How to Travel From Venice to Paris: Your Main Options

train travel from venice italy to paris france

Are you planning a trip from Venice to Paris but are having trouble working through your options to decide whether to travel by train, plane or car? Venice is a little under 700 miles from Paris, which may lead you to assume that flying is the best-- if the only-- real option. This certainly is the most pragmatic choice if you need to get to Paris as quickly as possible, but if you have a bit more time to enjoy, taking the train or renting a car can offer a more picturesque, and potentially more relaxing and enjoyable, way of getting from one point to the next. Read on for a breakdown of each of your options, as well as their pros and cons.

Flying: The Cheapest & Easiest Way 

The easiest and cheapest way to get from one city to the next is flying. International carriers including Alitalia and Air France and low-cost regional companies such as Easyjet and Ryanair offer daily flights from Venice to Paris, arriving at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport and Orly Airport. Flights to Beauvais Airport located in the far outskirts of Paris (including some Ryanair flights) tend to be a cheaper option, but you'll need to plan on at least an extra hour and fifteen minutes to get to central Paris.

Book flights and complete travel packages at TripAdvisor

Taking the Train: The Picturesque (And Long) Way 

You can get to Paris in roughly 10 hours if you take the train on the Italian side to Milan and then head on to Paris Gare de Lyon from there. It's also more ecologically friendly, generating fewer C02 emissions than flying does-- a definite boon.

On the French side, you'll be traveling along the high-speed TGV rail line, which will speed the journey from there. Overnight direct trains operated by Thello will take close to 14 hours, 30 minutes but do not require transfers. If you have a couple of good books and enjoy staring out the window at the changing landscapes of Italy and France, this might just be a good way to go. 

Driving: Enjoy the Scenery, But Watch Out for Toll Fees 

For those of you who really enjoy a good, long, scenic drive, this is an interesting possibility. It can take upwards of 11 or 12 hours to get to Paris from Venice by car, but it can be an enjoyable way to see northern Italy and France, especially if you're prepared to stop overnight along the way and perhaps explore a town in southern France as an added bonus. Expect to pay rather expensive toll fees at several points throughout the trip, though.

Arriving in Paris by Plane? Plan for Your Ground Transport in Advance 

If you're arriving in Paris by plane, you'll need to figure out how to get to the center of the city from the airports. Read more about the easiest ways to get from point A to B in our complete guide to  Paris ground transport options .

If you're traveling between Paris and other Italian cities, you may be interested in perusing some of our other transport guides. Read up on the best ways to get from  Milan to Paris , from   Rome to Paris  and from  Florence to Paris . Since the latter two cities are significantly further away from the French capital than Venice is, the best options for getting to and from the French capital are not necessarily the same. 

The overnight train operated by Thello takes around 14 hours and 30 minutes. You can get to Paris from Venice in around 10 hours, but you'll have to transfer trains in Milan.

Nonstop flights take around one hour, 45 minutes.

The two cities are just under 700 miles (1,126 kilometers) apart.

How to Travel From Florence to Paris by Train, Bus, Plane, and Car

Traveling by Train in Europe: Where, Why, and How

How to Travel From Zurich to Paris by Train, Bus, Car, and Plane

How to Travel from Venice to Athens by Plane, Ferry, and Cruise

How to Travel from Frankfurt to Paris by Train, Bus, Car, and Plane

How to Travel From Milan to Paris by Train, Bus, Car, and Plane

How to Travel From London to Paris by Train, Bus, Plane, and Car

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Venice to Paris by train

Travel from Venice (Italy) to Paris (France) by train (845km): schedule and information to the train connection. Compare fares and buy your ticket.

Venice - Paris @ 2024-05-19

To travel from Venice to Paris by train, read the following information. You find timetables and ticket prices online via our booking links.

Your travel route could be like that.

1 Venice (Italy) - Paris (France)

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train connections : popular connections travelled by other users

1a Travelling from Venice (Italy) to Paris (France)

Travel from Venice to Paris by direct and comfortable overnight train "Thello". The journey time is 14 hours. The train ticket price starts at 29 EUR for a bed. The departure time in Paris is 19:15. The arrival time in Venice is 09:40. If you want to travel from Venice to Paris by day train connection, you have to change trains in Milan. The journey time is 10 hours. There are four daily train connections. The ticket price from Venice to Paris by high-speed-train starts at 49 EUR. Venice to Milan: travel by Trenitalia Frecciarossa or ITALO train. The journey time is 2:15 hours. Milan to Paris: travel by TGV INOUI OUIGO train. The journey time is seven hours. Find the exact train schedules and buy your ticket via the given booking links.

Where to buy a ticket from Venice to Paris?

Cheap train tickets! Buy your train ticket online on Omio. The easy to use booking system with very good prices and e-tickets.

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Cheap international train tickets Official online shop of Netherlands railways (NS International). International train tickets for Europe including overnight trains. Buy your saver fare tickets easily and securely here.

Interrail/Eurail celebrates its 50th anniversary. Get 10% discount now! --> Make your journey easier: buy only one Interrail or Eurail pass instead of several train tickets. Save your time and money!

train types: Train types you are likely to travel with. Frecciabianca (FB) / Frecciarossa (FR AV) / TGV France - Italy (TGV)

night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip. TH 221 Paris - Venice / TH 220 Venice - Paris

train connections: popular connections travelled by other users Paris - Venice

Travel overnight from France to Italy

Trial operations from september 2017, across the alps along the tenda line., with the direct thello or by ic/ter services (the interrail option), need a cheap place to sleep we recommend booking.com, find a cheap flight compare prices on kiwi.com.

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Do you have questions about the connection between Venice and Paris? Does something not work as it should? Just ask in our forum and get competent answers from our rail travel experts.

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Eurail: if you want to travel this route by Eurail instead of train tickets, have a look here for reservation fees and further information.

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Train from Italy to France

A child is between the ages of 4 and 11 years.

Many trains in Italy and beyond offer a discounted fare between 30% & 50% off the Adult fare for Children.

The child offer is now extended to children ages 4 to 14 years when traveling on high-speed Frecciarossa, Frecciabianca, Frecciargento, InterCity, InterCityNotte, EuroCity, and Thello trains. Your child will be assigned his/her own seat and children must be accompanied by an Adult when traveling on this offer.

Regional trains will still offer discounted fares for children ages 4 to 11 years.

Infants & Children 3 & under travel for free and will share a seat with the adult companion.

This option is for customers that have already purchased a Eurail Pass or InterRail Pass and wish to reserve seats or sleeping berths. Learn more about rail passes.

Most high-speed and long-distance trains require seat reservations. The fare rules for each train indicate whether seat reservations are necessary.

Note: An ItaliaPass does not entitle customers to use of passholder fares.  Roundtrip tickets are not available using a Eurail Pass or InterRail Pass.

By clicking the "I ACCEPT" button below you acknowledge that passholder fares may only be used in combination with a valid Eurail Pass or Interrail Pass.

Save as much as 10-30% OFF rail Enjoy flexible ticket changes Amazing deals on tours, transfers, and more Dedicated travel coordinator (for the best service, book at least 2 weeks in advance)

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Train Station in Villefranche Sur Mer, Nice, France

While visiting Italy, why not extend your stay and get a taste of France too? Spend a relaxing day enjoying the spectacular scenery of the French countryside, or take an overnight train and arrive in Paris or Lyon the next morning, alert and refreshed.

France has more than 500 different kinds of cheese and more than 450 types of wines. France is western Europe's largest and probably its most diverse country. Each of France's 22 regions has its own culture and scenery, its own style of architecture and art, its own gastronomy and lifestyle, and in many cases its own dialect. This delightful diversity is what makes travel in France so intriguing.

To check availability, fares, and to make your seat reservations, simply enter your city from and city to in our ticket search box to the left. Or buy the Eurail France & Italy PassInterRail France Pass for unlimited travel. You can book your seat reservations to accompany the pass with us too.

Note: Some trains are overnight trains and when booking you will be prompted to make a sleeper car reservation. Read more about overnight trains here .

Featured France & Italy Pass:

See pricing for the Eurail France & Italy Pass

Featured InterRail France Pass:

See pricing for the InterRail France Pass

Photo credit: Alexander Demyanenko

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Train Travel From Venice Italy To Paris France

Train Travel From Venice Italy To Paris France

With its close proximity to both the Mediterranean Sea and the Alps, Venice, Italy, and Paris, France are undeniably two of the most beautiful cities in the world, making them natural candidates for a vacation getaway. Getting between the two is an adventure all its own and a journey by train is one of the most popular options for travelers. While not as expansive as air travel, train travel between Venice and Paris offers an array of benefits like comfort, convenience and cost-effectiveness that make it an attractive option.

Benefits of Train Travel Between Venice and Paris

Train travel between Venice and Paris is fast and efficient, with the fastest trips taking just 10 hours. For the slightly longer journey, travelers have several options along the way and can choose to spend a part of the journey on a train, and the rest on a ferry, bus, or private car. Train travel also offers travelers more comfort and convenience than air travel. With a train, passengers can relax, move around, and enjoy the experience while enjoying a view of the countryside.

In addition to the convenience and comfort that train travel can offer, it also makes more economical sense than air travel. Depending on the type of ticket and the available discounts, train tickets between Venice and Paris can be up to 40% cheaper than flights. Furthermore, train travel is generally considered to be greener due to its lower carbon emissions and energy use than other modes of transportation.

Drawbacks of Train Travel Between Venice and Paris

Despite its advantages, there are a few drawbacks to traveling by train between Venice and Paris. One of the main drawbacks is the limited availability of trains. With only two direct routes per day, train travel between Venice and Paris can be limited for those looking for more flexible options. Additionally, while the fastest trains may only take 10 hours, they also tend to be more expensive and can be more crowded, making it hard to relax and enjoy the journey. Finally, for those looking to travel with a group, the cost of tickets can add up quickly.

