Economy class, open saloon.		Restaurant car.

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

Mountains on the Brenner route.

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

Watch out for hilltop fortresses.  See the Brenner Pass scenery video here.

Option 4, via Zurich & the Bernina Express through the Swiss Alps - the ultimate scenic option

• This is much slower and needs to be split over 2 days, but it's the ultimate scenic experience, especially if you combine a trip along the Rhine Valley with the Swiss Alps' most scenic train ride.  See here for details.

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

The Bernina Express descends from the Bernina Pass.

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Cologne to Florence, Rome, Milan, Verona or anywhere else Italy from €39.90

Option 1, using the Nightjet sleeper train from Munich to Milan, Bologna, Florence & Rome - the most time-effective option

• Step 1, travel from Düsseldorf or Cologne to Munich by ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. leaving Düsseldorf at 13:24 or Cologne Hbf at 13:55 and arriving at Munich Hbf at 18:26.  Times may vary.

  Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

  Tip:  I'd book an earlier train and have dinner in Munich.  For local Bavarian food & a beer or two I recommend the Augustiner Keller (www.augustinerkeller.de) at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf, see walking map.

• Step 2, travel from Munich to Italy by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Munich Hbf at 20:10, one portion for Verona P. Nuova 05:51, Milan Rogoredo 07:42, Genoa Piazza Principe 09:38, La Spezia 11:10, another portion for Bologna Centrale 05:36, Florence SMN 06:42 & Rome Tiburtina 11:05.

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

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

  From 10 September 2024, the Bologna, Florence & Rome portion of this train becomes a new generation Nightjet with 1 & 2 bed sleepers all with shower & toilet, 4-berth comfort couchettes, individual mini cabins and ordinary seats, see the new generation Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips & photos.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers, couchettes & mini cabins.

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

• Step 3, onward trains from Rome to Naples, Rome to Sicily or Milan to Genoa (for example) can be booked separately at either www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, recognises English place-names) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, the small booking fee will be refunded if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (more fiddly to use, requires Italian language place names, read this advice on using it first).

Step 1, Cologne to Munich by ICE.  This is an ICE3 at Cologne Hbf.  More about ICE trains.

2nd class seats on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.		1st class seats on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.

Proper china, metal cutlery.  I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier!  See current month's menu.		Restaurant car:  This is the small 12-seat restaurant area on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.

Step 2, Munich to Florence or Rome by Nightjet sleeper train, seen here boarding at platform 11 at Munich Hbf.  More about Nightjet trains.

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

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

Option 2, by Nightjet sleeper train to Innsbruck & scenic daytime train to Florence or Rome - time-effective and great scenery.

• Step 1, travel to Innsbruck by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Düsseldorf 21:15 or Cologne Messe-Deutz 21:45, arriving Innsbruck Hbf 09:14.

  Check the departure time for your date, on some dates this train leaves from Cologne Hbf at 22:27 instead.

  This train runs until 14 December 2024, but no longer runs after that.

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

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

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

• Step 2, travel to Italy by railjet, leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 11:24 and arriving Verona Porta Nuova 14:58 & Bologna Centrale 16:19.

  The 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.

  Change at Bologna Centrale for a high-speed Frecciarossa to Florence, Rome or Naples.  Incidentally, I wouldn't book the 09:24 from Innsbruck to Verona, as the connection with the sleeper is too tight.

  Fares from Innsbruck Verona or Bologna start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Onward fares from Bologna to Florence or Rome start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.

  Book from Innsbruck to Florence, Rome, Naples or anywhere in Italy at either www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.

  These connect to both the Austrian and Italian ticketing systems so you can book as one transaction in one place.  You print your own ticket for the Austrian train and the Italian high-speed trains are ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead for the German/Austrian EuroCity train, but only 4 months ahead for onward Italian trains.

  Tip:  Before running an enquiry at www.raileurope.com, click More options and enter either Bologna Centrale (if going to Florence, Rome or Naples on the 11:24) or Verona Porta Nuova (if using an earlier or later departure) as a via station with a stopover duration of 45 minutes.  This ensures a robust connection and it ensures Raileurope.com correctly splits the booking at Bologna or Verona.

Step 1, Cologne to Innsbruck by Nightjet sleeper train.  Above, a Comfortline sleeping-car on the Nightjet train at Innsbruck.  More about Nightjet trains.

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

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

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

Economy class, open saloon.		Restaurant car.

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

Mountains on the Brenner route.

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

Watch out for hilltop fortresses.  See the Brenner Pass scenery video here.

Option 2, by daytime trains through the Swiss Alps - Cologne to Italy in a single day with great Alpine scenery!

• Step 1, travel from Cologne Hbf to Basel SBB by ICE train in 3h52 with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Step 2, travel from Basel SBB to Milan Centrale by EuroCity train through the Swiss Alps in 4h12.

  The EuroCity 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.  The magnificent Milan Centrale is a landmark in its own right.

• Step 3, travel from Milan Centrale to Florence SMN in 1h39, Rome Termini in 2h55 or Venice Santa Lucia in 2h35 by Frecciarossa high-speed train.  The Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• For example (times may vary)

  Leave Cologne Hbf at 06:55, pick up the 12:28 from Basel SBB arriving Milan Centrale 16:40 & getting to Florence, Rome or Naples by evening.

  Leave Cologne Hbf at 08:55, pick up the 15:03 from Basel SBB arriving Milan Centrale 19:50.

  Leave Cologne Hbf at 12:55, pick up the 17:28 from Basel SBB arriving Milan Centrale 21:40.

• How much does it cost?

  Cologne or Dusseldorf to Basel starts at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

  Basel to Milan starts at €29 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class. 

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets

  First book the ICE train from Cologne to Basel SBB using int.bahn.de (in €, no booking fee) or www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both in €, £ or $, small booking fee).  If you use www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com you can buy all your tickets in one place.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

  Then book a ticket from Basel SBB to Milan, Florence, Rome or Naples leaving at either www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or www.trenitalia.com (requires Italian place names, in €, see advice on using it).  It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

  Always make sure you allow plenty of time between trains in Basel, in case of delay, I'd suggest at least 45 minutes.  In Milan, just accept the connection time the system offers you as you are on the through ticket so are entitled to take a later train in the event of any delay.

Step 1, Cologne to Basel by ICE.  This is an ICE3 at Cologne Hbf.  More about ICE trains.

2nd class seats on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.		1st class seats on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.

Proper china, metal cutlery.  I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier!  See current month's menu.		Restaurant car:  This is the small 12-seat restaurant area on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.

Step 2, by EuroCity train from Basel to Milan through the Alps.  This is a Milan-Basel EuroCity train at Milan Centrale.  More about Switzerland-Milan EuroCity trains.

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

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

You'll pass a lake or two.  This is Lake Maggiore, seen from the dining-car of a northbound Milan to Basel train over an excellent lunch of salmon tagliatelle & excellent (but expensive!) Swiss red wine.

Option 3, by day trains via the Brenner Pass with overnight stop in Munich - if you prefer day trains, scenery & a hotel to sleepers

• Day 1, travel from Cologne to Munich in 4h31 on any ICE train you like, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  You can leave Cologne Hbf as late as 17:55 arriving Munich Hbf at 22:26, but by all means take an earlier train and have dinner in Munich. 

  Tip:  For local Bavarian food and a beer or two I recommend the Augustiner Keller (www.augustinerkeller.de) at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf, see walking map.

• 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 Verona or Bologna by railjet.

  Trains leave Munich Hbf for Verona Porta Nuova at 07:34, 09:34, 11:32 & every 2 hours, taking a leisurely 5h24.

  The 07:34 goes through to Bologna Centrale on Mondays-Fridays and the 09:34 goes through to Bologna Centrale every day, extended to Rimini from late May to early September.

  These 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.  The trains travel through the scenic Brenner Pass, see the photos & video on the Brenner Pass page.

