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This page explains how to travel by train from Bratislava to other European cities and how to buy tickets the cheapest way. Information current for 2025.
Pictured right: The civilised way to go. Lunch and a beer in the restaurant car of a Bratislava to Berlin express.
Before you buy your tickets
Take a moment to read these tips for buying European train tickets. It answers all the usual questions, "Do I need to book in advance or can I just buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and that old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or just buy a 35 point-to-point ticket online?". How far ahead can you buy train tickets?
European train travel FAQ
How to buy tickets for journeys within Slovakia
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www.zssk.sk is the Slovakian Railways website, click EN for English top right, though it tends to slip back into Slovak.
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Free travel for seniors & students within Slovakia
At the time of writing, all EU citizens & residents over 62 years old or students under 26 get free travel on R, Ex, EN, EC, SC trains wholly within Slovakia, but you need to register for a rail customer card at a Slovakian station first and get a 'zero fare ticket' for each journey, for more details see www.zssk.sk and look under Prices & Discounts for Zero - fare Public Rail Transport. UK citizens no longer qualify.
Bratislava to Kosice
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Trains link Bratislava Hlavna with Kosice every 2 hours, journey time 5h40.
Most have a restaurant car serving inexpensive meals, beer and wine. The full-flex fare is only about 25 in 2nd class or 33 in 1st class even for a premium-fare Intercity train.
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Buy at the station or the Slovakian Railways website www.zssk.sk.
Bratislava to Poprad-Tatry
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Trains link Bratislava Hlavna with Poprad-Tatry every 2 hours, journey time 4h25.
Most have a restaurant car serving inexpensive meals, beer and wine. The full-flex fare is only about 21 in 2nd class or 29 in 1st class even for a premium-fare Intercity train.
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Buy at the station or the Slovakian Railways website www.zssk.sk.
Slovakian InterCity & fast trains
On the Bratislava - Poprad Tatry - Kosice main line, ZSSK's best trains are either IC (InterCity) or R for Rychlik, meaning fast. Both types use similar high-quality air-conditioned cars like the ones below. All IC trains and most R trains have a restaurant car with adjacent bar area. Treat yourself to a meal in the restaurant car, it's not expensive and ZSSK's food is very good. There's usually one 1st class car, but various 2nd class cars, in 2nd class you can usually choose between a seat in an open-plan car or seats in a car with classic side corridor and 6-seat compartments.
Bratislava to London
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See the London to Bratislava page for times, fares & how to buy tickets in either direction.
Bratislava to Paris
Option 1, Bratislava to Paris in a single day - the scenic route via the Arlberg Pass
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Step 1, travel from Bratislava to Zurich by direct railjet train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 06:08, arriving Zurich HB 15:20.
This is a swish Austrian railjet train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
It travels in daylight through the wonderful Arlberg Pass, a scenic treat, see the photos & video here.
Fares start at 49.90 in 2nd class or 74.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , same fares).
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, you print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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Step 2, travel from Zurich to Paris by TGV-Lyria, leaving Zurich HB at 17:34 daily except Saturdays, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon 21:38.
The double-deck TGV-Lyria high-speed train travels at up to 320 km/h (199 mph), with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about TGV-Lyria. Book an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number above 60 is upper deck.
Fares start at 29 in 2nd class or 79 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train 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 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.
Tip: www.thetrainline.com & www.sncf-connect.com let you choose your seats from a seat map when booking 1st class tickets for TGV-Lyria.
Crossing the Salzach at Salzburg: View of the Fortress Hohensalzburg on the left hand side as the railjet crosses the river after leaving Salzburg Hbf.
Cutting across Germany: From Salzburg to Kufstein the train takes a short cut through Germany without stopping, see the route map here. All fast Vienna-Salzburg-Innsbruck trains do this, they're still considered Austrian domestic trains even they spend an hour on German territory! Such a train is called a Korridorzug.
Kufstein: The train stops at Kufstein, where the castle towers above the station.
Above right, lunch is served. In railjet first & business class, the steward takes your order & serves lunch at your seat.
Mountains near Innsbruck. The train calls briefly at Innsbruck Hbf.
River Inn: Running alongside the river Inn in the Tirol, somewhere between Φtzal & Landeck.
Arlberg Pass: Above, brooding skies over the Arlberg pass. The pass itself is long, narrow and curvaceous with the train snaking along the valley sides, often high above the valley floor.
Arlberg Tunnel: Between St Anton am Arlberg & Bludenz the train passes through the Arlberg Tunnel, 6.2 km (6.3 miles) long and opened in 1884. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlberg_Railway_Tunnel.
Swiss lakes: Between Sargans & Zurich the railjet runs alongside the shore of the Walensee and then the Zόrichsee.
Option 2, Bratislava to Paris using the Vienna-Paris Nightjet sleeper train 3 times a week - the time-effective option
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Step 1, travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 15:50 and arriving Vienna Hbf 16:46.
The fare is 11, you can buy at the station on the day or buy at www.oebb.at and print your ticket. More about Bratislava-Vienna trains.
Important: If travelling before 5 July 2025, see the update here.
Tip: Don't risk any tight connections with a sleeper to catch. By all means travel earlier, trains run every hour. See suggested restaurants.
Tip: If you have a sleeping-car ticket you can use the ΦBB lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & WiFi.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Paris by Nightjet, leaving Vienna Hbf at 18:13 on Tuesday, Thursday & Sunday, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 09:39.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has a couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and an ordinary seats car. 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.
Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in plain English, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways www.oebb.at (in , same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Option 3, Bratislava to Paris using the Vienna-Zurich sleeper - another time-effective option
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Step 1, travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 18:50 and arriving Vienna Hbf 19:46.
The fare is 11, you can buy at the station on the day or buy at www.oebb.at and print your ticket. More about Bratislava-Vienna trains.
Important: If travelling before 5 July 2025, see the update here.
Tip: Don't risk tight connections with a sleeper to catch. By all means travel earlier & have dinner in Vienna, see suggested restaurants.
Tip: If you've booked a sleeper, you can use the ΦBB lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Zurich by Nightjet sleeper train leaving Vienna Hbf at 21:39, arriving Zurich HB 08:20.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has two double-deck sleeping-cars with compact 1 or 2-bed compartments with washbasin and larger 1 or 2-bed deluxe compartments with en suite shower & toilet plus a few 3-berth compartments with washbasin. The sleeper attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes. See the guide to Nightjet accommodation.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at (in , same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, you print your own ticket.
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Step 3, travel from Zurich to Paris by TGV-Lyria, leaving Zurich HB at 09:34, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon 13:38.
The double-deck TGV-Lyria high-speed train travels at up to 320 km/h (199 mph) with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about TGV-Lyria. Book an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number above 60 is upper deck.
Fares start at 29 in 2nd class or 79 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in , no booking fee).
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Bratislava to Nice & the South of France
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Step 1, travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 16:50 and arriving Vienna Hbf 17:46.
By all means travel earlier and see more of Vienna, these trains run every hour. The fare is 11, you can buy at the station on the day or buy at www.oebb.at and print your ticket. More about these Bratislava-Vienna trains.
Important: If travelling before 5 July 2025, see the update here.
Tip: Don't risk tight connections with a sleeper train to catch. Why not have dinner in Vienna? See suggested restaurants.
Tip: If you have a sleeper ticket, you can use the ΦBB lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Genoa by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:18 every day, arriving Genoa Piazza Principe 09:38.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes. See the guide to Nightjet accommodation.
Fares start at 59.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 69.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. 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, a bit more fiddly, no booking fee). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
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Step 3, travel from Genoa to Ventimiglia by Intercity train, leaving Genoa Piazza Principe at 12:58 arriving Ventimiglia 14:54.
This is a lovely scenic ride along the Italian Riviera between Genoa & Ventimiglia. There's a refreshment trolley.
Fares start at 19.90 in 2nd class or 26.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy a ticket at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.
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Step 4, travel from Ventimiglia to Monaco, Nice or Cannes by TER local train, leaving Ventimiglia at 15:16, arriving Monte Carlo 15:47, Nice Ville 16:11, Cannes 16:53.
The fare is 9.20, promotional fares of 5 or 7.50 are sometimes available. 2nd class only.
Buy a ticket at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
You'll find details of the journey from Milan to Nice with photos & tips on the Nice to Italy by train page.
Bratislava to Lyon
Option 1, Bratislava to Lyon using the Vienna-Zurich sleeper - most time-effective
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Step 1, travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional train, Vienna to Zurich by nightjet sleeper and Zurich to Geneva by Swiss intercity train as shown in the Bratislava to Switzerland section. Book from Bratislava to Geneva at www.raileurope.com and print your own tickets.
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Step 2, take a TER regional train from Geneva to Lyon Part Dieu, these leave every 2 hours taking 2h10, fixed-price fare 33.40. You should reach Lyon just after lunch. Buy this ticket as a second transaction on www.raileurope.com and print your own ticket or show it on your phone.
