CHRISTMAS TRAIN TRIP ACROSS EUROPE

Peter
Traveller
9333 comments

Hi Maksaust and welcome. :)

If you know your travel dates already, as you book hotels [ux]https://rail.shop/bookingcom[/ux] in advance, saver price tickets might be an option for you. But lets decide, as soon as we have your final route. :)

Just some thoughts of a possible route.

Amsterdam to Cologne.
From Colgone via Koblenz along the River Rhine Valley to Heidelberg [ux]https://rail.cc/en/heidelberg/c[/ux]
Next from Heidelberg to Rothenburg ob der Tauber [ux]https://rail.cc/en/rothenburg-ob-der-tauber/c[/ux] and in the evening to Nuremberg [ux]https://rail.cc/en/nuremberg/c[/ux]
And from Nuremberg by train or direct IC bus to Prague: [ux]https://rail.cc/blog/ic-bus-bahn-prague/[/ux]
Prague to Vienna by direct train.
Vienna via Salzburg to Munich.
From Munich a day trip to Castle Neuschwanstein: [ux]https://rail.cc/blog/neuschwanstein-munich-fussen-train/[/ux]
And then from Munich on the route to Switzerland. Have a look here: [ux]https://rail.cc/blog/zurich-milano-albula-bernina/[/ux]
Finally from Tirano in Northern Italy via Milan and Venice to Slovenia: [ux]https://rail.cc/blog/italy-slovenia-train/[/ux]

Another route could be from Amsterdam via Cologne to Dresden [u]https://rail.cc/en/dresden/c[/u]. And from there to Prague.

Not fare away from Vienna is Budapest. Also worth visiting.
Your decision... :)

Pete :)

Maksaust
Traveller
10 comments

Hi.. thankyou for reply. I like the ideas.
Itinerary so far
4th Dec Amsterdam to Heidelberg via Rhine
5th Heidelberg to Prague
8th Prague to Vienna.
11th Vienna to Budapest
13th Budspest to Zurich? Munich?
14th Jurich /munich to Lucerne???
18th Lucerne to Chur
19th Chur Bernina Express
20th Tirano/Lugano? To ??.
Need help fro. Budapest to Switzerland best place to stay 1 to 2 nights?
Want to do tourist stuff in Switzerland but may stay 1 spot and and go out each day? Where best place to centralise ourselved?
From Bernina Express have 2/3 days to travel to Slovenia where would be nice town to stop and visit.? Any ideas appreciated and your thoughts on above itinerary ,

bigliettiperfavore
Traveller
13 comments

Great advice above!
Dresden-Decín(CZ) is a scenic line.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Castle Neuschwanstein are on my to do list :)

Just a couple of ideas for seeing smaller towns as well:
Alternatives in Czech Republic: Cesky Krumlov, Brno, Telc. Takes you off the beaten track a bit.
I would advise to split the section between Chur and Tirano in two and stay high in the Alps, e.g. St Moritz/Samedan/Poschiavo before continuing to Lugano the next day.
I would love to see the Slovenian part of the Alps one day. Take the train from Lugano (via a night or two in Venice?) to Gorizia (Italy) and walk/taxi to Nova Gorica (Slovenia) [these stations are not connected by train], then train via Bohinjska Bistrica and northeastern Slovenia to Bled before Ljubljana.

Maksaust
Traveller
10 comments

Hi again from Australia...
Thankyou for replies. There has been a change of plan as Edihad cancelled our flights as they no longer will be flying into Perth WA from October.
Been a bit of a problem ....but now sorted will be flying Emirates and in to London.
So itinerary to date is
London to Brussellls
Brussells to Heidelberg
Heidelberg to Nuremberg
Nuremberg To Prague
Prague to Budapest
Budapest to Salzberg
Salzberg to Lucerne (3 nights)
Lucerne to Tirano on Bernina Express
Tirano to Lugano
Lugano to Ljubljana
We in Ljubliana for 10 days Christmas and New Year
The home by 7th Jan.
Thanks any more help accepted ????
Regards Maksaust

