Option 2, Stockholm to Copenhagen by Snälltåget daytime train - in competition with SJ in summer 2024!

• Open-access operator Snälltåget will operate two trains a day from Stockholm to Copenhagen most days:

  A morning train leaves Stockholm Central at 09:13, arriving Copenhagen 15:06.

  An afternoon train leaves Stockholm Central at 16:20, arriving Copenhagen Ørestad (6.5 km south of the city centre) at 22:53.  This train will arrive Copenhagen Syd station from 2 August, 4.5 km south of the centre.

• The trains are one class only and feature Snälltåget's excellent restaurant car called the Krogen.

  Although not as swish as SJ's X2000 trains, these classic cars offer spacious old-school comfort and cheaper fares, with the added attraction of delicious Swedish meatballs and a beer or two in the Krogen.

• Fares start at only 299 SEK, about €26.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• Buy tickets at www.snalltaget.se/en.

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

A Snälltåget train at Malmö Central station.

Snälltåget's excellent restaurant, the Krogen.		Seating on a Snälltåget train.

Option 3, Stockholm to Copenhagen by sleeper train - the time-effective way

• Step 1, travel from Stockholm to Malmö by sleeper train, leaving Stockholm Central at 23:17 every night except Saturdays arriving Malmö Central at 06:59.  Exact times vary.  There's no sleeper on Saturday nights.

  The train has 1st class sleeping-cars with private 1 & 2 bed sleeper compartments with en suite shower & toilet, 2nd class sleeping-cars with shared single-gender 3-berth sleeper compartments with washbasin, a 2nd class couchette car with shared 6-berth compartments, and a seats car.

• Step 2, travel from Malmö Central to Copenhagen by Öresund train.  These turn-up-and-go local trains leave Malmö every 20-30 minutes, you should make the 07:20 arriving Copenhagen at 08:00.

• Buy tickets from Stockholm to Copenhagen at the Swedish railways website www.sj.se.

  Look for the late night departure with 1 change.

  SJ.se is sometimes fussy with overseas credit cards, if you have any payment problems try alternative sites www.snalltaget.se.  Or you can book by phone, calling SJ telesales on +46 771 75 75 75, there's a phone menu option for English.

  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.  The ticket allows you to take any Öresund train from Malmö to Copenhagen, not just the one shown when you book, so by all means have breakfast in Malmö and take a later one.

  Alternatively, you can easily book a seat or couchette on the Malmö-Stockholm sleeper train at Omio.com, overseas cards accepted, although this cannot book sleepers.  You first need to book Stockholm to Malmö and look on the last page of the search results for the overnight train.  Book that, then add a Malmö to Copenhagen ticket.  You can pay in £, €, $ or Krona, there's a small booking fee, You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

The overnight sleeper to Malmö, about to leave Stockholm Central. Courtesy of Andrew Henry.

1st class sleeper with en suite shower & toilet, shown in day mode (above left) and night mode set up as a single with upper berth folded against the wall (above centre).  Courtesy of Discoverbyrail.com.  Click the images for larger photos.

6-berth couchettes - the economy option.  Larger photo.		The sleeper at Malmö Central.  This is the sleeping-car with private 1 or 2-berth compartments with en suite shower & toilet.  Courtesy of Ivor Morgan.

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Stockholm to Oslo

• SJ (Swedish Railways) runs up to 4 trains a day from Stockholm to Oslo, an Intercity train taking 5h31-5h47 and 3 modern SJ3000 trains taking as little as 5h07.

  Both types of train have 1st & 2nd class and a bistro selling snacks, meals and drinks.

• How much does it cost?

  Fares start at 195 SEK (€18) in 2nd class 465 SEK (€42) in 1st class

  Fares vary like air fare, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets

  Buy tickets at Omio.com, this links directly to the SJ ticketing system, same prices as SJ, quick & easy to use, small booking fee, no problem with overseas credit cards, you can pay in various currencies including Swedish Kr, £, € and $.

  Or buy from SJ's own website www.sj.se, you pay in Swedish krona, no booking fee, you can usually choose select your seat from a seat map, but it can occasionally be fussy with overseas credit cards.  See advice on using sj.se.

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

  Fares work like air fares, so book ahead.  Reservation is compulsory.

• Tip:  1st class passengers can use the SJ first class lounge at Stockholm Central.

What are the SJ3000 trains like?

2nd class on an SJ3000 train.  Larger photo.		An SJ3000 train.  Larger photo.

Bistro on an SJ3000 train.  Larger photo		1st class on an SJ3000 train.  Larger photo

What are the Intercity trains like?

A Stockholm to Oslo train, at Stockholm Central.

2nd class on a Stockholm to Oslo train.  Larger photo.		1st class on a Stockholm to Oslo train.  Larger photo.

Luggage racks on a Stockholm to Oslo train.		Photo courtesy of Dr James Benedict Brown.

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Stockholm to Narvik

• A sleeper train runs from Stockholm Central to Kiruna and Narvik in Norway.  In 2024 it was run by www.vy.se, a subsidiary of the former Norwegian State Railways which won the operating contract, but SJ (www.sj.se) won back the contract from 15 December 2024.