• Day 2, travel from Verona or Bologna to anywhere you like in Italy by high-speed train.  If you leave Munich at 07:34 Mondays-Fridays or 09:34 any day of the week, you change trains in Bologna, which usually works out cheaper and offers a wider range of connections (especially to Florence SMN, as most of the direct trains from Verona to Florence only serve Florence Campo di Marte station on the edge of the city centre).  Otherwise you change in Verona.

• How much does it cost?

  Cologne to Bologna starts at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class. 

  Bologna to Florence starts at €19.90, Bologna to Rome at €19.90.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• How to buy tickets

  Step 1, book from Cologne to Verona at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Click Stopovers and enter Munich Hbf with a length of stay of (say) 12:00 hours to get the overnight stop.  Look carefully in the search results to find a journey that suits, adjusting departure time & length of stay to get the trains you want.  A little trial and error may be needed!

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

  Step 2, now buy onward tickets from Verona to Florence, Rome, Milan or Naples separately at either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, the small booking fee will be refunded if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (more fiddly to use, requires Italian language place names, read this advice on using it first). 

  I recommend allowing at least 45 minutes to change in Verona in case of any delay if you buy separate tickets.  It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.

Step 1, Cologne to Munich by ICE.  This is an ICE3 at Munich Hbf.  More about ICE trains.

2nd class seats on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.		1st class seats on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.

Proper china, metal cutlery.  I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier!  See current month's menu.		Restaurant car:  This is the small 12-seat restaurant area on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.

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

Economy class, open saloon.		Restaurant car.

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

Mountains on the Brenner route.

Option 3, via Zurich & the Bernina Express through the Swiss Alps - the ultimate scenic route

• This takes longer and must be split over 2 days, but it's fabulous and well worth the extra time.  It involves the most spectacular Alpine panoramic scenic train of them all, the famous narrow-gauge Bernina Express.  And I'll show you how to do it really cheaply.

• Day 1, take an afternoon train from Cologne to Zurich.

  You can leave Cologne Hbf at 16:55, change at Basel SBB, arriving Zurich HB 22:00, by all means leave earlier & spend an evening in Zurich.

  Or take the 10:53 EuroCity train via the scenic Rhine Valley with restaurant car & 1st class panorama car, highly recommended , then enjoy a relaxed evening in Zurich see details here.

• 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.

  Alternatively, you could stop overnight in the pleasant town of Chur instead.

• Day 2, travel from Zurich to Chur on the 07:07 InterCity train, from Chur to Tirano on the fabulous Bernina Express, then from Tirano to Milan Centrale by connecting Italian regional train.  You can reach Venice or Florence or Rome that evening.  See the Bernina Express page for full details of the Zurich-Chur-Tirano-Milan schedule.

• How much does it cost?

  Düsseldorf or Cologne to Tirano starts at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  If you want to travel in the panorama carriages of the famous Bernina Express you must pay a modest reservation fee, details here.

  Tirano to Milan by regional train costs €12, fixed-price.

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

• How to buy tickets

  Step 1, book from Düsseldorf or Cologne to Tirano using the German Railways website int.bahn.de,

  To get the overnight stop in Zurich, click Stopovers and enter Zurich HB with a suitable length of stay, say 12h30.

  In the search results, look for an option marked ICE, IC, D with arrival in Tirano at 12:49.  If you click show details the timings from Chur onwards should match those shown on the Bernina Express page.  Adjust the departure time & length of stay to get an earlier or later train between Cologne and Zurich, some trial & error may be required!

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

  Step 2, if you want to travel in the panorama cars of the Bernina Express, make the necessary reservation following the instructions on the Bernina Express page.  You can travel in the Allegra unit that hauls the Bernina Express without any reservation if you like.

  Step 3, buy a ticket from Tirano to Venice, Florence, Rome at either www.thetrainline.com (in €, £, $ or Au$), www.italiarail.com (in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €).  You simply pay online and quote your booking reference (PNR) on board.  If you use ItaliaRail (which can also book the Milan-Florence/Rome/Naples connection), they'll refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR.

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

The Bernina Express descends from the Bernina Pass.

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Barcelona & Spain from €74

Option 1, Cologne to Barcelona by high-speed train in a single day.  Overnight in Barcelona.  Onwards to Malaga, Seville, Alicante & so on next morning.

• Step 1, travel from Cologne to Paris by Eurostar (formerly Thalys), leaving Cologne Hbf at 08:44 arriving Paris Gare du Nord at 12:05.

  Eurostar trains have 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).

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

  Cross Paris to the Gare de Lyon and perhaps have lunch at the celebrated Train Bleu restaurant inside the Gare de Lyon.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 14:42 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 21:27.

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

  It's a scenic ride, the train passes Béziers cathedral, flamingos on the lakes between Montpelier & Narbonne, the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks before Perpignan, with great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, see more photos & information about the journey.

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

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

• Step 3, travel from Barcelona Sants to your Spanish destination next morning.

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

  For Granada:  Leave Barcelona Sants at 06:45 by AVE S112 high-speed train arriving Granada at 13:10.

  For Malaga:  Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE S103 high-speed train arriving Malaga Maria Zambrano at 14:51.

  For Cordoba & Seville:  Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE S103 high-speed train arriving Cordoba 13:42 & Seville Santa Justa 14:32.

  For Valencia & Alicante:  Euromed trains link Barcelona with Valencia & Alicante regularly through the day, for example one leaves Barcelona Sants at 07:15 Mondays-Fridays arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 10:55 & Alicante 12:45 or at 10:15 every day arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 12:55 & Alicante 14:48.  Fares from €23.

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

• How to buy tickets

  Buy tickets from Cologne to Spain at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, these connect to both the French and Spanish ticketing systems so you can buy all three tickets together in one place.  You can book from Cologne to Barcelona as one transaction and print your own tickets or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.  You can pay in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem.  There's a small booking fee.

  Booking for Eurostar & the TGV usually opens 4 months ahead, for the AVE 60 days ahead, but this varies.  First book from Cologne to Barcelona.  In the search results, look for an option with just 1 change.

  Tip:  Using www.raileurope.com, click More options and enter Paris with 1 hour duration, more if you fancy lunch in Paris.  This ensures at least an hour between trains and it'll also then show separate prices either side of Paris so you can upgrade to 1st class if it's cheap to do so on one leg or the other, without having to upgrade throughout.

  If you are heading for Madrid, Malaga, Seville, Cordoba, Valencia or Alicante, add the Cologne-Barcelona ticket to your basket, then book from Barcelona to your chosen Spanish destination for the following day, add this to you basket and check out.

• Alternatively, you can book each train separately, although this takes more effort and is unlikely to make it materially cheaper other than avoiding any booking fee:  Book the Cologne-Paris Eurostar and the Paris-Barcelona TGV at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com in € with print-at-home or mobile tickets, then onward trains within Spain at www.renfe.com, very fiddly to use and may reject some overseas payment cards, see advice on using it here, I'd stick with much or easier-to-use www.raileurope.com, www.thetrainline.com (both in €, £ or $, small fee) or www.petrabax.com (in US$, small mark-up).

Option 2, Cologne to Spain by high-speed train with overnight stop in Paris

• Day 1, travel from Cologne to Paris by Eurostar (formerly Thalys) leaving Cologne Hbf at 16:44 arriving Paris Gare du Nord at 20:05.

  Eurostar trains have 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).  A later departure at 18:43 may also be available.

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

  Cross Paris by metro or taxi to the Gare de Lyon.

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

• Day 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 09:42 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 16:31.

  From 15 December 2024 the timetable changes, leave Paris Gare de Lyon at 07:42, arriving Barcelona Sants 14:29.

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

  It's a scenic ride, the train passes Béziers cathedral, flamingos on the lakes between Montpelier & Narbonne, the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks before Perpignan, with great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees. More about this journey.