Option 2, Bratislava to Lyon using the Bratislava-Zurich railjet - in a day
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Step 1, travel from Bratislava to Zurich by direct railjet leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 06:08 arriving Zurich HB 15:20, then take the next Swiss intercity train to Geneva, as shown in the Bratislava to Switzerland section.
Book from Bratislava to Geneva at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com and print your own ticket or show it on your phone.
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Step 2, take a TER regional train from Geneva to Lyon Part Dieu, these run every 2 hours taking 2h10, fixed-price 33.40. You reach Lyon around 21:22. Buy this ticket on www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com and print your own ticket or show it on your phone.
Bratislava to Strasbourg
Option 1, by daytime trains
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The best departure is at 07:50 every day by regional train to Vienna Hbf.
You then leave Vienna Hbf at 09:13 by ICE-T train to Frankfurt (Main) Hbf and onward TGV Duplex to Strasbourg arriving 18:48.
The ICE-T has a restaurant car, the TGV has a cafe-bar. Both have power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
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Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee).
This cleverly splits the booking to get a cheap fare for both the Bratislava-Frankfurt leg and the Frankfurt-Strasbourg leg.
Option 2, by sleeper trains - the time-effective option
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Take an early evening regional train to Vienna and board the Nightjet sleeper from Vienna to Paris, as shown in the Bratislava to Paris section. This sleeper train calls at Strasbourg at 05:44.
Bratislava to Brussels or Bruges
Option 1, Bratislava to Brussels in a single day from 46.90
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You can travel from Bratislava to Brussels in a single day:
Leave Bratislava Hlavna 05:50, change at Vienna Hbf & Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen, arriving Brussels Midi 17:35.
Leave Bratislava Hlavna 07:50, change at Vienna Hbf & Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen, arriving Brussels Midi 19:35.
Leave Bratislava Hlavna 09:50, change at Vienna Hbf & Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen, arriving Brussels Midi 21:35.
Bratislava to Vienna is by regional express. Vienna to Frankfurt & Frankfurt to Brussels is by ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. A chill-out day across Europe!
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Fares start at 46.99 in 2nd class, 99.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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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 on at any time and check or reprint tickets. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Option 2, Bratislava to Brussels using the Vienna-Brussels Nightjet sleeper on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays - the most comfortable & time-effective option
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Step 1, travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 15:50 and arriving Vienna Hbf at 16:46.
The fare is 11, you can buy at the station on the day or buy at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at and print your ticket or show it on your phone. More about Bratislava-Vienna trains.
Important: If travelling before 5 July 2025, see the update here.
Tip: Don't risk tight connections with a sleeper train to catch. These regional trains run every hour, your ticket is good for any departure.
Tip: If you've booked a sleeper, you can use the ΦBB lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Brussels by Nightjet, leaving Vienna Hbf at 18:13 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays, arriving Brussels Midi 09:55.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars each with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has two 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 (easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways www.oebb.at (in , same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, less than this when the mid-December timetable change intervenes. You print your own tickets.
Bratislava to Amsterdam from 46.99
Option 1, Bratislava to Amsterdam using the Vienna-Amsterdam Nightjet sleeper train - the most comfortable & time-effective option
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Step 1, travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 17:50 and arriving Vienna Hbf 18:46.
The fare is 11, you can buy at the station on the day or buy at www.oebb.at and print your ticket or show it on your phone. More about Bratislava-Vienna trains.
Important: If travelling before 5 July 2025, see the update here.
Tip: Don't risk tight connections with a sleeper to catch. Why not leave earlier and have dinner in Vienna? See suggested restaurants.
Tip: If you have a sleeping-car ticket, you can use the ΦBB lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & WiFi.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Amsterdam by Nightjet, leaving Vienna Hbf at 20:10, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 09:50.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has several couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes. See the guide to Nightjet accommodation.
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 (easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly, in ) or at the Dutch Railways international site www.nsinternational.nl (in , no fee).
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, less than this when the mid-December timetable change intervenes. You print your own ticket.
Option 2, Bratislava to Amsterdam in a single day from 46.99
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You can travel from Bratislava to Amsterdam in a single day, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 07:50 by regional train to Vienna Hbf.
You then leave Vienna Hbf at 09:13 by ICE-T to Frankfurt (Main), and connecting ICE3 to Amsterdam Centraal arriving 21:29.
The ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. A chill-out day across Europe.
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Fares start at 46.99 in 2nd class, 99.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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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 on at any time and check or reprint tickets. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Tip: In the search results, look for journeys with just 2 changes.
Bratislava to Luxembourg from 37.99
Option 1, Bratislava to Luxembourg in a single day
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You can travel from Bratislava to Luxembourg in a single day:
Leave Bratislava Hlavna 05:50, change at Vienna Hbf & Koblenz, arriving Luxembourg 17:48.
Leave Bratislava Hlavna 07:50, change at Vienna Hbf & Koblenz, arriving Luxembourg 20:23.
Leave Bratislava Hlavna 09:50, change at Vienna Hbf & Koblenz, arriving Luxembourg 21:29.
Bratislava to Vienna is by regional express. Vienna to Koblenz is by ICE-T train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Koblenz-Luxembourg is by regional train. A chill-out day across Europe.
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Fares start at 37.99 in 2nd class, 66.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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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 on at any time and check or reprint tickets. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Tip: To stop journeys involving rail replacement buses cluttering up the search results, click Stopovers and enter Igel as a stopover, leaving length of stay as 00:00. The trains call at Igel, the buses don't!
Tip: In the search results, look for a journey with just 2 changes.
Option 2, Bratislava to Luxembourg overnight using the Vienna-Koblenz sleeper - the time-effective option
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Step 1, travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional express train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 17:50 and arriving Vienna Hbf 18:46.
The fare is 11, you can buy at the station on the day or buy at www.oebb.at and print your ticket. More about Bratislava-Vienna trains.
Tip: Don't risk tight connections with a sleeper to catch. Why not leave earlier and have dinner in Vienna? See suggested restaurants.
Tip: If you have a sleeping-car ticket, you can use the ΦBB lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Koblenz by Nightjet, leaving Vienna Hbf at 18:13 on Tuesdays. Thursdays & Sundays, arriving Koblenz Hbf 05:45.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars each with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has two 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 (easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways www.oebb.at (in , same prices).
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, but less than this when the mid-December timetable change intervenes. You print your own tickets.
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Step 3, travel from Koblenz to Luxembourg by regional train, leaving Koblenz Hbf at 06:03 Mondays-Saturdays, change at Trier, arriving Luxembourg 08:24.
On Sundays (or if the sleeper is late), leave Koblenz 07:06, change at Trier, arrive Luxembourg 09:23.
The fare is 28 in 2nd class or 47.80 in 1st class, fixed-price.
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de and print your own ticket or show it on your phone.
Bratislava to Zurich & Switzerland
Option 1, Bratislava to Zurich by direct railjet train - the best option if the timing suits you
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A direct ΦBB railjet train leaves Bratislava Hlavna at 06:08 every day, arriving Zurich HB 15:20.
Change at Sargans for Chur & St Moritz. Change at Zurich HB for Basel, Bern, Geneva or anywhere else in Switzerland.
The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
It travels through the scenic Arlberg Pass, see the Arlberg Pass video & Arlberg Railways page.
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Fares start at 39.90 in 2nd class, 54.90 in 1st class or 69.90 in business class (=premium 1st).
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Book this train at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , same prices).
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Tip: You can book from Bratislava to any Swiss station not just Zurich, this is usually a lot cheaper than buying a separate onward ticket from Zurich at Swiss domestic prices.
Crossing the Salzach at Salzburg: View of the Fortress Hohensalzburg on the left hand side as the railjet crosses the river after leaving Salzburg Hbf.
Cutting across Germany: From Salzburg to Kufstein the train takes a short cut through Germany without stopping, see the route map here. All fast Vienna-Salzburg-Innsbruck trains do this, they're still considered Austrian domestic trains even they spend an hour on German territory! Such a train is called a Korridorzug.
Kufstein: The train stops at Kufstein, where the castle towers above the station.
Above right, lunch is served. In railjet first & business class, the steward takes your order & serves lunch at your seat.
Mountains near Innsbruck. The train calls briefly at Innsbruck Hbf.
River Inn: Running alongside the river Inn in the Tirol, somewhere between Φtzal & Landeck.
Arlberg Pass: Above, brooding skies over the Arlberg pass. The pass itself is long, narrow and curvaceous with the train snaking along the valley sides, often high above the valley floor.
Arlberg Tunnel: Between St Anton am Arlberg & Bludenz the train passes through the Arlberg Tunnel, 6.2 km (6.3 miles) long and opened in 1884. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlberg_Railway_Tunnel.
Swiss lakes: Between Sargans & Zurich the railjet runs alongside the shore of the Walensee and then the Zόrichsee.
