Advice please...Europe by train

[Shortfatsuit]

Looking for some advice. We normally tend to book package holidays via Tui or similar, and I will acknowledge that I appreciate the ease and security that goes along with this. However, I am considering a slightly different approach this time.

We are looking to travel to Europe by train, probably late August/early September. Me, DH and young adult dd. Around 7-10 days. We'd like to go to Budapest and Prague, and possibly one more city (open to suggestions). Thinking about using some sleeper trains to get there.

I did find a company that does package tours by train, but wondered if we could do it more cheaply if we did a DIY version. However, it is many years since I travelled by train in Europe and I have no idea where to start.

Can anyone offer any tips or advice? E.g. suggested routes, where to book tickets, how to keep costs down etc. Thank you so much!

This is always a good starting point.

https://www.seat61.com/Hungary.htm

I would also google some of the the train tours that companies out together, and copy them!

You could interrail, which includes Eurostar and generally works out cheaper. If you come to Budapest, Bratislava and Vienna are around a couple of hours away by train.

You could do Prague, Vienna and Budapest quite easily, and possibly Bratislava which is close to Vienna.

We flew into Prague then train to Vienna and on to Budapest, and flew home from there. Used EasyJet for flights and Trainline for rail tickets. The Man in Seat 61 website is good for planning and tips.

Looking at Trainline, you could do London to Brussels, then Cologne, Berlin, Munich, Prague, Vienna, Budapest etc. I’d be tempted to fly back from there though.

you could take eurostar to brussels and then the night train to prague from there.

trainline is ok (but doesn't always cater for private connections)
also have a look at db international (german provider) and ns international (dutch provider).

take only luggage you can comfortably carry. take coins for luggage lockers.
most hotels have over night laundry service.

I would suggest Vienna as the third city.

Oh wow, lots of useful information. Hadn't thought of Bratislava, will have a look. Will also check out the man in seat 61 and look at the cost of interrailing, hadn't thought of that!

Thank you all for your help.

I've done this, just booked flights and then used The Train Line for tickets.

Bratislava is lovely and much cheaper to stay in than Vienna!

A collegue got the sleeper train to Prague - seems easy enough, I think you just get the Eurostar to Brussels and pick it up from there. Book the whole journey via Eurostar then you are protected if you miss your connections due to delays. Treat the sleeper journey as a hotel stay over rather than just a travel cost.

A friend of mine did Eurostar to Brussels, then Brussels to Frankfurt, Frankfurt to Vienna and Vienna to Budapest. Bratislava might be a good base as you’re minutes from Vienna and have good train connections to Budapest and Prague.

or eurostar to amsterdam (or ferry newcastle-amsterdam) then sleeper train to vienna.

Be warned that some of the sleeper services are not running this august due to engineering works.

Night Train Map 2024 - Back-on-Track gives a good map and their database helps you find the actual trains (some only run 3 days a week - don't assume they run every night

I found it easiest to sketch a simple route first, like Paris to Zurich to Milan, then check times and connections. Booking point-to-point tickets a few months ahead keeps costs sane, and I’ve used Train fares Europe to compare options before picking my dates. I’d keep travel days relaxed with one or two stops max. Most big stations feel safe, and trains drop you right in the centre so you waste less time faffing around.

The thread is from July 2024.

As already recommended, Man In Seat 61 is the bible for train journeys.

The European Sleeper company does sleepers from Brussels to Berlin and Prague, and also from Paris to Brussels to Prague if you fancied a night or two in Paris to start/end - https://www.europeansleeper.eu/ (They're also planning a route from Brussels to Milan this summer).

There are also a number of Nightjet routes you could choose from - https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/nightjet.htm

The interrail ticket is good! The app makes it so easy to plan and the price cannot be beaten!

This is an old thread from July 2024, @FunnyOrca @MaybeNotBob please look above before posting - or read the thread.