Advantages Outweigh Disadvantages

Train Travel From Venice Italy To Paris France

Despite the potential drawbacks, the advantages of train travel far outweigh any negatives. For instance, train travel between Venice and Paris offers travelers a great way to experience the sights and sounds of both cities at their own pace. With the convenience and comfort that train travel can offer, as well as its cost-effectiveness, it is no wonder why so many travelers opt to travel between Venice and Paris by train. With its relative affordability and ease of access, train travel is the perfect way for travelers to enjoy the sights and sounds of both cities without breaking the bank.

Whether you’re looking for a vacation getaway or a way to get from point A to point B in style, train travel between Venice and Paris is a great option. With its comfort, convenience and cost-effectiveness, it’s no wonder why so many travelers opt to go by train. With its affordability, convenience, and reliability, train travel is an ideal way to get between these two iconic cities and experience the beauty of both in its fullest.

While train travel between Venice and Paris may have its drawbacks, the advantages it offers makes it a great form of transportation for travelers seeking a comfortable and cost-effective form of transport between the two cities. With its convenience, comfort and affordability, train travel between Venice and Paris is the perfect way for travelers to enjoy the sights and sounds of both cities without breaking the bank.

Karen Shane

Karen Shane

Karen T. Shane is an accomplished writer and traveler with a special passion for France. She has lived in France for many years and has explored the country extensively. Karen is passionate about sharing the cultural richness of France with her readers and helping them to gain a deeper understanding of the country and its people.

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Train advice from the Man in Seat 61...

The Man in Seat 61

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Before you buy your tickets

Take a moment to read these tips for buying European train tickets .  They answer all the usual questions, "Do I need to book in advance or can I buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and that old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or a €35 point-to-point ticket?".  How far ahead can you buy train tickets?

European train travel FAQ

Which station in venice.

Venice Santa Lucia is the main station in Venice, often abbreviated to Venezia SL, located in the city of Venice itself on the banks of the Grand Canal, 20 minutes walk from the Rialto Bridge and 27 minutes walk from St Mark's Square.  Trains reach the station by running over a causeway across the lagoon.  On this page, 'Venice' means Venice Santa Lucia unless it says otherwise.  Map of Venice showing stations .  Venice Santa Lucia station guide .

Venice Mestre is an industrial area on the mainland at which most trains call on their way into or out of Venice S.L.  So always make sure you buy tickets to or from Venice Santa Lucia, unless you specifically want Mestre.

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

2.  www.thetrainline.com is also easy to use, in €, £, $, small booking fee.  Sells tickets for Trenitalia and Italo and can also book trains in other countries.  Allows seat choice from a seat map on Trenitalia high-speed & Intercity trains.  More about Thetrainline .

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

Venice to Florence, Rome & Naples

A choice of operator:  Trenitalia or Italo

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

Trenitalia uses a mixture of Frecciarossa 500 , Frecciarossa 600 and Frecciarossa 1000 .  Italo operates a train every hour or two using its new EVO trains , although one or two departures use their original AGV trains , see the Italo page for more details .  I can recommend all of these trains!

How much does it cost?

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

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

How to buy tickets

Buy Trenitalia tickets at either www.italiarail.com , www.thetrainline.com , www.raileurope.com or Italian Railways' own site www.trenitalia.com , all linking to Trenitalia's ticketing system so all essentially the same price, see the section above to understand the differences .

Buy Italo tickets direct from Italo at www.italotreno.it .  You can also book them at www.raileurope.com with no mark-up or fee.

Venice to Verona

Venice to trieste, venice to pompeii, sorrento, amalfi, venice to palermo, catania, siracuse & sicily.

Option 1, Venice to Sicily by daytime train.  Venice to Sicily in one epic day

You can travel from Venice to Palermo, Catania or Siracuse by train in a single day, albeit with a very early start and late evening arrival.

Take a Frecciarossa high-speed train from Venice Santa Lucia to Rome Termini or Naples Centrale , then the afternoon InterCity train from Rome Termini or Naples Centrale to Sicily, with one portion for Cefalù & Palermo, another for Catania, Taormina & Siracuse.

The train to Sicily runs along the coast past cliffs and beaches to the toe of Italy, where the train is shunted onto a ferry to cross the Straits of Messina , a unique experience, have your camera ready.  There are only vending machines on the InterCity train , so bring a picnic & bottle of wine.

Fares start at €39.80 in 2nd class or €59.80 in 1st class.

Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

2.  www.thetrainline.com is also easy to use, in €, £, $, small booking fee.  Can also book trains in other countries.  More about Thetrainline .

Option 2, Venice to Sicily using a Rome-Sicily sleeper train - the time-effective option

Step 1, take an early-evening Frecciarossa high-speed train from Venice Santa Lucia to Rome Termini in around 3h50. 

Step 2, take one of the two Intercity Notte sleeper trains from Rome to Palermo, Catania or Siracuse, one usually leaves Rome Termini around 20:31, the later one around 23:00, see the timetable here .

Make sure you allow at least 1 hour between trains in Rome.  In the morning these sleeper trains are shunted onto a ferry to cross the Straits of Messina , a unique experience, have your camera ready.  They arrive in Sicily next morning.

The sleeper trains have Comfort couchettes with 4-berth compartments, ideal for families.  They have sleeping-cars with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin.  The couchettes convert to seats for daytime use, the sleepers convert to a private sitting room with sofa.  There's no restaurant car (although a light breakfast with tea or coffee is provided), so bring your own picnic and bottle of wine or beer.   More about Intercity Notte sleeper trains .

Venice to Rome starts at €29.90 in 2nd (standard) class or €39,90 in 1st (business) class.

Rome to Sicily starts at €39.90 with couchette, €79.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €87 with a single bed sleeper all to yourself.

If you'd like longer in Rome between trains (perhaps plan to have dinner there, or an afternoon wander) book each train separately, it makes no difference to the price.  Booking opens up to 4 months ahead , although for the sleeper trains to Sicily it's often less than this.

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Venice to London from €74

For train travel between Venice & London in either direction see the London to Italy page .

Venice to Paris from €48.90

See the Venice to Paris by train page

Venice to Lyon from €44.90

Step 1, travel from Venice to Milan by high-speed Frecciarossa , leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 11:48 and arriving Milan Centrale at 14:15.

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

Venice to Nice, Cannes, Monte Carlo

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

Venice to Brussels , Bruges & Belgium from €64

Frecciarossa trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about Frecciarossas .  By all means book an earlier train and have lunch in Milan.

Stay overnight in Lyon , The Ibis Budget Lyon Centre - Gare Part Dieu is affordable & right next to Lyon Part Dieu station with good reviews, the Radisson Blu Hotel, Lyon also gets great reviews and is just a few minutes walk away.

Day 2, travel from Lyon to Brussels by direct TGV, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi:

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

Or on any day of the week you can leave Lyon Part Dieu at 08:30 arriving Brussels Midi at 12:11

Buy tickets for each of these trains at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (whichever you prefer).  Book each train individually, adding it to your basket, then check out.

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

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

First book Venice to Milan & add to basket.  Then book Milan to Brussels for the following day, add to basket & check out.

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

Option 3, Venice to Brussels using the Innsbruck-Cologne sleeper - scenic and time-effective

Fares start at €19.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

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 Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation .

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

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

Fares start from €18.90 in 2nd class or €27.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

On Saturdays & Sundays there's also a later Austrian EuroCity train , leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35 arriving Munich Hbf 22:27.

Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €65.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Day 2, travel from Munich to Brussels by ICE , leaving Munich Hbf at 08:47, change Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen , arriving Brussels Midi 15:35.

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

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

Step 1, travel from Venice to Stuttgart by Nightjet sleeper train , leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05 & arriving Stuttgart Hbf 08:38.

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Step 2, travel from Stuttgart to Brussels by ICE , leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 10:05, change at Cologne Hbf , arriving Brussels Midi 15:35.

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

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

Venice to Amsterdam from €79.80

Incredibly, it's now possible to get from Venice to Amsterdam in a single day using top-quality high-speed trains, with some wonderful views of Italian & Swiss lakes.  It's a long day, so consider using a sleeper (options 2, 4 & 5) or breaking up the journey with an overnight stop in Munich (option 3).  But here's how to cross Europe in comfort by train in a single day.

Update: A freight train derailed in the Gotthard Base Tunnel in August 2023, in 2024 trains are still being diverted over the original (very scenic) Gotthard line taking an extra hour and with fewer departures.  Until this is resolved, the direct Milan-Frankfurt EuroCity train is cancelled.  Please use another option.

Step 3, travel from Frankfurt to Amsterdam by ICE3 , leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 19:28 and arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 23:29.

This train runs daily except Saturdays and a few other dates.  ICE3 trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Fares from Milan to Amsterdam start at €59.90 in 2nd class or €119.90 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Book from Milan to Amsterdam 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:   If you have a sleeping-car ticket, you can use the ÖBB lounge at Innsbruck Hbf , with complimentary refreshments & free WiFi.

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 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

On Saturdays & Sundays there's also a later EuroCity train , leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35 arriving Munich Hbf at 22:27.

Step 1, travel from Venice to Stuttgart by Nightjet sleeper train , leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05 & arriving Stuttgart Hbf at 08:38.

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares. so book ahead.

Step 2, travel from Stuttgart to Amsterdam by ICE , leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 09:51, change Cologne Hbf , arriving Amsterdam Centraal 15:29.

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

Frecciarossa trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  By all means book an earlier train and have lunch in Milan.

Buy tickets for each of these trains at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (whichever you prefer).  Book each train individually, adding it to your basket, then check out.