Option 2, Bratislava to Switzerland by daytime trains with one easy change in Vienna - if the timing of the direct train doesn't suit you
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Step 1, travel from Bratislava Hlavna to Vienna Hbf by regional train leaving every hour at xx:50 minutes past each hour, taking 56 minutes.
The fare is 11, just buy tickets at the station on the day or at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at to save time and hop on the next train. No reservation necessary or possible, it cannot sell out! More about Bratislava-Vienna trains.
Important: If travelling before 5 July 2025, see the update here.
I'd allow at least 40 minutes between trains in Vienna.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna Hbf to Zurich HB by railjet train in 7h50, departures at 07:28, 09:28, 13:28, 15:28.
This is a lovely scenic ride on a smart modern train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi through the wonderful Arlberg Pass, see the Arlberg Pass scenery video & Arlberg Railway page.
Fares start at 29.90 in 2nd class, 44.90 in 1st class or 59.90 in business class (= premium 1st). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Option 3, Bratislava to Switzerland using the Vienna-Zurich Nightjet sleeper - the time-effective option
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Step 1, travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 18:50 and arriving Vienna Hbf 19:46.
The fare is 11, you can buy at the station on the day or buy at www.oebb.at and print your ticket. More about Bratislava-Vienna trains.
Important: If travelling before 5 July 2025, see the update here.
Tip: Don't risk tight connections with a sleeper to catch. Why not leave earlier and have dinner in Vienna? See suggested restaurants.
Tip: If you have a sleeping-car ticket, you can use the ΦBB lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & WiFi.
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Step 2, take the excellent Nightjet sleeper train leaving Vienna Hbf at 21:39 and arriving Zurich HB 08:20.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has two double-deck sleeping-cars with compact 1 or 2-bed compartments with washbasin and larger 1 or 2-bed deluxe compartments with en suite shower & toilet plus a few 3-berth compartments with washbasin. The sleeper attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes. See the guide to Nightjet accommodation.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at (same prices, a bit more fiddly, in ). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Bratislava to Venice, Milan, Florence, Rome & Italy from 44
Option 1, Bratislava to Venice in a day
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Step 1, travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 09:50, arriving Vienna Hbf 10:46.
You can take the later 10:50 arriving 11:46, but I'd play safe.
The fare is 11, you can buy at the station on the day or buy at www.oebb.at and print your ticket. More about Bratislava-Vienna trains.
Important: If travelling before 5 July 2025, see the update here.
Tip: If you have a 1st or business class ticket for the railjet to Venice, you can use the ΦBB lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & WiFi.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Venice by railjet, leaving Vienna Hbf at 12:24, arriving Venice Santa Lucia 20:04.
The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
It takes the UNESCO-listed Semmering Railway between Vienna & Graz, see the photos & video on the Vienna to Venice page.
Fares start at 28.30 in 2nd class, 56.60 in 1st or 71.60 in business class (= premium 1st). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , a bit more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
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Change in Venice for a high-speed Frecciarossa to Verona, Milan, Florence or Rome. I'd allow at least 45 minutes between trains at Venice, but as you arrive in Venice at 8pm an overnight stop may be necessary.
Book onward trains within Italy at www.thetrainline.com.
Venice-Florence from 19.90 in 2h05, Venice-Rome from 29.90 in 3h45.
Tip: You can change trains at Venice Mestre to save going over the causeway into Venice Santa Lucia and back out again, although if staying overnight I'd be too keen to see a bit of Venice, for however short a time! Venice Santa Lucia is only 15 minutes walk from the Rialto bridge.
Option 2, Bratislava to Italy by sleeper train - the most comfortable & time-effective option
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Step 1, travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional train:
Leave Bratislava Hlavna at 16:50 if going to Milan, Bologna, Florence or Rome arriving Vienna Hbf 17:46.
Leave Bratislava Hlavna at 18:50 if going to Venice, arriving Vienna Hbf 19:46.
The fare is 11, you can buy at the station on the day or buy at www.oebb.at and print your ticket. More about Bratislava-Vienna trains.
Important: If travelling before 5 July 2025, see the update here.
Tip: Don't risk tight connections with a sleeper to catch. Why not leave earlier and have dinner in Vienna? See suggested restaurants.
Tip: If you have a sleeping-car ticket you can use the ΦBB lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & WiFi.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Italy by Nightjet sleeper train.
A Nightjet leaves Vienna Hbf at 19:18 every day with a portion arriving Verona Porta Nuova 05:51, Milan Rogoredo 07:42, Genoa Piazza Principe 09:38 & La Spezia 11:10, another portion arriving Bologna Centrale 05:36, Florence SMN 06:42 & Rome Tiburtina 11:05.
Another Nightjet leaves Vienna Hbf at 21:39 arriving Venice Santa Lucia on the banks of the Grand Canal in central Venice at 08:34.
The Nightjets to Venice and to Milan, Genoa & La Spezia each have 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, travel tips, photos & video.
The Nightjet to Bologna, Florence & Rome is a new generation Nightjet with 1 & 2 bed sleepers all with shower & toilet, 4-berth comfort couchettes, individual mini cabins and ordinary seats, see the new generation Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips & photos. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. A light breakfast is included in sleepers, couchettes & mini cabins.
Fares for the new-generation Nightjet start at 59.90 in a mini cabin or 4-berth couchettes, 109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Fares for the original Nightjets start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book these trains at www.thetrainline.com (in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at (same prices, a bit more fiddly, in ). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.
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Step 3, onward trains from Rome to Naples, Rome to Sicily or Milan to Genoa (for example) can be booked separately at either www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, recognises English place-names) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, the small booking fee will be refunded if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (more fiddly to use, requires Italian language place names, read this advice on using it). I'd allow at least an hour between the nightjet arrival and any onward train, ideally more.
Bratislava to Barcelona, Madrid & Spain
Bratislava to Barcelona & Spain with overnight stop in Zurich or Geneva
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Day 1, travel from Bratislava to Zurich by railjet, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 06:08, arriving Zurich HB 15:20.
The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
It travels through the wonderful Arlberg Pass, put your feet up and enjoy the scenery, watch the Arlberg video. Treat yourself to lunch!
Fares from Bratislava to Geneva start at 59.90 in 2nd class, 74.90 in 1st class or 89.90 in business class (= premium 1st class).
Book from Bratislava to Geneva at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , same prices).
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket. This ticket will then include the onward train to Geneva, much cheaper than buying a separate Swiss domestic ticket.
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Day 1, travel from Zurich to Geneva by Intercity train, leaving Zurich HB at 15:32, arriving Geneva 18:25.
This comfortable Swiss Intercity train has a restaurant car, power sockets and free WiFi.
If you book from Bratislava to Geneva, you get a through ticket which includes this train. The tight connection is not a problem, if there's a delay you simply take the next train, they run every half hour, no reservation is needed there are plenty of seats.
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Stay overnight in Geneva. Hotels with good reviews near the station include Hotel Cornavin Genθve, Hotel Les Arcades, ibis Styles Geneva Gare. Hotels in Switzerland can be expensive, if you're on a budget you can book budget private rooms in a one-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station using www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 2, travel from Geneva to Lyon by TER regional train, leaving Geneva at 09:30, arriving Lyon Part Dieu 11:22.
It's a pleasant journey on spacious former inter-city cars along the river Rhτne.
The fare is a fixed-price 33.40 in 2nd class, 50.80 in 1st class.
Book this at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in , no booking fee). Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Have dinner in Lyon, see suggested restaurants near the station.
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Day 2, travel from Lyon to Barcelona by AVE, leaving Lyon Part Dieu at 14:35, arriving Barcelona Sants 19:33.
This comfortable AVE S100 high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
It passes Bιziers cathedral, flamingos on the ιtangs (lakes) in southern France, the Fort de Salses approaching Perpignan. Look out for the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees. More about the journey.
Fares start at 39 in 2nd class or 59 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, small booking fee) or Spanish railways own site www.renfe.com (in , much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it).
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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.
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Day 3, travel from Barcelona to other destinations in Spain:
For Madrid: AVE S103 high-speed trains link Barcelona Sants & Madrid Atocha every hour or two in as little as 2h30.
For Granada: Leave Barcelona Sants at 06:45 by AVE 112 high-speed train, arriving Granada at 13:11.
For Malaga: Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE S103 high-speed train, arriving Malaga Maria Zambrano 15:05.
For Cordoba & Seville: Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE S103 high-speed train, arriving Cordoba 13:27 & Seville Santa Justa 14:32.
For Valencia & Alicante: Euromed trains link Barcelona Sants with Valencia & Alicante regularly through the day, for example one leaves Barcelona Sants at 07:15 Mondays-Saturdays arriving Valencia 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 Coruρa & Vigo, there's a morning Alvia train to Galicia, see details here.
Check times & buy tickets using either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, small booking fee) or Spanish railways own site www.renfe.com (in , much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it) or www.petrabax.com (in $, small mark-up). You print your own ticket. Booking opens anything from 15 days to 9 months ahead.
