Trains from Florence to other European cities

Buy train tickets in Italy at www.italiarail.com, www.thetrainline.com or www.trenitalia.com.

I want to go from Florence to...

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This page explains how to travel by train from Florence to other cities all over Europe, and how to buy tickets the cheapest way. Information current for 2025.

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 buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and that old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or a €35 point-to-point ticket?". How far ahead can you buy train tickets?

European train travel FAQ

An introduction to European train travel	Senior fares (over 60)	Guide to Eurail passes (overseas visitors)
Important tips for buying European train tickets	Youth fares (under 26)	Guide to Interrail passes (for Europeans)
How to check European train times	Child fares & child age limits	Couchettes & sleepers on night trains
Do I need to book in advance?	Luggage on European trains	Train seat numbering plans
How far ahead can I book?	Luggage storage at stations	Wheelchairs & special needs
Can I stop off on the way?	Taking a bike by train	Real-time service updates
Should I travel 1st or 2nd class?	Taking a car by train	Hotels & accommodation
How long to allow for connections?	Taking dogs & pets by train	Changing stations in Paris by metro or taxi
How early to arrive at the station?	Maps of the European rail network	What to do when things go wrong...

Which station in Florence?

The main station in the city centre is Firenze Santa Maria Novella, usually abbreviated to SMN.

It's a terminus, with easy level access between street, concourse and all platforms so no problem with luggage. To save reversing in the SMN terminus, some trains by-pass Florence SMN calling at Firenze Campo di Marte which is a taxi ride away, just on the edge of the city centre. In the text below Florence means Firenze SMN unless it says otherwise. A third station, Firenze Rifredi, is also not as central as SMN. See map of Florence showing stations. Florence Santa Maria Novella station guide.

Florence to other Italian towns & cities from €9.90, www.italiarail.com

Most trains in Italy are operated by Trenitalia, the passenger operating part of Ferrovie dello Stato (FS), Italian State Railways.
Tickets for Trenitalia's high-speed & intercity trains always come with a seat reservation included, so yes, in theory trains can sell out although although there are so many trains & seats it's easy to buy tickets at the station on the day if you like, the real issue is price.
High-speed & intercity trains have airline-style pricing, so tickets are cheaper booked in advance with an Economy, Super-Economy or Speciale Frecce advance-purchase fare, specified train only, limited or no refunds or changes to travel plans.
If you buy on the day the Base fare applies, which is flexible and can be changed to another departure up to 60 minutes after the departure of the train you originally booked.
Regional trains don't usually require reservations and have one fixed price called Ordinaria which you can pay at the station on the day and just hop on the next train. There is no need to pre-book regional trains and no advantage in doing so other than saving a few minutes at the station. More about how tickets for regional trains work.

How to buy tickets
1. www.italiarail.com is easy to use, in €, £, $ & Aus$. Only sells tickets for Trenitalia, not Italo or for other countries. Allows seat selection from a seat map. Italiarail can be cheaper than Trenitalia.com for 2 or more people travelling together as explained here. They'll refund their €3.50 booking fee for seat61 users you email seat61@italiarail.com after you book.
2. www.thetrainline.com is also easy to use, in €, £, $, small booking fee. Sells tickets for Trenitalia and Italo and can also book trains in other countries. Allows seat choice from a seat map on Trenitalia high-speed & Intercity trains. More about Thetrainline.

3. www.raileurope.com is easy to use, in €, £ & $, small booking fee. Sells tickets for Trenitalia and Italo and can also book trains in other countries. More about Raileurope.

4. www.trenitalia.com is Italian Railways' own website, only sells its own tickets, in €, allows seat selection from a seat map on high-speed & intercity trains. It's fairly easy to use but you need to use Italian-language place names and it has a few quirks, especially when booking sleepers, see this advice on using it.
All these sites offer ticketless travel for Trenitalia intercity & high-speed trains, you print out your booking or show it on your phone.
Booking for high-speed trains usually opens 4 months ahead, but this varies, especially when the mid-December timetable change is imminent.
For more information, including how to reach places such as Sorrento, Pompeii, Capri, Amalfi see the Train travel in Italy page.

Florence to Rome, Naples, Milan, Turin & Venice

Nobody flies any more
Florence to Rome takes as little as 1h32 by hourly Frecciarossa high-speed train, city centre to city centre with zero check-in and a departure once or twice an hour. Florence to Venice takes just 2h05, again with trains once or twice an hour. Florence to Naples takes as little as 2h29.

A choice of operator: Trenitalia or Italo

You have a choice of operator on the high-speed Naples-Rome-Florence-Milan-Turin & Rome-Florence-Venice routes : State-owned Trenitalia or privately-owned Italo. Both are excellent, red-hot competition has driven quality up & fares down, see my advice on which operator to take.

Trenitalia uses Frecciarossa 500 & Frecciarossa 1000 trains on the Naples-Rome-Florence-Milan-Turin route and a mixture of Frecciarossa 500, Frecciarossa 600 & Frecciarossa 1000 on the Rome-Florence-Venice route. Italo operates a train every hour or so, using its original AGV trains on the Naples-Rome-Florence-Milan-Turin route and mostly its new EVO trains on the Naples-Rome-Florence-Venice route, see the Italo page for more details. I can recommend all of these trains!

Both operators use Florence's main station, Firenze Santa Maria Novella, Florence SMN.
How much does it cost?

Florence to Rome or Venice starts at €19.90 in standard (2nd class) or €29.90 in business (1st class).

Florence to Naples starts at €29.90 in standard or €39.90 in business.

Prices vary like air fares, so book ahead for the cheapest prices.
Super-economy & Economy = advance-purchase fares with limited or no refunds or changes to travel plans.
Base = what you pay at the station on the day, refundable, changeable up to an hour after departure.
All tickets are for a specific train and come with a reserved seat. But there are almost always places available on the day, if you're happy paying the most expensive Base fare. These are Trenitalia's fare types, but it's a similar story on Italo.

How to buy tickets
1. www.italiarail.com is easy to use, in €, £, $ & Aus$. Only sells tickets for Trenitalia, not Italo or for other countries. You can choose seats from a seat map. Italiarail can be cheaper than Trenitalia.com for 2 or more people travelling together as explained here. They'll refund their €3.50 booking fee for seat61 users you email seat61@italiarail.com after you book.
2. www.thetrainline.com is also easy to use, in €, £, $, small booking fee. Sells tickets for Trenitalia and Italo and can also book trains in other countries. You can choose seats from a seat map on Trenitalia's high-speed & Intercity trains. More about Thetrainline.

3. www.raileurope.com is easy to use, in €, £ & $, small booking fee. Sells tickets for Trenitalia and Italo and can also book trains in other countries. More about Raileurope.

4. www.trenitalia.com is Italian Railways' own website, only sells its own tickets, in €, allows seat selection from a seat map on high-speed & intercity trains. You need to use Italian-language place names and it has a few quirks, especially when booking sleepers, see advice on using it.
5. www.italotreno.it is Italo's own website, in €, easy to use. It only sells Italo trains.
All these sites offer ticketless travel for intercity & high-speed trains, you print your booking or can show it on your phone.
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead except when the mid-December timetable changes are coming up when the booking horizon shrinks.

Florence to Pisa

Regional trains link Florence SMN with Pisa, one Regional Veloce (Regional Express) every hour taking between 49 & 60 minutes then at least one regular Regionale every hour taking between 1h11 & 1h21. The fare is €9.30 each way.
No reservation is necessary or possible, tickets for regional trains have a fixed price and unlimited availability so you can turn up, buy a ticket & hop on the next train. All these regional trains are 2nd class only, they have toilets and plenty of room for luggage, most are now air-conditioned.

Visiting the Leaning Tower? Pisa Centrale is 25 minutes walk from the famous Leaning Tower, but some trains go beyond Pisa Centrale to Pisa San Rossore which is 12 minutes walk from the Leaning Tower, see advice for visiting the leaning tower of Pisa.
Check train times at www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com, but you can just buy regional train tickets at the station from the ticket office or Trenitalia ticket machines, there is no advantage in buying in advance other than saving time at the station.

Tip: If you buy a ticket for a regional train online, you need to check-in online before boarding, read about how online regional tickets work.

See advice on train travel in Italy.

2nd class seats on a regional train from Florence to Pisa

Trains of this type link Florence with Pisa & Livorno.

Florence to Siena

Regional trains link Florence SMN with Siena every hour, journey time 1h28, fare €10.20 each way.
No reservation is necessary or possible, tickets for regional trains have a fixed price and unlimited availability so you can turn up, buy a ticket & hop on the next train. All these regional trains are 2nd class only, they have toilets and plenty of room for luggage, most are now air-conditioned.

In Siena, the station is at the foot of the hill and it used to be a steep trek up to the old town. However, there's now a series of modern escalators and moving walkways that ferry you almost painlessly to the top of the hill, from where it's just a minute or two's walk to the Porta Camollia at the entrance to the old town. From the Porta Camollia it's a pleasant 15 minute stroll to the famous Piazza del Campo.
Check train times at www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com, but you can just buy regional train tickets at the station from the ticket office or Trenitalia ticket machines, there is no advantage in buying in advance other than saving time at the station.

Tip: If you buy a ticket for a regional train online, read about how online regional tickets work.

See advice on train travel in Italy.

Trains of this type link Florence with Siena.

Florence to Lucca

Regional trains link Florence SMN with Lucca once or twice per hour, journey time between 1h19 and 1h45, fare €8.40 each way.
No reservation is necessary or possible, tickets for regional trains have a fixed price and unlimited availability so you can turn up, buy a ticket & hop on the next train. All these regional trains are 2nd class only, they have toilets and plenty of room for luggage, most are now modern and air-conditioned.

Check train times at www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com, but you can just buy regional train tickets at the station from the ticket office or Trenitalia ticket machines, there is no advantage in buying in advance other than saving time at the station.

Tip: If you buy a ticket for a regional train online, read about how online regional tickets work.

See advice on train travel in Italy.

Vivalto double-deck regional train, used from Florence to Lucca and some services from Florence to Pisa.

Florence to Pompeii, Sorrento, Amalfi

Take a mainline train from Florence SMN to Naples Centrale, book this at www.italiarail.com, www.thetrainline.com or www.trenitalia.com.
At Naples Centrale, head downstairs to the Circumvesuviana station and hop on the little half-hourly electric Circumvesuviana train from Naples Centrale to Herculaneum (Ercolano), Pompeii Scavi & Sorrento, with onward buses to Positano, Praiano & Amalfi.
Just buy a Circumvesuviana ticket at the station or use a contactless bank card, see the day trip to Pompeii page for details. There are also ferries from Naples or Sorrento to Capri.

For Amalfi, you can also book a train to Salerno then a bus to Amalfi.
How to reach Pompeii. How to reach Sorrento. How to reach Capri. How to reach Amalfi, Positano & Praiano.

Florence to Palermo, Catania, Siracuse & Sicily

Option 1, Florence to Sicily by daytime trains - an epic ride

You can travel from Florence to Palermo, Catania or Siracuse by train in a day, with two departures every day, early morning & mid-morning.

Take a Frecciarossa high-speed train from Florence SMN to Rome Termini or Naples Centrale, then the afternoon InterCity train from Rome Termini & Naples Centrale to Sicily.

The journey takes you along the coast past cliffs and beaches to the toe of Italy, then the Naples-Palermo/Catania/Siracuse train gets shunted onto a ferry to cross the Straits of Messina, a unique experience, have your camera ready. There's no catering car on the InterCity train, so bring your own picnic and bottle of wine or beer.

Fares start at €39.80 in 2nd class or €59.80 in 1st class. Fares vary so book ahead.
Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com, www.raileurope.com or www.italiarail.com.
All these sites sell the same tickets, all offer ticketless travel for Italian intercity & high-speed trains, you print your booking reference or show it on your phone. www.italiarail.com will refund their small booking fee if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com.
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead, except when the mid-June & mid-December timetable changes are imminent when the booking horizon shrinks to less than this with some trains loaded before others. More about how to buy Italian train tickets.
Tip: I'd allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Rome or Naples, if necessary book each train separately.

Option 2, Florence to Sicily by an overnight sleeper - the time-effective option

Step 1, take an early-evening Frecciarossa high-speed train from Florence SMN to Rome Termini in as little as 1h19.
Step 2, take one of the two Intercity Notte sleeper trains from Rome to Sicily, one usually leaves Rome Termini around 20:30, the other 23:00.

At Villa San Giovanni at the toe of Italy the train is shunted onto a ferry to cross the Straits of Messina. It's a unique experience, have your camera ready. In Messina the train splits, one portion goes to Cefalù & Palermo, the other to Catania, Taormina & Siracuse, arriving in the afternoon. More about trains to Sicily.

Tip: The earlier sleeper boards the train ferry around 4am, I'd take the later sleeper to experience the train ferry at a more reasonable 6am!

The sleeper trains have Comfort couchettes with 4-berth compartments, ideal for families. They also have sleeping-cars with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin. The couchettes convert to seats for daytime use, the sleepers convert to a private sitting room with sofa. There's no restaurant car (although morning tea or coffee is provided), so bring your own picnic and bottle of wine or beer. One of the trains normally has an Excelsior sleeper with a few deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower. More about Italian domestic sleeper trains.