• The trains have 1st class 1 & 2 berth sleepers with private toilet & shower, 2nd class 3 bed sleepers with washbasin, 6-berth couchettes, ordinary seats, cafe car.

1st class sleeper with en suite shower & toilet, shown in day mode (above left) and night mode set up as a single with upper berth folded against the wall (above centre).  Courtesy of Discoverbyrail.com.  Click the images for larger photos.

Scenery from the train between Stockholm & Narvik.  Photo courtesy of Discoverbyrail.com.

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Stockholm to Helsinki

Option 1, Stockholm to Helsinki by direct overnight ferry - a great experience, recommended

This is the nicest and most laid-back experience.  Boarding is a relaxed affair, starting 1½ hours before sailing time.  You've the whole evening to enjoy on the ferry as she sails out of Stockholm through various Swedish islands.  Next morning you can have a lie-in and leisurely breakfast before a punctual mid-morning arrival into Helsinki past the fortress island of Suomenlinna.  These ships have a reputation as party boats, especially at weekends, but you don't need to party if you don't want to.  Two competing ferry companies sail overnight every day, Silja Line and Viking Line.

Option 2, Stockholm to Turku by overnight ferry then train to Helsinki - also overnight, but faster & cheaper

This is significantly cheaper and several hours faster, with an evening departure from Stockholm and mid-morning arrival by train at Helsinki's magnificent central station.  There's also the option of a Stockholm-Turku-Helsinki daytime service, see option 3.  Only Viking Line now operates this route, with both a daytime and overnight crossing with tight turn-rounds so boarding may start as little as 15 minutes before sailing time with staff still finishing cleaning cabins.  The ferry arrives in Turku early morning, you may be asked to vacate your cabin even earlier so cleaning can start.  This route is faster and cheaper, but the direct Stockholm-Helsinki ferries are definitely more relaxed.  Having said that, enjoying a (tax-free, affordable) beer at the outdoor but sheltered Vista Bar as the Viking Glory sails into the sunset is such a great experience.

Option 3, using the daytime ferry from Stockholm to Turku then train to Helsinki - the leisurely daytime option.

Option 4, by train around the top of the Gulf of Bothnia - a long way round taking 2 nights, but all train, no ferry

This takes two nights and a day using two sleeper trains in a row, it involves a 4.6 km walk from Sweden into Finland.  The ferry options are obviously much faster, but if you prefer trains to ferries and want an adventure, this is it!

Option 1, Stockholm to Helsinki by direct overnight ferry

• Two ferry companies run luxurious overnight cruise ferries from Stockholm to Helsinki.

  Silja Line sails from Stockholm Värtahamnen ferry terminal at 16:45 every day arriving Helsinki Olympia ferry terminal at 10:30.

  Viking Line sails from Stockholm Stadsgården ferry terminal at 16:30 every day arriving Helsinki Katajanokka ferry terminal at 10:10.

  Silja Line's ships are the superb Silja Serenade & Silja Symphony, entering service in 1990.  Viking Line's ships are the Gabriella & Cinderella.

  This is the nicest most leisurely option, with time to chill out all evening on the cruise ferry - or dance the night away, and no need to get up early next morning.  You travel in a cosy en suite cabin, there are restaurants, bars, nightclub, and so on.  The morning arrival into Helsinki past Suomenlinna fortress is superb, make sure you're on deck with your camera.

• Fares start at around €85 including private cabin with shower & toilet, but fares vary by season & day of the week.

• Book the ferry at the Direct Ferries website, this can book both Silja & Viking, or see www.sales.vikingline.com & www.tallinksilja.com.

• Cabins:  A, B & C class cabins are all virtually identical, but A-class is topsides (decks 5-11) with window, B-class is topsides without window, and C-class is underneath the car deck on deck 2 without window.  All have 1-4 berths and en suite toilet & shower.  Promenade cabins are similar to A-class but with a window overlooking the big central promenade.  Deluxe cabins are more like a hotel room with twin/double bed, shower/toilet and complimentary minibar.  Commodore class suites gives access to the exclusive Commodore class lounge with complimentary refreshments & a sauna.  The Suites also give access to the Commodore lounge & sauna.

• In Stockholm, the easy way to reach Silja Line's Värtahamnen terminal is to take the Tunnelbana (metro) from T-Centralen (Stockholm Central) to Gärdet, just 3 stops on line T13 towards Ropsten.  The Tunnelbana accepts contactless bank cards, you just touch in & out.  From Gärdet station it's an easy well-signed 1km 12-minute walk to the Värtahamnen ferry terminal, see walking map.  You won't be the only person walking!

  Alternatively, Silja Line operates a transfer bus from Stockholm Cityterminal (next to Stockholm Central) to the terminal, buy tickets from the ticket machines or from the driver, check times at the Silja Line website.  Or take a taxi.

  At the Värtahamnen terminal, check-in for the ferry is painless:  Walk up to one of the self-service check-in machines, click the touch screen for English, scan the ferry ticket barcode on your phone or printout, click to confirm and out pops your ferry boarding pass which is also your cabin key.  Go through the automatic gates using the boarding pass and walk onto the ferry.

