London to Greece . . .

Trains within Greece:  

OSE (Organismos Sidirodromon Ellados): www.ose.gr

Map of Greek train routes    Athens-Istanbul by train    All-Europe train times

Greek island ferries:

www.ferries.gr for directory of Greek island ferry routes & operators.

Ferries Italy-Greece:

Superfast Ferries, Blue Star ferries, Minoan Lines, Hellenic Mediterranean Lines.  UK agent for most of these ferries: Viamare Travel

Railpasses:

Beginner's guide to European railpasses     Buy a rail pass online

Time zone:

GMT+2 (GMT+3 from last Sunday in March to last Saturday in October)

Currency:

£1 = approx 1.25 Euros.   $1 = 0.8 euros    Currency converter

Tourist information:

www.gnto.gr   Athens Metro: www.ametro.gr   Recommended guidebooks

Hotels & tours:

Find hotels in Greece   Backpacker hostels   Book tours & excursions

Visas:

UK citizens do not need visas for travel via any of the routes shown here.

Page last updated:

25 August 2008.  Train times valid from 15 June to 13 Dec 2008.

Above:  The Acropolis, Athens...

No problem!  You can travel from St Pancras station to mainland Greece in just 48 hours, with a bed at night in a sleeper on the train and a cabin on the ship, a restaurant for your meals, and great scenery.  Sailing across blue seas under even bluer skies past the islands of Ithaca and Kefalonia is a wonderful way to reach Greece.  A far more rewarding experience than 3 hours strapped to a seat on a plane, and affordable, too.  This page is a step-by-step guide to planning, booking & making a train & ferry journey from the UK to Greece, with schedules, fares, what the journey is like, and how to arrange tickets.

On this page:

London to Greece - a guide to the different options, with route map

London to Athens - by train & ferry via Bari (quickest, cheapest)

London to Athens - by train all the way via Vienna & Budapest

London to Athens - by train & ferry via Venice

London to Thessaloniki & Larissa

London to Meteora (Kalambaka)

London to Corfu

London to Kefalonia

London to Crete

London to Rhodes & other Greek islands

On other pages: 

Athens & Thessaloniki to Istanbul by train

Buying UK train tickets to connect with Eurostar   Taking bikes   Dogs   Luggage   General information

Sponsored links:

You can reach Greece from London either by train to Italy for the ferry to Patras, or by train all the way to Athens across eastern Europe via Vienna and Budapest.  Here are the main options:

Option 1, by train to Italy then cruise ferry to Greece...

This is the quickest, cheapest and most comfortable way from London to Greece without flying.  It's shown in red on the route map below.  It's a wonderful trip and a great alternative to a flight, taking just 48 hours from St Pancras station to stepping ashore in Greece.  Take Eurostar from London to Paris, the overnight sleeper from Paris to Bologna, then an air-conditioned train to Bari in southern Italy.  Modern cruise ferries sail overnight from Bari to Patras in Greece, for the train to Athens.  Why not stop off to see a little of Italy on the way?  Times, fares & information for this route are shown below.

Option 2, By train all the way to Athens...

The overland route from London to Greece takes you via Brussels, Cologne, Vienna, Budapest & Bucharest to Thessaloniki, Larissa & Athens.  This route is shown in dark blue on the route map below.  Alternatively, you can travel via Paris and/or via Belgrade - these alternative routes are shown in light blue on the map below.  Whichever route you take, the complete journey from London to Athens takes 3 nights, with safe & comfortable sleeping-cars available for each of the overnight sections.  It's an exciting journey with some wonderful scenery on the way, via Transylvania and the mountains of Greece.   Feel free to stop off if you like, too.  Train times, fares and information for this option are shown below.

Option 3, by train to Venice then by cruise ferry...

This is a simpler but longer variation of option 1.  You can take the train from London to Venice and a cruise ferry from Venice to Patras in Greece for the train to Athens.  This shows you Venice on the way, and it's a simpler train journey as there's a direct sleeper train from Paris to Venice.  Ships from Venice to Patras sail either daily or several times each week, depending on the season.  Train times, fares and information for this route are shown below.

Route map:

London-Athens by train & ferry via Italy

This is the most wonderful way to reach Greece, just 48 hours from London, with sleeping-cars and restaurant car on the Paris-Italy overnight train, lunch in the restaurant car on the Bologna-Bari train, and best of all, a cruise on a comfortable modern ferry across the sunny Adriatic from Italy to Greece, with the islands of Cephalonia and Ithaca passing slowly to starboard...

Train times London ► Greece:

• Day 1:  Travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 12:30 and arriving Paris Gare du Nord at 15:56.  You can also take a 13:00 or 13:32 Eurostar departure on certain dates.  Cross Paris by métro to the Gare de Bercy.