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

• Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Madrid, Valencia, Alicante, Seville,  Malaga and so on by high-speed train.

  Until 14 December 2024:

  A high-speed AVE leaves Barcelona Sants at 18:25, arriving Madrid Atocha 20:55, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  A fast Euromed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 18:15 arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 21:07 & Alicante 23:40.

  For Granada, Seville, Cordoba & Malaga, stay in Barcelona overnight, I recommend the Hotel Barcelo Sants inside the station.  Next morning direct high-speed AVE trains leave Barcelona Sants at 06:45 for Granada and 08:35 for Cordoba, Seville Santa Justa & Malaga Maria Zambrano.

  From 15 December 2024:

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

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

  For Cordoba & Seville, a high-speed AVE leaves Barcelona Sants at 15:15, arriving Cordoba 20:10, Seville Santa Justa 21:25.

  For Malaga, a high-speed AVE leaves Barcelona Sants at 15:15, arriving Malaga Maria Zambrano 21:45.

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

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

• How to buy tickets

  Buy tickets from Cologne to Spain at www.raileurope.com, this connects to both the French and Spanish ticketing systems so you can buy all three tickets together in one place.  Booking for Eurostar & the TGV opens up to 6 months ahead, for the AVE 60 days ahead though this varies.  You can pay in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem.  There's a small booking fee.

  First book from Cologne to Paris, looking for a direct train.  Add this to your basket.

  Then book from Paris to Barcelona for the following day and add that to your basket.  If going to Madrid, Valencia or Alicante where a same-day connection is possible, you can book from Paris to there as one booking.  Otherwise, book an onward ticket from Barcelona into Spain separately, add to basket & check out.

  Alternatively, you can book each train separately, although this takes more effort and is unlikely to make it materially cheaper other than avoiding a booking fee:  Book the Cologne-Paris Eurostar and the Paris-Barcelona TGV at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com in € with print-at-home or mobile tickets, then onward trains within Spain at www.renfe.com, very fiddly to use and may reject some overseas payment cards, see advice on using it here, I'd stick with much or easier-to-use www.raileurope.com (in €, £ or $, small fee) or www.petrabax.com (in US$, small mark-up).

Step 1, Cologne to Paris by Eurostar, seen at Cologne Hbf.  More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).

1st class (Comfort & Premium) seats, 2+1 across the car.		2nd class (Standard) seats, 2+2 across.  Larger photo.

Step 2, Paris to  Barcelona by TGV Duplex, a 320 km/h (199 mph) double-decker.  Watch TGV Duplex video.

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

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

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

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

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

• Step 1, travel to Paris by Eurostar (formerly Thalys), leaving Dusseldorf Hbf 16:17 or Cologne Hbf 16:44, arriving Paris Gare du Nord 20:05. 

  Eurostars have 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).  By all means take an earlier train to allow time for dinner in Paris.

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

  Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, there's a small booking fee, but these are easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, they sell tickets for multiple operators so you can keep all (or most) of your European train bookings together in one place.  About Raileurope.  About Thetrainline.  Alternatively, you can buy tickets at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

  Cross Paris by metro or taxi from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de Lyon.

• Step 2, travel overnight from Paris to Latour de Carol in the heart of the Pyrenees or to Cerbère on the Spanish border by French sleeper train, leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz after 21:00.  Then take a local train from Latour or Cerbère to Barcelona Sants arriving around 14:00.

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

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

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

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

  For Valencia & Alicante:  A Euromed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 16:10 arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla at 19:02 and Alicante at 21:34.  Fares start from €23.

  Check Spanish train times & buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, in €, see my advice before using it).  I'd allow at least 1 hour between trains in Barcelona.

Cologne or Düsseldorf to San Sebastian

• Step 1, travel from Cologne Hbf to Paris Gare du Nord by Eurostar (formerly Thalys) high-speed train in 3h30.

  Eurostar trains have 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).

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

  Cross Paris by metro or taxi from Paris Nord to Paris Gare Montparnasse.  Allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris, ideally more..

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

  The impressive double-deck TGV Duplex Océane has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number >60 is upper deck.  Hendaye is on the French side of the Spanish border.

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

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

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

• For example:

  Leave Cologne Hbf at 06:44 Mondays-Saturdays, change in Paris, arriving Hendaye 16:47.

  Leave Cologne Hbf at 08:44 Saturdays, change in Paris, arriving Hendaye 18:47.

  Leave Cologne Hbf at 08:44 Mondays-Fridays & Sundays, change in Paris, arriving Hendaye 20:47.

• How to buy tickets

  Book from Cologne or Düsseldorf to Hendaye at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can select a mobile ticket to show on your phone.

  Tip:  If you use www.raileurope.com you can click More options and enter Paris (any station) as a via station with a 1 hour stopover duration, to ensure a robust connection.

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Option 1, to Lisbon via Barcelona & Madrid

• Step 1, travel from Cologne to Paris by Eurostar (formerly Thalys), leaving Cologne Hbf at 16:44 arriving Paris Gare du Nord 20:05.

  By all means take an earlier train and have an evening or afternoon in Paris.  Eurostar trains have 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).

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

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).   Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can choose a mobile ticket.

  Using raileurope or thetrainline allows you to book your tickets in one place as they connect to both the SNCF & Renfe ticketing systems.

  Change stations from Paris Nord to Paris Gare de Lyon by metro or taxi.

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

• Day 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 09:42 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 16:31.

  From 15 December 2024 the timetable changes, leave Paris Gare de Lyon at 07:42, arriving Barcelona Sants 14:29.

  This 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's a comfortable & scenic journey, see an account of the sights to see from the train on the way.

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

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.

• Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Madrid by AVE high-speed train with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Until 14 December 2024, leave Barcelona Sants at 18:25, arriving Madrid Atocha 20:55, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  From 15 December 2024, leave Barcelona Sants at 15:25 Mondays-Fridays, arriving Madrid Atocha 17:55.  Another AVE leaves Barcelona Sants at 16:00 every day, arriving Madrid Atocha 19:12.

  Fares start at €38 in Standard class or €45 in Comfort class.  Fares work like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.  Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but this varies.

• 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, via San Sebastian, Vigo & Porto - slightly slower, can be cheaper

• Day 1, travel from Cologne to Paris by Eurostar (formerly Thalys), leaving Cologne Hbf at 08:44 and arriving Paris Gare du Nord 12:05.

  Eurostar trains have 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).

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

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).   Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.

  Using raileurope or thetrainline allows you to book your tickets in one place as they connect to both the SNCF & Renfe ticketing systems.

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

• Day 1, travel from Paris to Hendaye by TGV Duplex Océane, leaving Paris Gare Montparnasse at 16:11 (not Saturdays) arriving Hendaye 20:47.

  On Saturdays, you leave Paris at 14:06 arriving Hendaye 18:47.

  The impressive double-deck TGV Duplex Océane has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number >60 is upper deck.  Hendaye is on the French side of the Spanish border.

  Fares start at €25 each way in 2nd class, €40 each way in 1st class.  The price varies, book ahead for the cheaper prices.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.

• Day 1, at Hendaye walk out of the station and turn right, walk across the forecourt to the Euskotren station (www.euskotren.eus).  Buy a ticket and hop on the half-hourly local train to San Sebastian Amara.  Hendaye to San Sebastian takes 37 minutes.

  In San Sebastian, Amara station is 10 minutes walk from the Renfe station, see walking route.

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

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

  Morning departure, every day:  Travel from San Sebastian to Madrid by Alvia train, leaving San Sebastian Renfe station at 09:02 and arriving Madrid Chamartin at 13:56.  Then travel from Madrid to Vigo by Alvia train, leaving Madrid Chamartin at 16:00 and arriving Vigo Urzaiz at 20:12.  These comfortable high-speed Alvia trains have a cafe-bar, standard & comfort class.  Vigo Urzaiz is an easy 10 minute 500m walk from Vigo Guixar, see how to walk between stations using the halo lift.