Florence to Rome starts at €19.90, then Rome to Sicily starts at €39.90 with a couchette, from €79.90 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper or from €87.50 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself. Book ahead for Trenitalia's cheap Super-Economy and Economy prices.
Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com, www.raileurope.com or www.italiarail.com.
All these sites sell the same tickets, all offer ticketless travel for Italian intercity & high-speed trains, you print your booking reference or show it on your phone. www.italiarail.com will refund their small booking fee if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com.
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead, except when the mid-June & mid-December timetable changes are imminent when the booking horizon shrinks to less than this with some trains loaded before others. More about how to buy Italian train tickets.

Intercity train to Sicily on board the ferry

Train on a ferry! A Rome-Sicily train on board the train ferry on the Straits of Messina. Courtesy Discoverbyrail.com.

Florence to London

For travel between Florence & London in either direction, see the London to Italy page.

Florence to Paris from €48.90

See the Florence to Paris by train page.

Florence to Lyon from €54.90

Step 1, travel from Florence to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Florence SMN at 12:55, arriving Milan Centrale 14:50.

The high-speed Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Step 2, travel from Milan to Lyon by Frecciarossa 1000, leaving Milan Centrale at 15:53, arriving Lyon Part Dieu 20:23.
The Frecciarossa 1000 has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. After an initial dash on the Milan-Turin high-speed line the train slows right down for a scenic meander through the Alps into France.
Update: The direct Milan-Lyon-Paris line via Modane was blocked by a landslide in August 2023, and remains blocked until at least March 2025. Until further notice, all direct Milan-Lyon-Paris trains are cancelled. Please use alternative routes, for example Naples-Milan-Geneva-Lyon. More information.

How much does it cost?

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

Milan to Lyon starts at €25 in standard (2nd class), €32 in business (1st class) or €149 in executive (premium 1st).

How to buy tickets

Buy tickets at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, whichever you prefer, both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you print your ticket or show it on your phone.

Paris to Florence by Frecciarossa: A Frecciarossa 1000 at Milan Centrale

Milan to Lyon by Frecciarossa: A Frecciarossa 1000 at Milan Centrale. Interior photos courtesy of Nicholas Brooke.


Standard class, with seats arranged 2+2 across the car width. Larger photo.		Premium class, identical to Standard but in leather. Sold as Standard on this route. Larger photo.


Business class seats 1+2 across car width, with tables for 2, tables for 4 & complimentary prosecco. Larger photo.		In business class you can order a simple meal at your seat, around €18.


Executive class at one end of the train. Larger photo.		The Executive class meeting room. Larger photo.

Scenery in Italy, en route from Paris to Florence by train

Take a good book, a bottle o' red, and enjoy the scenery from Milan to Lyon with your feet up. These are mountains in Italy, between Turin and Lyon, courtesy of www.discoverbyrail.com.

Scenery in France, en route from Paris to Florence by train

And these are mountains in France.

Florence to Nice, Cannes, Monte Carlo

There are several departures from Florence to Nice & the Côte d'Azur every day, see the Italy to Nice page.

Take a high-speed Frecciarossa train from Florence SMN to the magnificent Milan Centrale in 1h55, an Intercity train from Milan to Ventimiglia on the French border in 3h45, then a TER local train from Ventimiglia to Menton, Monte Carlo, Nice, Antibes & Cannes.
It's a lovely journey along the Ligurian coast between Genoa & Ventimiglia, along the scenic Côte d'Azur between Ventimiglia, Nice & Cannes.

Fares start at around €48 in 2nd class or €65 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
See the Italy to Nice page for schedules, fares & how to buy tickets.

Step 1, take a high-speed Frecciarossa from Florence to Milan in 1h55 at up to 300 km/h (186 mph). This is a Frecciarossa 1000 at Rome Termini. More about Frecciarossas & their 4 classes. Click the images below for larger photos.


Standard class, 2+2 across width.		Premium class, 2+2 across width.


Business class, 1+2 across car width.		Executive class, with food & drink included.

Step 2, take an Intercity train from Milan to Ventimiglia. Above, an Intercity train at Milan Centrale.


2nd class. Larger photo.		1st class. Larger photo.

Step 3, take a TER local train from Ventimiglia to Monaco, Nice & Cannes. Ventimiglia to Nice takes an hour along the coast. Here, a TER rolls into Juan les Pins station, between Nice & Cannes.

Coastal scenery between Nice & Ventimiglia

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

Florence to Brussels & Bruges from €57.80

Option 1, Florence to Brussels using the Florence-Munich Nightjet sleeper - a comfortable & time-effective option

Step 1, travel from Florence to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Florence SMN at 21:48, arriving Munich Hbf 09:22.

Important: This sleeper train is cancelled from 17 November 2024 to 13 July 2025 due to work in the Tauern Tunnel in Austria.

This train 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 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 (in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.
Step 2, travel from Munich to Brussels by ICE, leaving Munich Hbf at 10:48, change at Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen, arriving Brussels Midi 17:35.

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

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

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

Step 1, Florence to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train. More about new-generation Nightjets


Comfort Plus sleeper with shower & toilet.		Comfort sleeper with shower & toilet


4-berth couchettes.		Mini-cabins - enclosed individual capsules.

Step 2, Munich to Brussels by ICE with a change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf. More about ICE. Above, an ICE3neo at Brussels Midi. Photo courtesy of Christian Hunt.


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


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

Option 2, Florence to Brussels with an overnight stop in Lyon - easy & time-effective

Day 1, travel from Florence to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Florence SMN at 12:55, arriving Milan Centrale 14:50.
Frecciarossas have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about Frecciarossas.

Day 1, travel from Milan to Lyon by Frecciarossa, leaving Milan Centrale at 15:53, arriving Lyon Part Dieu 20:23.
The Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
It's a scenic & relaxing run, at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) on the high-speed line from Milan to Turin, then a slow meander on the classic line through the alps to Lyon. Bring a good book and bottle of wine, and make it a relaxing afternoon with your feet up, although some scenery will be in darkness depending on the time of year. More about the Milan-Lyon-Paris Frecciarossa.
Update: The direct Milan-Lyon-Paris line via Modane was blocked by a landslide in August 2023, and remains blocked until at least March 2025. Until further notice, all direct Milan-Lyon trains are cancelled. Please use alternative routes. More information.
Stay overnight in Lyon, The Ibis Budget Lyon Centre - Gare Part Dieu is affordable & right next to Lyon Part Dieu station with good reviews, the Radisson Blu Hotel, Lyon also gets great reviews and is just a few minutes walk away.
Day 2, travel from Lyon to Brussels by direct TGV, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi:

On Mondays to Saturdays you can leave Lyon Part Dieu at 05:50 arriving Brussels Midi 09:43.

Or on any day of the week you can leave Lyon Part Dieu at 08:25 arriving Brussels Midi 12:26
How much does it cost?
Florence to Milan starts at €19.90 in standard class, €29.90 in business class or €119.90 in executive class.
Milan to Lyon starts at €25 in standard class, €32 in business class or €149 in executive class.
Lyon to Brussels starts at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

How to buy tickets
Buy tickets for each of these trains at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. Book each train individually, adding it to your basket, then check out.

www.raileurope.com and www.thetrainline.com connect to both the Italian and French booking systems so you can book all these trains in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. There's a small booking fee.

The Italian trains are ticketless, you print your ticket or show it on your phone. For the TGV, you print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Another way to buy tickets
Alternatively, you can book each train separately, more work, same fares, but no booking fee. First book the Italian trains at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, $ or £, seat choice from a seat map, they'll refund their booking fee to seat61 users if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com afterwards) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian-language place names, see advice on using it). Then book the Lyon-Brussels TGV at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com.

Milan to Lyon by Frecciarossa: A Frecciarossa 1000 at Milan Centrale. Interior photos courtesy of Nicholas Brooke.


Standard class, with seats arranged 2+2 across the car width. Larger photo.		Premium class, identical to Standard but in leather. Sold as Standard on this route. Larger photo.


Business class seats 1+2 across car width, with tables for 2, tables for 4 & complimentary prosecco. Larger photo.		In business class you can order a simple meal at your seat, around €18.


Executive class at one end of the train. Larger photo.		The Executive class meeting room. Larger photo.

Take a good book, a bottle o' red, and enjoy the scenery from Milan to Lyon with your feet up. These are mountains in Italy, between Turin and Lyon, courtesy of www.discoverbyrail.com.

And these are mountains in France.

Option 3, Florence to Brussels with an overnight stop in Turin

Day 1, travel from Florence SMN to Turin Porta Susa on any afternoon or evening train you like.
You can leave Florence as late as 18:55 arriving Turin 21:49, but I'd take an earlier train as Turin is well worth a stopover. It's possibly one of Italy's most under-rated cities, even if you're not a fan of the 1969 Michael Caine film The Italian Job.
You can take an Italo high-speed train or a Trenitalia Frecciarossa, two competing operators, choose whichever you like the look of.

Stay overnight in Turin. The Hotel Torino Porta Susa or Hotel Diplomatic, Best Quality Hotel Dock Milano or Al Porta Susa B&B are all next to Turin Porta Susa station with good or great reviews.
Day 2, travel from Turin to Paris by TGV, leaving Turin Porta Susa at 07:36, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon 13:16.
The TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It's a comfortable & scenic journey, at low speed through the Alps, then a final dash along the high-speed line to Paris, see the video here. Bring a good book and a bottle of wine, and make it a relaxing afternoon with your feet up. More about Paris-Milan TGVs.
Update: The direct Milan-Turin-Paris line via Modane was blocked by a landslide in August 2023, and remains blocked until at least March 2025. Until further notice, all direct Turin-Paris trains are cancelled. Please use alternative routes. More information.
Change stations in Paris by taxi or metro from the Gare de Lyon to the Gare du Nord.
Day 2, travel from Paris to Brussels by Eurostar (formerly Thalys), leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 14:22, arriving Brussels Midi 15:44.
High-speed Eurostar trains have 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys). Make sure you allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris, ideally more.

How much does it cost?
Florence to Turin starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.
Turin to Paris starts at €29 in 2nd class or €44 in 1st class.
Paris to Brussels starts at €29 in 2nd class or €55 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

How to buy tickets
Buy tickets at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, whichever you like best.
These connect to the Trenitalia, Italo & SNCF ticketing systems so you can book all your tickets together in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. There's a small booking fee.
First book Florence SMN to Turin Porta Susa and add to basket. Then book Turin Porta to Brussels Midi for the following day, add to basket & check out.

Tip: Before running the Turin to Brussels enquiry at www.raileurope.com, click More options and enter Paris (any station) as a via point with a stopover duration of at least 1 hour to ensure a robust connection. If you don't do this, the system allows cross-Paris connections as tight as 40 minutes, which I consider too tight.

You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.
Another way to buy tickets
Alternatively, you can book each train separately, more effort, same fares, but no booking fee. First book the Italian train at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, $ or £, they'll refund the €3.50 booking fee to seat61 users if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com afterwards) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly, requires Italian-language place names, see advice on using it), then book the TGV & Eurostar at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com.

Option 4, Florence to Brussels by day trains with overnight stop in Munich - avoids crossing Paris

Day 1, travel from Florence to Munich, leaving Florence SMN at 12:36, change at Bologna Centrale, arriving Munich Hbf 20:26.
Earlier departures are possible changing at Verona P. Nuova, check times at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.
You take a high-speed Frecciarossa from Florence to Bologna with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then a swish Austrian railjet to Munich Hbf, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. You travel through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the photos here.
Florence to Verona starts at €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Verona to Munich starts at €37.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book from Florence SMN to Munich Hbf at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.
Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead for the Italian train, you print out your ticket or show it on your phone.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead for the Austrian EuroCity train, you print your own ticket or can show them on your laptop or phone.
Stay overnight in Munich. The affordable Eden Hotel Wolff & NH Collection München are across the road from the station's north side exit with great reviews. Or consider the more upmarket 25 Hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian, Excelsior by Giesel & Mercure City Center. For a splurge, the luxurious Sofitel Munich Beyerpost occupies the former Royal Bavarian Post Office building of 1896-1900, at the station's south side exit.
Day 2, travel from Munich to Brussels by ICE, leaving Munich Hbf at 08:47, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi 15:35.

ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Exact times may vary, earlier or later departures are also available.

Fares start at from €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. 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.

Florence to Amsterdam from €64

Option 1, Florence to Amsterdam using the Zurich-Amsterdam Nightjet sleeper - scenic & time-effective

Step 1, travel from Florence to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Florence SMN at 13:55, arriving Milan Centrale 15:50.
High-speed Frecciarossa trains have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about Frecciarossas.
Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class. Fares work like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.
Book from Florence to Milan at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee). Booking usually opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you print your ticket or show it on your phone.

A later departure is theoretically possible, but you should allow plenty of time in both Milan and Zurich when connecting with a sleeper train. Take some time to look around the magnificent Milan Centrale - can you spot Mussolini?
Step 2, travel from Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train through the Alps, leaving Milan Centrale at 17:10, arriving Zurich HB 20:27.
The EuroCity Giruno train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & fee WiFi. It's a lovely ride across Switzerland through the Alps past various lakes including Lake Lugano, see the Milan to Zurich video. Have your camera ready!