• Day 1:  Travel from Paris to Bologna overnight on the 'Palatino', leaving Paris Gare de Bercy at 18:59 and arriving in Bologna at 05:58 the next morning (day 2).  The Palatino is a EuroNight express, with 1-, 2- & 3-berth sleeping-cars, 4-berth & 6-berth ordinary couchettes (no seats).  There is a restaurant car for dinner and breakfast (3-course dinner menu 28 euros), or feel free to bring your own picnic and bottle of wine.  Click here for an illustrated guide to the Paris-Italy sleeper trains.

• Day 2:  Travel from Bologna to Bari by fast, air-conditioned Eurostar Italia train leaving Bologna at 08:56 and arriving Bari at 14:52.  There is a refreshment trolley, or feel free to bring your own food and wine.  The train follows the Adriatic coast for much of the way.  In Bari, you can walk (25 minutes) or take a taxi to the ferry terminal, which is next to Bari's attractive old town.

• Day 2:  Sail from Bari to Patras in Greece on the Superfast Ferries / Blue Star Ferries ferry leaving Bari daily except Sundays at 20:00 and arriving Patras at 12:30 the next day (day 3) (On Sundays the ship sails at 12:00, too early to make connections from Bologna or anywhere else).  You can book a 'deck place' (good if you have your own sleeping bag) or a reclining seat or a berth in various types of cabin, including luxury cabins with private shower and toilet.  The ship is modern and comfortable, with good restaurants, bars and sun decks.  You can check sailing times and dates either at the Seat61 Ferry Shop or at www.superfast.com.  Strolling the decks in the morning sun as the ship cruises past the islands of Cephalonia and Ithaca is the nicest part of the trip, and it's a wonderful way to arrive in Greece.  In Patras, the ferry arrives in the town centre just five minutes walk from the railway station, which is just outside the ferry dock and along the harbour-front road to the right.

• Day 3:  Travel from Patras to Athens by train, leaving Patras at 14:35 and arriving Athens (Larissa station) at 17:58.  Since 2006, this journey involves taking an InterCity train on the classic narrow-gauge line as far as Kiato (near Korinthos) and changing there onto the newly-completed standard-gauge fast line to Athens.  A small InterCity supplement is charged.  It's an enjoyable and scenic trip, as the train follows the blue waters of the gulf of Corinth for much of the way - look out for the new bridge at Rhion, and the crossing of the deep Corinth Canal soon after leaving Korinthos.

From London to Paris by Eurostar - see the Eurostar page for photos & information

From Paris to Bologna by sleeper train - see the Italy page for photos & information

From Bologna to Bari by Eurostar Italia...

From Bologna to Bari, you travel in a fast modern Eurostar Italia train, running along the seaside for much of the way...		Eurostar Italia 2nd class.  1st class doesn't cost much more, and is even more comfortable.

From Bari to Patras by cruise ferry...

Several ferry companies sail from Bari or Brindisi in Italy to Patras in Greece.  Probably the best one is the joint Superfast / Blue Star Ferries service as this uses modern ships, sails daily, and can easily be booked online.  If you book a 'deck place' you can use your own sleeping bag and set up camp in a covered area on deck near the stern.  For a few more pounds you can book a reclining seat.  Or you can book a berth in various types of cabin, including luxury cabins.  Most cabins have private shower and toilet.  The ferry crossing is the best part of the journey, over deep blue waters and past many islands.

At sea in the Adriatic.  The ship has cabins, restaurants & bars...		A 2- or 4-berth cabin, with private toilet and shower...		The best ferry service from Bari to Patras is jointly run by Blue Star Ferries and Superfast Ferries.  This is the Blue Star 1 at Patras.		On deck next morning!

From Patras to Athens by InterCity train...

Narrow gauge trains like this air-conditioned InterCity train link Patras with Athens.  The ferry companies also run buses to Athens, but the scenic train ride is more comfortable, more civilised and more enjoyable.  It is also included if you have an InterRail pass.

Train times Greece ► London:

• Day 1:  Travel from Athens to Patras by train, leaving Athens (Larissa Station) at 12:06 and arriving at Patras at 15:55.  This journey now involves travelling on the newly-completed standard-gauge fast line from Athens to Kiato (near Korinthos) and changing there onto the classic narrow-gauge InterCity train to Patras.  In Patras, the ferry terminal is just five minutes walk from the station, leave the station and turn left along the harbour side road.  An earlier 11:06 train from Athens is also available, change at Kiato arriving Patras at 14:27.

• Day 1:  Sail from Patras to Bari with Superfast Ferries leaving from Patras daily at 18:00 and arriving in Bari the next day (day 2) at 08:30.  Walk (25 minutes) or take a taxi to the station.  You can check sailing times and fares at either the Seat61 Ferry Shop or www.superfast.com.