  Afternoon departure, Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays only:  Spend the morning in San Sebastian.  An Intercity train leaves San Sebastian Renfe station at 11:58 arriving Vitoria/Gasteiz at 13:43.  This is a guaranteed connection into the Barcelona-Galicia Alvia train which leaves Vitoria/Gasteiz at 14:03 on Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays arriving Vigo Guixar at 23:35.

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

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.  Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but this varies.

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

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

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

  The fare is €15.90, fixed price.

  Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.  Booking opens 60 days ahead, but this can vary.

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

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

  Fares start at €15.  Book this at the Portuguese Railways website www.cp.pt (in €) or at Omio.com (in €, £ or $).

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Faro & the Algarve

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

• Day 1, travel from Düsseldorf or Cologne to Paris by Eurostar then Paris to Barcelona by TGV, as shown in the Cologne to Barcelona section.

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

• Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Seville by AVE high-speed train, then from Seville to Faro by bus, as shown in the Barcelona to Faro section.

  The Alsa bus from Seville to Faro takes 3h15 and leaves from right outside Seville Santa Justa station, making connections easy.

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

• Step 1, travel from Düsseldorf or Cologne to Lisbon as shown above.

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

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Andorra

Option 1, Cologne to Andorra in a day

• Step 1, travel from Cologne to Paris by Eurostar (formerly Thalys), leaving Cologne Hbf at 08:44 and arriving Paris Gare du Nord 12:05.

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

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

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

  Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can choose a mobile ticket.

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

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Toulouse by high-speed TGV, leaving Paris Montparnasse at 15:11 arriving Toulouse Matabiau 19:29.

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

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

  Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can choose a mobile ticket.

  Have dinner in Toulouse.

• Step 3, travel from Toulouse Matabiau to Andorra la Vella by bus, taking 4 hours, fare €33.

  There are several services every day run by Andbus, check times at Andbus.net or Omio.com.  I'd allow at least an hour between train and bus in Toulouse, just in case of delay.  There's normally a bus leaving Toulouse Matabiau at 21:45 arriving Andorra 01:45.

  The buses leave from bus stand 15 inside the Gare Routière (bus station) immediately 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 upper section, see the photos below.

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

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

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

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

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

Option 2, using the Paris-Toulouse sleeper

• Step 1, travel from Cologne to Paris by Eurostar (formerly Thalys), leaving Cologne Hbf at 16:44 and arriving Paris Gare du Nord 20:05.

  Eurostar trains travel at up to 300km/h, they have 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).

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

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

  Change stations in Paris by metro or taxi.  Always allow at least 90 minutes between trains in Paris when catching a sleeper you don't want to miss.  Indeed, I recommend booking an earlier Eurostar and having dinner at the Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon before strolling across the bridge over the River Seine to the Gare d'Austerlitz.

• Step 2, travel from Paris to Toulouse by Intercité de Nuit, leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 22:13 arriving Toulouse Matabiau 07:44.

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

  Fares start at €29 in a 2nd class couchette or €60 in a 1st class couchette.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

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

• Step 3, travel from Toulouse to Andorra by bus, leaving Toulouse Matabiau at 09:45, arriving Andorra la Vella bus station at 14:00.

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

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

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

• Alternative step 2 & 3:  On Friday, Saturday & Sunday nights (daily June-September) the Paris-Toulouse Intercité de Nuit conveys 1st & 2nd class couchettes & reclining seats from Paris to l'Hospitalet, the station nearest Andorra, arriving 09:43.  Since 2019 there's no bus connection, but a taxi from l'Hospitalet should cost around €80 for up to 4 passengers, taking 47 minutes for the 38 km drive.  Pre-book a taxi to meet the train, call Altitud Taxis, 00 376 856255 or 00 33 561644714.  This is a nicer and faster option than the bus from Toulouse, when running.

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

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

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

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

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck & Austria from €39.90

Option 1, by comfortable daytime trains

• For Vienna & Linz

  High-quality ICE-T trains link Düsseldorf & Cologne with Linz & Vienna:

  Düsseldorf depart 05:27, Cologne Hbf depart 05:53, Vienna Hbf arrive 14:47.

  Cologne Hbf depart 07:53, Vienna Hbf arrive 16:47.

  Düsseldorf depart 09:27, Cologne Hbf depart 09:53, Vienna Hbf arrive 18:47.

  Düsseldorf depart 11:27, Cologne Hbf depart 11:53, Vienna Hbf arrive 20:47.

  Cologne Hbf depart 13:53, Vienna Hbf arrive 23:05.

  These are all superb German ICE-T trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Note that not all of these trains run all year, see which ones run on your date of travel.

  it's a chill-out day with a good book and meals in the restaurant car with a weissbier or two.  All these trains take the scenic Rhine Valley route between Koblenz & Mainz - which just happens to be one of the most scenic main lines in Germany, twisting along the river past mountains, castles, vineyards and river boats and of course the famous legendary Lorelei Rock.  Sit on the left hand side of the train for the river scenery.  See the Rhine Valley scenery video here.

  Fares start at €39.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

• For Salzburg, Bischofshofen, St Johann, Klagenfurt

  A direct EuroCity train with bistro car links Düsseldorf & Cologne with Salzburg, Bischofshofen, St Johan & Klagenfurt every day, leaving Düsseldorf 07:49 & Cologne Hbf at 08:17 and arriving Salzburg Hbf at 15:59, with fares from €29.90.

  This train also takes the scenic Rhine Valley route via Koblenz, make sure you sit on the left hand side of the train as the river boats, castles, vineyards and legendary Lorelei Rock roll past.

• For Innsbruck & St Anton there are various departures with 1 or 2 changes, check times at int.bahn.de.

  New from 15 December 2024, a direct ICE4 train will leave Cologne Messe/Deutz at 09:21 every day, arriving Innsbruck Hbf 19:07.

  This comfortable ICE4 train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It won't run from 17 April to 6 June 2025.

• To buy tickets or check train times from anywhere in Germany to anywhere in Austria use the German Railways website int.bahn.de. 

  I recommend registering when prompted, rather than booking as a guest, so you can always log in and check or re-print all your bookings.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  Tip:  Check Austrian Railways www.oebb.at as well, as although fares also start from €29 I've often seen significantly cheaper fares on oebb.at than bahn.de on the same date & train.  You also get a print-at-home ticket.

An ICE-T at Vienna Hbf.  These superb 7-car ICE-T trains run direct from Cologne to Vienna twice a day.

Table for two in 1st class, my favourite configuration.  There are also tables for four in both classes.		Restaurant:  In 1st class you can choose to be served at your seat.  I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier!

You can see into the cab at each end of the train.		Comfortable 2nd class seats on the ICE-T to Vienna.

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

Option 2, by Nightjet sleeper train - the safe, comfortable, time-effective option

• A comfortable Nightjet sleeper train leaves Düsseldorf 21:15 & Cologne Messe-Deutz 21:45 every day, arriving Wels 07:14, Linz 07:44, Vienna Meidling 09:05 & Vienna Hbf 09:17, with a portion for Innsbruck Hbf arriving 09:14.  This train runs until 14 December 2024, but no longer runs after that.

  Another Nightjet sleeper train leaves Cologne Hbf at 22:01 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays until 14 December 2024 and on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays from 15 December 2024 onwards, arriving Salzburg Hbf 07:26, Linz 08:46, Vienna Meidling 10:05 & Vienna Hbf 10:13.

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

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

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

Düsseldorf or Cologne to Vienna by Nightjet.  Above, the Nightjet to Vienna & Innsbruck is about to leave Cologne Hbf.

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

6-berth couchettes.		4-berth couchettes.		Couchette car on the Brussels-Vienna Nightjet.

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Cologne & Düsseldorf to Copenhagen, Odense & Denmark from €39.90

• You can travel from Cologne to Copenhagen in a single day with 1 easy change in Hamburg, for example:

  Leave Cologne Hbf 06:14 or Düsseldorf 06:41, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 15:34.