Bratislava to Lisbon & Portugal
Bratislava to Lisbon via Paris, Barcelona & Madrid
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Day 1, travel from Bratislava to Paris in a day by railjet & TGV-Lyria as shown in the Bratislava to Paris section.
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Stay overnight in Paris, see suggested hotels.
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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 cafι-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 Rhτne valley past pretty villages & picturesque churches, then past Bιziers cathedral, flamingos on the ιtangs (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 or www.thetrainline.com. Booking for the TGV opens up to 4 months ahead.
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Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Madrid by AVE, leaving 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.
The AVE S103 high-speed train has 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 opens several months ahead, it varies.
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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.
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Day 3, travel from Madrid to Lisbon by daytime trains as shown on the Madrid to Lisbon page.
Bratislava to Andorra
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Day 1, travel from Bratislava to Paris in a day by railjet & TGV-Lyria as shown in the Bratislava to Paris section.
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Stay overnight in Paris, see suggested hotels. Transfer from the Gare de Lyon Nord to the Gare Montparnasse by taxi or metro.
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Day 2, travel from Paris Gare Montparnasse to Toulouse Matabiau by TGV then bus to Andorra, as shown on the Trains from Paris page.
Bratislava to Berlin & Hamburg from 39.99
Option 1, Bratislava to Berlin & Hamburg by EuroCity Hungaria - the direct daytime option
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A direct EuroCity train called the Hungaria links Bratislava with Dresden, Berlin & Hamburg every day, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 09:58, arriving Dresden Hbf 16:50, Berlin Hbf 18:43 and Hamburg Hbf 21:17.
The Hungaria has comfortable air-conditioned cars with power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. There's a Hungarian restaurant car serving inexpensive meals, beer & wine and there's lovely scenery along the Elbe River between Prague & Dresden, see the photos & video here.
Earlier and later departures are available with one easy change at Prague Hlavni.
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Fares start at 39.99 in 2nd class or 59.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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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 on at any time and check or reprint tickets. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
int.bahn.de can sell both the direct Hungaria and journeys with a change in Prague. Tip: For a stopover in Prague, click Stopovers and enter PRAGUE, with a suitable length of stay.
Option 1, Bratislava to Berlin & Hamburg by day trains - alternative daytime options
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Leave Bratislava Hlavna 08:50 by regional express arriving Vienna Hbf 09:46. Leave Vienna Hbf 10:13 by ICE-T arriving Berlin Hbf 17:55.
The German ICE-T train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Important: If travelling before 5 July 2025, see the update here.
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Fares from Bratislava to Berlin start at 46.99 in 2nd class or 59.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares so book ahead.
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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.
Option 2, Bratislava to Berlin by sleeper train - the time-effective option, saves a hotel bill too
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The EuroNight sleeper train Metropol leaves Bratislava Hlavna at 21:58 arriving Dresden 05:50 & Berlin Hbf 08:14.
This comfortable train 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 2nd class seats. The sleeper fare includes a light breakfast, served in your compartment. More about this sleeper train.
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Fares start at 39 with a couchette in a 6-berth, 59 with a couchette in a 4-berth, 129 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, 139 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or 179 in a single-bed sleeper. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, you print your own ticket.
Option 3, Bratislava to Hamburg using the Vienna-Hamburg sleeper train - the time-effective option
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Step 1, travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional express train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 17:50, arriving Vienna Hbf 18:46.
The fare is 11, you can buy at the station on the day or buy at www.oebb.at and print your ticket. More about Bratislava-Vienna trains.
Important: If travelling before 5 July 2025, see the update here.
Tip: Don't risk tight connections with a sleeper to catch. Why not travel earlier and have dinner in Vienna? See suggested restaurants.
Tip: If you have a sleeping-car ticket, you can use the ΦBB lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & WiFi.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train leaving Vienna Hbf at 20:10, arriving Hamburg Hbf 08:47.
This train is a new generation Nightjet train with 1 & 2 bed sleepers all with shower & toilet, 4-berth comfort couchettes, individual mini cabins and ordinary seats, see the new generation Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. A light breakfast is included in sleepers, couchettes & mini cabins.
Fares start at 59.90 in a mini cabin or 4-berth couchettes, 109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly, in ). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, less than this when the mid-December timetable change intervenes. You print your own ticket.
Vienna to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train. More about new-generation Nightjets.
Bratislava to Munich from 34.99
Option 1, Bratislava to Munich by daytime trains
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Take the hourly regional train from Bratislava Hlavna to Vienna Hbf then a smart Austrian railjet train from Vienna Hbf to Munich Hbf with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. For example:
Leave Bratislava Hlavna 06:50, change at Vienna Hbf, arrive Munich Hbf 12:32.
Leave Bratislava Hlavna 08:50, change at Vienna Hbf, arrive Munich Hbf 14:32.
Leave Bratislava Hlavna 10:50, change at Vienna Hbf, arrive Munich Hbf 16:34.
Leave Bratislava Hlavna 12:50, change at Vienna Hbf, arrive Munich Hbf 18:31.
Leave Bratislava Hlavna 14:50, change at Vienna Hbf, arrive Munich Hbf 20:31.
Leave Bratislava Hlavna 16:50, change at Vienna Hbf, arrive Munich Hbf 22:32.
Important: If travelling before 5 July 2025, see the update here.
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Fares start at 37.99 in 2nd class or 69.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Tip: I'd change Transfer time to from normal to 30 minutes to ensure robust connections.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. Look for journeys with just 1 change. 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 2, Bratislava to Munich by sleeper train
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Step 1, travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 20:50, arriving Vienna Hbf 21:46.
The fare is 11, you can buy at the station on the day or buy at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at and print your ticket. More about Bratislava-Vienna trains.
Important: If travelling before 5 July 2025, see the update here.
Tip: Don't risk tight connections with a sleeper train to catch. Why not leave earlier and have dinner in Vienna? See suggested restaurants.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Munich by EuroNight sleeper train Kalman Imre, leaving Vienna Hbf at 23:28 arriving Munich Ost 05:50.
Fares start at 49.90 with couchette in 6-berth, 59.90 with couchette in 4-berth, 89.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or 129.90 with a bed in a single-bed sleeper. Morning tea or coffee is included in sleepers.
This sleeper train comes through from Budapest, see more about this train here & see the Hungarian sleeping-car video.
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 , a bit more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Bratislava to Frankfurt, Cologne, Dόsseldorf & other cities in Germany from 39.99
Option 1, Bratislava to Germany by daytime trains
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Buy tickets from Bratislava Hlavna to anywhere in Germany at the German Railways website, int.bahn.de.
Tip: Look for journeys with the fewest changes. You might get more convenient journeys if you click Stopovers and enter Dresden or Vienna.
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.
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Fares start at 37.99 in 2nd class or 69.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Option 2, Bratislava to Koblenz or Cologne by Nightjet sleeper train - the time-effective option
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Step 1, travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional express train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 15:50, arriving Vienna Hbf 16:46.
The fare is 11, you can buy at the station on the day or buy at www.oebb.at and print your ticket. More about Bratislava-Vienna trains.
Tip: Don't risk tight connections with a sleeper to catch. These trains run every hour, why not leave earlier? See suggested restaurants.
Tip: If you have a sleeping-car ticket, you can use the ΦBB lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & WiFi.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Germany by Nightjet sleeper, leaving Vienna Hbf at 18:13 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays, arriving Koblenz Hbf 05:45 & Cologne Hbf 06:59.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars each with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has two 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 (easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly, in ). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Bratislava to Vienna for 11
Bratislava to Linz, Salzburg or Innsbruck
Option 1, Bratislava to Linz, Salzburg & Innsbruck by direct railjet train
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A railjet train leaves Bratislava Hlavna at 06:08 every day for Linz, Salzburg & Innsbruck, arriving Salzburg Hbf 09:53 & Innsbruck Hbf at 11:44.
This excellent railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. 1st & business class passengers can order food & drink from their seats.
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Fares start at 29.90 in 2nd class, 39.90 in 1st class, 54.90 in business class (= premium 1st class). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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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 , a bit more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Option 2, other departures with a change of train in Vienna - if the direct early morning train doesn't suit you
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Step 1, travel from Bratislava Hlavna to Vienna Hbf by regional train, these leave every hour at xx:50 minutes past each hour, journey time 56 minutes. More about Bratislava-Vienna trains. Important: If travelling before 5 July 2025, see the update here.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna Hbf to Linz, Salzburg Hbf or Innsbruck Hbf by railjet train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
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Bratislava to Salzburg starts at 24.90. Bratislava to Innsbruck starts at 39.90. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets from Bratislava to anywhere in Austria at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , same prices).
Look for journeys with 1 change, ignore journeys with 2. Sparschiene fares are cheap advance-purchase fares, limited availability at each price level, specified train only. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Tip: To travel in 1st or business class on the railjet, it may be cheaper to book from Vienna to your Austrian destination and select 1st class, then buy a 2nd class local ticket for the Bratislava-Vienna train for a fixed-price 11 either at the station on the day or as a second transaction at www.thetrainline.com.