• Day 2:  Travel from Bari to Bologna by air-conditioned Eurostar Italia train leaving Bari at 11:03 and arriving in Bologna at 17:04.  This train has a restaurant car, the 3-course set menu costs just 26 euros, a half bottle of wine about 7 euros, major credit cards accepted.  Treat yourself..!

• Day 2:  Travel from Bologna to Paris overnight on the 'Palatino', leaving Bologna at 22:02 and arriving in Paris (Gare de Bercy) at 09:10.  A range of couchettes and sleeping-cars is available, plus a restaurant car.  Click here for an illustrated guide to the Paris-Italy sleeper trains.  Cross Paris by métro to the Gare du Nord.

• Day 3:  Travel from Paris to London by Eurostar leaving Paris Nord at 12:13 and arriving at London St Pancras at 13:28.  An 11:13 Eurostar runs on Saturdays, Sundays and daily ^ July to 6 September 2008.

Approximate fares:

1. London to Paris by Eurostar:	Return fares start at £59 2nd class,  £149 1st class.  One-way fares start at £44 2nd class.  Advice on one-way Eurostar fares.  Child, youth & senior fares
2. Paris to Bologna by sleeper train:	In a couchette		In a sleeper
	6-berth	4-berth	3-berth	2-berth	1-berth
Special one-way fare:	From £30	£51	£106	£119	-
Special return fare:	From £60	£102	£212	£238	-
Normal one-way fare:	£94	£98	£136	£153	£225
Normal return fare:	£146	£162	£230	£264	£416
Normal child fare one-way:	£47	£51	£85	£94	-
Railpass fare one-way:	£22	£39	£56	£64	-
Special fare = Book at least 14 days in advance for couchettes, 30 days for sleepers. Limited places available at these prices, no refunds, no changes. Normal fare = Refundable and flexible.  There are no senior or youth reductions. Child fare = Child 4-11 years with own berth. Return fare twice the one-way fare. Children under 4 free, if they share a bed with an adult. Railpass fare:  What you pay if you have railpasses (Eurail, Interrail, etc) covering both Italy & France. If your pass only covers one country, there's a higher supplement. You can save about 6% on these Paris-Italy fares by paying in euros at voyages-sncf.com, instead of paying in pounds with UK agencies or websites.  Bookings open 90 days before departure.  On certain dates, 10-20% higher fares may be charged.
3. Bologna to Bari by Eurostar Italia train:	£37 one-way or £74 return 2nd class, £52 one-way or £104 return 1st class.
4. Bari to Patras by Superfast Ferries / Blue Star Ferries:	You can check fares and book online at www.superfast.com.  Fares vary by season and accommodation - here's some examples: With a basic deck place:  50 euros (£36) one-way, 87 euros (£63) return; With reclining seat:  70 euros (£51) one-way, 119 euros (£87) return; With berth in cabin: 105 euros (£78) one-way, 174 euros (£127) return.
5. Patras to Athens by train:	5.50 euros (£4) by ordinary train or 10 euros (£7) by InterCity train, one-way, 2nd class.  1st class fares are 50% more.  Buy these tickets at the station on arrival.

How to buy tickets online:

You can book the journey from London to Greece online, which is the easiest and cheapest way to do it.  Just follow the step-by-step instructions below.  It involves 3 websites, so do a dummy run on all three sites to check prices and availability before booking for real.  It's really not rocket science, but make sure you get your departure dates right for each leg of the journey outward and back.  It can help to jot down the date and departure time for each separate train and ship booking before you start (the how to plan an itinerary & budget page may help).

• Step 1:  Buy the Paris-Bologna sleeper train ticket at either www.raileurope.co.uk or www.voyages-sncf.com.  Which should you use?  Well, www.raileurope.co.uk is in English, for UK residents with tickets sent to any UK address and backed by a UK call centre, 0844 848 5 848.  It's now easier to use and more reliable than voyages-sncf.com.  www.voyages-sncf.com is for anyone from any country, it comes in several languages, the English button is at the bottom, tickets can be sent to any address in Europe including the UK, it has same fares as Rail Europe but in euros.  Voyages-sncf.com is quirky, so see this advice before using it. 

• Train reservations open 90 days before departure, you can't book before reservations open.

• There are more detailed booking instructions in the London-Florence section of the Italy page.

• Step 2:  Still on www.raileurope.co.uk or www.voyages-sncf.com, click 'continue shopping' and book the Eurostar from London to Paris and back.  Use the Eurostar times on this page as a guide, but feel free to choose an earlier Eurostar from London, or a later Eurostar returning from Paris, if these have cheaper seats available or if you'd like to stop off in Paris.  Don't forget that on your return journey, your departure date from Paris to London will be the day after your departure date from Bologna to Paris..!  For a one-way trip, remember that on Eurostar it is usually cheaper to book a return ticket and throw away the return half.

