Oslo - Copenhagen - Amsterdam - Paris - Rome

NatureOne
Traveller
273 comments

Hi,
if your plan is finished and the dates are fixed, I can advise you do prebook your hostels and train reservations, especially the night trains. So you will be exempt from booking hostels and that stuff. So you now where to sleep and it might be wise to prebook, because May is full of statutory holidays.
You want to spent 3 days in Brussels? :D I don't know what to do there... :D maybe you can stay a night longer in Munich and enjoy a good bavarian beer or something ;D but it's up to you :)

Yes I've checked out early. Mostly it's not a problem. At the most hostels there's a person at reception, where you can leave your key.
If breakfast is included, you may ask if it's possible to have it earlier or if you can get something like a lunch package. :) But you can write an email to the hostels staff, if you want to know about early checkout. If it's not possible, then may look for another hostel.

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

# Flam Railway: Note that you only get a discount (30%) on the line with InterRail - get the ticket directly at Myrdal station.
# Oslo - Copenhagen: You could think about stopping somewhere along the way for a few hours to get the most out of your ticket: Gothenburg, Lund or Malmö for example (in case of the latter two you might also travel all the way to Copenhagen, check in at your hostel, depending on how far away from the station it is and then travel back to Malmö/Lund for an evening stroll).
# Copenhagen - Amsterdam: What about the direct night train? :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/copenhagen-to-amsterdam[/u] Problem is that the 1900 rule does not apply from Copenhagen so you would need to get a regular ticket to travel to Roskilde first, then join the night train there. The reservation costs (plus the costs for the extra tickets) wont be much more expensive than a hostel in Copenhagen probably and you get an extra travel day if you continue from Amsterdam straight to The Hague the following day.
# Amsterdam - The Hague: There are frequent (!) trains all day long - attention, some of them only call at Den Haag CS a bit outside the centre, change there for Den Haag Centraal or take a direct train.
# Paris - Zurich: :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/paris-to-zurich[/u] Attention, reservation necessary for the direct TGV Lyria services!
# Zurich - Bernina - Milano - Rome: I think there is nothing fixed on that part of the route right? ;)
# Rome - Munich and Munich - Budapest night trains can be booked online which I would recommend to do beforehand, have a look at the night train details on railcc for further details.
# Budapest - Berlin: You could book that for instance at Munich station.

Three days in Bruxelles seem indeed a bit much but you could make daytrips with regular tickets (not expensive) to other cities such as Gent, Brugge or Antwerpen.


Flo 8)

hawki1989
Traveller
39 comments

Thank you for the advice guys!

I know this seems a bit silly but the interrail ticket is the ONLY ticket I need right? Or do I have to go into each station and get an ordinary ticket printed out? Also, with all these reservations... will I end up taking different bits of paper along with me?

What does reservation possible but not required actual mean? If I don't reserve, could I still not get a place on the train... if I know I'll be taking that train, is it best to reserve?

Tomthebear
Traveller
138 comments

If you like scuba-diving, you could take a plunge into Nemo33 in Brussels,world`s deepest diving tank.

With the reservations, it means, you can reserve, if you like to, but it`s not a must. But the possibility, that you won`t find a free place on the train, exists. But in that case, you can still sit on the floor ;)

hawki1989
Traveller
39 comments

So I could not pay the reservation, get to the station and there could be a free seat available - or worse case - sit on the floor? I figured I would pay all the reservations since it would be easier in advance but maybe not, eh?

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Hej,

the InterRail pass is your only ticket, yes - but you will need extra reservations.

If a train requires a reservation you will need to buy it either at a station (counter or sometimes machine) or online (not possible for all trains/countries). You then show ticket plus reservation to the conductor.
You will end up with several (paper) reservations, yes - if you travel with trains with compulsory reservation.

A train with possible but not required reservation can be used without extra reservation. On such trains, you can make a reservation if you want - but it is usually not necessary. In most cases, reserved seats are labelled. It wont happen often that a train is so full that you have to stand/sit on the corridor...try to avoid Friday/Sunday afternoon though (or get a reservation during these periods).

Where do you need reservations:

1) I think there is no possibility to reserve on Flamsbana - try to get a seat on the left side from Myrdal to Flam. From Myrdal to Oslo you can make a reservation but you could save the money and ask the conductor for a free seat. In Norway, the conductors have a sheet where they can see which trains are reserved and which arent. However, if you want a guaranteed seat, you could also invest the 50 NOK.

2) No reservation required on that route.