On arrival in Zurich you've time for dinner, I recommend steak-frites and a beer at the Brasserie Federal on the main concourse.

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

Book from Milan to Zurich at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee). Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you print your ticket or show it on your phone.
Step 3, travel from Zurich to Amsterdam by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Zurich HB at 21:59, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 09:44.
This comfortable Nightjet train has an air-conditioned AB33 sleeping-car with 1 & 2 berth compartments with washbasin. 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. Watch the Amsterdam-Switzerland sleeper video.

Times vary, departure is at 19:36 or 21:59 some days, arrival at 09:14 some days, check your date online.

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.oebb.at. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, sometimes less.

Tip: This train may be listed in the search results twice, once as an IC with seats, once as an NJ with couchettes/sleepers. Choose the latter!

Steps 1 & 2, travel from Florence to Milan by high-speed train & Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train. Above, a Milan-Zurich EuroCity is seen at Bellinzona. The train passes through the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world's longest rail tunnel, though the transit takes just 20 minutes.


Giruno, 1st class. Larger photo.		Restaurant car with bar counter. Larger photo.


Giruno 2nd class. Larger photo		Level boarding. Note the destination screen in the door.

Lake Lugano, seen from a Milan to Zurich train

Lake Lugano, seen from the Milan-Zurich EuroCity train on the Gotthard route.

AB33 sleeping-car on the Amsterdam-Zurich Nightjet train

Step 3, Zurich to Amsterdam by Nightjet sleeper train. More about Nightjets. Watch the sleeper video.


Single-bed sleeper with washbasin. Larger photo.		Breakfast next morning. Larger photo.


4 or 6 berth couchette compartment. Larger photo.		Couchette car.

Option 2, Florence to Amsterdam using the Florence-Munich Nightjet sleeper train - a comfortable and time-effective option

Step 1, travel from Florence to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Florence SMN at 21:48, arriving Munich Hbf 09:22.

Important: This sleeper train is cancelled from 17 November 2024 to 13 July 2025 due to work in the Tauern Tunnel in Austria.

This train 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 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 the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: You can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.

Step 2, travel from Munich to Amsterdam by ICE, leaving Munich Hbf at 11:50, change at Duisburg, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 19:29.

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

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. 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. See suggested hotels in Amsterdam.

Step 1, Florence to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train. More about new-generation Nightjets


Comfort Plus sleeper with shower & toilet.		Comfort sleeper with shower & toilet


4-berth couchettes.		Mini-cabins - enclosed individual capsules.

Step 2, Munich to Amsterdam by ICE with a change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf. Above, an ICE3neo at Amsterdam Centraal. More about ICE.


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


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

Option 3, Florence to Amsterdam with overnight stop in Zurich - if you prefer day trains & a hotel to sleepers

Day 1, travel from Florence to Zurich, leaving Florence SMN at 15:55, change at Milan Centrale, arriving Zurich HB 22:27.
Or by all means leave earlier for more of an evening in Zurich, trains leave almost every hour.
You travel from Florence to Milan by Frecciarossa with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then Milan to Zurich by Swiss EuroCity Giruno train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It's a lovely ride via the Gotthard Base Tunnel, through the Alps and along Lake Lugano, see the Milan to Zurich video here.
Florence to Milan starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.
Milan to Zurich starts at €29 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy tickets from Florence to Zurich at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly, requires Italian-language place names).
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your ticket or can show it on your phone.

Stay overnight in Zurich. For something special, the 5-star Hotel Schweizerhof is one of my favourite hotels anywhere, just across the road from the station. They'll even send a uniformed commissionaire to meet you & carry your bags from the train. For something cheaper, also next to the station with great reviews, try the Ruby Mimi Hotel or the excellent 3-star Hotel St. Josef, 7 minutes walk from the station, see walking map. If you're on a budget, book a private rooms in a 1-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station at www.hostelworld.com.
Day 2, travel from Zurich to Amsterdam by ICE, leaving Zurich HB 07:59, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 17:29
ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
By all means book an earlier or later train, they leave every 2 hours. Times may vary.
Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (in €, £ or $, small booking fee), or from German Railways at int.bahn.de (in €, no fee).
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Option 4, Florence to Amsterdam with overnight stop in Munich - Another option if you prefer day trains to sleepers

Day 1, travel from Florence to Munich, leaving Florence SMN at 12:36, change at Bologna Centrale, arriving Munich Hbf 20:26.
Earlier departures are possible changing at Verona P. Nuova, check times at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.
You take a high-speed Frecciarossa from Florence to Bologna with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then a swish Austrian railjet to Munich Hbf, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. You travel through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the photos here.
Florence to Verona starts at €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Verona to Munich starts at €37.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book from Florence SMN to Munich Hbf at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.
Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead for the Italian train, you print out your ticket or show it on your phone.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead for the Austrian EuroCity train, you print your own ticket or can show them on your laptop or phone.
Stay overnight in Munich. The affordable Eden Hotel Wolff & NH Collection München are across the road from the station's north side exit with great reviews. Or consider the more upmarket 25 Hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian, Excelsior by Giesel & Mercure City Center. For a splurge, the luxurious Sofitel Munich Beyerpost occupies the former Royal Bavarian Post Office building of 1896-1900, at the station's south side exit.
Day 2, travel from Munich to Amsterdam by ICE, leaving Munich Hbf 07:46, change at Duisburg, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 15:29.
ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. By all means choose an earlier or later departure.
Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy a ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in and check or re-print tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

A new generation railjet at Innsbruck. Courtesy of @SimplyRailway. Interior photos courtesy of ÖBB.

Economy class, open saloon.

Restaurant car.

First class, all in open saloons.

Business class = just four 4-seat compartments

Hilltop fortresses seen from the Brenner Pass train

Watch out for hilltop fortresses.


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

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

Option 5, Florence to Amsterdam with an overnight stop in Paris

Day 1, travel from Florence to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Florence SMN at 12:55, arriving Milan Centrale 14:50.
Frecciarossa trains have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about Frecciarossas.
Day 1, travel from Milan to Paris by Frecciarossa, leaving Milan Centrale at 15:53, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon 22:34.
Update: The direct Milan-Paris line via Modane was blocked by a landslide in August 2023, and remains blocked until at least March 2025. Until further notice, all direct Milan-Paris trains are cancelled. Please use alternative options. More information.
The Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
It's a scenic & relaxing run, at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) on the high-speed line from Milan to Turin, then a slow meander on the classic line through the alps, then another high-speed dash on the French high-speed line to Paris. Bring a good book and bottle of wine, and make it a relaxing afternoon with your feet up, although some scenery will be in darkness depending on the time of year. More about this journey.
Change stations in Paris by taxi or metro from the Gare de Lyon to Gare du Nord.
Stay overnight in Paris. If you want a hotel room on arrival at the Gare de Lyon, I suggest the Mercure Paris Gare De Lyon as it's part of the station complex. If you'd prefer to stay near the Gare du Nord I suggest the excellent 25 Hours Terminus Nord, directly across the road from the Gare du Nord with great reviews & great feedback from Seat61 users. See other suggested hotels near the Gare de Lyon or Gare du Nord.
Day 2, travel from Paris to Amsterdam in 3h19 next morning on any train you like.
For example, the 07:25 from Paris Gare du Nord arrives Amsterdam Centraal 10:44, but by all means book a later train, they leave every hour or so. Eurostar trains have 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more about Eurostar formerly Thalys).

How much does it cost?
Florence to Milan starts at €19.90 in standard class or €29.90 in business class.
Milan to Paris starts at €29 in standard class, €36 in business class or €165 in executive class.
Paris to Amsterdam starts at €35 in 2nd class or €79 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

How to buy tickets
Buy tickets for each of these trains at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. Book each train individually, adding it to your basket, then check out.

www.raileurope.com and www.thetrainline.com connect to both the Italian and French booking systems so you can book all these trains in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. There's a small booking fee.

You print your tickets or show them on your phone.
Another way to buy tickets
Alternatively, you can book each train separately, more work, same fares, but no booking fee. First book the Italian trains at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, $ or £, seat choice from a seat map, they'll refund their small booking fee to seat61 users if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com afterwards) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly, requires Italian-language place names, see advice on using it), then book the Eurostar train at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com.

Florence to Luxembourg

Option 1, Florence to Luxembourg using the Florence-Munich Nightjet sleeper train

Day 1, travel from Florence to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Florence SMN at 21:48, arriving Munich Hbf 09:22.

Important: This sleeper train is cancelled from 17 November 2024 to 13 July 2025 due to work in the Tauern Tunnel in Austria.

This train 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 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 the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, a bit more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.

Day 2, travel from Munich to Luxembourg, leaving Munich Hbf at 11:27 by ICE, change Mannheim & Trier, arriving Luxembourg 18:23.
ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. From Koblenz to Luxembourg it's a scenic run along the Moselle valley.
Fares start at €32.99 in 2nd class or €59.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
To avoid buses and get an all-train journey, click Stopovers and enter Igel as a stopover with length of stay left as 00:00. The trains all call at Igel, the buses don't! Make sure you allow at least 1 hour between trains in Munich.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Florence to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train. More about new-generation Nightjets


Comfort Plus sleeper with shower & toilet.		Comfort sleeper with shower & toilet


4-berth couchettes.		Mini-cabins - enclosed individual capsules.

Option 2, Florence to Luxembourg with overnight stop in Zurich

Day 1, travel from Florence to Zurich, leaving Florence SMN at 15:55, change at Milan Centrale, arriving Zurich HB 22:27.
Or by all means leave earlier for more of an evening in Zurich, trains leave roughly every hour.
You travel from Florence to Milan by Frecciarossa with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then Milan to Zurich by Swiss EuroCity Giruno train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It's a lovely ride via the Gotthard Base Tunnel, through the Alps and along Lake Lugano, see the Milan to Zurich video here.
Florence to Milan starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.
Milan to Zurich starts at €29 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy tickets from Florence to Zurich at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly, requires Italian-language place names).
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your ticket or can show it on your phone.

Stay overnight in Zurich. For something special, the 5-star Hotel Schweizerhof is one of my favourite hotels anywhere, just across the road from the station. They'll even send a uniformed commissionaire to meet you & carry your bags from the train. For something cheaper, also next to the station with great reviews, try the Ruby Mimi Hotel or the excellent 3-star Hotel St. Josef, 7 minutes walk from the station, see walking map. If you're on a budget, book a private rooms in a 1-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station at www.hostelworld.com.
Day 2, travel from Zurich to Luxembourg, leaving Zurich HB at 07:59, change at Mannheim & Trier, arriving Luxembourg 16:23.
Or have a leisurely breakfast and take the easiest departure with just 1 change, leaving Zurich HB at 10:59 by direct EuroCity train EC8 to Koblenz, time for coffee in Koblenz, then the 17:06 from Koblenz direct to Luxembourg arriving 19:23.
These are all comfortable air-conditioned trains and they all head along the scenic Rhine Valley route between Mainz and Koblenz past vineyards, castles, river boats & the legendary Lorelei Rock, see the Rails Down the Rhine page. They then run along the pretty Moselle river to Trier. The whole journey is made on a through ticket, so no worries about connections, they normally go like clockwork. There are earlier or later departures, too, just check online.
Fares start at €39.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book from Zurich to Luxembourg at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
To avoid journeys involving a bus, click Stopovers and enter Igel as a stopover, leaving length of stay as 00:00.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

Double-deck train between Koblenz, Trier & Luxembourg

Koblenz to Luxembourg by double deck regional train. This is a CFL double-decker at Luxembourg.


1st class on the upper deck. Larger photo.		2nd class on the upper deck. Larger photo.

Scenery along the Moselle between Koblenz & Luxembourg in the morning sun, the mists still clearing. For the best river views, sit on the right hand side of the train going east from Luxembourg, left hand side going west from Koblenz.

Florence to Geneva, Zurich, Luzern, Basel & Switzerland from €49

Choose between fast, comfortable & scenic (option 1) and slow, comfortable, world-class highlight-of-your-trip scenic (option 2, the Bernina Express).

Option 1, Florence to Switzerland by high-speed train

Step 1, travel from Florence SMN to Milan Centrale by Frecciarossa with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi in just 1h40.
Step 2, travel from Milan Centrale to Switzerland by fast EuroCity train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
There are hourly EuroCity trains from Milan Centrale to Lugano & Zurich (3h17).
And regular EuroCity trains from Milan Centrale to Brig, Montreux, Lausanne & Geneva (4h00).
And several daily EuroCity trains from Milan Centrale to Bern, Lucerne, Spiez and Basel SBB.
The Milan-Zurich EuroCity trains use the new Gotthard Base Tunnel, the longest rail tunnel in the world. Look out for great scenery on the routes from Italy into Switzerland, past beautiful lakes and mountains. Watch the video: Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train.
Step 3, take a Swiss connecting train if necessary, for example from Brig to Zermatt or from Spiez to Interlaken.
How much does it cost?
Florence to Milan start at €19.90 in 2nd (standard) class or €29.90 in 1st (business) class.