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

The Italian trains are ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.  For Eurostar, you print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Venice to Luxembourg

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 Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video .

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead,

Option 2, Venice to Luxembourg with overnight stop in Zurich

Day 1, travel from Venice to Zurich by EuroCity train , leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:18 and arriving Zurich HB at 21:27.

Update: A freight train derailed in the Gotthard Base Tunnel in August 2023, in 2024 Milan-Zurich trains are still being diverted over the original (much more scenic) Gotthard line taking an extra hour.  Until this is resolved, arrival in Zurich HB may be at 22:27, check times online.

Earlier departures are possible with a change of train at Milan Centrale if you'd like more of an evening in Zurich.

The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Treat yourself to dinner as the mountains roll by.

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

Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com , both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee.

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

Venice to Geneva, Zurich, Lucerne, Basel, Zermatt & Switzerland from €18

Choose between fast, comfortable & scenic (using mainline trains, either option 1 direct or option 2 with a change in Milan) and slow, comfortable, fabulous world-class highlight-of-your-trip scenic (option 3, via the narrow-gauge Bernina Express).

A direct EuroCity train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 15:18 & Verona P. Nuova at 16:32 every day, arriving Zurich HB 21:27.

Update: A freight train derailed in the Gotthard Base Tunnel in August 2023, in 2024 Milan-Zurich trains are still being diverted over the original (very scenic) Gotthard line taking an extra hour.  Until this is resolved, arrival in Zurich HB may be at 22:27, check times online.

Change at Arth Goldau for Lucerne.  The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the photos here .

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

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

Option 2, Venice to Switzerland with a change in Milan - if the direct trains don't suit you

Update: If you're using the Gotthard Base Tunnel route to Luzern & Zurich, see the update on the Italy-Switzerland page .

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

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

Both easy to use, in €, £ or $ ( www.thetrainline.com also in CHF), overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee.

These retailers connect to both the Italian and Swiss ticketing systems and can sell from Venice to anywhere in Switzerland, at least in principle.  Each handles the data slightly differently, so I'd check both sites.

Booking for Italian trains & the international EuroCity trains normally opens 4 months ahead , although booking for Swiss domestic trains now opens up to 6 months ahead .  You print your tickets or can show them on your phone.

Now for the science bit.  Trenitalia's ticketing system can sell tickets for the international EuroCity trains between Italy & Switzerland, and for its own trains within Italy, but can't access SBB's ticketing system so can't sell any journey involving a Swiss domestic train.

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

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

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

Step 2, book the Italian train and EuroCity train using the Italian ticketing system at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, $ or £, they'll refund the €3.50 booking fee to seat61 users if you email them afterwards at [email protected] ) or www.trenitalia.com (in €, more fiddly, requires Italian-language place names, see advice on using it ).  In our example, you'd book from Venice to Brig.

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

In our example, you'd book from Brig to Zermatt.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Option 3, Venice to St Moritz, Chur, Zurich via the scenic narrow-gauge Bernina route

This is much slower and more effort to book, but it's the best Swiss Alps train ride of all, an amazing experience, over the fabulous narrow-gauge Bernina Railway.  Watch the video:  Milan to Zurich via the Bernina Pass .

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

The 10:20 from Milan connects with the Bernina Express itself, with time for a sandwich and beer in Tirano, see the Bernina Express page .

Venice to Barcelona, Madrid & Spain

Day 1, travel from Venice Santa Lucia to Milan Centrale on any afternoon or evening train you like.

It takes just 2h20, trains leave every hour, all these trains have cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

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

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

This is a lovely ride at low speed snaking through the Alps, see more about this journey .  The train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, sit back and enjoy the ride.

Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Madrid by  AVE-S103 high-speed train , leaving Barcelona Sants at 21:20, arriving Madrid Atocha at 23:50.

Earlier departures may be available with other operators, but I recommend allowing at least an hour between trains in Barcelona and it's better to stick with the same operator if you can when making connections, in this case Renfe.

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

Day 3, travel from Barcelona to anywhere else in Spain by high-speed train.

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

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-S112 high-speed train arriving Malaga Maria Zambrano at 14:51.

For Cordoba & Seville:   Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE-S112 high-speed train arriving Cordoba 13:42 & Seville Santa Justa 14:32.

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

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

Milan to Lyon starts at €25 in standard (2nd), €36 in business (1st) or €149 in executive class (premium 1st).

The easiest way to buy tickets is to use either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (whichever you prefer) as you can buy all the tickets together in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee.

Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead .  About Raileurope .  About Thetrainline .

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

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

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

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

The Frecciarossa is ticketless, you print your booking reference or show it on your phone.  For TGVs you print your ticket or select a mobile ticket to show on your phone.  For AVE and other Spanish trains you print your own ticket.

How to buy tickets, advanced

You can of course book each train separately with the relevant operator, with no booking fee.  This means more work and it won't necessarily make it any cheaper.

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

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

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

This is a pleasant way to go, with interesting scenery on the way and a chance to spend some time in Geneva.  Leave Venice late afternoon, sleep soundly in a hotel in Geneva, spend a pleasant morning in Geneva next day, then take a TER regional train to Lyon and high-speed AVE to Barcelona arriving in the evening.

The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Treat yourself to dinner with wine as the mountains roll by.

By all means take an earlier train to enjoy the Alpine scenery in daylight and arrive earlier in Geneva, although you'll then need to change trains at Milan Centrale .

The TGV Duplex passes Beziers 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 about the journey .

Book from Geneva to Barcelona at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no fee).

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

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

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.

Buy tickets using www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, small booking fee) or Renfe's own site www.renfe.com (in €, much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it ) or www.petrabax.com (in $, small mark-up).  You print your own ticket.

Booking normally opens only 60 days ahead , but this varies greatly.  Allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Barcelona.

Venice to Lisbon & Portugal

Option 1, Venice to Lisbon via Barcelona & Madrid

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

Day 2, travel from Seville to Faro by bus.  Buses run from Seville Plaza de Armas to Faro several times daily, journey time around 3h40, fare around €16-€20.

Buses are run by Damas, Eva-Bus & Alsa amongst others, you can check times & buy tickets for various bus companies all in one place at Omio.com .  You print your own ticket.

Venice to Andorra

Step 2, travel from Marseille to Toulouse by Intercité leaving Marseille St Charles at 07:25 & arriving Toulouse Matabiau at 11:18.

There's a bus leaving Toulouse Matabiau station (bus stand 15) at 13:45 arriving Andorra 17:45. 

Venice to Berlin from €39.90

Set up an enquiry from Venice to Berlin, click More options , enter Verona (any station) as a via station and set duration to 45 minutes.  Now run the enquiry, looking in the search results for journeys with 2 changes that match the times above. 

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's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  The train has several couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation .

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, per person per berth.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Option 3, Venice to Berlin using the Zurich-Berlin sleeper

Step 1, travel from Venice to Milan by Frecciarossa , leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 11:48 and arriving Milan Centrale at 14:15.

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

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

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

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

Update: A freight train derailed in the Gotthard Base Tunnel in August 2023, in 2024 trains are still being diverted over the original (very scenic) Gotthard line taking an extra hour.  Whilst this continues, arrival in Zurich HB may be at 19:27, check times online.

The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's a lovely run through the Alps, past Italian and Swiss lakes and passing through the world's longest railway tunnel, the Gotthard Base Tunnel.  Have dinner in Zurich, I can recommend the steak-frites and a beer at the Brasserie Federal on the main concourse at Zurich HB .

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

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

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

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 €, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead .  You print your own ticket.

Venice to Munich from €39.90

On Saturdays & Sundays there's a second Austrian EuroCity train , leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35 arriving Munich Hbf at 22:27.

Fares start at €37.90 in 2nd class or €65.90 in 1st class.

To check train times & book a journey with a change of train in Verona, go to www.raileurope.com and enter Venice Santa Lucia to Munich Hbf .  But before running the enquiry, click More options and enter Verona Porta Nuova as a via station with a stopover duration at least 45 minutes .  Raileurope.com connects to both the Trenitalia & German ticket systems so can sell both tickets as one transaction.  Look for options with 1 change.  Easy!

Venice to Frankfurt, Cologne , Dusseldorf, Hamburg & Germany

Frecciarossas have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see the Frecciarossa page .  A later departure from Venice is possible, but I'd allow plenty of time in Verona in case of delay.

Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com :

Set up an enquiry from Venice to your German destination, click More options , enter Verona (any station) as a via station and set duration to 45 minutes.  Now run the enquiry, looking in the search results for journeys with 2 changes that match the times above.

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead , in fact the Verona to Germany part opens up to 6 months ahead.  There's a small booking fee.  You print your tickets or can show them on your phone.

Frecciarossas have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about Frecciarossas .

On arrival, have a coffee in the magnificent Milan Centrale , well worth a look around, maybe you can spot Mussolini !

Update: A freight train derailed in the Gotthard Base Tunnel in August 2023, in 2024 trains are still being diverted over the original (very scenic) Gotthard line taking an extra hour and with fewer departures.  Until this is resolved, possibly September, the direct Milan-Frankfurt EuroCity train is cancelled.  You will need to change trains in Zurich, the journey may take an extra hour or two.

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

The Innsbruck-Cologne-Düsseldorf portion has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The train has several couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to accommodation .

The Innsbruck-Hamburg portion is a new-generation Nightjet train with 1 & 2 bed sleepers all with shower & toilet, 4-berth comfort couchettes, individual mini cabins and ordinary seats, see the new generation Nightjet page for a guide to accommodation .

The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes, served in your compartment.

Venice to Vienna & Austria from €28.30

Option 1, Venice to Vienna by railjet train - the scenic daytime option

The morning railjet train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 09:55 and arrives Vienna Hbf at 17:36.

