutes walk from Amsterdam Centraal and also with excellent reviews. 

Mid-range

The Hotel Luxer is cheaper, from around €109 upwards per night, and also just 7 minutes walk from Centraal station with great reviews.  Also try The Times Hotel, Hotel Tourist Inn or Daily Rooms Hotel.  Or the Hotel Sebastians, around €115 per night, equally well located 10 minutes walk from Centraal station, another hotel which gets great reviews.

Cheap but good

There are many cheap hotels, including many near the station, but very few get outstanding reviews.  For ones that do, try the floating boat hotel AmiciA (formerly Friesland), around €45 per night 15 minutes walk from the station or the Rembrandt Hotel from €80, 10 min walk from Dam Square though 20 minutes walk from the station.

My favourite hotel search: www.booking.com Booking.com is my favourite hotel booking site and I generally use it to book all my hotels in one place.  I've come to trust booking.com's review scores, you won't be disappointed with any hotel that scores 8.0 or more.  Crucially, booking.com usually lets you book with free cancellation, which means you can confirm accommodation risk-free before train booking opens and/or you can hold accommodation while you finalise your itinerary and alter your plans as they evolve - a feature I use all the time when planning a trip.  I never book hotels non-refundably!

Backpacker hostels

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

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Travel insurance & VPN

Always take out travel insurance

Never travel overseas without travel insurance from a reliable insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover.  It should also cover cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible limit.  An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself.  Here are some suggested insurers.  Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.

  www.staysure.co.uk offers enhanced Covid-19 protection & gets 4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot.

  www.columbusdirect.com is also a well-know brand.

  If you live in the USA try Travel Guard USA.

Get an eSIM with mobile data package

Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a mobile data package for the country you're visiting and stay connected.  Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM card so you don't need to buy a physical SIM, including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list.  Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data.

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then add a foreign transaction fee on top.  A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month at time of writing.  The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.

How it works:  1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android.  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app.  You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader.  The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than digging a card out).  I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card, they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  Why you need a VPN

When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure.  A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi.  It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply.  See VPNs & why you need one explained.  ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription.  I get a small commission to help support this site.

Carry an Anker powerbank

Tickets, reservations, vaccination records and Interrail or Eurail passes are often held digitally on your mobile phone, so it's vital to keep it charged.  I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over if I can't get to a power outlet.  Buy from Amazon.co.uk or from buy from Amazon.com.

 

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