Milan to Zurich, Geneva, Bern & other Swiss cities start at €29 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class when using a direct train.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
How to buy tickets

Buy tickets from Florence to anywhere in Switzerland at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

Both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee. Booking normally opens 4 months ahead.

You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Another way to buy tickets
Now for the science bit. Trenitalia's ticketing system can sell tickets for the international EuroCity trains between Italy & Switzerland, and obviously for its own trains within Italy, but cannot access SBB's ticketing system so can't sell any journey involving a Swiss domestic train.

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

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

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

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

In our example, you'd book from Florence to Brig. Booking opens 90 days ahead. Italian high-speed trains and the EuroCity are ticketless, you print your ticket or show it on your phone.

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

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

A EuroCity train to Switzerland at Milan Centrale. More about these EuroCity trains.


1st class seats. Larger photo.		Restaurant car. Larger photo.


Lunch in the restaurant car.		2nd class. Larger photo. 360 degree photo.

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

Sion castle, see from the train to Venice

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

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

Option 2, Florence to St Moritz, Chur & Zurich via the scenic narrow-gauge Bernina route

This is much slower and takes more effort to book, but it's the best Swiss Alpine train ride of all, an amazing experience. Watch the video.
Step 1, travel from Florence to Milan on any Frecciarossa train arriving before 09:45.
Book this at either www.italiarail.com or www.thetrainline.com or www.trenitalia.com.

Step 2, travel from Milan Centrale to Tirano by Trenord local train.
The 10:20 from Milan connects with the Bernina Express itself, with time for a sandwich and beer in Tirano, see the Bernina Express page.

However, these trains run every 2 hours throughout the day, fare around €12, check train times at www.trenord.it.

No reservation necessary or even possible, just buy a ticket to Tirano from the self-service machines at Milan Centrale & hop on the next train.

In Tirano, the Italian Trenord station is next to the Rhätische Bahn one on the same town square.
Step 3, travel from Tirano to St Moritz & Chur on the Rhätische Bahn.
This is the fabulous Bernina Express route over the Bernina Pass. Check times & prices from Tirano to St Moritz, Chur or Zurich at either www.thetrainline.com or the Swiss Railways website www.sbb.ch.
If you take one of the regular normal local trains, no reservation is necessary or possible, just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on. Only if you want to use the once or twice daily Bernina Express with its special all-reserved panoramic carriages do you need a seat reservation, see the Bernina Express page.

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


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

The train descends from the Bernina Pass

The Bernina Express descends from the Bernina Pass.

Florence to Barcelona, Madrid & Spain from €89

Option 1, Florence to Barcelona & Spain via Lyon - the easiest & usually cheapest option

Day 1, travel from Florence SMN to Milan Centrale on any afternoon or evening train you like.

It takes as little as 2h23, trains leave every hour, all these trains have cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Stay overnight in Milan: Affordable hotels with good or great reviews outside Milan Centrale include the Hotel Bristol, Hotel Bernina, 43 Station Hotel, B&B Hotel Milano Central Station, Guesthouse Teodora. Pricier more upmarket hotels include HD8 Hotel, Glam Hotel, Made to Measure Business, Starhotel Echo or Starhotel Anderson.

Day 2, travel from Milan to Lyon by Frecciarossa, leaving Milan Centrale at 06:25, arriving Lyon Part Dieu 11:10.

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

This is a lovely ride at low speed snaking through the Alps, see the photos & information here. The train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, sit back and enjoy the ride.
Have lunch in Lyon, see suggested brasserie near Lyon Part Dieu.
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.
Look out for Béziers cathedral on the right, colonies of flamingos on the étangs (lakes) in southern France, the Fort de Salses approaching Perpignan and views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees. More about this journey.

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. Other suggested hotels near the station.

Day 3, travel from Barcelona to other Spanish destinations:

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

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

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

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

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

For Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña & Vigo, there's a morning Alvia train to Galicia, see details here.
How much does it cost?

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

Milan to Lyon starts at €25 in standard (2nd), €32 in business (1st) or €149 in executive class (premium 1st).

Lyon to Barcelona starts at €39 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class.
Barcelona to Madrid starts at around €35. Barcelona to Seville or Malaga starts at around €45.
All these fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
How to buy tickets

Buy tickets at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

This allows you to buy all your tickets together in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee. Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead. About Raileurope. About Thetrainline.

Step 1, book an afternoon or evening train from Florence to Milan Centrale for day 1 and add this to your basket.

Step 2, book the direct morning train from Milan Centrale to Lyon Part Dieu for day 2 and add to your basket.

Step 3, book the afternoon train from Lyon Part Dieu to Barcelona for day 2 and add to your basket.

Step 4 if going beyond Barcelona, book a train from Barcelona to your Spanish destination for day 3, add to basket & check out.

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

Another way to buy tickets

You can of course book each train separately with the relevant operator. More work, same prices, but no booking fee.

Step 1, buy tickets from Florence to Milan and from Milan to Lyon at either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in plain English, allows seat choice from a seat map, they'll refund seat61 users their booking fee if you email seat61@italiarail.com afterwards) or Trenitalia's own website www.trenitalia.com, for that you'll need to use Italian-language place names, see this advice on using it. It's ticketless, you print your ticket or show it on your phone.

Step 2, if using the direct train from Lyon to Barcelona run by Renfe, book at the Spanish Railways website, www.renfe.com (in €, fiddly, see advice on using it). If using the alternative trains run by SNCF, book these at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com.

Step 3, book onward trains in Spain as a second transaction at www.renfe.com (in €, fiddly, see advice on using it).

Option 2, Florence to Barcelona & Spain with overnight stop in Marseille

Day 1, travel from Florence to Marseille, leaving Florence SMN at 08:55 by Frecciarossa to Milan Centrale, then taking the 11:10 Intercity train from Milan Centrale to Ventimiglia and a TER local train to Nice Ville arriving 16:14.

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

This is a lovely journey with fabulous coastal scenery through Genoa, San Remo, Nice & Cannes. For full details, see the Italy to Nice page.
Day 1, travel from Nice to Marseille by TER, leaving Nice Ville at 17:25, arriving Marseille St Charles 20:03.
This is a TER regional express, there's no catering so bring your own food & drink. It's a lovely journey along the coast.

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

Day 2, travel from Marseille to Spain by AVE, leaving Marseille St Charles at 08:04, arriving Barcelona Sants 12:38 & Madrid Atocha 15:45.
This comfortable AVE S100 high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Look out for Béziers cathedral on the right, colonies of flamingos on the étangs in southern France, the Fort de Salses approaching Perpignan and views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees. More about this journey.

Day 2, take a high-speed train from Barcelona to Valencia & Alicante or from Madrid to Cordoba, Seville, Granada, Malaga.

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

An AVE high-speed train leaves Madrid Atocha at 16:35 every day, arriving Cordoba 18:34 & Malaga Maria Zambrano 19:43.
An AVE high-speed train leaves Madrid Atocha at 16:30 daily except Saturdays arriving Seville Santa Justa at 19:03. Or on any day of the week you can leave Madrid Atocha at 18:00 arriving Seville Santa Justa at 20:43.
An AVE high-speed train leaves Madrid Atocha at 20:05 every day, arriving Granada 23:36.
AVE & Euromed trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
How much does it cost?
Florence to Milan starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.

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

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

Nice to Marseille by TER costs at €39.80, fixed-price, unlimited availability.

Marseille to Barcelona starts at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class. Marseille to Madrid at €44 in 2nd class or €54 in 1st class.

Barcelona to Alicante or Madrid to Malaga/Seville starts at around €30.

All these fares (except for the TER) vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.
How to buy tickets
Go to www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. Book from Florence to Marseille on day 1 and add it to your basket. Then book from Marseille to Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Alicante etc. for day 2, add it to your basket and check out.
www.thetrainline.com & www.raileurope.com both connect to the Italian, French & Spanish rail ticketing systems, so you can buy all these tickets together in one place, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem. There's a small booking fee. If you have any problems, break the journey down into stages, if necessary booking each train separately.
Booking for Trenitalia trains & French trains including the TGV to Barcelona normally opens up to 4 months ahead. Booking for Spanish domestic trains opens 60 days ahead, but it varies.
Trenitalia trains are ticketless, you print your ticket or show it on your phone. For French trains, you print your own ticket or can choose a mobile ticket to show on your phone. For trains in Spain, you print your ticket.

How to buy tickets, advanced

Alternatively, you can book each train separately like this, although it's more work and the fares should be the same, but with no booking fee.

Step 1, book from Florence to Ventimiglia using either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, English place names, and they'll refund their €3.50 booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR) or Italian Railways' own site www.trenitalia.com (you'll need to use Italian language place names). It's ticketless, you print your ticket or show it on your phone.

Step 2, book from Ventimiglia to Marseille at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee). You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Step 3, book from Marseille to Barcelona or Madrid for day 2 at the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (a bit fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see this advice on using it). You print your own ticket.

Step 4, book onward trains within Spain as a second transaction at the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (a bit fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see this advice on using it, it's a lot easier to use www.thetrainline.com). You print your own ticket.

Step 1 & 2, take a Frecciarossa from Florence to Milan and an Intercity train from Milan to Ventimiglia. Above, an Intercity train is seen at the magnificent Milan Centrale.


2nd class. Larger photo.		1st class. Larger photo.

Step 3 & 4, take a TER local train from Ventimiglia to Nice, then a TGV from Nice to Marseille. Here, a TER rolls into Juan les Pins station, between Nice & Cannes.

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


Step 5, Marseille to Barcelona by S100 AVE, seen here at Barcelona Sants.		2nd class seats, all with power sockets & free WiFi. Panorama photo of 2nd class.


1st class seats on an S100 AVE, all with power sockets. Panorama photo of 1st class.		Cafe-bar on an S100 AVE serving tea, coffee, beer, wine, snacks & hot dishes.

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

Option 3, Florence to Barcelona & Spain with overnight stop in Geneva

Day 1, travel from Florence SMN to Milan Centrale by Frecciarossa then Milan Centrale to Geneva by EuroCity train.
You can leave Florence SMN at 14:55, change at Milan Centrale, arriving Geneva 21:21.

Or leave Florence SMN at 16:55, change at Milan Centrale, arriving Geneva 23:56.

Fares start at €19.90 for Florence-Milan plus €29 upwards for Milan-Geneva. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book from Florence to Geneva at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee), using either of those websites means all your tickets can be booked together in one place.
Or book at www.italiarail.com in €, £ or $, the small fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.

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

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 Rhône.
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.

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 Béziers cathedral, flamingos on the étangs (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).

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

Day 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 Coruña & 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.

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Florence to Lisbon & Portugal

Option 1, Florence to Lisbon via Madrid

Days 1 & 2, travel from Florence to Marseille, stay overnight, then take the morning AVE high-speed train to Madrid, as shown in the Florence to Madrid section.

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

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

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

Days 1 & 2, travel from Florence to Barcelona as shown above.

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

Day 3, travel from Barcelona to Seville by AVE, leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:35, arriving Seville Santa Justa 14:32.
The AVE S103 high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at around €46, book this at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, in €, may reject some international credit cards).

Day 3, travel from Seville to Faro by bus.

An Alsa-Rede Express bus leaves from outside Seville Santa Justa at 15:30, arriving Faro 18:00.

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

The fare is €17-€25.

Buy a ticket at Omio.com or www.alsa.es. You print your own ticket.

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Florence to Andorra

Step 1, travel from Florence to Marseille as shown in the Florence to Nice & Marseille section.
Book at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee).

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

Step 2, travel from Marseille to Toulouse by Intercité leaving Marseille St Charles at 07:19, arriving Toulouse Matabiau 11:15.

Fares start at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at either www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).
Booking for French trains opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Step 3, travel from Toulouse Matabiau to Andorra la Vella by bus, leaving Toulouse Matabiau at 13:45 arriving Andorra 17:45.
Check times at Andbus.net or Omio.com. I'd allow at least an hour between train and bus in Toulouse in case of delay.
The bus leaves from bus stand 15 in the Gare Routière (bus station) outside Toulouse Matabiau station. Simply walk out of the station onto the forecourt and look to your right. The bus station is the modern building with the glass-and-blue-framework, see the photos below.
The fare is €36.
Book the bus at Andbus.net or Omio.com.

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Florence to Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin & Germany

Option 1, Florence to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train & onwards train to Frankfurt, Hamburg, Berlin or anywhere in Germany - the time-effective option

Step 1, travel from Florence to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Florence SMN at 21:48, arriving Munich Hbf 09:22.

Important: This sleeper train is cancelled from 17 November 2024 to 13 July 2025 due to work in the Tauern Tunnel in Austria.

This is a new generation Nightjet sleeper train with 1 & 2 bed sleepers with shower & toilet, 4-berth comfort couchettes, individual mini cabins and ordinary seats, see the new generation Nightjet page for a guide to 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 the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, you print your own ticket.
Tip: You can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.