Venice to Salzburg from €21.90

There are other departures by Italian Frecciarossa to Verona, then Austrian EuroCity train to Innsbruck and connecting train to Salzburg.

To find journeys & buy tickets use www.raileurope.com .

This can sell both Italian and Austrian tickets and has a stopover duration feature.  Set up an enquiry from Venice to Salzburg, click More options and enter Verona Porta Nuova as a via station with a stopover duration of at least 45 minutes.  That gets you a robust connection where the tickets change over.  You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.

Option 3, Venice to Salzburg by Nightjet sleeper train - the time-effective option

The sleeper costs the same whether you get off in Salzburg Linz, St Pölten or Vienna, so book it to either Linz (06:04) or St Pölten (07:09).  Then there's no need to get up at 4am.

The 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 Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation .

On arrival in Linz or St Pölten, hop on an hourly double-deck Westbahn train back to Salzburg Hbf , 1h05 from Linz, 2h02 from St Pölten.

You can either take the next train and pay the standard price to the conductor, €31.90 from Linz or €53.90 from St Pölten, or you can pre-book a much cheaper ticket, only good for the specified departure.  The sleeper might be late, so if booking a cheaper ticket I'd allow at least 1 hour in Linz or St Polten.  Check Westbahn prices at www.thetrainline.com or www.westbahn.at .

Venice to Innsbruck from €19.90

Option 1, Venice to Innsbruck by direct train - the best option, if the afternoon departure suits you

On Saturdays & Sundays a second direct Austrian EuroCity train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 15:35, arriving Innsbruck Hbf at 20:36.

Option 2, other departures with a change in Verona - if you want a morning departure

Venice to Verona starts at €9.90 in 2nd class or €19.90 in 1st class.

Verona to Innsbruck starts at €19.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.

Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com .

This can sell both Italian and Austrian tickets and has a stopover duration feature.  Set up an enquiry from Venice to Innsbruck, click More options and enter Verona Porta Nuova as a via station with a stopover duration of at least 45 minutes.  That gets you a robust connection where the tickets change over.  You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.

Venice to Copenhagen , Gothenburg, Stockholm & Scandinavia

Option 1, Venice to Copenhagen & Stockholm using the Zurich-Hamburg sleeper - the most time-effective option

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

The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's a lovely run through the Alps, past Italian and Swiss lakes and passing through the world's longest railway tunnel, the Gotthard Base Tunnel.

Have dinner in Zurich, I recommend steak-frites & a beer at the Brasserie Federal on the main concourse at Zurich HB .

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

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

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

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 €, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

Book from Hamburg to Copenhagen at the German Railways website int.bahn.de or (if you want to keep all your bookings together in one place) www.thetrainline.com .  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead , you print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gothenburg is listed as Göteborg Central.  If you don't see any affordable fares, split the booking, book Hamburg to Copenhagen at int.bahn.de and booking Copenhagen to anywhere in Sweden at either Omio.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, small fee) or www.sj.se (in SEK).

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.

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

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

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

Option 2, Venice to Copenhagen using the Innsbruck-Hamburg Nightjet sleeper train

This is a wonderful journey, over the causeway across the lagoon from Venice to the mainland, over to Verona and up the scenic Brenner Pass, see the Brenner Pass scenery video .

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

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

Tip:   If you have a sleeping-car ticket, you can use the ÖBB Lounge at Innsbruck Hbf between trains, with tea, coffee, soft drinks & free WiFi.

From the timetable change on 10 December 2023 this train is operated by a new generation Nightjet train with 1 & 2 bed sleepers all with shower & toilet, 4-berth comfort couchettes, individual mini cabins and ordinary seats, see the new generation Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation .  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers, couchettes & mini cabins.

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

Fares start at €27.90 in 2nd class or €47.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

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

Option 3, Venice to Copenhagen using the Venice-Munich sleeper - also a time-effective option

Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train , leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05, arriving Munich Ost at 05:50.

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 Nightjet page for a guide to accommodation .

Day 2, travel from Munich to Copenhagen, leaving Munich Hbf 10:21, changing at Hamburg Hbf and arriving Copenhagen at 21:34.

Treat this as a chill-out day with a good book and a glass or two of wine (I can recommend DB's Spätburgunder red).  You travel from Munich to Hamburg by ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by comfortable EuroCity train with power sockets at all seats & a refreshment trolley.

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).

For Gothenburg, hourly Öresund train run from Copenhagen to Göteborg Central taking 3h50.

Option 4, Venice to Copenhagen by day trains with overnight stop in Munich

Day 2, travel from Munich to Copenhagen by train, leaving Munich Hbf at 08:20, change at Hamburg Hbf , arriving Copenhagen 19:34.

How much does it cost? 

Venice to Munich starts at €37.90 in 2nd class, €65.90 in 1st class.

Option 5, Venice to Copenhagen, Gothenburg & Stockholm by day trains with overnight stop in Hamburg

Frecciarossas have 4 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  More about Frecciarossas .  A later departure from Venice is possible, but I'd allow plenty of time in Verona in case of delay.

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

For Stockholm , take an X2000 train from Copenhagen to Stockholm, leaving Copenhagen at 14:19 & arriving Stockholm Central 19:37.

For Malmo or Gothenburg , Öresund trains run hourly from Copenhagen to Gothenburg Central in 3h50 and every half hour or better from Copenhagen to Malmö Central in 39 minutes.

Venice to Hamburg starts at €39 in 2nd class, €69 in 1st class.

Step 1, book from Venice to Hamburg at www.raileurope.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) as one journey, first clicking More options , entering Verona Porta Nuova as a via station with a stopover duration of at least 45 minutes.  That gets you a robust connection.

Alternatively, book the Venice-Verona train at Italian Railways www.trenitalia.com then book Verona to Hamburg at the German Railways website int.bahn.de , allowing at least 45 minutes between trains in Verona.

Booking opens up to 6 months ahead .  You print your tickets or show them on your phone.

Venice to Oslo & Norway

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 .

Tip:   If you're clever, you may be able to book a through ticket all the way from Verona 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 Goteborg 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.

Option 2, Venice to Oslo by train all the way - another option

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

Or there are earlier & later departures, see the Copenhagen-Oslo timetable .

Option 3, Venice to Oslo via the Kiel-Oslo cruise ferry - the most comfortable way to Oslo

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

From the timetable change on 10 December 2023 this train is a new generation Nightjet with 1 & 2 bed sleepers all with shower & toilet, 4-berth comfort couchettes, individual mini cabins and ordinary seats, see the new generation Nightjet page for a guide to accommodation .  The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu.  A light breakfast is included in sleepers, couchettes & mini cabins.

In Kiel, the Color Line ferry terminal is only 6 minutes walk from Kiel Hbf, but allow several hours between train & ferry for the ferry check-in and in case of delay.

Money-saving tip:   It appears that 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 .

Venice to Helsinki & Finland

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

Day 1, travel from Venice to Munich by Nightjet sleeper train , leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:05 and arriving Stuttgart Hbf at 08:38. 

Day 2, travel from Stuttgart to Hamburg by ICE train , leaving Stuttgart at 09:51 and arriving Hamburg Hbf 16:14.  Times may vary.

Day 2, transfer from Hamburg Hbf to the Travemünde ferry terminal by local train+bus and sail from Travemünde to Helsinki with Finnlines, as shown in detail on the Hamburg page .

Finnlines sail from Travemünde in northern Germany to Helsinki every day, boarding at 23:30, sailing at 02:45 (the exact time varies) and arriving at Helsinki's Hansa Terminal in Vuosaari at 09:15 2 nights later (Day 4 from Rome).  Check sailing dates, times & book the ferry at www.finnlines.com .

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

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

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

Venice to Prague , Cesky Krumlov & the Czech Republic

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

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

Option 2, Venice to Prague in a single day from €48, comfy, scenic

Fares start at €28.30 in 2nd class, €56.60 in 1st class or €71.60 in business class (premium 1st class).  Fares vary like air fares.

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

Step 2, travel from Vienna to Prague by swish modern Czech railjet train leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:10 and arriving Prague Hlavni at 23:16.

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

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

The excellent air-conditioned railjet train has a restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You arrive in the city centre, walking distance from the old city.  Why not book a later railjet & spend some time exploring Vienna?  Trains to Prague leave every two hours, see the timetable here .  Left luggage lockers are available at Vienna Hbf .

To build in the overnight stop in Munich, click Stopovers and enter Munich Hbf with a suitable length of stay, say 11 hours.  Adjust the length of stay to get an earlier or later train from Munich to Prague.

Venice to Bratislava from €42

Option 1, Venice to Bratislava by daytime train - the scenic option

Fares start at €28.30 in 2nd class, €56.60 in 1st class or €71.60 in business class (premium 1st).  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

Option 2, Venice to Bratislava using the Venice-Vienna sleeper train - the time-effective option

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

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

Venice to Budapest from €68

Option 1, Venice to Budapest using the Venice-Vienna Nightjet sleeper train - safe, comfortable, time-effective

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

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

Step 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest by railjet train , leaving Vienna Hbf at 09:42 & arriving Budapest Keleti 12:19.

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

Option 2, Venice to Budapest in a single day - comfortable &, scenic

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

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

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

Option 4, Venice to Budapest with overnight stop in Ljubljana - cheapest option at short notice & a chance to see Trieste & Ljubljana on the way

Venice to Bucharest , Brasov & Romania

Option 1, Venice to Romania by railjet to Vienna and Dacia Express sleeper train to Sighisoara, Brasov & Bucharest

Fares start at €28.30 in 2nd class, €56.60 in 1st class or €71.60 in business class (premium 1st class).  Fares vary like air fares. 