Bratislava to Copenhagen from 49.99
Option 1, Bratislava to Copenhagen using the Vienna-Hamburg sleeper
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Step 1, travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 17:50, arriving Vienna Hbf 18:46.
The fare is 11, you can buy at the station on the day or buy at www.oebb.at and print your ticket. More about Bratislava-Vienna trains.
Important: If travelling before 5 July 2025, see the update here.
Tip: If you have a sleeping-car ticket, you can use the ΦBB lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & WiFi.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 20:10, arriving Hamburg Hbf 08:47.
This is a new generation Nightjet with 1 & 2 bed sleepers all with shower & toilet, 4-berth comfort couchettes, individual mini cabins and ordinary seats, see the new generation Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. A light breakfast is included in sleepers, couchettes & mini cabins.
Fares start at 59.90 in a mini cabin or 4-berth couchettes, 109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly, in ).
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, but less than this when the mid-December timetable change intervenes. You print your own tickets.
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Step 3, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 10:53, arriving Copenhagen 15:38.
The EuroCity train has power sockets at all seats and a refreshment trolley. More about this journey.
Fares start at 27.99 in 2nd class or 59.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Step 2, Vienna to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train. More about new-generation Nightjets.
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.
Option 2, Bratislava to Copenhagen using the Bratislava-Berlin sleeper
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Day 1, travel from Bratislava to Berlin by sleeper train Metropol leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 21:58, arriving Berlin Hbf 08:14.
The train has a comfortable air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments, an air-conditioned Hungarian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments & 2nd class seats. In the sleepers, a light breakfast is included in the fare. 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 (only in , same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to Copenhagen, leaving Berlin Hbf at 10:36, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 17:38.
Or have lunch in Berlin, then leave Berlin Hbf at 14:36, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 21:38.
You travel from Berlin to Hamburg by ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train with power sockets at all seats & refreshments. More about the Hamburg to Copenhagen journey.
Fares from Berlin to Copenhagen start at 37.99 in 2nd class, 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 on at any time and check or reprint tickets. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Option 3, Bratislava to Copenhagen with overnight stop in Hamburg
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Day 1, travel from Bratislava to Hamburg by EuroCity train Hungaria, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 09:58, arriving Hamburg Hbf 21:17.
Put your feet up, chill out and enjoy the scenery along the Elbe river between Prague & Dresden, see the photos & video here.
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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.
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Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:50, arriving Copenhagen 13:38.
The EuroCity train has power sockets at all seats and a refreshment trolley. More about this journey.
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How much does it cost?
Bratislava to Copenhagen starts at 66.99 in 2nd class or 81.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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To buy tickets
Book from Bratislava to Copenhagen at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
To get the overnight stop in Hamburg, click Stopovers and enter Hamburg Hbf with a length of stay of (say) 10 hours.
In the search results, look for journeys with the fewest changes. Adjust departure time & length of stay to get the trains you want either side of Hamburg. A little trial and error may be needed!
Step 2, 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.
Bratislava to Stockholm & Sweden
Option 1, Bratislava to Stockholm using the Hamburg-Stockholm sleeper train - the time-effective option
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Step 1, travel from Bratislava to Hamburg, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 08:50, change at Vienna Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 19:51.
Bratislava to Vienna is by regional train, Vienna to Hamburg by ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Always allow an hour between trains, ideally more when connecting with a sleeper train you don't want to miss. Have dinner in Hamburg, see suggested restaurants near the station. Important: If travelling before 5 July 2025, see the update here.
Fares start at 46.99 in 2nd class or 59.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens 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.
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Step 2, travel from Hamburg to Stockholm by sleeper train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 22:03, arriving Stockholm Central 09:55 next morning.
Run by SJ (Swedish Railways), the 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 Malmφ 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.
Option 2, Bratislava to Copenhagen & Scandinavia using the Vienna-Hamburg Nightjet sleeper
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Step 1, travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 17:50, arriving Vienna Hbf 18:46.
The fare is 11, you can buy at the station on the day or buy at www.oebb.at and print your ticket. More about Bratislava-Vienna trains.
Important: If travelling before 5 July 2025, see the update here.
Tip: If you have a sleeping-car ticket, you can use the ΦBB lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & WiFi.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 20:10, arriving Hamburg Hbf 08:47.
This is a new generation Nightjet with 1 & 2 bed sleepers all with shower & toilet, 4-berth comfort couchettes, individual mini cabins and ordinary seats, see the new generation Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. A light breakfast is included in sleepers, couchettes & mini cabins.
Fares start at 59.90 in a mini cabin or 4-berth couchettes, 109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways www.oebb.at (a little more fiddly, in ).
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, but less than this when the mid-December timetable change intervenes. You print your own tickets.
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Step 3, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 10:53, arriving Copenhagen 15:38.
The EuroCity train has power sockets at all seats and a refreshment trolley. More about this journey.
Fares start at 27.99 in 2nd class or 59.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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Step 4, travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000, leaving Copenhagen at 16:19 daily except Saturdays arriving Stockholm Central 21:38.
On Saturdays and some other times an extra change may be needed at Malmφ Central, times may vary, check online.
Book this with Swedish Railways at www.sj.se (in SEK) or using Omio.com (in SEK, , £ or $, small booking fee)..
Booking opens several months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Step 2, Vienna to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train. More about new-generation Nightjets.
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.
Option 3, Bratislava to Malmφ, Gothenburg & Stockholm by day trains with overnight stop in Hamburg
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Day 1, travel from Bratislava to Hamburg by EuroCity Hungaria, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 09:58, arriving Hamburg Hbf 21:17.
The Hungaria uses comfortable air-conditioned Hungarian carriages with restaurant car, Treat yourself to lunch & dinner and a beer or two. Put your feet up, chill out and enjoy the scenery along the Elbe river between Prague & Dresden, see the photos & video here.
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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.
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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 this journey.
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Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Sweden:
For Malmφ, hop on the next Φresund train from Copenhagen to Malmφ Central, these leave every 15 minutes taking 40 minutes.
For Gothenburg, hop on the next Φresund train from Copenhagen to Gφteborg Central, these leave every hour taking 3h50.
For Stockholm, travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000, leaving Copenhagen at 14:19, arriving Stockholm Central 19:37.
SJ's X2000 trains have a bistro, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. They use the impressive Φresund fixed link from Sweden to Denmark,
Update 2025: Unfortunately, SJ is short of X2000s and until further notice you'll need to change at Malmφ:
On Mondays-Fridays, leave Copenhagen 15:59, change at Malmφ Central, arriving Stockholm Central 21:33.
On Saturdays & Sundays, leave Copenhagen 14:59, change at Malmφ Central, arriving Stockholm Central 20:36.
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How much does it cost?
Bratislava to Hamburg starts at 37.99 in 2nd class or 59.99 in 1st class.
Hamburg to Copenhagen starts at 27.99 in 2nd class or 39.99 in 1st class.
Copenhagen to Stockholm starts at 280 SEK (28).
There are through fares from Hamburg to Malmφ from 37.99 in 2nd class, 49.99 in 1st class.
There are through fares from Hamburg to Gothenburg from 56.99 in 2nd class, 79.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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How to buy tickets
Step 1, book from Bratislava to Hamburg at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Step 2 for Malmφ or Gothenburg, book from Hamburg to Malmφ Central or Gφteborg Central at int.bahn.de.
Step 2 for Stockholm, book Hamburg to Copenhagen using int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print your tickets at any time. You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.
Step 3 for Stockholm, book from Copenhagen to Stockholm at www.sj.se (in SEK) or using Omio.com (in SEK, , £ or $, small booking fee).
Step 2, 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.
Bratislava to Oslo & Norway
Option 1, Bratislava to Oslo via Hamburg & Copenhagen - by train all the way
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Day 1 travel from Bratislava to Hamburg by EuroCity train Hungaria, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 09:58, arriving Hamburg Hbf 21:17.
The Hungaria has comfortable air-conditioned cars with power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. There's a Hungarian restaurant car serving inexpensive meals, beer & wine and there's lovely scenery along the Elbe River between Prague & Dresden, see the photos & video here.
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 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.
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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.
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Day 2, you have a choice:
You can travel from Hamburg to Oslo entirely by train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:50, changing trains at Copenhagen & Gothenburg, arriving Oslo Sentral 23:41, as explained on the Trains from Hamburg page.
Or you can travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by train leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:50, then sail from Copenhagen to Oslo in a cosy cabin on the excellent DFDS overnight ferry, also as explained on the Trains from Hamburg page. A private cabin on the ferry with en suite toilet & shower is remarkably affordable, and saves a hotel bill.
Option 2, Bratislava to Oslo via the Kiel-Oslo cruise ferry - the most comfortable way to Oslo
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Day 1, travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 17:50, arriving Vienna Hbf 18:46.
The fare is 11, you can buy at the station on the day or buy at www.oebb.at and print your ticket. More about Bratislava-Vienna trains. By all means travel earlier and see something of Vienna, these trains run every hour.