Step 2, travel from Munich to anywhere in Germany, for example leaving Munich Hbf 10:51 by ICE train, arriving Berlin Hbf 14:56.
I'd allow at least 1 hour between trains in Munich, ideally more.
Fares start from €18.99 in 2nd class or €27.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book from Munich to anywhere in Germany 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.

Florence to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train. More about new-generation Nightjets

Comfort Plus sleeper with shower & toilet.

Comfort sleeper with shower & toilet

4-berth couchettes.

Mini-cabins - enclosed individual capsules.

Option 2, Florence to Berlin using the Zurich-Berlin sleeper

Step 1, travel from Florence to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Florence SMN at 11:55, arriving Milan Centrale 13:50.

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

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

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it). Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you print your ticket or show it on your phone.

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

The EuroCity Giruno train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

It's a lovely run through the Alps, past Italian and Swiss lakes and passing through the world's longest railway tunnel, the Gotthard Base Tunnel. Have dinner in Zurich, I recommend steak-frites and a beer at the Brasserie Federal on the concourse at Zurich HB.

Fares start at €29 in 2nd class or €49 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 www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it).

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you print your ticket or show it on your phone.

Step 3, travel from Zurich to Berlin by Nightjet, leaving Zurich HB at 19:59, arriving Berlin Hbf 07:20.

This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has a 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. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee in the morning, see the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board 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 (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

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

Option 3, Florence to Hamburg using the Zurich-Hamburg sleeper

Step 1, travel from Florence to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Florence SMN at 11:55, arriving Milan Centrale at 13:50.

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

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

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it).

Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you print your ticket or show it on your phone.

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

The EuroCity Giruno train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

It's a lovely run through the Alps, past Italian and Swiss lakes and passing through the world's longest railway tunnel, the Gotthard Base Tunnel. Have dinner in Zurich, I recommend steak-frites and a beer at the Brasserie Federal on the concourse at Zurich HB.

Fares start at €29 in 2nd class or €49 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 www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it).

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you print your ticket or show it on your phone.

Step 3, travel from Zurich to Hamburg by Nightjet, leaving Zurich HB at 20:59, arriving Hamburg Hbf 07:53.

This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has two air-conditioned double-deck sleeping-cars (1 & 2 bed compartments with washbasin, 1 & 2 bed deluxe compartments with shower & toilet, plus a few 3-berth compartments with washbasin), couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments & ordinary seats. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The sleeper & couchette fares include a light breakfast with tea or coffee in the morning, 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 (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

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

Option 4, Florence to Munich & Germany via the Brenner route - a scenic daytime option

Take a high-speed train from Florence to Bologna or Verona, then a comfortable Austrian railjet train to Munich.
Leave Florence SMN 08:36, change at Verona Porta Nuova onto the 11:01 railjet train, arriving Munich Hbf 16:27.

Leave Florence SMN 10:36, change at Verona Porta Nuova onto the 13:01 railjet train, arriving Munich Hbf 18:28.

Leave Florence SMN 12:20, change at Bologna Centrale onto the 13:52 railjet train, arriving Munich Hbf 20:26.

The swish Austrian railjet trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. In 1st & business class a steward takes restaurant orders and serves you at your seat. These trains travel through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the photos & video on the Brenner Pass page.
Change in Munich for Frankfurt, Cologne, Hamburg, Berlin or anywhere in Germany.

How much does it cost?
Florence to Bologna or Verona starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.
Bologna or Verona to Munich or anywhere in Germany starts at €37.99 in 2nd class or €47.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

How to buy tickets
Book from Florence SMN to Munich or anywhere in Germany at www.raileurope.com, but (and this is important) click More options, enter either Verona (any station) or Bologna Centrale as a via with a stopover duration of 45 minutes.
Look for journeys with just 1 change to Munich or 2 changes if going beyond Munich.
www.raileurope.com connects to both the Italian and German ticketing systems so can source both tickets as one easy booking. You can pay in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee.
Italian trains open for booking up to 4 months ahead, the Austrian/German trains open up to 6 months ahead. You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.

Another way to buy tickets
Alternatively, book the Italian train at www.italiarail.com (in €, £ or $, the small fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or www.trenitalia.com, then book the Austrian/German trains from Bologna or Verona to anywhere in Germany at the German Railways website int.bahn.de (in €, no booking fee). Allow at least 45 minutes between trains in Bologna or Verona, ideally more.

Bologna or Verona to Munich by new generation railjet, note the low-floor section for easy boarding. Courtesy of @SimplyRailway. Interior photos courtesy of ÖBB.

Economy class, open saloon.

Restaurant car.

First class, all in open saloons.

Business class = just four 4-seat compartments

Watch out for hilltop fortresses.

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

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

Option 5, Florence to Frankfurt & Germany via the Gotthard route - another scenic daytime option

Step 1, travel from Florence to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Florence SMN at 07:55, arriving Milan Centrale 09:50.
The Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at €19.90 in standard class or €29.90 in business. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, it's ticketless, you print your booking reference or show it on your phone.

Step 2, travel from Milan to Frankfurt by EuroCity, leaving Milan Centrale at 11:10, arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf 18:44.
This excellent EuroCity Giruno train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
It travels past Lake Como, through the Swiss Alps via the Gotthard Base Tunnel (the world's longest rail tunnel) and past Lake Lugano. Change in Frankfurt for Cologne, Düsseldorf and other German cities. It's even possible to reach Hamburg or Berlin that day.
Fares from Milan to Germany start at €59.99 in 2nd class or €119.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares so book ahead.
Book from Milan to anywhere in Germany at the German Railways website int.bahn.de (in €) or at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, small booking fee), looking for the 11:10 departure. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

A Giruno train at Zurich HB.

Giruno, 1st class. Larger photo.

Restaurant car with bar counter. Larger photo.

Giruno 2nd class. Larger photo

Level boarding. Note the destination screen in the door.

Lake Lugano, seen from a EuroCity train from Milan.
Option 6, Florence to anywhere in Germany with overnight stop in Munich

Day 1, travel from Florence to Munich on one of these departures:
Leave Florence SMN at 10:36, change at Verona Porta Nuova onto the 13:01 railjet train, arriving Munich Hbf 18:28.

Leave Florence SMN at 12:20, change at Bologna Centrale onto the 13:52 railjet train, arriving Munich Hbf 20:26.
You take a high-speed Frecciarossa from Florence to Bologna or Verona with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then a swish Austrian railjet to Munich Hbf, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the photos here.
Florence to Bologna or Verona starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Bologna or Verona to Munich starts at €37.99 in 2nd class or €47.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book from Florence SMN to Munich Hbf at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.
If you have problems booking this as one journey, book the 10:36 Florence SMN to Verona, add to basket, then book the 13:01 railjet from Verona Porta Nuova to Munich, add to basket & check out. Or book the 12:20 Florence SMN to Bologna, add to basket, then book the 13:52 Bologna to Munich, add to basket & check out.
Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead for Italian trains and up to 6 months ahead for the Austrian train, you print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.

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

Day 2, travel from Munich to anywhere in Germany on comfortable ICE or IC trains.
Fares start at €18.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy tickets at the German Railways website bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

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Florence to Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck & Austria from €59

Option 1, Florence to Salzburg & Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train - the time-effective option

A Nightjet sleeper train leaves Florence SMN at 21:48 every day, one portion arrives Salzburg Hbf 06:49, another portion arrives Vienna Hbf 09:04.
This train is an excellent 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 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.
Update: There's no Salzburg portion from 17 November 2024 to 13 July 2025, due to the closure of the Tauern Tunnel.

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 the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: You can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.

Florence to Salzburg or Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train. More about new-generation Nightjets

Comfort Plus sleeper with shower & toilet.

Comfort sleeper with shower & toilet

4-berth couchettes.

Mini-cabins - enclosed individual capsules.

Option 2, Florence to Salzburg or Vienna by daytime trains - a scenic daytime option with lunch in Venice

You can travel from Florence to Salzburg or Vienna by train in a single chill-out day. And how about lunch in Venice?

Step 1, travel from Florence to Venice by Frecciarossa, leaving Florence SMN at 12:20, arriving Venice Santa Lucia 14:34.
The Frecciarossa high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
If you'd like lunch and a wander around Venice, take an earlier train from Florence, for example the 07:20, 08:20 or 09:20. The Rialto Bridge is just 20 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia, St Mark's Square 27 minutes walk, see map of Venice showing station. There's a left luggage office at the station. Of course if you haven't been to Venice before, I recommend a longer stop, not just a few hours!

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

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee, using this means you can book all your tickets together in one place) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €). Italiarail will refund their booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com afterwards.
Booking normally opens 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you print your ticket or show it on your phone.

Step 2, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:52, arriving Vienna Hbf 23:36.
The swish Austrian railjet train takes the scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route, you might see something of the landscape at least in summer when it's light until ten. The railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the Venice to Vienna by railjet page.
For Salzburg, change in Villach arriving Salzburg Hbf 21:48. Don't worry about the 5-minute interchange at Villach, this is a recognised connection which many people make, it's a simple cross-platform switch from platform 2 to platform 3. In any case you will have a through ticket so will be looked after if there's missed connection.
Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €44.90 in 1st class or €59 in business class (= premium 1st). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book from Venice to Vienna or Salzburg at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways web site www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly, same fares).
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.

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

Restaurant. In 1st & business you're served at your seat.

Business class. About business class.

First class.

Economy class.

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

Option 3, Florence to Innsbruck, Salzburg or Vienna in a day via the Brenner Pass - another scenic daytime option

Step 1, travel from Florence to Verona by Frecciarossa, leaving Florence SMN at 10:36, arriving Verona Porta Nuova 12:08.
The 300 km/h (186 mph) Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Step 2, travel from Verona to Innsbruck by railjet, leaving Verona Porta Nuova at 13:01, arriving Innsbruck Hbf 16:36.
This swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. In 1st & business class a steward takes restaurant orders and serves you at your seat. The train travels through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the photos & video on the Brenner Pass page.

Step 3, travel from Innsbruck to Salzburg or Vienna by railjet, leaving Innsbruck Hbf 17:14, arriving Salzburg Hbf 19:02 & Vienna Hbf 21:32.
The railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

How much does it cost?

Florence to Verona starts at €29.90 in 2nd class, €39.90 in 1st class.

Verona to anywhere in Austria starts at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

How to buy tickets
First book the 13:01 from Verona Porta Nuova to Innsbruck, Salzburg, Vienna or anywhere in Austria using www.thetrainline.com (quickest & easiest to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, in €, more fiddly). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Now add the connecting train from Florence SMN to Verona Porta Nuova at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee, using Trainline means all your bookings are together in one place), or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, or $) or www.trenitalia.com (in €), making sure you have at least 40 minutes between trains in Verona in case of any delay. If you use Italiarail they'll refund the small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference.
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you print your ticket or show it on your phone.

A new generation railjet at Innsbruck, note the low-floor section for easy boarding. Courtesy of @SimplyRailway. Interior photos courtesy of ÖBB.

Economy class, open saloon.

Restaurant car.

First class, all in open saloons.

Business class = just four 4-seat compartments

Watch out for hilltop fortresses.

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

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

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Florence to Copenhagen, Gothenburg & Stockholm

Option 1, Florence to Copenhagen, Gothenburg & Stockholm using the Zurich-Hamburg sleeper

Step 1, travel from Florence to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Florence SMN at 11:55, arriving Milan Centrale 13:50.

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

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

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it).

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you print your booking reference or show it on your phone.

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

The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

It's a lovely run through the Alps, past Italian and Swiss lakes and passing through the world's longest railway tunnel, the Gotthard Base Tunnel. Have dinner in Zurich, I can recommend the steak-frites and a beer at the Brasserie Federal on the main concourse at Zurich HB.

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

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it).

Booking opens up to 90 days ahead. It's ticketless, you print your ticket or show it on your phone.

Step 3, travel from Zurich to Hamburg by Nightjet, leaving Zurich HB at 20:59, arriving Hamburg Hbf 07:53.

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

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

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

Step 4, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:50, arriving Copenhagen 13:38.
Fares start at €27.99 in 2nd class or €59.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book from Hamburg to Copenhagen at the German Railways website int.bahn.de or www.raileurope.com

Step 5, travel from Copenhagen to Sweden by train.
For Stockholm, travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000 train leaving Copenhagen at 14:19, arriving Stockholm Central 19:37.

For Gothenburg, travel from Copenhagen to Gothenburg by Öresund train, these leave every hour taking 3h50.

For Malmö, travel from Copenhagen to Malmö Central by Öresund train every 20-30 minutes taking 39 minutes.

All these trains cross the water from Denmark to Sweden over the impressive Öresund fixed link.

Fares from Hamburg to Sweden start at €56.99. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book from Hamburg to Stockholm, Gothenburg or Malmö as one transaction at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. Gothenburg is listed as Göteborg Central. If you have any problems, for example if you don't see any affordable 1st class fares, split the booking, booking Hamburg to Copenhagen at int.bahn.de and booking Copenhagen to anywhere in Sweden at either Omio.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small fee) or www.sj.se (in SEK, has been known to reject some overseas credit cards).

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.

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

2-berth sleeper on lower deck.

Stairs down to pair of lower compartments.