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

Step 2, travel from Vienna to Romania on the Dacia Express, leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:42 every day and arriving next day in Simeria 07:10, Sighisoara 09:13, Braşov 12:36, Ploeşti 14:28 & Bucharest Nord at 15:06.

It has a modern air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, plus several deluxe compartments with en suite shower & toilet.  It has a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and 2nd class seats.

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

The Dacia Express also conveys a portion from Vienna to Cluj Napoca, also leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:42 and arriving Cluj Napoca at 10:47. This portion has a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.

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

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

Booking normally opens 90 days ahead .  In the search results, look for the direct train marked D with no changes.  You collect tickets from an ÖBB ticket machine in Vienna.

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

Click EN top right for English.  Booking opens up to 90 days ahead .  For Vienna type Wien , for Bucharest type Bucuresti.   It can book seats, couchettes or sleepers.  For Austria to Romania journeys you now print your own ticket.  Tip:   Prices might be cheaper than on oebb.at, so check both sites!

Option 2, Venice to Romania using the sleeper from Budapest to Brasov & Bucharest - longer, sometimes cheaper, with afternoon in Budapest.

This comfortable train has an air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, see the photos on the London to Romania page .

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

You can also try booking at the Hungarian Railways website www.mav-start.hu , see my advice on using it .

For Bucharest type Bucuresti .  You show your ticket in the MAV app on your phone.

Venice to Ljubljana & Slovenia, Zagreb

Option 1, Venice to Ljubljana & Zagreb via Villach - a comfortable option, easily booked

Step 2, travel from Villach to Ljubljana by train, leaving Villach at 20:53 and arriving Lesce-Bled 21:47 & Ljubljana at 22:38.

Option 2, Venice to Ljubljana & Zagreb via Trieste - the historic direct route, with no need to pre-book

Venice to Dubrovnik & Split

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

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

Step 2, now add a train ticket from Venice Santa Lucia to either Ancona Centrale or Bari Centrale using www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €).  Italiarail will refund their small booking fee if you email them at [email protected] afterwards.  It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. 

Venice to Belgrade

The train is 2nd class only, bring your own food & drink along.

This train was suspended due to Covid-19 and is still suspended in 2024.

Venice to Sofia

Option 1, Venice to Sofia via Budapest & Bucharest

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

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

Option 2, Venice to Sofia via Belgrade

Venice to Bar, Budva, Kotor & Montenegro

Book the train at www.thetrainline.com (in €, £ or $, easy to use, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €).  Italiarail will refund their small booking fee if you email them at [email protected] with your booking reference.

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

Venice to Warsaw , Krakow & Poland

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

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

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

Option 2, Venice to Krakow & Warsaw using the Vienna-Krakow-Warsaw sleeper.  Given the scenery between Venice & Vienna, perhaps the better option!

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

Fares to Krakow start at €43.50 in a 3-bed sleeper, €58.20 in a 2-bed sleeper or €116.70 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

Fares to Warsaw start at €53.50 in a 3-bed sleeper, €68.20 in a 2-bed sleeper or €126.70 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth.

Book this train at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead .

Venice to Lviv, Kyiv & Moscow

Book the train from Vienna to Lviv or Kyiv online at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at .

This will only book one-way or round trip starting in Vienna because tickets need to be collected from an ÖBB station in Austria.  They cannot be collected in Ukraine.  Booking this way you pay no fee or mark-up, just the official fare.

Be warned, these direct sleeping-cars can sell out within hours of reservations opening.

If you have any problems or want a one-way ticket starting in Ukraine, you can also book the Vienna-Kyiv train via reliable agency www.polrail.com , with tickets posted or couriered to you for a small fee.  Polrail are based in Poland so charge in zlotys, but as they have access to Ukrainian ticketing system they are good for booking this train.

Booked through oebb.at:

Vienna to Kyiv costs €80.50 in a 3-berth sleeper, €90.50 in a 2-berth sleeper or €152.90 in a single sleeper.

Booked through Polrail:

Vienna to Kyiv costs around €138 in a 3-berth sleeper €149 in a 2-berth sleeper, or €241 in a single-berth sleeper.

The fare is around €92 with a bed in 4-berth kupé or €180 with a bed in a 2-berth spalny vagon.

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

Venice to Athens & Greece

Option 1, Venice to Greece by direct ferry, several times a week

Option 2, Venice to Bari by train, then Bari to Greece by daily ferry - recommended

Venice to Istanbul & Turkey

Day 1, travel from Venice to Vienna by railjet, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 09:55 and arrives Vienna Hbf at 17:36.

Day 1, travel from Vienna to Bucharest overnight on the sleeper train Dacia Express as shown in the Vienna to Romania section .

Day 2, stay overnight in Bucharest.  The Hotel MyContinental Bucuresti Gara de Nord is walking distance from the station, inexpensive and gets great reviews.

Day 3, travel from Bucharest to Istanbul by sleeper train as shown on the Bucharest to Istanbul page , arriving in the morning on Day 4.

Railbookers custom-made tours

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

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

  us call free 1-888-829-4775, see website .,   canada call free 1-855-882-2910, see website .,   australia call toll-free 1300 971 526, see website .,   new zealand call toll-free 0800 000 554 or see website ., hotels in venice.

For advice on hotels in Venice, see the Venice Santa Lucia station page .

Backpacker hostels

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

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  • The Experience

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Love Exploring

16 STUNNING Train Routes To Spice Up Your 2024 Travels

Posted: April 18, 2024 | Last updated: April 19, 2024

<p>Long-distance rail travel is intoxicatingly romantic and much more sustainable than flying. But when our lives are so busy, and our time and money so precious, it can sometimes be hard to justify taking the slower, more scenic route. However, these exciting new train journeys for 2024 and beyond might just convince you to give it a try.</p>  <p><strong>From swanky sleepers to dynamic first-of-their-kind engineering feats, click through for the best new and upcoming rail routes to get excited about...</strong></p>

On track for a great adventure

Long-distance rail travel is intoxicatingly romantic and much more sustainable than flying. But when our lives are so busy, and our time and money so precious, it can sometimes be hard to justify taking the slower, more scenic route. However, these exciting new train journeys for 2024 and beyond might just convince you to give it a try.

From swanky sleepers to dynamic first-of-their-kind engineering feats, click through for the best new and upcoming rail routes to get excited about...

<p>Inaugurated in late-2023, Whoosh is Indonesia’s (and Southeast Asia’s) first high-speed train. Finished four years later than originally planned, the new multi-billion-dollar line links the capital of Jakarta to the west Javan city of Bandung in less than an hour. With speeds of around 217 miles per hour, Whoosh – a convenient acronym for 'time saving, optimal operation, reliable system' in Indonesian – is powered by electricity and therefore has no direct carbon emissions. Before this, the only way to reach Bandung from Jakarta was a three-hour car journey.</p>

Whoosh from Jakarta to Bandung, Indonesia

Inaugurated in late-2023, Whoosh is Indonesia’s (and Southeast Asia’s) first high-speed train. Finished four years later than originally planned, the new multi-billion-dollar line links the capital of Jakarta to the west Javan city of Bandung in less than an hour. With speeds of around 217 miles per hour (349km/h), Whoosh – a convenient acronym for 'time saving, optimal operation, reliable system' in Indonesian – is powered by electricity and therefore has no direct carbon emissions. Before this, the only way to reach Bandung from Jakarta was a three-hour car journey.

<p>The 86-mile route is mostly raised and offers seats in three different classes – VIP, first and second. The state-of-the-art trains have been modified to suit the country’s tropical climate, and are also equipped with safety features that can respond to disasters like earthquakes and floods. There are future plans to extend the line further east to Surabaya (around 10 hours by car from Jakarta), as well as introducing a stop at Yogyakarta, where passengers would alight for the world’s largest Buddhist temple, Borobudur.</p>

The 86-mile (138km) route is mostly raised and offers seats in three different classes – VIP, first and second. The state-of-the-art trains have been modified to suit the country’s tropical climate, and are also equipped with safety features that can respond to disasters like earthquakes and floods. There are future plans to extend the line further east to Surabaya (around 10 hours by car from Jakarta), as well as introducing a stop at Yogyakarta, where passengers would alight for the world’s largest Buddhist temple, Borobudur.

<p>Before December 2023, there had been no direct trains between Paris and Berlin since the 1990s. But now passengers can travel between the two enticing capitals on OBB’s new signature sleeper service, the Nightjet, which currently runs three times a week and calls at Strasbourg and Frankfurt along the way. Clad in striking blue and red, Nightjet’s fleet will be replenished over the course of the next year, bringing the total number of custom-built new trains to 33, offering solo sleeping pods, en-suite compartments, better accessibility and extra storage.</p>

Nightjet from Paris to Berlin

Before December 2023, there had been no direct trains between Paris and Berlin since the 1990s. But now passengers can travel between the two enticing capitals on OBB’s new signature sleeper service, the Nightjet, which currently runs three times a week and calls at Strasbourg and Frankfurt along the way. Clad in striking blue and red, Nightjet’s fleet will be replenished over the course of the next year, bringing the total number of custom-built new trains to 33, offering solo sleeping pods, en-suite compartments, better accessibility and extra storage.

<p>OBB’s signature overnight trains came onto the European sleeper circuit back in 2016, and they’ve been going from strength to strength ever since. 2023 is set to be a landmark year for <a href="https://www.nightjet.com/en/#/home">Nightjet</a>, with a fleet of brand-new modern trains entering service from summer onwards, offering everything from wireless charging stations and ambient lighting to private en-suite sleeper compartments, solo snoozing pods and bike storage. Not only that, but the operator’s revamped 2023 timetable has opened up a slew of new possibilities for rail travelers in Europe.</p>

The Paris-Berlin Nightjet will increase its offering later in 2024, when nightly departures begin. But soon this won’t be your only new rail option linking the two cities. SNCF (France’s state railway company) is liaising with Deutsche Bahn over a direct, high-speed TGV connection sometime this year, which will run during day and night, with a total journey time of around seven hours.