  Leave Cologne Hbf 08:11 or Düsseldorf 08:34, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 17:34.

  Leave Cologne Hbf 10:11, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 19:34.

  Leave Cologne Hbf 12:09 or Düsseldorf 12:32, change at Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 21:34.

  Take a good book, sit back and enjoy the ride.  You travel from Cologne to Hamburg by ICE4 with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then Copenhagen to Hamburg by EuroCity train with power sockets at all seats and refreshments available.  More about the Hamburg to Copenhagen journey.

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

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

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

  Tip:  In the search results, look for options with 1 change, not 2 or 3.  Adjust the Transfer time if you'd like longer connections, or use the Stopovers feature if you'd like a stopover in Hamburg.

Step 1, Cologne or Düsseldorf to Hamburg by ICE4, with restaurant car, cafe counter, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about ICEs.

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

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

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

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

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

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Cologne & Düsseldorf to Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö

Option 1, Cologne or Düsseldorf to Stockholm using the Hamburg-Stockholm sleeper train - the time-effective option

• Step 1, travel from to Hamburg by ICE train, leaving Cologne Hbf at 15:10 or Düsseldorf at 15:34, arriving Hamburg Hbf 19:14.

  The ICE train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Later departures are possible, but I recommend an hour or two between trains in Hamburg when catching a sleeper train you don't want to miss.

  Fares start at €18.90 in 2nd class or €29.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2-bed sleeper.  Larger photo.		The inaugural train from Hamburg to Stockholm calls at Padborg, just after entering Denmark.

Typical Swedish scenery on the morning run into Stockholm.

Option 2, Cologne or Düsseldorf to Stockholm, Gothenburg & Malmö in a single day

• It's possible to travel from Cologne to Stockholm, Gothenburg or Malmo in a single day.  You'll usually find two services per day, but see what journey options int.bahn.de gives you as times may vary:

  Leave Cologne Hbf at 08:11, change at Hamburg Hbf, Copenhagen & Malmö arriving Stockholm Central at 23:38.

  You travel by comfortable ICE train with restaurant car & free WiFi to Hamburg, EuroCity train to Copenhagen, Öresund train to Malmö then a 200 km/h Swedish X2000 high-speed train to Stockholm with bistro & free WiFi.  You cross from Denmark to Sweden on the impressive Öresund fixed link.

  Fares start at €56.90 in 2nd class or €79.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  Book from Cologne or Düsseldorf to Malmo, Gothenburg or Stockholm as one transaction.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  Don't worry about connections by the way, you'll be using a through ticket so will be legally entitled to travel onwards by later trains (and if necessary, a hotel) if a delay means a missed connection, under the CIV international conditions of carriage.

• It can be easier and sometimes more time-effective to break up the journey with an overnight hotel stop in Hamburg.  That way you can leave Cologne in the late afternoon or early evening, and travel from Hamburg to Sweden next day.  You can still benefit from the same cheap fares from €56.90.

• To book, go to int.bahn.de, click Stopovers and enter Hamburg Hbf with a length of stay of (say) 12 hours.  Adjust the departure time and length of stay until you get the trains you want either side of Hamburg.

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

• Suggested hotels in Hamburg across the road from Hamburg Hbf with good reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof (the one I'd pick), Hotel Atlantic Kempinski.

Step 1, Cologne or Düsseldorf to Hamburg by ICE4, with restaurant car, cafe counter, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about ICEs.

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

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

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

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

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

Step 3, Copenhagen to Stockholm by tilting 200km/h X2000, seen at Stockholm Central.  More about X2000 trains.

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

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

Crossing the impressive Öresund bridge from Denmark to Sweden.

Option 4, Cologne or Düsseldorf to Gothenburg using Stena Line's Kiel-Gothenburg overnight ferry

• Step 1, travel from Cologne or Düsseldorf to Kiel by train, leaving late morning.

  The journey takes around 5h25, you'll typically find a train leaving Cologne Hbf around 11:00 or Düsseldorf around 11:30 with 1 easy change at Hamburg Hbf.  However, you should book the ferry first and confirm ferry times, then book a train that arrives at Kiel Hbf around 2 hours before the ferry sails.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Cologne & Düsseldorf to Oslo & Norway

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

• Day 1, travel from Cologne Hbf or Düsseldorf to Hamburg Hbf by ICE in as little as 3h42.  There are regular departures until early evening.

  Fares start at €17.90 in 2nd class or €23.90 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.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.

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

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

  Leave Hamburg Hbf 08:50, arriving Copenhagen 13:34.  Leave Copenhagen at 14:30, arriving Göteborg Central at 18:20.

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

  Have an early dinner in Gothenburg.

  Fares from Hamburg to Gothenburg start at €56.90.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Option 2, Cologne to Oslo with overnight stop in Copenhagen - by train all the way

• Day 1, travel from Cologne to Copenhagen by train as shown above.

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

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

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

  Alternatively, spend the day in Copenhagen then take the DFDS overnight ferry to Oslo with a comfortable private cabin with shower & toilet, arriving Oslo at 10:00 on day 3, as shown here.  This is remarkably affordable, and saves a hotel bill.  Book the ferry at www.dfds.com.

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

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

Option 3, Cologne & Düsseldorf to Oslo via the Kiel-Oslo Color Line cruise ferry - the most luxurious way to Oslo

• Day 1, travel from Cologne or Düsseldorf to Kiel by direct ICE train, leaving Cologne Hbf at 06:09 or Düsseldorf 06:33, arriving Kiel Hbf 11:23.

  Fares start at €18.90 in 2nd class or €49.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

• In Kiel it's a 7 minute 450m walk from Kiel Hbf to the Color Line ferry terminal, see walking map.  But always allow several hours between trains and ferry for the ferry check-in and in case of any delay.

• Day 1, 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 2).

  Check times & buy tickets using the Direct Ferries website or www.colorline.com.  You print your own ticket.

  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 Chrome translation to translate the Norwegian.  You are still able to enter a UK or other European address and contact details.  Feedback appreciated.

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

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

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

Restaurant and lounge on the Kiel-Oslo ferry.

Wake up to lovely scenery sailing up Oslo Fjord.

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

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Cologne & Düsseldorf to Helsinki & Finland

Option 1, by direct ferry from Germany to Helsinki - the easiest option

• Day 1, travel from Cologne or Düsseldorf to Hamburg, taking any train you like arriving in Hamburg before about 18:00, for example leaving Cologne Hbf at 14:09 or Düsseldorf at 14:33 by ICE, arriving Hamburg Hbf 17:51, but by all means travel earlier.

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

  Fares start at €17.90 in 2nd class or €26.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

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

• Day 1, travel from Hamburg Hbf to Lübeck by regional train then take a bus to the Skandinavienkai ferry terminal in Travemünde.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Option 2, travel to Stockholm and take a ferry from there

• Step 1, travel from Cologne to Stockholm by train using any of the options shown in the Berlin to Sweden section.

• 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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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Prague from €29.90

Option 1, by daytime train - the leisurely same-day option

• Take a high-speed ICE2 train from Düsseldorf or Cologne Hbf to Berlin Hbf in around 4 hours, then a comfortable EuroCity train with restaurant car from Berlin Hbf to Prague Hlavni in 4h08.  For example:

  Leave Cologne Hbf 06:17, change at Berlin Hbf, arrive Prague Hlavni 15:24.

  Leave Cologne Hbf 07:48, change at Berlin Hbf, arrive Prague Hlavni 17:24.

  Leave Cologne Hbf 09:48, change at Berlin Hbf, arrive Prague Hlavni 19:24.

  Leave Cologne Hbf 12:17, change at Berlin Hbf, arrive Prague Hlavni 21:24.

  It's a leisurely journey with a good book and a glass of wine, with great scenery along the Elbe River between Dresden and Prague, see the scenery photos & video here.