  See map of Stockholm showing ferry terminals.  See map of Helsinki showing ferry terminals.

• In Helsinki, it's a 23-minute 1.8 km walk from Silja Line's Olympia ferry terminal to Helsinki station, see walking map.

  Or take a tram:  Walk out of the terminal and turn right and you'll see the tram terminus for trams 2 & 3.  Buy a ticket from the machine using a contactless bank card, tram 2 will get you to a stop in the city centre called Lasipalatsi a block away from Helsinki station (you'll glimpse the station on your right before arriving at that stop), tram 3 takes a longer route but goes to the tram stop right outside the station.  Helsinki's iconic cathedral is a 1.3 km 16-minute walk from the ferry terminal.

The Silja Serenade at the Värtahamnen terminal in Stockholm, seen from the walkway across the port to the terminal.  Sister ship Silja Symphony is almost identical.  Entering service in 1990, the vast central promenade was a major innovation at the time, since copied by almost every cruise ship.

A class cabin on Silja Serenade.  Larger photo.		Deluxe cabin on Silja Serenade.  Larger photo.

Grande Buffet on the Silja Serenade.		Central promenade on Silja Serenade.  Larger photo.

Good night Sweden!  Sunset as the Silja Serenade sails slowly past the many islands out of Stockholm into the Baltic.

Good morning Finland!  Make sure you're on deck for the approach to Helsinki.  The ships sails past the King's Steps on the fortress of Suomenlinna, past the Finnish WW2 submarine Vesikko and through a remarkably narrow gap between Suomenlinna and neighbouring island Vallisaari to reach Helsinki harbour.  This photo was indeed taken from the Silja Serenade!

The view as the ferry docks in Helsinki. The ferry terminal is walking distance from all the sights, or a number 2 or 3 tram will take you from the terminal to Helsinki station in the city centre.

The Silja Serenade at her berth in Helsinki.

Viking Line also sails overnight from Stockholm to Helsinki to a similar schedule, with the Gabriella & Cinderella.

Option 2, Stockholm to Turku by overnight ferry + train to Helsinki - sleep your way from Stockholm to Finland

• Step 1, sail from Stockholm to Turku by Viking Line ferry.

  The ferry sails from Stockholm Stadsgården ferry terminal at 20:00 every day, arriving Turku at 07:35.

  The ferry has a wide range of standard & deluxe cabins, restaurants, bars, cinema, lounges & open deck.  A cabin is compulsory on the night crossing.  See map of Stockholm showing ferry terminals.

  In Turku it's just 100m from the Viking Line ferry terminal to Turku Port station, see map.

  Fares start at €42 including a private cabin with shower & toilet, a bargain.  However, fares vary by season & day of the week, with Fridays and the summer months usually more expensive.

  Book the ferry at the Direct Ferries website or at www.sales.vikingline.com.  Print out your ticket or show it on your phone.

• Step 2, travel from Turku to Helsinki by double-deck Intercity train leaving Turku Port (Turku Satama) at 08:05, arriving Helsinki station 10:40.

  This is a boat train specifically timed to connect with the ferry from Stockholm.  It has Eko (2nd) & Ekstra (1st) class, a bistro, playroom & various seating options.  More about this Intercity train.

  Fares start at €7.90 in Eco class, €18.80 in Ekstra class.

  Book from Turku Port to Helsinki at the Finnish Railways website www.vr.fi & print your ticket or show it on your phone.

Option 3, Stockholm to Turku by daytime ferry + train to Helsinki

• Step 1, sail from Stockholm to Turku by Viking Line ferry.

  The ferry sails from Stockholm Stadsgården ferry terminal at 07:45 every day, arriving Turku Port at 19:50.

  The ferry has a wide range of standard & deluxe cabins, restaurants, bars, cinema, lounges & open deck.  A cabin is optional on the day crossing, but I recommend one as somewhere to nap, shower, relax in private.  See map of Stockholm showing ferry terminals.

  In Turku it's just 100m from the Viking Line ferry terminal to Turku Port station, see map.

  Fares start at €25 including a private cabin with shower & toilet, a bargain.  However, fares vary by season & day of the week with Fridays and the summer months usually more expensive.

  Book the ferry at the Direct Ferries website or at www.sales.vikingline.com.  Print your ticket or show it on your phone.

• Step 2, travel from Turku to Helsinki by Intercity train leaving Turku Port (Turku Satama) at 20:30 every day, arriving Helsinki station 23:10.

  This is a boat train specifically timed to connect with the ferry from Stockholm.  It has Eko (2nd) & Ekstra (1st) class, a bistro, playroom & various seating options.  More about this Intercity train.

  Fares start at €7.90 in Eco class, €18.80 in Ekstra class.

  Book from Turku Port to Helsinki at the Finnish Railways website www.vr.fi & print your ticket or show it on your phone.

The Viking Glory at her berth in Stockholm.  Launched in 2021, she has bars, restaurants, shops & free WiFi.  The other ship on this route is the Viking Grace, launched in 2013.