1 or 2-bed sleeper on lower deck with washbasin, set up as 1-bed. Note how compact the compartment is.

Nightjet couchette car.

6-berth couchettes.

4-berth couchettes.

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.

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

1st class on an X2000. Larger photo.

2nd class on an X2000. Larger photo.

Bistro seating on an X2000 train. Larger photo.

Bistro on an X2000 train. Larger photo.

Crossing the impressive Öresund bridge from Denmark to Sweden.

Option 2, Florence to Copenhagen, Gothenburg & Stockholm using the Florence-Munich sleeper

Step 1, travel from Florence to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Florence SMN at 21:48, arriving Munich Hbf 09:22.

Important: This sleeper train is cancelled from 17 November 2024 to 13 July 2025 due to work in the Tauern Tunnel in Austria.

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 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 the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: You can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.
If you'd prefer a daytime journey with an overnight stop in Munich, use the Florence to Munich in a day option.

Step 2, travel from Munich to Copenhagen, leaving Munich Hbf 10:21, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 21:38.

Treat this as a chill-out day with a good book and a glass or two of wine (I can recommend DB's Spätburgunder). You travel from Munich to Hamburg by ICE train with restaurant car for lunch, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. You travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by comfortable EuroCity train, there's no catering car so bring your own food & drink.

If you're only going as far as Copenhagen, book from Munich to Copenhagen from €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class at the German Railways site int.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Step 3 if you're going to Malmö, simply take the next available Öresund train from Copenhagen to Malmö Central, these leave every 20-30 minutes taking 40 minutes. You can book through from Munich to Malmö from €39.90 at int.bahn.de and print your own ticket.

Step 3 if you're going to Stockholm or Gothenburg, stay overnight in Copenhagen then travel to Stockholm in just 5h15 by X2000 high-speed train or to Gothenburg in 3h50 by Öresund train.
You can book tickets from Copenhagen to anywhere in Sweden at the Swedish Railways site www.sj.se, but there's a cleverer way to book if you are coming from Munich. Use this special link to bahn.de to book from Munich to Stockholm from €56.90 with an overnight stop in Copenhagen programmed in using the Stopover feature - just enter your date of travel from Munich. Adjust the intermediate stopover time as necessary to get the trains you want, or if no fares show up initially, it may take a bit of trial & error to get the trains you want. This method works to book from Munich to Gothenburg, too - you'll find bahn.de lists Gothenburg as Göteborg Central.

Florence to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train. More about new-generation Nightjets

Comfort Plus sleeper with shower & toilet.

Comfort sleeper with shower & toilet

4-berth couchettes.

Mini-cabins - enclosed individual capsules.

Option 3, Florence to Copenhagen, Gothenburg & Stockholm by daytime trains with overnight stops in Munich & Copenhagen

Day 1, travel from Florence to Munich on one of these departures:
Leave Florence SMN at 10:36, change at Verona Porta Nuova onto the 13:01 railjet train, arriving Munich Hbf 18:28.

Leave Florence SMN at 12:20, change at Bologna Centrale onto the 13:52 railjet train, arriving Munich Hbf 20:26.
You take a high-speed Frecciarossa from Florence to Bologna or Verona with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then a swish Austrian railjet to Munich Hbf, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the photos here.
Florence to Bologna or Verona starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Bologna or Verona to Munich starts at €37.99 in 2nd class or €47.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book from Florence SMN to Munich Hbf at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.
If you have problems booking this as one journey, book the 10:36 Florence SMN to Verona, add to basket, then book the 13:01 railjet from Verona Porta Nuova to Munich, add to basket & check out. Or book the 12:20 Florence SMN to Bologna, add to basket, then book the 13:52 Bologna to Munich, add to basket & check out.
Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead for Italian trains and up to 6 months ahead for the Austrian train, you print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.

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

Day 2, travel from Munich to Copenhagen by train, leaving Munich Hbf at 08:17, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 19:38.

Or there's a later departure leaving Munich Hbf at 10:20, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 21:38.

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

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

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

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

Day 3, travel from Copenhagen to Gothenburg by hourly Öresund train in 3h50, or Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000 train in around 5h15 with various departures, fares from around €28 upwards. Book this at Omio.com or the Swedish Railways website www.sj.se.

Tip: You may be able to save money by buying a Munich-Stockholm or Munich-Gothenburg through ticket from German Railways like this: Go to int.bahn.de, enter Munich-Stockholm or Munich-Gothenburg. Before running the enquiry, click Stopovers, enter Copenhagen and a length of stay of (say) 12 hours. It should then give you a Sparpreis fare with an overnight stop in Copenhagen, specified trains only, limited or no refunds.

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Florence to Oslo & Norway

Option 1, Florence to Oslo via Munich & Copenhagen - by train all the way

Day 1, travel from Florence to Munich on one of these departures:
Leave Florence SMN at 10:36, change at Verona Porta Nuova onto the 13:01 railjet train, arriving Munich Hbf 18:28.

Leave Florence SMN at 12:20, change at Bologna Centrale onto the 13:52 railjet train, arriving Munich Hbf 20:26.
You take a high-speed Frecciarossa from Florence to Bologna or Verona with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then a swish Austrian railjet to Munich Hbf, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the photos here.
Florence to Bologna or Verona starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Bologna or Verona to Munich starts at €37.99 in 2nd class or €47.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book from Florence SMN to Munich Hbf at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.
If you have problems booking this as one journey, book the 10:36 Florence SMN to Verona, add to basket, then book the 13:01 railjet from Verona Porta Nuova to Munich, add to basket & check out. Or book the 12:20 Florence SMN to Bologna, add to basket, then book the 13:52 Bologna to Munich, add to basket & check out.
Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead for Italian trains and up to 6 months ahead for the Austrian train, you print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.

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

Day 2, travel from Munich to Copenhagen by train, leaving Munich Hbf at 08:17, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 19:38.

Munich to Hamburg is by ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Hamburg to Copenhagen is by EuroCity train with refreshment trolley, more about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.

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

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

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

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

Day 3, travel from Copenhagen to Oslo by train, leaving Copenhagen at 07:30, change at Gothenburg Central, arriving Oslo Sentral 15:47.

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

Alternatively, spend a morning in Copenhagen, and after lunch take the overnight ferry to Oslo with a comfortable private cabin with shower & toilet, sailing from Copenhagen at 16:30 (15:00 some days) arriving Oslo at 10:00 on day 4, as shown here. This is remarkably affordable, and saves a hotel bill. Book the ferry at www.dfds.com.

Option 2, Florence to Oslo via the Kiel-Oslo cruise ferry - the most luxurious way to Norway

Day 1, travel from Florence to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Florence SMN at 11:55, arriving Milan Centrale 13:50.

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

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

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it). Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you print your ticket or show it on your phone.

Day 1, travel from Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train, leaving Milan Centrale at 15:10, arriving Zurich HB 18:27.

The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

It's a lovely run through the Alps, past Italian and Swiss lakes and passing through the world's longest railway tunnel, the Gotthard Base Tunnel. Have dinner in Zurich, I recommend steak-frites and a beer at the Brasserie Federal on the main concourse at Zurich HB.

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

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, requires Italian language place names, see advice on using it).

Booking opens up to 90 days ahead. It's ticketless, you print your ticket or show it on your phone.

Day 1, travel from Zurich to Hamburg by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Zurich HB at 20:59, arriving Hamburg Hbf 07:53.

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

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

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

Day 2, travel from Hamburg Hbf to Kiel Hbf by regional train, these leave several times each hour taking 1h10, fixed-price fare around €23.
In Kiel, the Color Line ferry terminal is only 6 minutes walk from Kiel Hbf, but allow several hours between train & ferry for the ferry check-in and in case of delay.

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

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

2-berth sleeper on lower deck.

Stairs down to pair of lower compartments.

1 or 2-bed sleeper on lower deck with washbasin, set up as 1-bed. Note how compact the compartment is.

Nightjet couchette car.

6-berth couchettes.

4-berth couchettes.

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

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

Restaurant and lounge on the Kiel-Oslo ferry.

Wake up to lovely scenery sailing up Oslo Fjord.

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

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Florence to Helsinki & Finland

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

Day 1, travel from Florence to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Florence SMN at 21:48, arriving Munich Hbf 09:22.

Important: This sleeper train is cancelled from 17 November 2024 to 13 July 2025 due to work in the Tauern Tunnel in Austria. While it's cancelled, travel from Florence to Munich by day trains as shown above, and stay overnight in Munich.

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 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 (in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, you print your own ticket.
Tip: You can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Switzerland & click nj.

Day 2, travel from Munich to Hamburg by ICE, leaving Munich Hbf at 10:20, arriving Hamburg Hbf 15:55.

The ICE4 train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Fares start at €27.99 in 2nd class or €56.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at the German Railways site 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.

Day 2, travel from Hamburg Hbf to Lübeck by regional train then take a bus to the Skandinavienkai ferry terminal in Travemünde.

Tip: Have dinner in Lübeck's old town, see suggested restaurant here.

Sail from Travemünde to Helsinki by Finnlines ferry. Finnlines sail from Travemünde to Helsinki every day, boarding at 23:30, sailing at 02:45 (the exact time varies) and arriving at Helsinki's Hansa Terminal in Vuosaari at 09:15 2 nights later (Day 4 from Florence).

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

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

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

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

Standard cabin. Larger photo.

Gym with a view.

Sauna.

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

Step 1, travel from Florence to Stockholm as shown above.

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

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Florence to Prague from €68

Option 1, Florence to Prague overnight via Vienna - comfortable, safe, time-effective, with a chance to see Vienna on the way

Step 1, travel from Florence to Vienna by Nightjet, leaving Florence SMN at 21:48, arriving Vienna Hbf 09:04.
This is a new generation Nightjet sleeper 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 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 the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: If you like, you can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.
Tip: If you have a sleeper ticket and/or 1st class ticket for the onward train to Prague you can use the ÖBB lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & WiFi.

Step 2, travel from Vienna to Prague by Czech railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 11:10, arriving Prague Hlavni 15:15.
These swish railjet trains have a restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about Czech railjets.
Fares start at €14.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44.90 in business class (= premium 1st). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Why not book a later railjet & spend some time exploring Vienna? Railjets to Prague leave every two hours, see the timetable here. Left luggage lockers are available in Vienna. In Prague, you arrive in the city centre walking distance from the old town.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee, booking opens up to 6 months ahead) or the Czech Railways site www.cd.cz (in koruna, booking normally opens 92 days ahead, see tips for using it). You print your own ticket. You can also book at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at. See suggested hotels in Prague.

Alternative step 2 if you're going to Český Krumlov: Travel from Vienna Franz-Josefs-Bahnhof to Český Krumlov in 4h26 as explained here.

Step 1, Florence to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train. More about new-generation Nightjets

Comfort Plus sleeper with shower & toilet.

Comfort sleeper with shower & toilet

4-berth couchettes.

Mini-cabins - enclosed individual capsules.

Step 2, Vienna to Prague by railjet, with economy, first & business class, restaurant car, free WiFi and draught beer on tap. More about Vienna-Prague railjets.

Economy (2nd) class. Mainly unidirectional seating but with some tables for 4. All seats have power sockets & free WiFi. Larger photo.

First class. Mainly unidirectional, with some tables for 2 & tables for 4. Larger photo

Restaurant car for snacks, meals, beer, wine, tea & coffee. You don't need to reserve, just turn up & sit down. There's waiter-service at tables or order at the counter & take back to your seat. Larger photo.

Business class = premium 1st class. Just 6 seats at one end of the 1st class car. Same seats but very different layout from business class on Austrian railjet. Larger photo.

Option 2, Florence to Prague or Český Krumlov via Zurich - another comfortable, safe & time-effective option

Step 1, travel from Florence to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Florence SMN at 11:55, arriving Milan Centrale 13:50.
Frecciarossa trains have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about Frecciarossas.
Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class. Fares work like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.
Book from Florence to Milan at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee). Booking usually opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you print your ticket or show it on your phone.

A later departure is theoretically possible, but you should allow plenty of time in both Milan and Zurich when connecting with a sleeper train. Take some time to look around the magnificent Milan Centrale - can you spot Mussolini?

Step 2, travel from Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train, leaving Milan Centrale at 15:10, arriving Zurich HB 18:27.
The EuroCity Giruno train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

It's a lovely run through the Alps, past Italian and Swiss lakes and passing through the world's longest railway tunnel, the Gotthard Base Tunnel. Have dinner in Zurich, I recommend steak-frites and a beer at the Brasserie Federal on the main concourse at Zurich HB.

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

Book from Milan to Zurich at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee). Booking usually opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you print your ticket or show it on your phone.

Step 3, travel from Zurich to Prague by sleeping-car, leaving Zurich HB at 21:40, arriving České Budějovice 08:52 & Prague Hlavni 10:39.

The sleeping-car to Prague is a modern Czech Comfortline type with nine 1, 2 or 3 bed compartments with washbasin and three deluxe 1, 2 or 3 bed compartments with toilet & shower. There are toilets and a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. In sleepers, a light breakfast is included. There are no couchettes on this route. More about the Zurich-Prague sleeper.