• Fares start at €18.90 in 2nd class or €28.90 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

  Tip:  It's a good idea to click Stopovers and enter Berlin Hbf as stopover with length of stay 30 minutes, then it'll show this route via Berlin with high-quality trains and a robust connection, look for options with just 1 change.  See suggested hotels in Prague.

  Tip:  Stopover in Berlin?   Even an hour between trains in Berlin is enough to stroll past the Reichstag building to the Brandenburg Gate, just 17 minutes walk from the station.  But you can build in a longer stopover if you want, either a few hours or an overnight stop.  Simply click Stopovers and enter Berlin Hbf with a suitable length of stay.  For a few hours stop, select an early departure time from Cologne or Düsseldorf.

Step 1, Dusseldorf or Cologne to Berlin by ICE2.  These are 2nd class seats. Larger photo.

Restaurant car.  Larger photo.		Bar car.  Larger photo.

Boarding an ICE2 at Berlin Hbf.		1st class seats.  Larger photo.

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

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

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

Scenery along the Elbe river between Dresden & Prague.

Option 2, by daytime trains with overnight stop in Berlin from €39 - a time-effective option with an evening in Berlin

• Day 1, take a comfortable high-speed ICE train from Cologne Hbf to Berlin Hbf in just over 4 hours.

  Trains leave every hour, you can usually leave Cologne as late as 19:27 arriving Berlin after midnight, but by all means book an earlier train and spend a pleasant evening in Berlin.

• 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 by EuroCity train in 4h30 or so on any train you like.

  The 07:16 EuroCity train from Berlin Hbf will get you to Prague Hlavni at 11:24 with breakfast in the restaurant car as the train snakes along the scenic Elbe river valley - or have a leisurely breakfast at your hotel and take the 09:16, trains leave every 2 hours, see the timetable here.

• Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class, with overnight stop included.  Fares vary like air fares so book ahead.

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

  Enter Cologne or Dusseldorf to Prague, then click Stopovers and enter Berlin Hbf with a length of stay of (say) 10 hours.  Adjust the departure time and length of stay to get the trains you want either side of Berlin.

  In the search results, look for journeys with just 1 change marked ICE,EC. 

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

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Belgrade & Montenegro

Option 1, using the Stuttgart-Budapest sleeper train - starts running from 24 November 2024

• Step 1, travel from Düsseldorf or Cologne to Stuttgart by ICE train leaving Cologne Hbf at 15:55 and arriving Stuttgart Hbf at 18:08.

  Times may vary, make sure you allow at least 50 minutes between trains in Stuttgart.  ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about ICEs.  Have dinner in Stuttgart.

  Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

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

  The sleeper train Kalman Imre has an air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and an air-conditioned Hungarian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments.  In sleepers, morning tea or coffee is included.  More about this sleeper train.

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

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

  Transfer from Keleti to Nyugati station by metro, tram or taxi as shown here.

• Step 3, travel from Budapest to Belgrade, leaving Budapest Nyugati at 11:50, changing at Szeged & Subotica, arriving Belgrade Centar 18:38.

  You take a Hungarian Intercity train from Budapest to Szeged, a local train across the border to Subotica and a 200 km/h SOKO train to Belgrade.  This service starts running from 24 November 2024, for full 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.

Option 2, to Belgrade & beyond using the Munich-Zagreb sleeper - currently involves a bus

• Day 1, travel from Düsseldorf or Cologne to Stuttgart by ICE train leaving Cologne Hbf at 15:55 and arriving Stuttgart Hbf at 18:08.

  Times may vary, make sure you allow at least 50 minutes between trains in Stuttgart.  ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more about ICEs.  Have dinner in Stuttgart.

  Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €59.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.

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

• Day 1, travel from Stuttgart to Ljubljana or Zagreb by sleeper train, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 20:29 & arriving Zagreb at 10:39.

  The sleeper train Lisinski has an air-conditioned Croatian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments and a modern air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car with comfortable 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, see the photos below and the Croatian sleeper video here.

  Fares start at €49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, €59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, €66.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, €86.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

• Day 2, travel from Zagreb to Belgrade by train, leaving Zagreb at 11:04 and arriving Novi Beograd 18:04 & Belgrade Centar at 18:12.

  This train was suspended due to Covid-19 and remains suspended.

  This train has air-conditioned Serbian carriages with comfortable 2nd class seats, but no 1st class.  There's no catering, so bring a picnic and some beer or wine.

  The fare is around €29 bought at the station in Zagreb or paid on board the train, but tickets cannot be bought online.

  While the train is suspended, take a bus from Zagreb to Belgrade

  It's a 17-minute 1.3 km walk from Zagreb station to Zagreb bus station, see walking map.

  A Flixbus leaves Zagreb bus station at 14:00, arriving Belgrade bus station at 19:30.

  The fare is around €20, buy a ticket at www.flixbus.com.

• For Montenegro, take the overnight sleeper Lovcen from Belgrade Centar to Podgorica & Bar arriving in the morning on day 3, or stay overnight in Belgrade and take the daytime train Tara next day.  See the Belgrade to Montenegro page for schedule, fares & how to buy tickets.

Step 1, Cologne to Munich by ICE.  This is an ICE3 at Munich Hbf.  More about ICE trains.

2nd class seats on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.		1st class seats on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.

Proper china, metal cutlery.  I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier!  See current month's menu.		Restaurant car:  This is the small 12-seat restaurant area on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.

Step 2, Munich to Zagreb by sleeper train.  Above, the air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car from Munich to Zagreb is boarding on platform 12 at Munich Hbf.  It has 10 compartments with washbasin, each of which can be used as 1, 2 or 3 berth, with toilets at the end of the corridor.  Compartments convert to a private sitting room for evening or morning use.  A light breakfast is included in the sleeper fare.  The Croatian couchette car is the next vehicle to the right, also modern & air-conditioned with 4 & 6 bunk compartments, ideal for families.  Couchettes convert from bunks to seats for evening or morning use.

1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper.		Set up as a single-berth.		4 or 6-berth couchettes. 360º photo.

Wake up to scenery like this between Ljubljana & Zagreb, along the river Sava.

Step 3, Zagreb to Belgrade on the daily train.  Above, Serbian air-conditioned cars.

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Sofia

Option 1, Cologne or Düsseldorf to Sofia via Bucharest

• Day 1, travel from Düsseldorf or Cologne to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train, as shown above.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas 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.

• Day 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest by railjet train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 11:40 and arriving Budapest Keleti at 14:19.

  The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, 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 $, overseas 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.

• Day 2, travel from Budapest to Bucharest on the sleeper train Muntenia, leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:10 and arriving Bucharest Nord at 08:42.

  The Muntenia has 4 & 6-berth couchettes and ordinary seats.  A Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments is attached from Arad (depart 21:04) to Bucharest.  There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink.

  Fares start at €40 with a couchette in 6-berth or €47 with a couchette in 4-berth.  These are limited-availability advance-purchase fares

  Book this at the Romanian Railways international website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en.  You print your own ticket.

  If you want the comfort & privacy of a proper sleeper from Arad to Bucharest, (1) book a 2nd class seat from Budapest to Arad from €17 using bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en.  You print your own ticket.  (2) Now book berths in a 1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper from Arad to Bucharest Nord at the Romanian domestic website bilete.cfrcalatori.ro and print your own ticket.

• Day 3, travel from Bucharest to Sofia by daytime train as shown in the Bucharest>Sofia section of the Trains from Bucharest page.

  You leave Bucharest Nord at 10:47 and arrive Sofia Central at 20:21 after a pleasant day meandering across the Danube and through the river valleys of Bulgaria.  In summer it's direct, in winter you have to switch trains at Ruse.  There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink.

  The fare is around €34.

  Book this at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en.  You print your own ticket.