Seaside cabin on Viking Glory.  Larger photo.		A beer at sunset at the vista bar on Viking Glory.

Sunset from the Viking Glory.  A beautiful way to travel.

The Viking Glory docked at Turku.  Turku Port station is a minute or two walk away.

Turku to Helsinki by Intercity train:  This is a double-deck push-pull Intercity train at Helsinki, with restaurant car, power outlets at all seats & free WiFi. The train would normally go direct from Turku Port station just 100m from the Viking Line terminal, but from 2022 for a couple of years long-term construction work means a bus transfer from Turku Port station to Kupittaa (in eastern Turku).  However, the bus transfer is well-signed and well-organised.

Ekstra (1st) class.  Larger photo.		Eco (2nd) class.  Larger photo.

Journey's end:  The magnificent Helsinki station.

Option 4, Stockholm to Helsinki by train - a long way round, but all train, no ferry

• Step 1, travel from Stockholm to Boden by sleeper train, leaving Stockholm Central at 21:55, arriving Boden 10:51.

  Sleeper train D92  has 1st class 1 & 2 berth sleepers with toilet & shower, 2nd class 3 bed sleepers with washbasin, 6-berth couchettes, ordinary seats, cafe car.

• Step 2, travel from Boden to Haparanda by regional train, leaving Boden at 11:51 and arriving Haparanda close to the Finnish border at 13:17.

• Step 3, walk from Haparanda across the border to Tornio Itäinen station, see walking route.

  It's a 4.6 km walk taking just over an hour.  Remember the 1 hour time difference between Sweden and Finland!

  Or take a taxi, this costs around 250 SEK (€22, 2024 price), you can pre-book a taxi at www.taxihaparanda.se.

  Tornio Itäinen means Tornio East, it's a local halt in an industrial area without facilities, so only head there in the evening.  Have dinner and buy food for the journey in downtown Tornio.

  There are long-term plans to resume a train service between Haparanda, Tornio main station and Oulu, but nothing yet.

• Step 4, travel from Tornio to Helsinki by sleeper train, leaving Tornio Itäinen at 22:16 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays & Sundays, arriving Helsinki station at 10:45 next morning.

  The sleeper train has impressive double-deck sleeping-cars, with 1 & 2 bed compartments, some with shower & toilet.  There's a restaurant car and ordinary seats.

• How to buy tickets

  Book from Stockholm to Haparanda at the Swedish Railways website www.sj.se.

  Book from Tornio Itäinen to Helsinki at the Finnish Railways website www.vr.fi.

  In both cases, you print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.  Booking opens several months ahead, this varies.

• Alternatively, it's a 39-minute walk from Haparanda station to Tornio town hall, see walking map.  Catch a bus from the Kaupungintalo bus stop to Kemi, buses run every hour or two taking 35 minutes, fare around €9, see www.matkahuolto.fi.  A sleeper train leaves Kemi at 19:24 every day, arriving Helsinki station at 06:27.

Stockholm to Boden by Swedish sleeper train:  This is a 1st class sleeper with shower & toilet, shown in day mode (above left) and night mode set up as a single with upper berth folded against the wall (above centre).  Courtesy of Discoverbyrail.com.  Click the images for larger photos.

Tornio to Helsinki by double-deck Finnish sleeper train.  Photos courtesy of Sunil S Mehta.  Click the interior image for larger photo.

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Stockholm to Prague, Bratislava & Budapest

Option 1, Stockholm to Prague, Bratislava & Budapest using the Stockholm-Hamburg sleeper train

• Step 1, travel from Stockholm to Germany by SJ sleeper train, leaving Stockholm Central 17:34, arriving Hamburg Hbf 06:00 & Berlin Hbf 09:24.

  On Sundays the sleeper arrives later, arriving Hamburg Hbf at 09:00 & Berlin Gesundbrunnen at 12:01.

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

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

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Hamburg to Bratislava & Budapest, or from Berlin to Prague:

  For Bratislava, leave Hamburg Hbf 08:02 by ICE, change at Vienna Hbf onto a regional express arriving Bratislava hl.n 18:26.

  For Budapest, leave Hamburg Hbf 08:02 by ICE, change Vienna Hbf onto a railjet, arriving Budapest Keleti 20:19.

  For Prague, stay on the sleeper to Berlin, then travel Berlin to Prague by EuroCity train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 11:16, arriving Prague Hlavni 15:23.

  On Sundays the sleeper arrives later, so check connecting times at int.bahn.de.  For example, a EuroCity train leaves Hamburg Hbf at 10:51, arriving Prague Hlavni 17:23.  Connections to Bratislava & Budapest may not be possible.

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

  Book these trains at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. 

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

Step 1, Stockholm to Hamburg by sleeper.  This is the inaugural northbound train at Hamburg Altona on 1 September 2022.  More about this train.		6-berth couchettes. Larger photo.

Couchettes in day mode.  Larger photo.		Inaugural Hamburg-Stockholm train at Padborg.