<p>The year's rail renaissance continues with Italian national rail operator Trenitalia opening up a plethora of new opportunities. First, its Frecciarossa (Red Arrow) bullet trains now whizz passengers from Rome to the ruined city of Pompeii (pictured), which was buried under volcanic ash after Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. The service runs every Sunday and on selected public holidays, with the journey from A to B taking less than two hours.</p>

New Trenitalia routes, Italy and beyond

The year's rail renaissance continues with Italian national rail operator Trenitalia opening up a plethora of new opportunities. First, its Frecciarossa (Red Arrow) bullet trains now whizz passengers from Rome to the ruined city of Pompeii (pictured), which was buried under volcanic ash after Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. The service runs every Sunday and on selected public holidays, with the journey from A to B taking less than two hours.

<p>Elsewhere, Trenitalia is in cahoots with Slovenia’s transport services to start a high-speed rail route from Milan (pictured) to Ljubljana, Slovenia’s gorgeously green capital. The two-and-a-half-hour trip between the two cities could open to passengers as soon as April 2024. Later this year, the zippy Frecciarossa trains will also tread through Paris, Madrid and Barcelona, as Trenitalia looks to increase its presence in France and Spain. This will be a boon to travelers crossing the Pyrenees, which has historically been low on rail services.</p>

Elsewhere, Trenitalia is in cahoots with Slovenia’s transport services to start a high-speed rail route from Milan (pictured) to Ljubljana, Slovenia’s gorgeously green capital. The two-and-a-half-hour trip between the two cities could open to passengers as soon as April 2024. Later this year, the zippy Frecciarossa trains will also tread through Paris, Madrid and Barcelona, as Trenitalia looks to increase its presence in France and Spain. This will be a boon to travellers crossing the Pyrenees, which has historically been low on rail services.

<p>If you're planning a trip to the Yucatan Peninsula from December 2023 onwards, it looks likely you'll be able to get around by train, as the Tren Maya line is primed to launch on the first of the month. Work began on the route in 2020 – which will connect popular Caribbean coast resorts like Tulum and Cancun to culture-crammed cities such as Merida and ancient archaeological sites such as Palenque (pictured). From September 2023, the partially new, partially revitalized railway will begin testing its capabilities.</p>

Tren Maya, Mexico

After partially opening in December 2023, Yucatan’s Tren Maya is set to become fully operational any day now. The rail megaproject, which entered construction in 2020, connects popular Caribbean coast resorts like Tulum and Cancun to culture-crammed cities and ancient archaeological sites like Merida and Palenque (pictured), in the hope of connecting tourists with areas they might not otherwise see. The route in its entirety serves 34 stations in five Mexican states and is divided into seven sections, offering both short and long-distance journeys.

<p>The Tren Maya megaproject has caused some controversy. Indigenous leaders and environmental activists have spoken out against the deforestation and displacement of communities that construction has caused, while others believe Tren Maya will ultimately help to alleviate poverty in the areas it serves. Whatever your stance, the 948-mile (1,525km) route, which will eventually run both daytime and sleeper trains, marks a significant turning point for public transport and rail tourism in Mexico.</p>

The railway has already caused plenty of controversy. Indigenous leaders and environmental activists have spoken out against deforestation and the perceived briefness of research carried out ahead of construction, but others believe Tren Maya will ultimately help to alleviate poverty in the areas it serves. Whatever your stance, the 904-mile (1,455km) route marks a significant turning point for public transport and rail tourism in Mexico.

<p>After pausing operations for a few years due to the pandemic, Belmond’s Eastern & Oriental Express is triumphantly returning to the tracks of Southeast Asia from February 2024, with a fully refurbished and restyled look. This sister train of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express first entered service in 1993, making its inaugural journey between Bangkok and Singapore. Now, Belmond is launching two new seasonal round-trip itineraries that will depart from Singapore’s Woodlands station and wind through the landscapes of Malaysia.</p>  <p><strong>Liking this? Click on the Follow button above for more great stories from loveEXPLORING</strong></p>

Eastern & Oriental Express, Singapore and Malaysia

After pausing operations for a few years due to the pandemic, Belmond’s Eastern & Oriental Express is triumphantly returning to the tracks of Southeast Asia from February 2024, with a fully refurbished and restyled look. This sister train of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express first entered service in 1993, making its inaugural journey between Bangkok and Singapore. Now, Belmond is launching two new seasonal round-trip itineraries that will depart from Singapore’s Woodlands station and wind through the landscapes of Malaysia.

Liking this? Click on the Follow button above for more great stories from loveEXPLORING

<p>The first route, 'Essence of Malaysia: A Gateway into Malay Culture,' passes through Kuala Lumpur before passengers switch transport to private boats to visit the islands of Langkawi and Penang. The second, 'Wild Malaysia: Exploring Sights Unseen,' takes in the eastern side of the Malaysian peninsula, with stop-offs also at Penang and the Taman Negara National Park, where Sumatran rhinos and tigers roam one of the planet’s oldest tropical rainforests. Belmond hopes to reinstate the E&O's signature Thai presence in due course.</p>

The first route, 'Essence of Malaysia: A Gateway into Malay Culture', passes through Kuala Lumpur before passengers switch transport to private boats to visit the islands of Langkawi and Penang. The second, 'Wild Malaysia: Exploring Sights Unseen', takes in the eastern side of the Malaysian peninsula, with stop-offs also at Penang and the Taman Negara National Park, where Sumatran rhinos and tigers roam one of the planet’s oldest tropical rainforests. Belmond hopes to reinstate the E&O's signature Thai presence in due course.

<p>From March 16, 2024, travelers will be able to explore more of Japan’s Hokuriku region via one of the country's world-renowned Shinkansen trains. The Hokuriku branch currently runs between Tokyo and Kanazawa, capital of Ishikawa Prefecture, but is being extended this year from Kanazawa to Tsuruga station in Fukui Prefecture. Located along the northwest coast of Honshu, Japan's main island, the Hokuriku region offers delicious seafood, dramatic mountains, castle towns and culture-rich cities for those intrepid enough to veer off the typical tourist trail.</p>

Hokuriku Shinkansen expansion, Japan

From 16 March 2024, travellers will be able to explore more of Japan’s Hokuriku region via one of the country's world-renowned Shinkansen trains. The Hokuriku branch currently runs between Tokyo and Kanazawa, capital of Ishikawa Prefecture, but is being extended this year from Kanazawa to Tsuruga station in Fukui Prefecture. Located along the northwest coast of Honshu, Japan's main island, the Hokuriku region offers delicious seafood, dramatic mountains, castle towns and culture-rich cities for those intrepid enough to veer off the typical tourist trail.

<p>The new Shinkansen route will see the current journey time between Tokyo and Tsuruga slashed by 36 minutes, with its fastest trains taking just two hours and 51 minutes to zoom between the two stations. The extension was due for completion last spring, but higher-than-expected construction costs led to a delay. Ultimately, there are plans to further expand the Hokuriku Shinkansen’s reach beyond Tsuruga to Shin-Osaka station, though construction is yet to commence.</p>

The new Shinkansen route will see the current journey time between Tokyo and Tsuruga slashed by 36 minutes, with its fastest trains taking just two hours and 51 minutes to zoom between the two stations. The extension was due for completion last spring, but higher-than-expected construction costs led to a delay. Ultimately, there are plans to further expand the Hokuriku Shinkansen’s reach beyond Tsuruga to Shin-Osaka station, though construction is yet to commence.

<p>It was one of the most anticipated new arrivals on the rail scene in 2023, and now the European Sleeper – which already links the Belgian and Dutch cities of Brussels, Antwerp, Rotterdam and Amsterdam to Berlin – is preparing for an exciting route extension. From March 25, 2024, the night train will no longer terminate in the German capital, but carry on to Dresden in eastern Germany and then across the Czech border into Prague (pictured).</p>

European Sleeper from Brussels to Dresden and Prague

It was one of the most anticipated new arrivals on the rail scene in 2023, and now the European Sleeper – which already links the Belgian and Dutch cities of Brussels, Antwerp, Rotterdam and Amsterdam to Berlin – is preparing for an exciting route extension. From 25 March 2024, the night train will no longer terminate in the German capital, but carry on to Dresden in eastern Germany and then across the Czech border into Prague (pictured).

<p>Perhaps the most hotly anticipated launch of 2023 among the backpacking community is the <a href="https://www.europeansleeper.eu/en">European Sleeper</a> service linking the Belgian and Dutch cities of Brussels, Antwerp, Rotterdam and Amsterdam to the German capital. The inaugural journey chugged out of Brussels-Midi station on 25 May, signallng the beginning of the first direct overnight rail route between Brussels and Berlin in more than a decade. Passengers can book three different ticket options according to their budget, from cozy sleeping compartments (pictured) and convertible couchettes to reclining seats.</p>

The new Dresden-Prague leg includes further stops in Germany and Czechia, such as the Saxony spa town of Bad Schandau. At the end of 2023, the European Sleeper also introduced a new stop at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, increasing connections for travellers even further afield. From the train’s Brussels hub, international rail connections via the Channel-hopping Eurostar are a smooth ride. There are three different ticket options for European Sleeper passengers, ranging from budget-friendly reclining seats to convertible couchettes and cosy sleeping compartments (pictured).