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Brussels to Heidelberg is best done with a change of trains in Cologne; spend a few minutes to leave the station and visit the cathedral (and maybe also walk to the Rhine river), one hour is enough for a quick visit even with all your luggage - the cathedral is directly opposite the station and you wouldnt want to miss it.
Then, dont take a direct, fast ICE train via the high speed line (by then you will have travelled at 300 km/h already with Eurostar) but instead travel along the river Rhine via Koblenz. There are several direct trains from Cologne via Koblenz to Heidelberg - the journey along the Rhine is really quite nice. :)
Use the schedule planner for connections and enter "Koblenz Hbf" as a via stop get trains via the river Rhine: [ux]http://plan.rail.cc/[/ux]

Nuremberg to Prague is best done by train via Cheb (dont take a boring "IC Bus"...); again, simply enter "Cheb" as a via stop and you will be shown train-only options. Best connection would be Nürnberg 1237 - 1422 Cheb, Cheb 1436 - 1731 Prague as this would include a train with restaurant car from Cheb to Prague (please note that timings are valid until December 8, a new schedule will be valid from December 9)

Prague to Budapest is by two-hourly direct EC trains with dining car.

Budapest to Salzburg and Salzburg to Zurich (with connection to Luzern) is by two-hourly direct Railjet services, also with dining car.

If you have more specific questions, just ask :)

Maksaust
Traveller
10 comments

Thank you admin your information is invaluable. We are after scenic and train trips preferably, not buses ???? and these f train trips ideas are ones I was hoping we would be able to do ... thankyou.
The weather ... on the train will be warm but getting off is it best to be dressed with coat gloves scarf etc...
Are most trains stations covered or open? Is there a website to check out stations?
Also when they do give you a station to change platforms is the time given to allow for weather conditions, or just enough time to get to the next platform?
I am now waiting to book tickets, how do you know when tickets available as want to book all early tickets for the best price. Will not be buying a pass as if I can do above in second class I think this is better for us.
What are my options if I have tickets and missed a conection? Beside sit down and cry ????????????
When do the tickets become available for after December 8th?
Again thank you. Our train system in Australia and particularly West Aust is only one line to each destination and stops all stations there and back ????
I am looking forward to the challenge for the train travel in Europe. The more information I have the better the experience.

Maksaust
Traveller
10 comments

I would love to see the Slovenian part of the Alps one day. Take the train from Lugano (via a night or two in Venice?) to Gorizia (Italy) and walk/taxi to Nova Gorica (Slovenia) [these stations are not connected by train], then train via Bohinjska Bistrica and northeastern Slovenia to Bled before Ljubljana.

the information above is this the best way from Lugano to Ljubliana? We will be spending 10 days in Slovenia, with friends, and they will be taking us around.
Otherwise what stations would I book to get from Lugano to Ljubliana?

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Yeah, you should prepare for cold weather - although it is not likely to be as cold as in January/February you should expect temperatures below 0°C which might feel quite different to what you are used to from WA ;)

All stations you will go to will either have a large station hall or at least covered platforms so weather conditions are not really an issue when changing trains.
If you are looking for schedules on planners such as [ux]http://plan.rail.cc/[/ux] you will be only shown connections which can easily be done under normal operating circumstances. This means that shown connections are possible even including changes of platforms etc.

If you miss a train to do a delay or similar (= due to the railway companys fault) you are entitled to a refund and can take the next (or any other) train that gets you to your destination. Since you will be mainly using larger stations there is usually an information/ticket desk that will give you more information in case that would happen to you.

Tickets are usually available between 90 and 180 days in advance (availability may be limited before the timetable change on December 9). As a rule of thumb: the earlier you book the cheaper tickets are; however many railway companies, especially in Western Europe now apply full airline-style yield management which means that ticket prices will vary according to current demand and prices are not really realiably predictable.
Best option is to check prices regularly on the different sites of the railway companies and buy when there is a good offer available. Please note that if you buy single tickets, cheapest tickets (advance fare, usually called "Sparpreis", "Sparschiene", "Prem", "Economy", "Saver", etc...) usually have limited possibilites for exchange, return and refund once you have bought them. Also, you have to use the train you booked (= your ticket is only valid on a certain train, unless you miss a train due to a delay). Full fare tickets offer more flexibility but are much more expensive.