Important: If travelling before 5 July 2025, see the update here.
Tip: If you have a sleeping-car ticket, you can use the ΦBB lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & WiFi.
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Day 1, travel from Vienna to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 20:10, arriving Hamburg Hbf at 08:47.
This train is a new generation Nightjet train with 1 & 2 bed sleepers all with shower & toilet, 4-berth comfort couchettes, individual mini cabins and ordinary seats, see the new generation Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips & photos. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. A light breakfast is included in sleepers, couchettes & mini cabins.
Fares start at 59.90 in a mini cabin or 4-berth couchettes, 109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , a little more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, you print your own ticket.
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Day 2, travel from Hamburg Hbf to Kiel Hbf by regional train, these leave several times each hour taking 1h10, fixed-price fare around 23.
In Kiel it's a 7 minute 450m walk from Kiel Hbf to the Color Line ferry terminal, see walking map. But always allow several hours between trains and ferry for the ferry check-in and in case of any delay.
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Day 2, sail from Kiel to Oslo by luxurious overnight Color Line ferry, with a full range of en suite cabins, suites, bars, restaurants and lounges. The m/v Magic or m/v Fantasy normally sails at 14:00 arriving Oslo at 10:00 next morning (Day 3 from Bratislava).
Check times & buy tickets using the Direct Ferries website or 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.
Bratislava to Helsinki & Finland
Option 1, Bratislava to Helsinki using a Finnlines ferry from Travemόnde in Germany - the easiest option
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Day 1, travel from Bratislava to Berlin by sleeper train, as shown in the Bratislava to Berlin section. Book as shown.
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to Hamburg by ICE train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 12:05, arriving Hamburg Hbf 13:51.
You can in fact take any train you like as trains run at least every hour, just make sure you allow at least an hour between trains in Berlin in case of delay. Which departure you choose depends on whether you want more time in Berlin or more time in Hamburg. The ICE has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Book this train at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or 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.
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Day 2, travel from Hamburg Hbf to Lόbeck by regional train then take a bus to the Skandinavienkai ferry terminal in Travemόnde.
Sail from Travemόnde to Helsinki by Finnlines ferry. Finnlines sail from Travemόnde to Helsinki every day, boarding at 23:30, sailing at 02:45 (the exact time varies) and arriving at Helsinki's Hansa Terminal in Vuosaari at 09:15 2 nights later (Day 4 from Bratislava).
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.
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Book onward trains within Finland at the Finnish Railways website www.vr.fi.
Option 2, Bratislava to Helsinki by train to Stockholm then ferry
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Step 2, travel from Stockholm to Helsinki either by direct overnight cruise ferry, or by daytime or overnight ferry to Turku and connecting train to Helsinki as shown on the Trains & ferries from Stockholm page.
Bratislava to Prague for 17
Option 1, Bratislava to Prague by EuroCity train every 2h - the most frequent option
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Comfortable air-conditioned EuroCity trains with restaurant car & free WiFi link Bratislava Hlavna with Prague Hlavni every 2 hours through the day, journey time around 4h05. These trains are jointly run by the Slovakian & Czech national railways. Reservation is optional, so the trains can never sell out and train tickets can easily be bought at the station on the day.
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For timetable, fares & how to buy tickets, see the Budapest-Bratislava-Prague page.
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Check times & buy tickets at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz and print your own ticket or show it on your phone.
Booking usually opens 60 days ahead. First Minute fares are advance-purchase fares with limited availability, specified train only, no refunds, no changes to travel plans.
You can also book at the Slovakian Railways website www.zssk.sk but the Czech site is much easier to use. See suggested hotels in Prague.
Option 2, Bratislava to Prague by private operator Regiojet - 4 departures a day, can be cheaper, with great on-board service
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Private operator Regiojet runs several express trains between Bratislava and Prague every day, see more about RegioJet trains & their 4 classes.
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Departures from Bratislava Hlavna are at 05:26, 08:26, 12:26, 16:26. journey time 4h13.
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Low prices from 10.90. RegioJet's prices remain low even at short notice, in fact even booked on the day.
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Buy tickets at www.regiojet.com.
Option 3, Bratislava to Prague by sleeper train - the time-effective option
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The sleeper train Metropol leaves Bratislava Hlavna at 21:58, arriving Prague Hlavni 08:13.
It has an air-conditioned Czech sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin. Morning tea or coffee is included in the fare. There is also a couchette car with 4 & 6 bunk compartments. The train originates in Budapest.
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Book at Czech Railways www.cd.cz. Booking normally opens 90 days ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Bratislava to Brno from 6
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Comfortable air-conditioned EuroCity trains link Bratislava Hlavna with Brno Hlavni roughly every 2 hours through the day, journey time around 1h25, check times online at www.cd.cz.
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Advance-purchase First Minute fares start at 8. The full-flex fare bought on the day is around 14.
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Reservation is optional, so the trains can never sell out and train tickets can easily be bought at the station on the day if you're happy paying the full-flex fare.
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Or book online at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz and print your own ticket or show it on your phone.
Booking usually opens 60 days ahead. First Minute fares have limited availability, specified train only, no refunds, no changes to travel plans.
You can also book at the Slovakian Railways website www.zssk.sk but the Czech site is much easier to use.
Bratislava to Ostrava from 11
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A direct air-conditioned EuroCity train links Bratislava Hlavna with Ostrava Hlavni leaving at around 10:55, journey time 3h08. Other journeys are possible through the day every couple of hours with 1 easy change at either Zilina, Breclav or Brno, check online at www.cd.cz.
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Advance-purchase First Minute fares start at 12. The full-flex fare bought on the day is around 26.
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Reservation is optional, so the trains can never sell out and train tickets can easily be bought at the station on the day if you're happy paying the full-flex fare.
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Book at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz and print your own ticket or show it on your phone.
Booking usually opens 60 days ahead. First Minute fares have limited availability, specified train only, no refunds, no changes to travel plans.
You can also book at the Slovakian Railways website www.zssk.sk but the Czech site is much easier to use.
Bratislava to Budapest for 17.50
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Comfortable air-conditioned EuroCity trains link Bratislava Hlavna with Budapest Nyugati every 2 hours, journey time 2h23.
Fares from 10 in 2nd class or 16 in 1st class if you book in advance.
Book at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice on using it.
Booking opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or you can load it into the MAV app to show on your phone.
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Since 2017 these trains use Budapest Nyugati station, not Keleti.
Bratislava to Brasov, Sighisoara & Bucharest from 57
Option 1, Bratislava to Romania using the sleeper train Ister from Budapest to Brasov & Bucharest
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Step 1, travel from Bratislava to Budapest by EuroCity train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 14:05, arriving Budapest Nyugati 16:28.
Fares start at 10 in 2nd class or 16 in 1st class if booked online in advance.
Book this at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice on using it.
Booking opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or you can load it into the MAV app to show on your phone.
On arrival in Budapest, walk, tram, taxi or metro from Nyugati to Keleti station.
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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 comfortable train has 4 & 6 berth couchettes and an air-conditioned sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin. There's no restaurant car so take a picnic and bottle of wine. There's great Alpine-style scenery in the morning over breakfast through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov and Bucharest.
Fares start at 39 with a couchette in 6-berth, 46 with a couchette in 4-berth, 69 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, 84 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or 162 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself. All prices per person per berth. 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 try booking this 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.
Option 2, Bratislava to Romania using the Dacia Express sleeper train from Vienna to Sighisoara, Brasov & Bucharest
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Step 1, travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 16:50, arriving Vienna Hbf 17:46.
The fare is 11, you can buy at the station on the day or buy at www.oebb.at and print your ticket. More about Bratislava-Vienna trains.
Important: If travelling before 5 July 2025, see the update here.
Tip: Don't risk any tight connections with a sleeper to catch. How about dinner in Vienna? See suggested restaurants.
Tip: If you have a sleeping-car ticket, you can use the ΦBB lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & WiFi.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Romania by Dacia Express, leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:42, 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 air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, plus several deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. It has a couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments.
A Hungarian restaurant car operates between Vienna & Budapest, treat yourself to dinner. 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.
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. You collect tickets from an ΦBB ticket machine in Vienna.
You can also book this train at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro, which can be cheaper.
Click EN top right for English. Booking opens up to 90 days ahead. For Vienna type Wien, for Bucharest type Bucuresti. It can book seats, couchettes or sleepers. For Austria to Romania journeys you now print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Tip: You can check the consist for this train, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria, click D and look for Dacia.
Option 3, Bratislava to Romania with overnight stop in Budapest - if you prefer day trains & hotel to sleepers
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Step 1, travel from Bratislava to Budapest by EuroCity train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 20:05, arriving Budapest Nyugati 22:30.
By all means take an earlier train, see the timetable here and check train times at int.bahn.de.
The EuroCity train has a restaurant car and free WiFi.
Fares start at 10 in 2nd class or 16 in 1st class if booked online in advance.
Book this at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice on using it.