Fares start at €45 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €59 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €112 in a single-bed sleeper. Deluxe sleepers cost a bit more. All per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this sleeper online at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz. Booking normally opens 90 days ahead. You print your own ticket. Easy! See my tips for using cd.cz.

If you're going to Český Krumlov, get off the sleeper at České Budějovice (formerly known as Budweis, that's right, where the name of the beer comes from), have a coffee then take the 10:12 local train to Český Krumlov arriving 10:57. In this case you'd use www.cd.cz to book Zurich to České Budějovice, then buy a local ticket to Český Krumlov from the orange & green GWTR kiosk at České Budějovice station.

Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train. More about these EuroCity Giruno trains.

Giruno, 1st class. Larger photo.

Restaurant car with bar counter. Larger photo.

Giruno 2nd class. Larger photo

Level boarding. Note the destination screen in the door.

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

Zurich to Prague by sleeping-car, seen here at Zurich HB. More about this sleeper.

Standard sleeper set up as a 2-berth, with blind down & washstand open. Each room can be used with 1, 2 or 3 beds.

Same sleeper with berths folded away & seats out, washstand closed. Very similar to a deluxe, but without shower & toilet.

Deluxe sleepers are similar to standard ones, with a bit more floorspace & compact shower & toilet instead of washstand.

Just like a hotel, the corridor in a Comfortline sleeping-car. There's a shower at end of the corridor for standard sleeper passengers.

Option 3, Florence to Prague with overnight stop in Venice - if you prefer day trains & hotel to sleepers

Day 1, travel from Florence SMN to Venice Santa Lucia by Frecciarossa in 2h14 using any train you like.
Frecciarossas have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
You can spend a full day in Florence before taking an evening train, or take an earlier train and see something of Venice. The Rialto bridge is only 15 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia, the Piazza San Marco is 25 minutes walk.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas cards no problem, small booking fee) or Trenitalia's website www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.

You can also try high-speed operator Italo for this journey, booked at www.italotreno.it.

Stay overnight in Venice. For a hotel that won't break the bank just 2 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia with good reviews, try the Hotel Maggior Consiglio or for a little more, the Hotel Abbazia.

Day 2, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:56, arriving Vienna Hbf 17:36.
The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
It takes the beautifully scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route from Vienna to Graz, a real treat, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmering_railway. Treat yourself to lunch with wine as the mountains glide by. More about the journey from Venice to Vienna.
Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class, €44.90 in 1st class or €59.90 in business class (= premium 1st class, a real treat). Fares vary like air fares.

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

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

Day 2, travel from Vienna to Prague by Czech railjet train leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:10, arriving Prague Hlavni 23:19.

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

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

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

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

Restaurant. In 1st & business you're served at your seat.

Business class. About business class.

First class.

Economy class.

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

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Florence to Bratislava & Slovakia from €64

Option 1, Florence to Bratislava using the Florence-Vienna sleeper - safe, comfortable, time-effective

Step 1, travel from Florence to Vienna by Nightjet, leaving Florence SMN at 21:48, arriving Vienna Hbf 09:04.

This is a new generation Nightjet sleeper 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 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 the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, a bit more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: You can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.

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

Step 2, when you reach Vienna, simply buy a ticket for €11 and hop on the next hourly Regional Express train from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna, no reservation necessary or possible, journey time 56 minutes, see the timetable here. You can check times using www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at. Important: If travelling before 5 July 2025, see the update here.

Step 1, Florence to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train. More about new-generation Nightjets

Comfort Plus sleeper with shower & toilet.

Comfort sleeper with shower & toilet

4-berth couchettes.

Mini-cabins - enclosed individual capsules.

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

Option 2, Florence to Bratislava with overnight stop in Venice - if you prefer day trains & hotel to sleepers

Day 1, travel from Florence SMN to Venice Santa Lucia by Frecciarossa in just 2h14 using any train you like.
Frecciarossas have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
You can spend almost a full day in Florence before taking an evening train, or take an earlier train and see something of Venice. The Rialto bridge is only 15 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia, the Piazza San Marco is just 25 minutes walk.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas cards no problem, small booking fee) or Trenitalia's website www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.

You can also try high-speed operator Italo for this journey, booked at www.italotreno.it.

Stay overnight in Venice. For a hotel that won't break the bank just 2 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia with good reviews, try the Hotel Maggior Consiglio or for a little more, the Hotel Abbazia.

Day 2, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:56, arriving Vienna Hbf 17:36.
The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
It takes the beautifully scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route from Vienna to Graz, a real treat, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmering_railway. Treat yourself to lunch with wine as the mountains glide by. More about the journey from Venice to Vienna.
Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class, €44.90 in 1st class or €59.90 in business class (= premium 1st class, a real treat). Fares vary like air fares.

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

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

Day 2, when you reach Vienna, simply buy a ticket for €11 and hop on the next hourly regional express train from Vienna Hbf to Bratislava Hlavna, no reservation necessary or possible, journey time 56 minutes, see the timetable here. Check times at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at. Important: If travelling before 5 July 2025, see the update here.

Venice to Vienna by railjet, seen at Venice Santa Lucia. More about Venice-Vienna railjets.

Restaurant. In 1st & business you're served at your seat.

Business class. About business class.

First class.

Economy class.

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

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

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Florence to Budapest from €68

Option 1, Florence to Budapest using the Florence-Vienna sleeper - safe, comfortable, time-effective

Step 1, travel from Florence to Vienna by Nightjet, leaving Florence SMN at 21:48, arriving Vienna Hbf 09:04.

This is a new generation Nightjet sleeper train with 1 & 2 bed sleepers with shower & toilet, 4-berth comfort couchettes, individual mini cabins and ordinary seats, see the new generation Nightjet page for a guide to 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 the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: You can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.
Tip: If you have a sleeper ticket and/or 1st class ticket for the onward train to Budapest you can use the ÖBB lounge in Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.

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

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

There's an earlier 09:42 to Budapest, but this is not a robust connection with the sleeper. However, trains leave every hour so by all means book a later train & spend some time in Vienna, see the timetable here. Luggage lockers are available.

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

Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket. Easy!

Step 1, Florence to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train. More about new-generation Nightjets

Comfort Plus sleeper with shower & toilet.

Comfort sleeper with shower & toilet

4-berth couchettes.

Mini-cabins - enclosed individual capsules.

Step 2, Vienna to Budapest by Hungarian EuroCity train.

1st class is usually in 6-seat compartments. Larger photo.

2nd class, open-plan saloon type, modernised. Larger photo.

Option 2, Florence to Budapest with overnight stop in Venice - if you prefer day trains & hotel to sleepers

Day 1, travel from Florence SMN to Venice Santa Lucia by Frecciarossa in just 2h14 using any train you like.
Frecciarossas have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
You can spend almost a full day in Florence before taking an evening train, or take an earlier train and see something of Venice. The Rialto bridge is only 15 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia, the Piazza San Marco is just 25 minutes walk.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easiest to use, in €, £ or $, overseas cards no problem, small booking fee) or Trenitalia's website www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.

You can also try high-speed operator Italo for this journey, booked at www.italotreno.it.

Stay overnight in Venice. For a hotel that won't break the bank just 2 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia with good reviews, try the Hotel Maggior Consiglio or for a little more, the Hotel Abbazia.

Day 2, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet train, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:56, arriving Vienna Hbf 17:36.
The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
It takes the beautifully scenic UNESCO-listed Semmering route from Vienna to Graz, a real treat, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmering_railway. Treat yourself to lunch with wine as the mountains glide by. More about the journey from Venice to Vienna.
Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class, €44.90 in 1st class or €59.90 in business class (= premium 1st class, a real treat). Fares vary like air fares.

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

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

Day 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest by railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 18:42, arriving Budapest Keleti 21:19.

The air-conditioned railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class or €44.90 in business class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (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 fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.

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

Frst class, with black leather seats.

Business class. About.

Restaurant.

A railjet at the impressive modern Vienna Hbf.

Economy class.

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

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Florence to Bucharest, Brasov & Romania

Step 1, travel from Florence to Budapest as shown in the Florence to Budapest section.
You leave Florence in the evening by Nightjet sleeper train and change in Vienna onto a railjet train to Budapest, arriving at lunchtime. You've an afternoon to explore Budapest.

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 an air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments. There's no restaurant car so take a picnic and bottle of wine.

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

Alternatively, 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. Next day, take a daytime train across Transylvania to Cluj, Timisoara, Simeria, Brasov or Bucharest as shown on the Trains from Budapest page. These daytime trains are also bookable from €26.30 at www.mavcsoport.hu.

A 1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper with washbasin. Larger photo.

The sleeping-car (vagon de dormit) on the westbound Ister at Bucharest. Sleepers convert from beds to private sitting rooms for day use. Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.

The vagon cuseta (couchette car) on the westbound Ister, boarding at Bucharest. Couchettes convert from bunks at night to seats by day. Courtesy of @AndyBTravels, DiscoverByRail.com .

4 or 6-berth couchettes. Larger photo.

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Florence to Ljubljana & Zagreb

Option 1, Florence to Ljubljana & Zagreb using the Florence-Austria Nightjet sleeper train - the most time-effective option.

Step 1, travel from Florence to Bruck an der Mur by Nightjet, leaving Florence SMN at 21:48, arriving Bruck/Mur 06:39.

This train is a new generation Nightjet sleeper train with 1 & 2 bed sleepers with shower & toilet, 4-berth comfort couchettes, individual mini cabins and ordinary seats, see the new generation Nightjet page for a guide to 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 the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, a bit more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
Tip: You can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.

Step 2, travel from Bruck an der Mur to Ljubljana by EuroCity train Emona, leaving Bruck/Mur at 09:58, arriving Ljubljana 14:00.

Change at Zidani Most for Zagreb, arriving 17:10.

It's an enjoyable ride with some great scenery. The Emona is air-conditioned with a restaurant car, treat yourself to lunch.

Fares start at €19.90. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book from Bruck/Mur to Ljubljana or Zagreb 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). You print your own ticket.

Option 2, Florence to Ljubljana by daytime trains, overnight stop, on to Zagreb next day - the leisurely daytime option

Step 1, travel from Florence to Venice by Frecciarossa 1000, leaving Florence SMN at 12:20, arriving Venice Santa Lucia 14:34.
The Frecciarossa high-speed train has 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
By all means book an earlier train from Florence if you'd like lunch and a wander in Venice, for example the 07:20, 08:20 or 09:20.

The Rialto Bridge is only 20 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia, St Mark's Square just 27 minutes walk, see map of Venice showing station. There's a left luggage office at the station. If you haven't been to Venice before, I'd recommend an overnight stop, not just a few hours!

Step 2, travel from Venice to Villach by railjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:52, arriving Villach 19:11.
The smart Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Villach is in southern Austria. Have a coffee at the station between trains.

Step 3, travel from Villach to Ljubljana by express train, leaving Villach at 20:53, arriving Lesce-Bled 21:47 & Ljubljana 22:38.

Stay overnight in Ljubljana, see suggested hotels near the station in Ljubljana.

Step 4, travel from Ljubljana to Zagreb, leaving Ljubljana at 08:09 & arriving Zagreb 10:39.
This train is not available from November 2024 to 13 July 2025.
Enjoy the scenery as the train runs along the lovely river Sava from Ljubljana to Zagreb.

How much does it cost?

Florence to Venice starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Venice to Ljubljana starts at €26.50 in 2nd class or €39.40 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Ljubljana to Zagreb costs €9 bought at the station.

How to buy tickets

First book from Venice to Ljubljana at www.thetrainline.com (quickest & easiest to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, same prices). You print your own ticket.
Now book a suitable connecting train from Florence to Venice at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €). Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you print your ticket or show it on your phone.
Buy the ticket from Ljubljana to Zagreb at the station in Ljubljana.

Option 3, Florence to Ljubljana & Zagreb on the historic direct route through Trieste

Direct trains from Italy to Slovenia were restored in September 2018. Two air-conditioned regional trains now run from Trieste to Ljubljana every day, with connections from Venice - and there's now a daily Austrian EuroCity train from Trieste to Ljubljana, too.

Just €22 or so gets you from Venice to Ljubljana, any day, any date, no prior reservation necessary, it cannot sell out, just buy at the station on the day. Change in Ljubljana for Zagreb. And if you've ever wondered where prosecco comes from, you'll find out on this route!

It's possible to travel from Florence to Ljubljana in a day this way, although you'll need to stay overnight & catch a train to Zagreb next morning.

Click here for timetable & fares between Venice, Ljubljana & Zagreb, with photos & an account of the journey.

Add a ticket from Florence to Venice by Frecciarossa high-speed train from €19.90 at either www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com.

Looking back from the rear of the Austrian EuroCity train as it climbs out of Trieste. Courtesy Helmut Uttenthaler.

Scenery in Slovenia on the way from Trieste to Ljubljana. More about Venice-Trieste-Ljubljana.

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Florence to Dubrovnik & Split

Option 1, Florence to Split & Dubrovnik via Zagreb - by train all the way

Step 1, travel overland from Florence to Zagreb by train as shown above.