Option 2, Cologne or Düsseldorf to Sofia via Belgrade

• Not currently viable while Zagreb-Belgrade, Budapest-Belgrade and Belgrade-Sofia trains remain suspended.

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Warsaw from €37.90

Option 1, Cologne to Warsaw in a single day from €37.90 - the leisurely daytime option

• Step 1, travel from Cologne Hbf to Berlin Hbf by high-speed ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Step 2, travel from Berlin Hbf to Warsaw Centralna by comfortable Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity train with restaurant car.

• For example:

  Leave Cologne Hbf 06:45, change Berlin Hbf, arriving Warsaw Centralna at 17:14.

  Leave Cologne Hbf 08:45, change Berlin Hbf, arriving Warsaw Centralna at 19:14.

  Leave Cologne Hbf 10:45, change Berlin Hbf, arriving Warsaw Centralna at 21:14.

  Leave Cologne Hbf 12:45, change Berlin Hbf, arriving Warsaw Centralna at 23:18.

• Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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

• Why not spend some time in Berlin between trains?  This breaks up the trip, there are left luggage lockers available and you can stroll past the Reichstag building to the Brandenburg Gate in just 17 minutes from the station, so even a couple of hours stopover is a worthwhile experience.  To build in a stopover using int.bahn.de simply click Stopovers and enter Berlin Hbf and the length of stay you want in hours.

Option 2, Cologne to Warsaw with overnight stop in Berlin - time-effective & a chance to see Berlin

• Day 1, travel from Cologne or Düsseldorf to Berlin on any afternoon or early evening high-speed ICE train.

  You can leave Cologne Hbf as late as 19:28 on most days, arriving Berlin Hbf around 00:14, but by all means take an earlier train and spend a pleasant evening in Berlin.  The high-speed 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 Warsaw on any Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity train you like.

  Daily except Sundays, the 05:51 from Berlin Hbf will get you to Warsaw Centralna at 11:14 with breakfast in the restaurant car.  Or have a leisurely breakfast at your hotel and take the daily 09:52 arriving 15:14.  Or take spend some time in Berlin and take a later train, the German capital is fascinating, see the timetable here.

• Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class all on one ticket.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  To get the overnight stop in Berlin, click Stopovers and enter Berlin Hbf with the length of stay you want, say 10:00 hours.  Adjust the departure time and the length of stay to get the trains you want, with a little trial and error. 

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

Step 1, Cologne or Düsseldorf to Berlin by ICE2 with power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  This is 2nd class.  Larger photo.

Restaurant car.  Larger photo.		Bar car.  Larger photo.

An ICE2 at Berlin Hbf.		1st class seats.  Larger photo.

Step 2, Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity train, seen here at Berlin Hbf.

1st class compartment.		2nd class compartment.

The restaurant car on a Berlin-Warsaw express.  You don't need to reserve a table, just go along and sit down.  A steward will take your order.  Photos below courtesy of DiscoverbyRail.com.  Larger photo.

The bar.		Decent food, served on proper china.

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Wroclaw, Katowice & Krakow from €37.90

Option 1, Cologne to Krakow by daytime trains a single day

• Step 1, travel from Cologne to Berlin by ICE train with restaurant car & free WiFi, leaving Cologne Hbf at 10:45 & arriving Berlin Hbf 15:03.

  You've now time for a wander, perhaps a stroll past the Reichstag building to the Brandenburg Gate, 17 minutes walk from Berlin Hbf.

• Step 2, travel from Berlin to Krakow by EuroCity train Oder leaving Berlin Hbf at 16:52 every day, arriving Wroclaw 20:56, Katowice 23:05 & Krakow Glowny 23:54.  The Oder is comfortable & air-conditioned with restaurant car, treat yourself to lunch and a beer or two.

• Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Tip:  Click Stopovers and enter Berlin Hbf with a length of stay of 40 minutes.  This gets you the recommended robust connection in Berlin.

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

Step 1, Cologne or Düsseldorf to Berlin by ICE2 with power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  This is 2nd class.  Larger photo

Restaurant car.  Larger photo.		Bar car.  Larger photo.

An ICE2 at Berlin Hbf.		1st class seats.  Larger photo.

Step 2, Berlin to Krakow by EuroCity train.  This is a EuroCity on platform 11 at Berlin Hbf.

2nd class compartment.		1st class compartment.

The restaurant car on a Berlin-Krakow EuroCity train.  You don't need to reserve, just go along and sit down.  A steward will take your order.  Larger photo.

Zurek soup - an excellent tasty starter.		Kotlet schabowy, served on proper china.

Option 2, Cologne to Krakow with overnight stop in Berlin - time-effective & a chance to see Berlin

• Day 1, travel from Cologne or Düsseldorf to Berlin on any afternoon or early evening high-speed ICE train in just over 4 hours.

  You can leave Cologne Hbf as late as 19:27 on most days, arriving Berlin Hbf after midnight, but by all means take an earlier train and spend a pleasant evening in Berlin.  The high-speed 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 Krakow by EuroCity train Wawel, leaving Berlin Hbf at 10:52 every day, arriving Wroclaw 15:05, Katowice 17:15 & Krakow Glowny 18:07.

  The timetable changes from 15 December 2024:  Travel from Berlin to Krakow by EuroCity train Galicija, leaving Berlin Hbf at 08:52, arriving Wroclaw 12:53, Katowice 15:06 & Krakow Glowny 16:07.  Later trains are available, see timetable.

  The EuroCity train is comfortable & air-conditioned with restaurant car, treat yourself to lunch and a beer or two.

• Fares from Cologne or Düsseldorf to Krakow start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €69.90 in 1st class.

  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

  Booking to Poland normally opens 60 days ahead.  To get the overnight stop in Berlin, click Stopovers and enter Berlin Hbf with the length of stay you want, say 12:00 hours.  Adjust the departure time and the length of stay to get the trains you want, with a little trial and error. 

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

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Kyiv & Ukraine

Option 1, using the Warsaw-Kyiv sleeper

• Day 1, travel from Cologne or Düsseldorf to Berlin on any afternoon or early evening high-speed ICE train.

  You can leave Cologne Hbf as late as 19:27 on most days, arriving Berlin Hbf after midnight, but by all means take an earlier train and spend a pleasant evening in Berlin.  The high-speed 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 Warsaw by EuroCity train leaving Berlin Hbf at 09:52 every day and arriving Warsaw Centralna at 15:14. 

  Tip:  If you book the earlier 05:51 departure from Berlin on Mondays-Saturdays arriving Warsaw at 11:14 you have time to explore the city, see Warsaw Centralna station & city information.  Warsaw's historic old town is a 30 minute walk from Centralna station - if you fancy a modest splurge, the celebrated Ufukiera restaurant (www.ufukiera.pl) is excellent and right on the square in the heart of Warsaw's old town.  The Palace of Culture (a wedding cake style Soviet skyscraper and distinctive Warsaw landmark, www.pkin.pl) is right next to the station and has a viewing terrace on the 30th floor.

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

  Book from Cologne or Dusseldorf to Warsaw at int.bahn.de.  Booking to Poland normally opens 60 days ahead.

  To build in the overnight stop, click Stopovers and enter Berlin Hbf with the length of stay you want, say 12:00 hours.  Adjust the departure time and the length of stay to get the trains you want, with a little trial and error.

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

• Day 2, travel from Warsaw to Kyiv on the Kyiv Express, leaving Warsaw Wschodnia at 17:40 & arriving Kyiv at 12:17 next day.

  This train has comfortable Ukrainian 1, 2 & 3 bed sleepers with washbasin.  There's no restaurant car, so take a picnic and perhaps some wine or beer.

  The fare booked with Polrail is around €59 including a bed in a 3-berth sleeper, €93 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €162 in a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.

  Buy tickets via reliable Polish agency Polrail, booking.polrail.com.

  Tickets can be collected in Warsaw or (at extra charge) shipped to any address worldwide.  Polrail may or may not be able to arrange the return reservation back from Kyiv.