3) Dito.

4) Nope - but depends on the route you take. Avoid the Thalys (as I probably explained already) and go via Rotterdam - Antwerpen - Gent - Lille. From Lille you can either take a TGV (6€ regular reservation, if all limited seats for that price are sold it is 18€!) or, the slower variant, go via Amiens. This is quite a long trip, so you might get a reservation for the Lille - Paris TGV...best thing to do that would be in Copenhagen probably, as you would have to pay an extra fee at stations in the Netherlands.

5) Compulsory reservation, 9€. Best thing to get it in Copenhagen already as well.

6) No reservation needed for Zurich - Bernina - Milano. From Milano to Roma a reservation is needed, 10€ for the high speed train, for night train fares have a look at the night train on the railcc website. Reservation needed for the night train to Munich, do it online (explanation can be found at the night train details on the railcc website).

7) Reservation needed, get it at the station in Munich.

8) Reservation needed, get it in Munich as well (or Budapest).

10) No reservation needed.


Flo 8)

hawki1989
Traveller
39 comments

Thanks Flo,

In Norway, the conductors have a sheet where they can see which trains are reserved and which arent. However, if you want a guaranteed seat, you could also invest the 50 NOK.

Slightly confused about this point? I'm not sure where you have gotten the 50 NOK from? Are you not guarenteed a seat from the 6 EUR reservation? I definite want on this train so I'd rather not chance a free seat.

I fly into Oslo at 3pm on 15th May and, to save on hostel fee, I'm thinking it's a good idea to maybe take the overnight train to Bergen then instead (leaves at 11pm). I definitely want to do the Flam railway so I could a) go all the way to Bergen, get off for an hour or so and come back, doing Flamsbana on the way or b) I could overnight it to Myrdal (arrives at 4:37), have a wander round for a couple of hours before the first Flamsbana, then return to Oslo? Which would you do - assuming both equal one travel day, given the restrictions on the 7pm rule?

And what would the ticket say - with multiple day usages?

nltrainer
Traveller
1416 comments

6 eur is the same as 50 NOK.NO is so expensive,it simply depends where you buy it.They do not take EUR (yet)in NO.
About your plan:check times,but you can do both.You can do as many train trips in the allotted day as you can fit in.
It may seems unlikely to unknowing ignorant trainusers,but about all Europe trains have interconnected RES/computerystems-you pay the fees in the money of where you are.
Train conductors do NOT have reserved trains- they have print outs on what seats are reserved from where to where.

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

I think the idea of going to Bergen overnight, then returning to Myrdal for Flamsbana is the best thing to do. That way you could enjoy the whole of Bergenbana which is scenic between Myrdal and Bergen as well.
Staying at Myrdal from 0437 doesnt sound too inviting, I dont know if the waiting room will remain open after the night train has left...probably yes but I am not sure. Sunrise would be at 0451 on May 15th, however you have to include the elevation of the surrounding mountains...but on a clear day it'd certainly nice to stay there watching the sunrise.
After all, you could decide spontaneously. If you sleep well on the night train, you might go all the way to Bergen, have a quick look around (or not) and then go to Myrdal. Or, if you cant really sleep and it seems to be a nice day, leave at Myrdal and enjoy the scenery. :)

The 50 NOK/6€ reservation fee guarantees you a seat, of course. I just meant that you could enter the train without a reservation as well and just ask for a free seat, the conductor will tell you which seats are free and which occupied. That way you would risk a fully booked train and therefore no seat of course.

And yes, that would all count as just one travel day.


Flo 8)

hawki1989
Traveller
39 comments

Thanks guys.

I guess when planning it's difficult not to think well I do want to catch that train so I'll reserve a seat. It is difficult to know the difference since here in the UK, I just get my tickets at the station - first time nerves must be telling me it's not like home LOL!

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

Yeah, you have to deal with lots of different approaches to train reservations - it is different in each country and certainly a bit confusing if you dont deal with it on a regular basis. ;)

hawki1989
Traveller
39 comments

How far in advance can you reserve seats?

Peter
Traveller
9337 comments

Usually it is 3 months in advance. :)

hawki1989
Traveller
39 comments

Thanks Peter.

The reason I ask is because I am looking at Copenhagen to Amsterdam for 18/5 (which is a Sat) however there is no direct CNT that night... the same for the Saturday before. I figured it wasn't doable on at Saturday, however the two Saturday's before them have the CNT... *shrugs*?

Is it only when the tickets are brought on the day that you don't have to pay a reservation?