Step 2, Hamburg to Prague by EuroCity train, seen here at Berlin Hbf.  Or take trains from Hamburg to Bratislava or Budapest.

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

So civilised!  A meal in the Czech restaurant car as the Berlin-Prague express snakes along the beautiful Elbe river south of Dresden.  Most Berlin-Prague trains use Czech carriages like this, a few use Hungarian air-conditioned carriages.  More about the journey from Berlin to Prague.  Photo courtesy of Philip Dyer-Perry.

Scenery along the Elbe river between Dresden & Prague.

Option 2, Stockholm to Prague, Bratislava or Budapest with overnight stop in Berlin

• Day 1, travel from Stockholm to Copenhagen by X2000, leaving Stockholm Central at 08:20, arriving Copenhagen 13:33.

  SJ's X2000 trains have a bistro, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  They use the impressive Öresund fixed link from Sweden to Denmark

  Update 2025:  Unfortunately, SJ is short of X2000s and until further notice you'll need to change at Malmö:

  Leave Stockholm Central 07:24 Mondays-Fridays & Sundays, change at Malmö Central, arriving Copenhagen 12:57

  Leave Stockholm Central 06:25 Saturdays, change at Malmö Central, arriving Copenhagen 11:57.

• Day 1, travel from Copenhagen to Hamburg by EuroCity train, leaving Copenhagen at 14:22, arriving Hamburg Hbf 19:00.

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

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg to Berlin by ICE, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 19:37, arriving Berlin Hbf 21:22.

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Berlin to Prague, Bratislava or Budapest by EuroCity train.

  For Prague, leave Berlin Hbf at 07:15 by EuroCity, arriving Prague Hlavni 11:23, or there are later trains, see the timetable here.

  For Bratislava, leave Berlin Hbf at 09:15 by EuroCity Hungaria, arriving Bratislava Hlavna 18:02.

  For Budapest, leave Berlin Hbf at 09:15 by EuroCity Hungaria, arriving Budapest Keleti 20:28.

  All these trains have a restaurant car.  The scenery between Dresden & Prague along the Elbe river valley is lovely, see the photos here.

  Times may vary, check times for your date at int.bahn.de.

• How much does it cost? 

  Stockholm to Copenhagen starts at 346 SEK (€31) in 2nd class or 525 SEK (€47) in 1st class.

  Copenhagen to Prague, Bratislava or Budapest starts at €49.90 in 2nd class or €79.90 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets

  Step 1, book from Stockholm to Copenhagen at www.sj.se (in SEK) or using Omio.com (in SEK, €, £ or $, small booking fee).

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

  Step 2, book from Copenhagen to Budapest, Bratislava or Prague at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Set departure time to 14:00.  To get the overnight stop in Berlin click Stopovers, enter Berlin Hbf and a length of stay of (say) 9:00 hours.  This gets you a Sparpreis through ticket with a stopover.  Adjust the length of stay to get the onwards train you want from Berlin, a little trial & error may be needed.

  If you can't get your head around this, book Copenhagen to Berlin and Berlin to Prague, Bratislava or Budapest separately, but this costs a little more.

  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.

Step 1, Stockholm to Copenhagen 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.

Step 2, Copenhagen to Hamburg 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.

1st class compartment.		2nd class.

Step 3, Hamburg to Prague by EuroCity train, seen here at Berlin Hbf.  Or take trains from Hamburg to Bratislava or Budapest.

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

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

Scenery along the Elbe river between Dresden & Prague.

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Stockholm to Bucharest & Romania

• Step 1, travel from Stockholm to Vienna with overnight stop in Hamburg as shown in the Stockholm to Vienna section.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Sighisoara, Brasov & Bucharest by sleeper train Dacia Express as shown in the Vienna to Romania section.

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Stockholm to Ljubljana & Zagreb

Option 1

• Day 1, travel from Stockholm to Hamburg by SJ EuroNight sleeper as shown above.

• Day 2, take a daytime train from Hamburg to Stuttgart then the EuroNight sleeper from Stuttgart to Ljubljana & Zagreb as shown here.

Option 2

• Day 1 & 2, travel from Stockholm to Vienna as shown in the Stockholm 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 3, travel from Vienna to Ljubljana or Zagreb as shown in the Vienna to Ljubljana section or Vienna to Zagreb section.

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Stockholm to Belgrade & Montenegro

Option 1, via Budapest - due to start 8 December 2024 but postponed, see updates.

• Day 1 & 2, travel from Stockholm to Budapest using any of the options shown above.

• Stay overnight in Budapest.  Top choice for an inexpensive stay next to Budapest Keleti is the Intercity Hotel just across the square in front of the station.  Also try the Royal Park Boutique Hotel, the inexpensive Baross City Hotel across the road or the Elit Hotel two minutes walk away.  Of course, if you want to push the boat out, the luxurious Corinthia Hotel opened in 1896 was almost certainly the inspiration for the 2014 film The Grand Budapest Hotel, 20 minutes walk or 9 minutes by taxi from Keleti station.  More hotels in Budapest.

• Day 3, travel from Budapest to Belgrade, leaving Budapest Nyugati 05:50, changing at Szeged & Subotica, arriving Belgrade Centar 12:38.