Step 2, take a train from Zagreb to Split (daytime or sleeper) then a bus Split to Dubrovnik (4 hours, lots of buses).

Option 2, Florence to Split & Dubrovnik by ferry from Ancona or Bari - more time-effective

Step 1, book an overnight ferry with a comfortable cabin from Ancona to Split or from Bari to Dubrovnik.
Jadrolinija (www.jadrolinija.hr) sails on both routes several times a week, leaving 19:45-22:00 and arriving 07:00-08:00. You can choose a private cabin or cheaper berth in a shared cabin. There are also reclining seats, but always book a bed in a cabin for a safe & secure night's sleep. Make sure you're on deck with your camera ready as the ship approaches the beautiful Croatian coast!

Step 2, now add a train ticket from Florence SMN to either Ancona Centrale or Bari Centrale using www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €). Italiarail will refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you print your ticket or show it on your phone.

You should choose a train which arrives in Bari or Ancona at least 3 hours before the ferry sails, to allow for transfer to the port and check-in. In Bari it's a 25 minute walk via Bari's pleasant old town to the ferry terminal, or a 10 minute taxi ride. In Ancona, take a taxi from station to ferry terminal.

Blue Line & Jadrolinija ferries in Split Harbour. Above right, a deluxe cabin on the Blue Line ferry, which comes complete with an en suite jacuzzi. Courtesy of Andrew Leo.

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Florence to Belgrade

Day 1-2, travel from Florence to Budapest as shown in the Florence-Budapest section.

Stay overnight in Budapest.

If you want to stay near Budapest Keleti, top choice 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.

If you'd rather stay near Budapest Nyugati ready for a morning train, top choice is the highly-recommended 3-star T62 Hotel just across the road (a traveller's favourite with funky interior design, see the photos below) or the cheaper 3-star Star Inn Budapest Centrum a few minutes walk away also with good reviews.

Day 3, travel from Budapest to Belgrade by daytime trains as shown here.

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Florence to Sofia

Option 1, Florence to Sofia via Budapest & Bucharest - currently the most viable option

Day 1, travel from Florence to Budapest as shown in the Florence-Budapest section.

Make sure you allow an hour or two between trains in Budapest.

Day 2, travel from Budapest to Bucharest by sleeper, then Bucharest to Sofia by day train, as shown in the Budapest to Sofia section.

You arrive in Sofia on the evening of Day 3. Book as shown.

Option 2, Florence to Sofia via Belgrade

Not currently viable with the Zagreb-Belgrade and Belgrade-Sofia trains suspended.

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Florence to Bar, Budva, Kotor & Montenegro

This is an excellent way to reach beautiful Montenegro from Florence, if you can find a ferry. Make sure you're on deck with your camera ready as the ship approaches the lovely Montenegrin coast!

Step 1, travel from Florence SMN to Ancona by train.
Obviously, check ferry operating dates and times first and work out a suitable connecting train after booking the ferry. You should allow several hours in Ancona, check ferry check-in times, port location and procedures carefully.
Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, easy to use, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly). Italiarail will refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference.

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. It's ticketless, you print your ticket or show it on your phone.

Step 2, take the overnight ferry from Ancona to Bar in Montenegro, arriving next morning.

Montenegro Lines used to sail from Bari to Bar but ceased trading in early 2017, Jadrolinija (www.jadrolinija.hr) took over this route but then abandoned it. In 2024, Adria Ferries started a twice-weekly ferry from Ancona to Bar, which may run again in 2025. Days and times varied.
Check sailing dates & book online at www.adriaferries.com/en/lines/ancona-bar.html.

You can book a private cabin or berth in a shared cabin. There are also reclining seats, but a bed in a cabin means a safe & secure night's sleep.
If you find no sailings to Bar, book a sailing from Bari to Dubrovnik in Croatia with www.jadrolinija.hr. From Dubrovnik it's a 3h45 bus ride to Bar.

Trains link Bar with Podgorica and indeed with Belgrade on the spectacular Bar-Belgrade Railway. Buses link Bar bus station with Budva & Kotor.

The former Montenegro Lines ferry to Bari at Bar ferry terminal.

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Florence to Warsaw, Krakow & Poland

Option 1, Florence to Krakow & Warsaw using the Florence-Vienna sleeper

Day 1, travel from Florence to Vienna by Nightjet, leaving Florence SMN at 21:48, arriving Vienna Hbf 09:04.

This is a new generation Nightjet sleeper train with 1 & 2 bed sleepers with shower & toilet, 4-berth comfort couchettes, individual mini cabins and ordinary seats, see the new generation Nightjet page for a guide to 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 the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, more fiddly, in €). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, you print your own ticket.
Tip: You can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, scroll down to Austria & click nj.
Tip: If you have a sleeping-car ticket and/or 1st class ticket for the onward train you can use the ÖBB lounge at Vienna Hbf for 1½ hours after arrival and before departure, with complimentary refreshments & WiFi.

Day 2, spend the morning in Vienna and travel to Poland in the afternoon.
For Warsaw, travel from Vienna to Warsaw by EuroCity train Polonia, leaving Vienna Hbf at 14:10, arriving Warsaw Centralna 21:53.
For Krakow, travel from Vienna to Krakow by EuroCity train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 16:10 and arriving Krakow Glowny 21:25.
Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Step 1, Florence to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train. More about new-generation Nightjets

Comfort Plus sleeper with shower & toilet.

Comfort sleeper with shower & toilet

4-berth couchettes.

Mini-cabins - enclosed individual capsules.

Step 2, Vienna to Warsaw or Krakow by EuroCity train. This is the Danubius to Krakow at Vienna Hbf on a winter afternoon. That's the Czech through car to Wroclaw nearest the camera, the Polish cars to Krakow are ahead of it. Courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.

Most 2nd class cars have compartments like this with side corridor & 6-seat compartments.

Option 2, Florence to Krakow & Warsaw with overnight stop in Vienna

Day 1, travel from Florence to Vienna in one day, either via Innsbruck or via Venice, as shown in the Florence to Vienna section.

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

Day 2, travel from Vienna to Warsaw or Krakow by comfortable EuroCity train, as shown in the Vienna-Poland section.

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Florence to Lviv, Kyiv, Moscow

Day 1, travel from Florence to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train as shown in the Florence to Vienna section above, leaving Florence SMN in the evening and arriving at Vienna Hbf next morning.

Day 2, enjoy the best part of the day in Vienna, left luggage lockers are available.

Day 2, travel from Vienna to Ukraine by direct sleeping-car, leaving Vienna Hbf at 16:42 daily, arriving Lviv 09:59 & Kyiv 16:41 (day 3).
Introduced in 2017, this train consists of 2 or sometimes 3 direct Ukrainian sleeping-cars attached to a Vienna-Zahony EuroCity train. The sleeping-cars have comfortable 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, see the photos below. At Chop on the other side of the border the through sleeping-cars are jacked up to have their wheelsets changed from European standard gauge (4'8½") to Russian gauge used in Ukraine (5').

Vienna to Lviv costs €71.20 in a 3-berth sleeper, €79.20 in a 2-berth sleeper or around €130 in a single sleeper.
Vienna to Kyiv costs €89.60 in a 3-berth sleeper, €99.60 in a 2-berth sleeper or around €170 in a single sleeper.

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

Booking for these direct sleeping-cars opens 20 days ahead, but tickets sell out a day or two after booking opens, so book as soon as the booking period opens. If the ÖBB website says Ticket not available within 20 days it means fully-booked, if it says that more than 20 days ahead it means booking isn't open yet.

Tickets can now be printed out so you can book in either direction. However, you must print the ticket, it cannot be shown on a mobile device.

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

Day 3, take a sleeper train from Kyiv to Moscow. Train 6 leaves Kyiv at around 19:36 and arrives Moscow Kievskaya at around 10:09 next day (day 4 from Italy). Taking the route via Kyiv avoids Belarus, so no need for a Belarus visa.
These trains were suspended due to Covid-19, and are now cancelled - and the lines blown up - due to the war in Ukraine.
The fare is around €92 with a bed in 4-berth kupé or €180 with a bed in a 2-berth spalny vagon.

You can book tickets starting in Kyiv at the Ukrainian Railways site booking.uz.gov.ua/en/ booking from Kyiv to Moskva Kievskaya. You collect tickets at the station in Kyiv. Feedback appreciated!

Change in Moscow for fast trains to St Petersburg, see the train travel in Russia page.

The Vienna-Kyiv sleeping-car at Vienna Hbf.

The Vienna-Kyiv sleeper about to leave Vienna Hbf. Courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.

The sleeper corridor. Courtesy Helmut Uttenthaler.

1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper compartment.

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Florence to Athens & Greece

You can leave Florence SMN in the morning on a fast train to Bari, sail overnight to Patras in Greece and take a bus/train into Athens arriving in the early evening. See the Italy to Athens page for details of times, fares & how to buy tickets.

The ferry Superfast II from Bari to Patras, boarding at Bari. Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com.

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Florence to Istanbul & Turkey

Step 1, travel from Florence to Bucharest as shown above.

An overnight stop may be necessary in Bucharest.

Step 2, travel from Bucharest to Istanbul overnight as shown on the Bucharest to Istanbul page.

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Railbookers custom-made tours

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Hotels in Florence

Hotels near Florence SMN

For something fancy, try the Santa Maria Novella with a 9/10 review score and rooftop terrace overlooking the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella. It's just a 5-minute 400m walk from the station.

For something more affordable but also an easy walk from the station, try the Hotel Art Atelier.

Other hotels nearby with good reviews include C-hotels Club, 7Florence B&B, Hotel Lombardia.

My favourite hotel search: www.booking.com

Booking.com is my favourite hotel booking site and I generally use it to book all my hotels in one place. I've come to trust booking.com's review scores, you won't be disappointed with any hotel that scores 8.0 or more. Crucially, booking.com usually lets you book with free cancellation, which means you can confirm accommodation risk-free before train booking opens and/or you can hold accommodation while you finalise your itinerary and alter your plans as they evolve - a feature I use all the time when planning a trip. I never book hotels non-refundably!

Backpacker hostels

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

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


Restaurant. In 1st & business you're served at your seat.		Business class. About business class.


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


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


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


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


Economy (2nd) class. Mainly unidirectional seating but with some tables for 4. All seats have power sockets & free WiFi. Larger photo.		First class. Mainly unidirectional, with some tables for 2 & tables for 4. Larger photo


Restaurant car for snacks, meals, beer, wine, tea & coffee. You don't need to reserve, just turn up & sit down. There's waiter-service at tables or order at the counter & take back to your seat. Larger photo.		Business class = premium 1st class. Just 6 seats at one end of the 1st class car. Same seats but very different layout from business class on Austrian railjet. Larger photo.


Standard sleeper set up as a 2-berth, with blind down & washstand open. Each room can be used with 1, 2 or 3 beds.		Same sleeper with berths folded away & seats out, washstand closed. Very similar to a deluxe, but without shower & toilet.		Deluxe sleepers are similar to standard ones, with a bit more floorspace & compact shower & toilet instead of washstand.		Just like a hotel, the corridor in a Comfortline sleeping-car. There's a shower at end of the corridor for standard sleeper passengers.


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


Frst class, with black leather seats.		Business class. About.		Restaurant.


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


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


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


Blue Line & Jadrolinija ferries in Split Harbour. Above right, a deluxe cabin on the Blue Line ferry, which comes complete with an en suite jacuzzi. Courtesy of Andrew Leo.


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

Trains between European cities

Trains from Florence

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Before you buy your tickets

European train travel FAQ

Which station in Florence?

Florence to other Italian towns & cities from €9.90, www.italiarail.com

Florence to Rome, Naples, Milan, Turin & Venice

Florence to Pisa

Florence to Siena

Florence to Lucca

Florence to Pompeii, Sorrento, Amalfi

Florence to Palermo, Catania, Siracuse & Sicily

Florence to London

Florence to Paris from €48.90

Florence to Lyon from €54.90

Florence to Nice, Cannes, Monte Carlo

Florence to Brussels & Bruges from €57.80

Florence to Amsterdam from €64

Florence to Luxembourg

Florence to Geneva, Zurich, Luzern, Basel & Switzerland from €49

Florence to Barcelona, Madrid & Spain from €89

Florence to Lisbon & Portugal

Florence to Andorra

Florence to Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin & Germany

Florence to Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck & Austria from €59

Florence to Copenhagen, Gothenburg & Stockholm

Florence to Oslo & Norway

Florence to Helsinki & Finland

Florence to Prague from €68

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Florence to Budapest from €68

Florence to Bucharest, Brasov & Romania

Florence to Ljubljana & Zagreb

Florence to Dubrovnik & Split

Florence to Belgrade

Florence to Sofia

Florence to Bar, Budva, Kotor & Montenegro

Florence to Warsaw, Krakow & Poland

Florence to Lviv, Kyiv, Moscow

Florence to Athens & Greece

Florence to Istanbul & Turkey

Railbookers custom-made tours

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

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

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

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

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

Hotels in Florence

Hotels near Florence SMN

My favourite hotel search: www.booking.com

Backpacker hostels

Train travel
UK & Ireland...

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in Europe...

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in Asia...

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