London to Brussellls: book at [ux]rail.shop/eurostar[/ux] or [ux]https://rail.shop/beurope/[/ux]
Brussells to Heidelberg book at [ux]https://rail.shop/bahn[/ux] or [ux]https://rail.shop/beurope/[/ux] or [ux]https://rail.shop/omio/[/ux]
Heidelberg to Nuremberg book at [ux]https://rail.shop/bahn[/ux]
Nuremberg To Prague book at [ux]https://rail.shop/bahn[/ux] or [ux]https://rail.shop/cd[/ux]
Prague to Budapest book at [ux]https://rail.shop/cd[/ux]
Budapest to Salzberg book at [ux]https://rail.shop/mav[/ux] or [ux]https://rail.shop/oebb[/ux]
Salzberg to Lucerne (3 nights) book at [ux]https://rail.shop/oebb[/ux]
Lucerne to Tirano on Bernina Express book at [ux]https://rail.shop/sbb[/ux] or check for offers at [ux]https://rail.shop/rhb[/ux]
Tirano to Lugano either by train via Lecco - Monza - Chiasso; buy locally or book a trip on the Bernina Express bus via [ux]https://rail.shop/rhb[/ux]
Lugano to Ljubljana book at [ux]https://rail.shop/omio/[/ux] to Venezia; then buy locally to Gorizia and locally from Nova Gorica to Bled.

Maksaust
Traveller
10 comments

Hi, have been busy booking train trips. Have completed from London to Nuremberg. All with the help and great information from your site.
Now I am up to 10th December, and not able to book any tickets.
I am curious to know and understand why they close the bookings. Do you know when they reopen again? Is there away of knowing when the tickets become available again? I am doing point to point tickets and early tickets purchase as not going to buy a pass.
It is something we don\'t have here in OZ.
We are travellng from Salzburg to Lucerne and then have 3 nights/2 days in Lucerne. (We will be doing the Bernina Express from Chur after we depart Lucerne) I would like to see Pilatus, and have been told that Zermatt is great to see. I\'m not sure if we have time to do in a day. What would be a scenic trip or even half the trip and is it worth the trip. Or is there enough to do in Lucerne to enjoy. If we do the Bernina Express and Pilatus and maybe a trip to Zermatt would we need to get a pass? If so what would you suggest?

thanks again for your help, it is great and making life a little easier

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

In "Europe" (= basically continental Europe excluding Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova) there is an annual "big" timetable change in mid December (on the Sunday after the second Saturday). At this date the new timetable for the upcoming year gets into effect.

During the year booking is usually available between 30 and 180 days in advance (varying from country to country) however during the time before the timetable change not all trains are available that long in advance.

During the last years, epecially DB and ÖBB have made efforts to make all trains available for booking the usual 180 days in advance, including the time before the timetable change; but other railways (such as RENFE, SNCF, Trenitalia) open their bookings much closer before the timetable change.
Your best bet is to regularly check the booking sites to see which trains are already available.

There is enough to enjoy in Lucerne; you can go to Pilatus and/or make a trip on Lake Lucerne and/or go to Mount Rigi: [ux]https://rail.cc/blog/lucerne-and-mount-rigi/[/ux]
Zermatt is quite a bit away from Lucerne for a day trip; if you decide to go you should also travel with Gornergratbahn: [ux]https://rail.cc/blog/de/brig-visp-zermatt-gornergrat/[/ux]

You can get a Swiss Pass for travelling in Switzerland including most public transport (bus, trams,...), also including discounts for most cable cars, rack railways etc... :)
A Eurail One Country Pass is also an interesting option which would cover train lines only.