  Or if you'd prefer a later departure, leave Budapest Nyugati 11:50, changing at Szeged & Subotica, arriving Belgrade Centar 18:38.

  You take a Hungarian Intercity train from Budapest to Szeged, a local train across the border to Subotica and a 200 km/h SOKO train to Belgrade, for details see the Budapest to Belgrade page.

  Fares start at around €23, see more about fares.

  Buy tickets as shown on the Belgrade to Budapest page.

• For onward trains to Montenegro, see the Belgrade to Podgorica & Bar page.

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Stockholm to Warsaw & Krakow

Option 1, Stockholm to Warsaw or Krakow using the Stockholm-Hamburg sleeper train

• Step 1, travel from Stockholm to Berlin by SJ sleeper train, leaving Stockholm Central at  17:34, arriving Berlin Hbf 09:24.

  On Sundays it arrives later, at Berlin Gesundbrunnen 12:01, transfer to Berlin Hbf by local train.

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

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

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

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

• Step 2, travel from Berlin to Warsaw or Krakow as follows:

  For Krakow, leave Berlin Hbf at 12:52 by EuroCity train, arriving Wroclaw 16:53, Katowice 19:12 & Krakow Glowny 20:06.

  For Warsaw, leave Berlin Hbf at 11:52 by EuroCity train, arriving Warsaw Centralna 17:00.

  Fares start at €27.99 in 2nd class or €39.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Booking to Poland opens up to 60 days ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Step 1, Stockholm to Hamburg by sleeper.  This is the inaugural northbound sleeper at Hamburg Altona on 1 September 2022.  More about this train.		6-berth couchettes. Larger photo.

Couchettes in day mode.   Larger photo.		Inaugural Hamburg-Stockholm train at Padborg.

Step 2, Hamburg to Berlin by ICE and Berlin to Warsaw or Krakow by EuroCity train.  This is the Wawel from Berlin to Krakow on platform 11 at Berlin Hbf.

2nd class compartment.		1st class compartment.

Restaurant car.  You don't need to reserve a table, just go along and sit down.

Option 2, Stockholm to Warsaw or Krakow with overnight stop in Berlin

• Day 1, travel from Stockholm to Copenhagen by X2000, leaving Stockholm Central at 08:20, arriving Copenhagen 13:33.

  SJ's X2000 trains have a bistro, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  They use the impressive Öresund fixed link from Sweden to Denmark

  Update 2025:  Unfortunately, SJ is short of X2000s and until further notice you'll need to change at Malmö:

  Leave Stockholm Central 07:24 Mondays-Fridays & Sundays, change at Malmö Central, arriving Copenhagen 12:57

  Leave Stockholm Central 06:25 Saturdays, change at Malmö Central, arriving Copenhagen 11:57.

• Day 1, travel from Copenhagen to Hamburg by EuroCity train, leaving Copenhagen at 14:22, arriving Hamburg Hbf 19:00.

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

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg to Berlin by ICE, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 19:37, arriving Berlin Hbf 21:22.

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

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

• Day 2, travel from Berlin to Poland by EuroCity train:

  For Krakow, leave Berlin Hbf at 08:52 by EuroCity train, arriving Wroclaw 12:52, Katowice 15:09 & Krakow Glowny 16:09.

  For Warsaw, leave Berlin Hbf at 05:51 by EuroCity train, arriving Warsaw Centralna 11:00.

  Or there are later trains if you prefer, see Berlin-Krakow timetable & Berlin-Warsaw timetable.

• How much does it cost? 

  Stockholm to Copenhagen starts at 346 SEK (€31) in 2nd class or 525 SEK (€47) in 1st class.

  Copenhagen to Warsaw or Krakow starts at €49.90 in 2nd class or €79.90 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets

  Step 1, book from Stockholm to Copenhagen at www.sj.se (in SEK) or using Omio.com (in SEK, €, £ or $, small booking fee).

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

  Step 2, book from Copenhagen to Warsaw, Krakow or anywhere in Poland at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Set departure time to 14:00.  To get the overnight stop in Berlin click Stopovers, enter Berlin Hbf and a length of stay of (say) 10:00 hours.  This gets you a Sparpreis through ticket with a stopover in Berlin.  Adjust the length of stay to get the onwards train you want from Berlin, a little trial & error may be needed.

  If you can't get your head around this, book Copenhagen to Berlin and Berlin to Poland separately, but this costs a little more.

  Booking to Poland only opens 60 days ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print your tickets at any time.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Step 1, Stockholm to Copenhagen 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.

Step 2, Copenhagen to Hamburg 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.

1st class compartment.		2nd class.

Step 3, Hamburg to Berlin by ICE and Berlin to Warsaw or Krakow by EuroCity train.  This is the Wawel from Berlin to Krakow on platform 11 at Berlin Hbf.

2nd class compartment.		1st class compartment.

Restaurant car.  You don't need to reserve a table, just go along and sit down.