<p>This sprawling new itinerary from tour operator Railbookers promises the most unforgettable adventure for train lovers. Calling at more than 20 cities across 13 countries and four continents, the 11-week itinerary sees passengers experience seven of the world’s most lavish trains in one trip: the Rocky Mountaineer in Canada (pictured); the Belmond Royal Scotsman; the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express; the Maharajas' Express in India; the Golden Eagle Danube Express; Rovos Rail in South Africa; and the freshly revived Eastern & Oriental Express.</p>

Around the World by Luxury Train from Railbookers

This sprawling new itinerary from tour operator Railbookers promises the most unforgettable adventure for train lovers. Calling at more than 20 cities across 13 countries and four continents, the 11-week itinerary sees passengers experience seven of the world’s most lavish trains in one trip: the Rocky Mountaineer in Canada (pictured); the Belmond Royal Scotsman; the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express; the Maharajas' Express in India; the Golden Eagle Danube Express; Rovos Rail in South Africa; and the freshly revived Eastern & Oriental Express.

<p>Departing on August 28, 2024 from Vancouver, the epic overland expedition also includes stays in some of the world’s finest hotels, from the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs to the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace in Budapest (pictured). With accommodation, luggage transfers, flights, excursions and most meals included, it should come as no surprise that all this comes at a cost – with prices starting from around $115,599 per person. Railbookers serves customers in the UK, US, Australia and Canada.</p>

Departing on 28 August 2024 from Vancouver, the epic overland expedition also includes stays in some of the world’s finest hotels, from the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs to the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace in Budapest (pictured). With accommodation, luggage transfers, flights, excursions and most meals included, it should come as no surprise that all this comes at a cost – with prices starting from around £92,000 ($115,599) per person. Railbookers serves customers in the UK, US, Australia and Canada.

<p>While the legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (pictured) is nothing new, it's about to get a very trendy younger sister: the Orient Express La Dolce Vita, created by the Accor hotel group. Slated to hit the rails later in 2024 (a year behind schedule), this new iteration of the historic locomotive is targeted at more design-conscious travelers, swapping out Belle Epoque maximalism for mid-century curves and retro prints. La Dolce Vita's sleek fleet will also sport luxe wood-lined cabins, live music and menus dedicated to sustainable Italian produce. Pre-registration is open now.</p>

Orient Express La Dolce Vita, Italy

While the legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (pictured) is nothing new, it's about to get a very trendy younger sister: the Orient Express La Dolce Vita, created by the Accor hotel group. Slated to hit the rails later in 2024 (a year behind schedule), this new iteration of the historic locomotive is targeted at more design-conscious travellers, swapping out Belle Epoque maximalism for mid-century curves and retro prints. La Dolce Vita's sleek fleet will also sport luxe wood-lined cabins, live music and menus dedicated to sustainable Italian produce. Pre-registration is open now.

<p>As you might expect of the Orient Express dynasty, a trip on La Dolce Vita won't be your average train journey. Offering one and two-night itineraries out of Rome, these stylish sojourns start at around £1,584 ($2,000) per person and come with a private concierge from the moment you book. For now, the routes will just focus on Italian destinations – such as Venice, Siena (pictured), the rustic stone-hewn city of Matera and Palermo in Sicily – but future plans involve increasing La Dolce Vita's reach internationally to Paris, Istanbul and Split in Croatia.</p>  <p><strong><a href="https://www.loveexploring.com/galleries/149798/all-aboard-europes-most-scenic-train-routes?page=1">These are Europe's most scenic train routes</a></strong></p>

As you might expect of the Orient Express dynasty, a trip on La Dolce Vita won't be your average train journey. Offering exquisite service on eight different itineraries that last from one to two nights, the stylish sojourns will sweep through Rome, Venice, Siena (pictured) and the Italian Alps, as well as Portofino, Matera and Sicily (via one of Europe’s last passenger train ferries). Future plans involve increasing the train's reach internationally to Paris, Istanbul and Split in Croatia.

<p>Expected to start welcoming passengers from fall 2023, a new Amtrak route between Mobile in Alabama and New Orleans in Louisiana will soon cruise along southern America’s gorgeous Gulf Coast (pictured), stopping also at four stations in Mississippi: Bay St Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi and Pascagoula. It will mark the return of passenger train services to the Gulf Coast for the first time in more than 16 years. While an exact date for the launch of the journey is yet to be confirmed, test runs on the tracks have already begun.</p>

Amtrak from Mobile to New Orleans and wider network upgrade, USA

Expected to start welcoming passengers later this year, a new Amtrak route between Mobile in Alabama and New Orleans in Louisiana will soon cruise along southern America’s gorgeous Gulf Coast (pictured). The train will also stop at four stations in Mississippi: Bay St Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi and Pascagoula. It will mark the return of passenger train services to the Gulf Coast for the first time since 2005. While an exact date for the launch is yet to be confirmed, familiarisation trips on the tracks began in 2023.

<p>The Amtrak network is on track for further developments, as President Joe Biden has called on Congress to invest an enormous $80 billion (£63.3bn) in its rail services. The proposed expansion, which could connect up to 160 communities over 25 states, may take at least 15 years to come to fruition. But there’s other exciting Amtrak news in the meantime. From late 2023, a shiny new fleet of Acela high-speed trains (pictured) are due to enter service on the existing Northeast Corridor route connecting Boston, Providence, NYC, Philadelphia and Washington D.C, offering more spacious, smoother and speedier rides.</p>

There’s other exciting Amtrak news while we wait for a date: a shiny new fleet of Acela high-speed trains (pictured) are due to enter service this year. They’ll take over the existing Northeast Corridor route connecting Boston, Providence, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington DC, offering smoother, speedier and more spacious rides. In November 2023, President Joe Biden announced $16 billion (£12.7bn) of funding for more than two dozen projects along this much-travelled line.

<p>From 2025, there’ll be a new kid on the overnight train block, looking to further upgrade the nocturnal rail travel experience in Europe. <a href="https://www.midnight-trains.com/en/home">Midnight Trains</a> are a French start-up putting the wheels in motion for several new routes out of Paris; the first service to launch will whisk passengers to Milan and Venice under cover of darkness. Self-described as hotels on rails, Midnight Trains will feature exclusively private, en-suite rooms throughout their fleet, with plush bed linen, a library of on-demand films to keep you entertained and next-level food-and-drink amenities.</p>

Midnight Trains, various

From 2025, there’ll be a new kid on the overnight train block, looking to further upgrade nocturnal rail travel in Europe. Midnight Trains is a French company putting the wheels in motion for several new routes out of Paris. The first service to launch will whisk passengers to Milan and Venice under cover of darkness. Self-described as hotels on rails, Midnight Trains will feature private, en-suite rooms throughout their fleet, with plush bed linen, a library of on-demand films to keep you entertained and top-range food-and-drink amenities.

Everything, from the point of booking to when you step off the train, will be managed through a bespoke app that allows you to personalize your journey. As well as the inaugural Paris-Milan-Venice route, Midnight Trains are also planning to seamlessly connect cities such as Edinburgh, Copenhagen and Madrid to the French capital. When complete, this new network will comprise more than 10 destinations across the continent.

Everything, from the point of booking to when you step off the train, will be managed through a bespoke app that allows you to personalise your journey. As well as the inaugural Paris-Milan-Venice route, Midnight Trains is also planning to seamlessly connect cities such as Edinburgh, Copenhagen, Porto and Madrid to the French capital (pictured). When complete, this new network will comprise more than 10 destinations across the continent.

<p>If you’re loving the new European Sleeper between Brussels and Berlin, you’ll be delighted to know that the provider will soon be adding a second route to its roster – connecting Amsterdam to the buzzing Catalonian city of Barcelona. You’ll have to wait a little longer for this one, with the service not set to begin until spring 2025, but it sounds like it’ll be worth it. Expect modern trappings such as wifi and charging points, as well as complimentary breakfast included with sleeper and couchette bookings (as with the Brussels-Berlin route).</p>

European Sleeper from Amsterdam to Barcelona

Fans of the European Sleeper will be delighted to know that it will soon be adding another route to its roster – connecting Amsterdam to the buzzing Catalonian city of Barcelona. You’ll have to wait a little longer for this one, with the service not set to begin until spring 2025. Expect modern trappings such as wifi and charging points, as well as complimentary breakfast included with sleeper and couchette bookings (as with the existing run out of Brussels).

<p>The proposed route to be taken by the European Sleeper between Amsterdam and Barcelona (pictured) includes stops in Montpellier, Perpignan, Figueres and Girona, though it is not yet known how long the complete end-to-end journey will be. One thing we can say for certain, though, is that the views from the window of your carriage will be nothing short of spectacular. Meandering past the evolving scenery of at least four different countries, it'll be a wonder if you manage to steal any sleep at all.</p>

The proposed route between Amsterdam and Barcelona (pictured) includes stops in Avignon, Montpellier, Perpignan, Figueres and Girona, though it is not yet known how long the complete end-to-end journey will be. One thing we can say for certain, though, is that the views from your window will span the evolving scenery of at least four countries, and it'll be a wonder if you manage to steal any sleep at all.

<p>They've been the missing link in the European railway map for a long time, but now – gradually – the Baltic states are finally getting connected with passenger and freight services. <a href="https://www.railbaltica.org/">Rail Baltica</a> is the largest infrastructure project in the region for a century, and will link cities such as Warsaw, Vilnius, Kaunas, Riga and Tallinn (as well as Helsinki indirectly) when the 541-mile (870km) route is completed by 2030. It’s an idea that has been more than 30 years in the making, since the former Soviet Union countries gained independence in the 1990s.</p>

Rail Baltica, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia

They've been the missing piece in the European railway puzzle for a long time, but now – gradually – the Baltic states are at last getting connected with speedy train services. Rail Baltica is one of the region's largest ever infrastructure projects, and will link cities like Warsaw, Vilnius, Kaunas, Riga and Tallinn (as well as Helsinki indirectly and Berlin by night train) when the 541-mile (870km) route is completed in 2030. The idea has been more than 30 years in the making, since the former Soviet Union countries gained independence in the 1990s.