Booking opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or you can load it into the MAV app to show on your phone.
On arrival in Budapest, walk, tram, taxi or metro from Nyugati to Keleti station.
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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.
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Day 2, travel from Budapest to Bucharest by InterCity train Traianus, leaving Budapest Keleti at 07:10 arriving Bucharest Nord 01:09, or from Budapest to Brasov by InterCity train Fogaras leaving Budapest Keleti at 09:10 via Timisoara & Craiova and arriving Brasov at 22:42.
Both trains are comfortable & air-conditioned, the Traianus has 1st & 2nd class, the Fogaras is 2nd class only. A bar car operates on the Traianus between Timisoara and Bucharest, but bring food & drink along for the first part of the journey.
Fares start at 26.30.
Buy tickets at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it. Booking opens 60 days ahead.
Bratislava to Ljubljana & Rijeka
Option 1, Bratislava to Ljubljana via Vienna
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Step 1, travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 05:50, arriving Vienna Hbf 06:46.
The fare is 11, you can buy at the station on the day or buy at www.oebb.at and print your ticket. More about Bratislava-Vienna trains.
Important: If travelling before 5 July 2025, see the update here.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Ljubljana on the EuroCity train Emona leaving Vienna Hbf at 07:58, arriving Ljubljana 14:00.
The Emona uses comfortable air-conditioned Austrian & Slovenian carriages, with power sockets at all seats with a choice of sitting in an open-plan saloon car (my own preference) or in classic 6-seater compartments with side corridor. There's a classic Slovenian restaurant car, treat yourself to a late breakfast and/or lunch and enjoy the fabulous scenery along the beautiful UNESCO-listed Semmering route through the mountains between Vienna & Graz.
Fares start at 24.90 in 2nd class or 34.90 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 , a bit more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
If you like you can check the train formation & see what the carriages are like at www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria, click EC then look for the Emona.
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Change at Ljubljana for Rijeka. Buy the Ljubljana-Rijeka ticket at the station.
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Alternatively, you can travel via Budapest. This is slightly longer, but allows you to stop off and see Budapest on the way, and the times may suit you. See the Bratislava to Budapest information above then the Budapest to Ljubljana train information here or the Budapest to Zagreb train information here.
Option 2, Bratislava to Ljubljana via Budapest
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This is slightly longer route, but allows you to stop off and see Budapest on the way, and the times may suit you.
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Travel from Bratislava to Budapest as shown here. Then travel from Budapest to Ljubljana as shown here.
Bratislava to Zagreb, Split & Dubrovnik
Option 1, Bratislava to Zagreb via Vienna
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Step 1, travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 10:50, arriving Vienna Hbf 11:46.
The fare is 11, you can buy at the station on the day or buy at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at and print your ticket. More about Bratislava-Vienna trains. By all means take an earlier train, they run every hour.
Important: If travelling before 5 July 2025, see the update here.
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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 (final 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 39.90 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 , a bit more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
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Stay overnight in Zagreb. I suggest the Esplanade Hotel, Palace Hotel or Central Hotel, all near the station with good reviews.
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Step 3, take a train to Split next day, then a bus to Dubrovnik as shown on the Trains from Zagreb page.
Option 2, Bratislava to Zagreb by daytime trains via Budapest
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This is slightly longer route, but allows you to stop off and see Budapest on the way, and the times may suit you. See the Bratislava to Budapest information above then the Budapest to Zagreb train information here.
Option 3, Bratislava to Split by direct sleeper train (for bus to Dubrovnik), runs Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays in summer - recommended.
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A EuroNight sleeper train leaves Bratislava Nove Mesto (4 km from Bratislava Hlavna) at 16:20 and Bratislava Petrzalka at 16:50, arriving Split at 09:51 next morning.
This train runs on Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays from 30 April to 12 October 2025.
The train has three comfortable air-conditioned Slovakian sleeping-cars with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, a Slovakian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. You can see details of train formation & carriages if you go to www.vagonweb.cz switch it to English, click train formations and search for train number EN 1153.
Fares start at 29.90 in a seat, 79.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 99.90 in a 2-bed sleeper, 149.90 in a single-bed sleeper.
Book at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, you print your own ticket.
For Dubrovnik, take a bus from Split. There are buses every hour or even every half hour, run by several companies. Journey time between 3h45 and 4h35, fare around 13-17. Buy a ticket at the bus station in Split.
Bratislava to Belgrade & Montenegro
Option 1, Bratislava to Belgrade 08:05 departure - due to start 8 December 2024 but postponed, see updates.
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Step 1, travel from Bratislava to Budapest by EuroCity train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 08:05, arriving Budapest Nyugati 10:28.
The train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 10 in 2nd class or 16 in 1st class if booked online in advance.
Book this at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu - see my advice on using it.
Booking opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or you can load it into the MAV app to show on your phone.
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Step 2, travel from Budapest to Belgrade, leaving Budapest Nyugati 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.
Option 2, Bratislava to Belgrade 10:05 departure - due to start 8 December 2024 but postponed, see updates.
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Step 1, travel from Bratislava to Budapest by EuroCity train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 10:05, arriving Budapest Nyugati 12:28.
The train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 10 in 2nd class or 16 in 1st class if booked online in advance.
Book this at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu - see my advice on using it.
Booking opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or you can load it into the MAV app to show on your phone.
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Step 2, travel from Budapest to Belgrade, leaving Budapest Nyugati 14:50, changing at Szeged & Subotica, arriving Belgrade Centar 21:19.
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.
Option 3, Bratislava to Belgrade with overnight stop in Budapest - due to start 8 December 2024 but postponed, see updates.
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Day 1, travel from Bratislava to Budapest by EuroCity train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 20:05, arriving Budapest Nyugati 22:30.
Or book the train leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 18:05 and arriving Budapest Nyugati 20:28, or an earlier train, see the timetable here.
The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 10 in 2nd class or 16 in 1st class if booked online in advance.
Book this at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu - see my advice on using it.
Booking opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or you can load it into the MAV app to show on your phone.
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Stay overnight in Budapest. For an affordable hotel close to Budapest Nyugati, look no further than the 3-star T62 Hotel just across the road, a traveller's favourite with funky interior design. The cheaper 3-star Star Inn Budapest Centrum is a few minutes walk away, also with good reviews. The 4-star Radisson Blu Bιke Hotel is one block along the road from the station. 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.
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Day 2, travel from Budapest to Belgrade, leaving Budapest Nyugati 05:50, changing at Szeged & Subotica, arriving Belgrade Centar 12:38.
Or if you'd prefer a later departure, leave Budapest Nyugati 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.
Option 4, Bratislava to Belgrade with overnight stop in Zagreb
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Day 1, travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 10:50, arriving Vienna Hbf 11:46.
The fare is 11, you can buy at the station on the day or buy at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at and print your ticket. More about Bratislava-Vienna trains. By all means take an earlier train, they run every hour.
Important: If travelling before 5 July 2025, see the update here.
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Day 1, 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 (final 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 39.90 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 , a bit more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
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Stay overnight in Zagreb. I suggest the Esplanade Hotel, Palace Hotel or Central Hotel, all near the station with good reviews.
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Day 2, travel from Zagreb to Belgrade by train, leaving Zagreb at 11:04 and arriving Novi Beograd 18:04 & Belgrade Centar at 18:12.
This train 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 car, so bring a picnic and some beer or wine.
The fare is around 30 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 09:00, arriving Belgrade bus station at 14:30.
The fare is around 21, buy a ticket at www.flixbus.com.
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 schedules, fares & how to buy tickets.
Bratislava to Sofia
Option 1, Bratislava to Sofia via Bucharest
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Day 1, travel from Bratislava to Budapest by EuroCity train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 09:57, arriving Budapest Nyugati 12:28.
The comfortable Czech EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Transfer from Nyugati to Keleti station and have lunch in Budapest.
Fares start at 20 in 2nd class or 37 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy tickets at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz.
Booking opens up to 3 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it in the CD app on your phone.
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Day 1, 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.
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Day 2, 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.
Option 2, Bratislava to Sofia via Belgrade
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Not currently viable while Zagreb-Belgrade, Budapest-Belgrade and Belgrade-Sofia trains remain suspended.
Bratislava to Warsaw from 27
Option 1, Bratislava to Warsaw by sleeper train - the safe, comfortable, time-effective option
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A safe & comfortable EuroNight sleeper train leaves Bratislava Hlavna at 21:58, arriving Warsaw Gdanska 09:08.
It has a safe & cosy Polish sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments, plus two 1 or 2 berth deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower, see the photos below. It also has a couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments. The train comes from Budapest.
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Booked via Czech Railways, the base fare is around 74, plus one of the following supplements: Couchette in 6-berth 14, couchette in 4-berth 21, bed in 3-berth sleeper 24, bed in 2-berth sleeper 34, bed in single-berth sleeper 72.
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Buy tickets at the CD (Czech Railways) website www.cd.cz.
Booking opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket.