Option 3, Stockholm to Gdynia, Gdansk, Warsaw or Krakow by overnight ferry from Sweden to Poland

• Step 1, travel from Stockholm to Karlskrona by train, leaving Stockholm Central early afternoon.

  Book the train at www.sj.se and print your own ticket.

  Tip:  Book the ferry first and confirm ferry times, then book a train that arrives in Karlskrona Central at least 2-3 hours before the ferry sails.

  In Karlskrona the ferry terminal is 10 Km from the station & city, see port-station map.  Bus number 6 runs 2 or 3 times an hour from Karlskrona Central station to the Stena Line ferry terminal (Verkö färjeterminalen), taking 23 minutes, see blekingetrafiken.se.  Or take a taxi.

• Step 2, sail overnight from Karlskrona to Gdynia by comfortable Stena Line ferry.

  There are 2 or 3 sailings a day, the overnight one typically sails at around 21:00 and arrives around 07:30, but times may vary.

  The ferry is a floating hotel with restaurants & bars, all passengers travel in a cosy private cabin with en suite toilet & shower.

  Fares vary, you might pay €39 per passenger as basic fare plus €79-€89 per cabin for a private 1 or 2 bed room.

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

• Step 3, travel from Gdynia to Gdansk, Warsaw or Krakow by train.

  In Gdynia , the ferry terminal is 5.5 Km from Gdynia Glowna (main station), see station-port map, either take a taxi or use bus 150.  Bus 150 runs every 15-20 minutes and takes 10 minutes.  You pay the bus driver or can pay using the Jakdojade app.

  Gdynia to Gdansk takes 25-35 minutes, trains leave regularly, in this case I'd buy at the station when you get there.

  Gdynia to Warsaw takes around 3 hours, you'll normally find one leaving Gydnia around 09:30 and arriving Warsaw Centralna around 12:35.

  Gdynia to Krakow takes around 6 hours, you'll normally find one leaving Gydnia around 10:30 and arriving Krakow Glowny around 16:30.

  Book at the Polish Railways site www.intercity.pl.  You print your own ticket.

The ferry Stena Spirit, at Gdynia.  Photos courtesy of railguideeurope.com.		2-berth cabin.  Larger photo.

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Stockholm to Tallinn

• A  Tallink cruise ferry sails from Stockholm Värtahamnen terminal at 18:00 every second day, arriving Tallinn at 10:30 next morning.

  The ferry has bars, restaurants, lounges, reclining seats or a range of shared or private cabins with shower & toilet.

• To check sailing dates, times & book tickets, use the Direct Ferries website or see www.tallinksilja.com.

• To reach the Värtahamnen terminal in Stockholm, to take the Tunnelbana (metro) from T-Centralen (Stockholm Central) to Gärdet, just 3 stops on line T13 towards Ropsten.  The Tunnelbana accepts contactless bank cards, you just touch in & out.  From Gärdet station it's an easy well-signed 1km 12-minute walk to the Värtahamnen ferry terminal, see walking map.

  Alternatively, Tallink run a transfer bus from the Cityterminal (the bus station next to Stockholm Central).  Buses leave around 2h before sailing time, check times with Tallink.

• Map of Tallinn showing ferry terminal.

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Stockholm to Riga

Option 1, Stockholm to Riga by direct ferry

• A Tallink cruise ferry sails overnight from Stockholm every day at 17:00, arriving at Riga passenger port at 11:00 next morning. 

  To buy tickets, use the Direct Ferries website or go to www.tallink.lv or www.tallink.se.  Map of Riga showing ferry terminal.

  Update: This ferry was suspended in March 2020 due to covid-19 and it remains suspended with no sign of resuming.

Option 2, Stockholm to Riga using the Stockholm-Tallinn ferry

• Step 1, travel from Stockholm to Tallinn by ferry, as shown above.

• Step 2, take train or bus from Tallinn to Riga as shown here.

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Stockholm to Vilnius

• Day 1, travel from Stockholm to Karlshamn by train, leaving Stockholm Central at 08:20, change at Hässleholm, arriving Karlshamn 14:20.

  Times may vary, just look for a journey with 1 change, taking a 200 km/h X2000 train from Stockholm Central to Hässleholm, then an Öresund train from Hässleholm to Karlshamn.  Don't cut it fine, allow several hours in Karlshamn between train and ferry in case of delay.

  You might typically pay 850 SEK (about €70) if you book in advance, but prices vary.

  Book the train at www.sj.se.

  If you have any problems with sj.se you can also book at Omio.com.

  In Karlshamn, the ferry terminal is 3 km outside the town, a 40 minute walk (see walking map) or take a taxi for about €20.  If you want a taxi, pre-book one from either Karlshamns Taxi +46 454 150 65 or Sverigetaxi +46 454 122 67).

• Day 1, sail from Karlshamn to Klaipeda by comfortable overnight ferry.

  Two ferry lines operate this route, DFDS and TT Line.  DFDS have the more modern ships with the better facilities, they sail daily, typically leaving Karlshamn at 19:00 and arriving Klaipeda at 09:00.  TT line also sail daily with more basic ships, typically sailing at 20:00 and arriving 10:00.  Check-in closes 1h before sailing time.