<p>Eventually replacing the long-distance buses and unsustainable flights that travelers currently have to rely on to hop between Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, Rail Baltica will be a fully electric fleet, with a color scheme designed to reflect the sun, sea and sand of the Baltic Coast. While there’s still a long way to go before we can enjoy this particular route, there is a new daily Intercity link between Krakow and Warsaw in Poland to Vilnius (pictured) and Kaunas in Lithuania, though you’ll have to change trains at Mockava.</p>

Eventually replacing the long-distance buses and unsustainable flights that travellers currently rely on to hop between Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, Rail Baltica will be a quiet, fully electric fleet with a colour scheme designed to reflect the sun, sea and sand of the Baltic Coast. While there’s still a long way to go before we can enjoy this particular route in its entirety, there are hopes that some sections will be ready to transport passengers by 2028.

<p>In November 2022, the vision for an advanced high-speed rail link between the Portuguese cities of Porto (pictured) and Lisbon and Vigo in Galicia, northwest Spain, was laid out by the Portuguese government. While the existing fast service between the country's capital and second cities takes just under three hours, this new proposal could see the journey time more than halved to one hour and 15 minutes. Extending the route to Vigo will allow passengers to travel the length of Iberia's Atlantic coast at speeds of around 186 miles per hour (300km/h).</p>

New high-speed service from Porto and Lisbon to Vigo

In November 2022, the vision for an advanced high-speed rail link between the Portuguese cities of Porto (pictured) and Lisbon and Vigo in Galicia, northwest Spain, was laid out by the Portuguese government. While the existing fast service between the country's capital and second cities takes just under three hours, this new proposal could see the journey time more than halved to one hour and 15 minutes. Extending the route to Vigo will allow passengers to travel the length of Iberia's Atlantic coast at speeds of around 186 miles per hour (300km/h).

<p>Construction on the Porto-Lisbon-Vigo route should be starting 2024, but won't be completed until the early 2030s. This is all part of a wider infrastructure overhaul to Portugal's rail network, which will also include new local district connections and a crossing over the Tagus river (pictured), ultimately creating high-speed links from 10 of the country's main cities. In its entirety, the project is estimated for completion by 2050.</p>  <p><strong><a href="https://www.loveexploring.com/galleries/119580/incredible-facts-about-the-worlds-trains-you-probably-didnt-know?page=1">Incredible facts about the world's trains you probably didn't know</a></strong></p>

Construction on the Porto-Lisbon-Vigo route is set to start this year, but won't be completed until the early 2030s. This is all part of a wider infrastructure overhaul to Portugal's rail network, which will also include new local district connections and a crossing over the Tagus river (pictured), ultimately creating high-speed links from 10 of the country's main cities. In its entirety, the project is estimated to be completed by 2050.

Taking inspiration from the Al Boraq (pictured) – Africa's first express train, which runs along the coast of Morocco from Tangier to Casablanca – the African Union is now in the process of laying the groundwork for a speedy, continent-wide rail system of epic proportions. Known as the African Integrated High-Speed Railway Network, the megaproject is expected to open in its first phase by 2033, with more connections to be added by 2063.

African Integrated High-Speed Railway Network, various

Taking inspiration from the Al Boraq (pictured) – Africa's first express train, which runs along the coast of Morocco from Tangier to Casablanca – the African Union is in the process of laying the groundwork for a speedy, continent-wide rail system of epic proportions. Known as the African Integrated High-Speed Railway Network, the megaproject is supposed to open in its first phase by 2033, with more connections to be added by 2063.

<p>Three pilot schemes have now been selected for the railway to be trialed: the first routes to open up will be Dar es Salaam in Tanzania to Kigali in Rwanda; Kampala in Uganda (pictured) to Bujumbura in Burundi; and Johannesburg in South Africa to Walvis Bay in Namibia, via Botswana's capital Gaborone. While the project has already seen significant delays and other practical challenges, the Uganda leg of the new Standard Gauge Railway is set to enter construction later in 2023.</p>  <p><a href="https://www.loveexploring.com/gallerylist/131832/the-worlds-best-overnight-trains"><strong>Now read on for the world's best overnight trains</strong></a></p>

Three pilot schemes have now been selected: the first routes to open will be Dar es Salaam in Tanzania to Kigali in Rwanda; Kampala in Uganda (pictured) to Bujumbura in Burundi; and Pretoria in South Africa to Walvis Bay in Namibia, via Botswana's capital Gaborone. The ultimate aim is to provide Africa’s 16 landlocked countries with better access to major ports and neighbouring nations, increasing connectivity and economic development across the continent.

<p>It was first mentioned in theory back in 2018, but now it looks like the United Arab Emirates’ plans to build an undersea railway to India might be gathering steam. The bold project could connect the shimmering metropolis of Dubai with bustling Mumbai (pictured) in a matter of minutes, with proposed speeds of up to 621 miles per hour. Provisionally named the Dubai-India Hyperloop, it’s set to push the boundaries of innovation beyond anything the UAE has accomplished so far.</p>

Underwater train from the UAE to India

It was first mentioned in theory back in 2018, but now it looks like the United Arab Emirates’ plans to build an undersea railway to India might be gathering steam. The bold project could connect the shimmering metropolis of Dubai with bustling Mumbai (pictured) in a matter of minutes, with proposed speeds of up to 621 miles per hour (1,000km/h). Provisionally named the Dubai-India Hyperloop, it’s set to push the boundaries of innovation beyond anything the UAE has accomplished so far.

<p>It may sound like an audacious concept, but at its heart it's just a variation of what the Channel Tunnel between the UK and France has been doing since 1994. No timeline has yet been given for the Dubai-India Hyperloop, but we certainly shouldn’t expect it any time soon. Conceiving and creating the world’s fastest land-based public transport – and then putting it in a large tunnel – will be no mean feat.</p>  <p><strong>Liked this? Click on the Follow button above for more great stories from loveEXPLORING</strong></p>  <p><a href="https://www.loveexploring.com/galleries/86683/beautiful-train-journeys-that-dont-cost-a-fortune"><strong>Now read on for the world's most beautiful and affordable train journeys</strong></a></p>

It may sound like an audacious concept, but at its heart it's just a variation of what the Channel Tunnel between the UK and France has been doing since 1994. No timeline has yet been given for the Dubai-India Hyperloop, but we certainly shouldn’t expect it any time soon. Conceiving and creating the world’s fastest land-based public transport – and then putting it in a large tunnel – will be no mean feat.

Liked this? Click on the Follow button above for more great stories from loveEXPLORING

Now read on for the world's most beautiful and affordable train journeys

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    To check availability, fares, and to make your seat reservations, simply enter your city from and city to in our ticket search box to the left. Or buy the Eurail France & Italy PassInterRail France Pass for unlimited travel. You can book your seat reservations to accompany the pass with us too. Note: Some trains are overnight trains and when ...

  17. Paris to Venice train tickets from $58 (€51)

    Trains from Paris to Venice cover the 523 miles (843 km) long journey taking on average 16 h 24 min with our travel partners like Trenitalia, TGV INOUI, SNCF | TGV Lyria or Regionale. Normally, there is 1 train operating per day. You can get the cheapest train tickets for this route for as low as $577 (€509), but the average price of train ...

  18. Train Travel From Venice Italy To Paris France

    Benefits of Train Travel Between Venice and Paris. Train travel between Venice and Paris is fast and efficient, with the fastest trips taking just 10 hours. For the slightly longer journey, travelers have several options along the way and can choose to spend a part of the journey on a train, and the rest on a ferry, bus, or private car.

  19. Venice to France

    Volotea, easyJet and two other airlines fly from Venice to Nice 5 times a day. Alternatively, you can take a train from Venice to Paris via Milano Centrale, stazione centrale m2 m3, stazione garibaldi m2 m5, Milano P.Garibaldi, Paris Gare De Lyon, and Gare de Lyon in around 11h. Airlines. easyJet.

  20. Trains from Venice to other European cities

    Option 5, Venice to Amsterdam with overnight stop in Paris. Day 1, travel from Venice to Milan by high-speed Frecciarossa, leaving Venice Santa Lucia at 11:48 and arriving Milan Centrale 14:15. Frecciarossa trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. By all means book an earlier train and have lunch in Milan.

  21. Paris Gare de Lyon → Venice by Train from £81.45

    Paris Gare de Lyon to Venice by train. It takes an average of 15h 47m to travel from Paris Gare de Lyon to Venice by train, over a distance of around 523 miles (842 km). There are normally 19 trains per day travelling from Paris Gare de Lyon to Venice and tickets for this journey start from £81.45 when you book in advance. First train.

  22. Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train

    As you ride along the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, bring the essence of a glamorous itinerary to the legendary destination where it all started. This autumn, step off our mythical luxury train and revel in indulgence at the cinematic Hotel Cipriani. Explore the wonders of the Venetian lagoon and taste the sweetness of an Italian escape.

  23. 16 STUNNING Train Routes To Spice Up Your 2024 Travels

    As well as the inaugural Paris-Milan-Venice route, Midnight Trains is also planning to seamlessly connect cities such as Edinburgh, Copenhagen, Porto and Madrid to the French capital (pictured).

  24. Tripologist: Should we travel by train or plane in France and Italy?

    Train travel is preferable to flying, but the only practical way to experience many of the treasures of rural France and Italy is by getting behind the wheel. Without a vehicle you'll be ...

  25. France to Venice

    What companies run services between France and Venice, Italy? easyJet, Volotea and two other airlines fly from Lyon to Venice 4 times a day. Alternatively, you can take a train from Paris to Venice via Gare de Lyon, Paris Gare De Lyon, and Geneve in around 12h 21m. Airlines. ... Train travel in France: A guide to SNCF.