Option 2, Bratislava to Warsaw by daytime train - the leisurely daytime option
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A comfortable air-conditioned EuroCity train called the Bαthory leaves Bratislava Hlavna at 10:55, arriving Warsaw Centralna 19:16.
The train has Hungarian seating cars (a 1st class car, 2nd class compartment cars & a 2nd class open-plan car) and a Hungarian restaurant car. Take a good book, enjoy an inexpensive meal in the restaurant car with a beer or two, and chill out.
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Fares start at 27 in 2nd class or 41 in 1st class if you book using my advice below. It costs 74 if booked at Czech Railways.
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This train cannot be booked online with Slovakian Railways (www.zssk.sk), although they may enable online booking of international tickets at some point. It might also be worth checking www.intercity.pl as Polish Railway is slowly adding international routes to its website. However, here are two ways you definitely can book:
Method 1, buy tickets at the CD (Czech Railways) website www.cd.cz. Booking opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket.
Method 2, which is usually cheaper, is as follows: This train starts in Budapest. Use the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu (see my advice on using it) to book the 08:12 from Budapest to Krakow or Warsaw (as this is the 10:55 from Bratislava) then simply get on in Bratislava. This is perfectly legitimate. Booking opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it in the MAV app. It may only offer 2nd class tickets if going to Krakow, but 2nd is fine, stick with that. This way you get cheap advance-purchase fares from 20/27.
Bratislava to Krakow from 20
Option 1, Bratislava to Krakow by daytime train - the leisurely daytime option
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A comfortable air-conditioned EuroCity train called the Bαthory leaves Bratislava Hlavna at 10:55, arriving Krakow Glowny 16:56.
The Bαthory runs from Budapest through Bratislava to Warsaw, but two 2nd class cars run from Budapest & Bratislava to Krakow. The through cars are comfortable, modern & air-conditioned, one car with 2nd class classic 6-seat compartments, one car with 2nd class open-plan seating.
If you insist on travelling 1st class you'll have to switch trains at Bohumin just after 14:00, where the through cars are detached from the Bαthory and attached to the Prague-Krakow Cracovia. I recommend sticking with 2nd class which is absolutely fine in these comfortable modern Hungarian cars.
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Fares start at 20 if you book using my tip below. The fare is 54 if you book via Czech Railways.
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This train cannot be booked online with Slovakian Railways (www.zssk.sk), although they may enable online booking of international tickets at some point. It might be worth checking www.intercity.pl as Polish Railway is slowly adding international routes to its website. However, here are two ways you definitely can book:
Method 1, buy tickets at the CD (Czech Railways) website www.cd.cz. Booking opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket.
Method 2, which is usually cheaper, is as follows: This train starts in Budapest. Use the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu (see my advice on using it) to book the 08:12 from Budapest to Krakow or Warsaw (as this is the 10:58 from Bratislava) then simply get on in Bratislava. This is perfectly legitimate. Booking opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it in the MAV app. It may only offer 2nd class tickets if going to Krakow, but 2nd is fine, stick with that. This way you get cheap advance-purchase fares from 20/27.
Option 2, Bratislava to Krakow by sleeper train - the time-effective option
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A safe & comfortable EuroNight sleeper train leaves Bratislava Hlavna at 21:58 and arrives Krakow Glowny 06:20.
It has a modern, safe & cosy Polish sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments, plus two 1 or 2 berth deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower, see the photos below. It also has a couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments. The train comes from Budapest and is heading for Warsaw Centralna.
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Booked via Czech Railways, the base fare is around 55, plus one of the following supplements: Couchette in 6-berth 14, couchette in 4-berth 21, bed in 3-berth sleeper 24, bed in 2-berth sleeper 34, bed in single-berth sleeper 72.
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Buy tickets at the CD (Czech Railways) website www.cd.cz.
Booking opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket.
Bratislava to Vilnius, Riga, Tallinn
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Day 1, travel from Bratislava to Warsaw by EuroCity train, as shown in the Bratislava to Warsaw section.
Fares start at 27, book as shown.
Or use the overnight sleeper train and spend the following day exploring Warsaw, also as shown in the Bratislava to Warsaw section.
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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.
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Day 2, travel from Warsaw to Kaunas & Vilnius by train as shown on the Warsaw to Vilnius page.
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Day 3, for onward travel from Vilnius to Riga in Latvia, see here.
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Day 4, for onward travel from Riga to Tallinn in Estonia, see here.
Bratislava to Lviv & Kyiv
Option 1, Bratislava to Lviv & Kyiv via Vienna
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Step 1, travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 14:50, arriving Vienna Hbf 15:46.
The fare is 11, you can buy at the station on the day or buy at www.oebb.at and print your ticket. By all means travel earlier and see something of Vienna, these trains run every hour. More about Bratislava-Vienna trains. Important, see the update here.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Ukraine by direct sleeping-car, leaving Vienna Hbf at 16:42 daily, arriving Lviv 09:59 & Kyiv 16:41 next day.
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 ΦBB 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.
You can also travel to Budapest and pick this train up there, book Budapest to Lviv or Kyiv at www.mavcsoport.hu, see advice on using it.
Option 2, Bratislava to Lviv & Kyiv via Budapest - easy to book with good availability.
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Day 1, travel from Bratislava to Budapest by EuroCity, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 18:05, arriving Budapest Nyugati 20:28.
The comfortable Czech EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 20 in 2nd class or 37 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy tickets at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz.
Booking opens up to 3 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it in the CD app on your phone.
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Day 1, travel from Budapest to Ukraine by sleeper train, leaving Budapest Keleti at 22:40, arriving Lviv 13:38 & Kyiv Pass 19:11 (day 2).
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 (kupι).
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.
Bratislava to Moscow & St Petersburg
Option 1, Bratislava to Moscow via Warsaw - goes via Belarus
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Day 1, take the overnight sleeper from Bratislava to Warsaw, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 22:06 and arriving Warsaw Gdanska at 08:56.
This has couchettes (4 & 6 berth) and a sleeping-car (1, 2 & 3 bed). Book this by phone or at the station, it cannot be booked online.
Enjoy a day in Warsaw, the historic old town is worth a wander. 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) has a viewing terrace on the 30th floor.
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Day 2, travel from Warsaw to Moscow by Russian sleeper train, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 19:15 every day and arriving Moscow Belorussky at 16:58 next day. You can check times at the Russian Railways website www.rzd.ru.
This train was suspended due to Covid-19 and remains suspended due to sanctions & war in Ukraine.
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 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 & Belarus transit visa as the train runs via Belarus. See my important update about travel to Russia through Belarus.
The sleeping-cars from Warsaw to Moscow are brand new Austrian-built ones owned by Russian Railways. Each compartment converts from comfortable sofas to equally comfortable beds and can be used as either 1st class 2-berth with two lower berths or as 2nd class 4-berth with all four berths in use. There are a shower and toilets at the end of the corridor. Compartments have electronic key-card locks, and the cars are very smooth-riding. The sleeper attendant can serve lovely Russian tea for around 0.50 a glass. Highly recommended!
Option 2, Bratislava to Moscow via Kyiv - avoids Belarus
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Step 1, travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional train and take the overnight sleeper from Vienna to Kyiv as shown in the section above.
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Step 2, take an overnight sleeper train from Kyiv to Moscow. There are several night trains, but there's usually one leaving Kyiv at 19:36 and arriving in Moscow Kievskaya station next morning at 10:13 (day 3 from Berlin). 2-berth & 4-berth sleepers are available. No problems have been reported by westerners travelling from Kyiv to Moscow on these trains.
Kyiv-Moscow trains were suspended due to Covid-19 and remain suspended due to the war in Ukraine
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Book the Vienna to Kyiv train as shown in the section above. Book the Kyiv to Moscow train at the Ukrainian Railways website booking.uz.gov.ua or contact reliable agency www.polrail.com.
Bratislava to Athens & Greece
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The only viable option is via ferry from Italy at the moment, due to cancelled train services in the Balkans.
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Day 1, travel from Bratislava to Vienna by regional train, leaving Bratislava Hlavna at 16:50, arriving Vienna Hbf 17:46.
The fare is 11, you can buy at the station on the day or buy at www.oebb.at and print your ticket. More about Bratislava-Vienna trains.
Important: If travelling before 5 July 2025, see the update here.
Tip: Don't risk any tight connections when you have a sleeper train to catch. These trains run every hour, your ticket is good for any train, why not leave earlier and have dinner in Vienna? See suggested restaurants.
Tip: If you have a sleeper ticket, you can use the ΦBB lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.
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Day 1, travel from Vienna to Athens via Bologna, Bari & Patras as shown on the Trains from Vienna page.
You take the Nightjet sleeper to Bologna, a fast train to Bari, and sail overnight to Patras in Greece by ferry, arriving Athens on Day 3.
Hotels in Bratislava & other cities
For advice on hotels in Bratislava, see the hotels section on the Bratislava station page.
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.
Travel insurance & VPN
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.