  There is a restaurant and a range of cosy shared or private cabins, all with en suite toilet & shower.

  Fares start at just €60 with a bed in a shared cabin.

  Book the ferry at the Direct Ferries website (which can compare and book both TT Lines and DFDS) or book DFDS at www.dfds.com.

• Day 2, travel from Klaipeda to Vilnius by train.

  In Klaipeda, the station is 5 km from the DFDS ferry terminal.  It’s a short walk from the terminal to the main road where bus 9 leaves from the Strėvos Street stop on the opposite side of the road roughly every 15 minutes to the city centre, taking around 11 minutes.  Fare €1, pay the driver or tap a debit/credit card on the reader.  See walking map from ferry terminal to Strėvos Street bus stop.  Or take a taxi.  The TT ferry arrives further away, 8.4 km from Klaipeda station.

  If you arrive at 09:00 by DFDS and take a taxi, you should make a train leaving Klaipeda at 11:00 on most days and arriving Vilnius at 15:11, or there are later trains, check times at ltglink.lt.

  The fare is €24.80 in 2nd class, €35.30 in 1st class.

  Book the train at the station, check times & prices at ltglink.lt, you can buy online if you like.

DFDS ferry Luna Seaways (on the right) arrived at Klaipeda.  Photo courtesy of Matias Lq.

Step 3, take a train from Klaipeda to Vilnius.  Above left, Klaipeda station. Above right, the express train to Vilnius.  Photos courtesy of Lewis Baston.

Vilnius station.  Photo courtesy of Yuk Wah Chu.

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Stockholm to St Petersburg & Moscow

Option 1, Stockholm to St Petersburg by direct cruise ferry

• A cruise ferry links Stockholm with St Petersburg twice a week, see www.stpeterline.com for days, times and online booking.

  This ferry appears to be suspended due to Covid-19 and now sanctions.

• You can then taken a train from St Petersburg to Moscow, either a sleeper or a Sapsan fast train in 3h50, see the Train Travel in Russia page.

Option 2, Stockholm to St Petersburg by ferry to Finland then train from Helsinki to St Petersburg & Moscow

• Step 1, travel from Stockholm to Helsinki, either on one of the two daily competing overnight ferries from Stockholm to Helsinki (www.tallinksilja.com, for English, change locale=de to locale=en in your browser address bar, or www.sales.vikingline.com) or on the cheaper daytime or overnight ferry+train service via Turku explained above.

• Step 2, take a fast Allegro train from Helsinki to St Petersburg or the overnight sleeper train Tolstoi from Helsinki to Moscow.

  Both these train services are currently suspended due to Covid-19 and now sanctions & the war in Ukraine.

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Stockholm to Athens & Greece

• Step 1, travel from Stockholm to Milan as shown in the Stockholm to Italy section.

  You leave Stockholm in the morning on Day 1, stay overnight in Hamburg, and reach Milan in the evening on Day 2.

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

• Step 2, travel from Milan to Athens as shown on the Italy to Athens page.

  You take a morning train from Milan to Bari on Day 3, sail overnight in a cosy cabin with Superfast Ferries to Patras in Greece, and take a connecting bus/train combo to Athens, arriving lunchtime on Day 4.

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Stockholm to Sofia & Istanbul

• Day 1, travel from Stockholm to Vienna with overnight stop in Hamburg as shown in the Stockholm to Vienna section.

• Day 2, travel from Vienna to Sighisoara, Brasov & Bucharest by sleeper train Dacia Express as shown in the Vienna to Romania section.

• Day 3, stay overnight in Bucharest.  The Hotel MyContinental Bucuresti Gara de Nord is walking distance from the station, inexpensive and gets great reviews.

• Day 4, travel from Bucharest to Sofia by day train as shown here or travel from Bucharest to Istanbul overnight as shown here.

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Hotels in Stockholm

For good hotels near Stockholm Central, see here.

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

Backpacker hostels

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

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Travel insurance & VPN

Always take out travel insurance

Never travel overseas without travel insurance from a reliable insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover.  It should also cover cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible limit.  An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself.  Here are some suggested insurers.  Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.

  www.staysure.co.uk offers enhanced Covid-19 protection & gets 4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot.

  www.columbusdirect.com is also a well-know brand.

  If you live in the USA try Travel Guard USA.

Get an eSIM with mobile data package

Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a mobile data package for the country you're visiting and stay connected.  Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM card so you don't need to buy a physical SIM, including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list.  Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data.

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then add a foreign transaction fee on top.  A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month at time of writing.  The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.

How it works:  1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android.  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app.  You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader.  The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than digging a card out).  I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card, they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  Why you need a VPN

When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure.  A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi.  It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply.  See VPNs & why you need one explained.  ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription.  I get a small commission to help support this site.

Carry an Anker powerbank

Tickets, reservations, vaccination records and Interrail or Eurail passes are often held digitally on your mobile phone, so it's vital to keep it charged.  I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over if I can't get to a power outlet.  Buy from Amazon.co.uk or from buy from Amazon.com.

 

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