• To book onward trains from Kyiv to Odessa & other places in Ukraine, see the Ukraine page.

A Ukrainian sleeping-car on the Kyiv Express at Warsaw Centralna.  Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com.

1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper.		Washbasin.		Kyiv Express.

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Cologne or Düsseldorf to Moscow, St Petersburg & Russia

Option 1, using the daily Warsaw-Moscow sleeper train - suspended due to sanctions

• Day 1, travel from Cologne or Düsseldorf to Berlin on any afternoon or early evening high-speed ICE train.

  You can leave Cologne Hbf as late as 18:48 on most days, arriving Berlin Hbf around 23:04, but by all means take an earlier train and spend a pleasant evening in Berlin.  The high-speed 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 morning, travel from Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity train leaving Berlin Hbf at 09:52 every day and arriving Warsaw Centralna at 15:14. 

  Tip:  If you book the earlier 05:52 departure from Berlin on Mondays-Saturdays arriving Warsaw at 11:16 you have time to explore the city, see Warsaw Centralna station & city information.  Warsaw's historic old town is a 30 minute walk from Centralna station - if you fancy a modest splurge, the celebrated Ufukiera restaurant (www.ufukiera.pl) is excellent and right on the square in the heart of Warsaw's old town.  The Palace of Culture (a wedding cake style Soviet skyscraper and distinctive Warsaw landmark, www.pkin.pl) is right next to the station and has a viewing terrace on the 30th floor.

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

Book from Cologne or Dusseldorf to Warsaw at int.bahn.de.  Booking to Poland normally opens 60 days ahead.

To build in the overnight stop, click Stopovers and enter Berlin Hbf with the length of stay you want, say 12:00 hours.  Adjust the departure time and the length of stay to get the trains you want, with a little trial and error.

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

• Day 2 evening, travel from Warsaw to Moscow by Russian sleeper train, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 19:15 daily and arriving Moscow Belorussky at 16:58 next day (day 3 from Cologne).  You can check times at the Russian Railways website www.rzd.ru.

  This train was suspended due to Covid-19 and remains suspended due to sanctions & the war in Ukraine.

  This train uses impressive Austrian-built sleeping-cars with 4-berth compartments built in 2014, see photos of this type of sleeper here & see panorama photo inside one of these modern sleepers.  Each compartment can be sold as 1st class 1-berth, 1st class 2-berth or 2nd class 4-berth.  The train consist of two or three sleeping-car which start their journey in Prague.  There's a bistro car in Poland and a Russian restaurant car is attached between Brest (on the Polish/Belarus border) & Moscow.

  You can book this train by contacting reliable Polish train ticketing agency www.polrail.com - their booking system is at booking.polrail.com.  Tickets can be collected in Warsaw or (at extra charge) shipped to any address worldwide.

Alternatively, you can book with Russian Railways at www.rzd.ru although it's a little quirky and may not accept some overseas credit cards.

Don't forget to arrange both your Russian visa & Belarus transit visa as the train runs via Belarus.

IMPORTANT:  See the update about travel to Russia through Belarus.

• For St Petersburg it's best to travel via Moscow.  Moscow to St Petersburg takes as little as 3h50 by daytime Sapsan trains, or can be done an a number of traditional overnight sleepers.  See the train travel in Russia page to buy tickets within Russia.

The train from Warsaw to Moscow uses Russian air-conditioned sleeping-cars, pictured below, with compartments which can be used as 1st class 2-berth or 2nd class 4-berth (shown below right), with a shower & toilets at the end of the corridor.  See panorama photo inside one of the new Russian sleepers.

 

Option 2, using the Berlin-Moscow Strizh (Swift) Talgo sleeper train, twice a week, suspended due to sanctions

• Step 1, travel from Cologne to Berlin by ICE train, for example, leaving Cologne Hbf at 13:48 arriving Berlin Hbf at 18:10.

  By all means book an earlier train for more time in Berlin.  ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Fares start at €18.90 in 2nd class or €49.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.  You print your own ticket or show it on your laptop or phone.

• Step 2, travel from Berlin to Moscow by direct Russian sleeper train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 20:08 on Mondays & Saturdays, arriving at Moscow Belorussky station at 21:24 next day.

  This train was suspended due to Covid-19 and remains suspended due to sanctions.

  This train is an articulated Spanish-built Talgo train branded Strizh (Russian for swift) which started running in 2016.  It has ordinary seats, 2nd class 4-berth sleepers, 1st class 1 or 2 berth sleepers with washbasin and deluxe 1 or 2 berth sleepers with en suite shower & toilet.  There's a restaurant & bistro car.

  Russian track gauge is 5', but most of Europe (including the UK) is 4' 8½", so at Brest on the Belarus frontier the Talgo train runs through a special gauge-changing shed and the axles automatically adjust to the new gauge.  Once in Russia, the scenery is rolling hills, birch tree forests, and villages of small wooden houses.  Approaching Moscow, you may glimpse the plaques on the station building marked '1812' and '1942' as the train passes through the small station of historic Borodino.

  You can book the Berlin-Moscow train at the Russian Railways website www.rzd.ru and print your own ticket, it's a little fiddly but usually works, or you can easily buy it online with English language after-sales service if you need it, using the Real Russia online system here.

  Don't forget to arrange both your Russian visa and Belarus transit visa as the train runs via Belarus.  See my important update about travel to Russia through Belarus.

The Strizh sleeper train from Berlin to Moscow.  It's a Spanish-built articulated Talgo train - note the relatively small size of each car, with just one axle between each pair of cars.  Photos courtesy of Jaap van Ginkel.

Standard 2-berth sleeper with washbasin, in night-time & daytime modes.				Complimentary toiletry pack.

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Cologne & Düsseldorf to Athens, Corfu & Greece

Option 1, Cologne to Athens by train & ferry via Italy - the leisurely option with an Adriatic cruise thrown in

• The best and most comfortable option is to pick up a ferry in Bari.  The whole scenic and relaxing journey from Cologne to Athens will take around 2 nights & 3 days, depending how the connections work out on your particular date.

• Day 1, travel from Cologne to Milan in a single day as shown above.  Stay overnight in Milan.

• Day 2, take the 08:05 Frecciarossa train from Milan Centrale to Bari Centrale.

• Day 2, then sail across the Adriatic from Bari to Corfu, Igoumenitsa or Patras in Greece aboard a luxurious cruise ferry booked at www.superfast.com.  She normally sails daily except Sundays at 19:30 arriving 13:00 next day (day 3).

• Day 3, Patras is a few hours bus ride from Athens.  If you hunt for it, there's a bus/train combined timetable from Patras to Athens on www.hellenictrain.gr but it's pretty hard to find.

• The Milan to Athens part of this journey is is explained in detail on the Italy to Athens page.

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

The passenger gangway, onto the ferry.		Reception desk & lounge on the ferry.

Lounge and bar on the Superfast II.		Self-service restaurant.

Private cabin with en suite toilet & shower.

Option 2, Cologne to Athens overland by train via Munich & Belgrade

• This route is not currently viable, there are no international trains to or from Greece.

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Cologne & Düsseldorf to Istanbul & Turkey

• Step 1, travel from Düsseldorf or Cologne to Bucharest as shown above.

  Do not risk any tight connections in Bucharest, I'd allow a minimum of 2 hours, or plan an overnight stop.

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

  Book online as shown on those pages, but you should consider using an Interrail pass for the flexibility it gives.  You'll find more info about using a pass for a journey like this on the London to Istanbul page.

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Hotels in Cologne & other cities

For advice on hotels in Cologne, see the hotels section on the Cologne station page.

Suggested hotels near the station in Cologne

Hotels near to Cologne Hauptbahnhof with good reviews include the Breslauer Hof Am Dom, Hotel Domspitzen, CityClass Hotel Europa am Dom, Hilton Cologne, Excelsior Hotel Ernst am Dom.

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.