• Step 3:  Buy the Bologna-Bari train ticket online at www.trenitalia.com, after reading the advice on using the Trenitalia website.  Bookings open 60 days before departure.  Tickets can be picked up from the self-service ticket machines at Bologna station by entering your booking reference, or you can choose the ticketless option and simply quote your booking reference to the staff on board the train.  You will need to register to buy online - if you have trouble getting it to accept a UK postcode, just use '123456'...

• If you have any difficulties booking at trenitalia.com (which can struggle with some UK credit cards) you can buy Italian rail tickets online in the UK using the Seat61 Rail shop.  Prices are similar to those charged by Trenitalia but are shown in pounds and a small charge is made for postage.

• Finally, step 4:  Buy the Bari-Patras ferry ticket online either at the Seat61 Ferry Shop or at www.superfast.com, selecting the type of accommodation you want - either a deck place, a reclining seat, or various types of cabin berth.  Both the Seat61 Ferry Shop and www.superfast.com offer ticketless booking, which makes it easy.  You simply book online and quote your booking reference at the ferry check-in at the port.  Reservations open up to 12 months before departure.

• You can buy the Patras-Athens train ticket at Patras station when you get there.  This is the easiest option, as it's difficult to buy these tickets from outside Greece.  Getting a ticket on the day of travel at the station shouldn't be a problem.

How to buy tickets by phone:

• All the trains between London and Bari can be booked through any UK European rail agency, such as www.raileurope.co.uk on 0844 848 5 848, www.simplyrail.com (call 08700 84 14 14) or Ffestiniog Travel on 01766 51240.  Click here for a list of agencies.

• You can book Superfast Ferries from Italy to Greece with their UK agents, Viamare Travel, on 020 8343 5810.

• The train from Patras to Athens is best booked at the station in Patras.

Traveller's report...

Traveller Nick Stone returned to London from Athens this way in 2006:  "We took the 12:06 train from Athens to Patras via Korinthos and changed there for the Blue Star ferry to Bari.  The ferry ride was relaxing and we enjoyed beers and a lovely à la carte meal for 34 euros including drinks.  We were both impressed with quality of the meal and service.  We arrived 2 hours late in Bari, but made the 11:03 train to Bologna with 5 minutes to spare, and celebrated by having the set 26 euro menu lunch on the train and a bottle of wine.  Spent a 5 hours in Bologna which a great place for a short break before taking the sleeper overnight to Paris and the Eurostar home.  It was great trip and we thoroughly enjoyed it."

Railpasses:

Using a railpass for this journey will cost you more than buying the cheapest point-to-point tickets as explained above.  It also means you can't go online and book everything yourself, quickly and simply, but will need to buy a pass and make reservations through an agency, who will almost certainly charge you booking fees.  However, an InterRail pass (assuming  you are a European resident) would give you more flexibility and allow you to make side trips on the way to explore the countries you pass through.

See the InterRail page for pass information and prices, and buy your pass online at the Seat61 RailShop.

On top of the pass cost, add at least £59 return for the Eurostar, then there is a pass price for the Paris-Bologna train, £19 one-way in 6-bunk couchette, £33 one-way in 4-berth couchette.  You can see that compared with the special advance-purchase fares of 35 euros (£26) in 6-bunk or 60 euros (£44) one-way in 4-bunk, the pass doesn't save you much money..!

InterRail global passes give free travel on Superfast Ferries (Ancona or Bari to Corfu and Patras), Blue Ferries (Ancona & Bari to Corfu & Igoumenitsa) and Minoan Lines (Venice or Ancona to Corfu & Patras).  The InterRail gets you a 'deck place', and you will need to pay port taxes (about 6 Euro for departures from Bari), plus a supplement if you want a reclining seat or cabin berth.  Depending on the shipping operator, a reclining seat will cost £6-£12 each way, a berth in a 4-berth cabin about £19-25 each way.  You rail agency MAY be able to help you book a place on the ship in advance, but otherwise either book it when you arrive in Bari or Brindisi, or try contacting the ferry operator - for example via www.superfast.com.  The ships rarely sail completely full, and getting a place on your chosen sailing is not normally too much of a problem, even in the summer.

Alternative journeys via Brindisi or Ancona:

Superfast Ferries from Bari is recommended rather than ferries Brindisi for several reasons.  Superfast Ferries and their partners Blue Star Ferries use modern ships and sail daily to a convenient schedule with good connections possible from Paris, London, and most Italian cities.  Superfast Ferries sail from a terminal next to Bari's pleasant old town, and you can walk there from the station.  In Brindisi, most ships now use a new terminal a couple of miles out of town, reached by taxi or courtesy minibus from the shipping company offices in town.  Since 2004, there are few scheduled sailings from Brindisi, most go from Bari.

• If you prefer travelling via Brindisi, the 08:56 train from Bologna continues to Brindisi, where it arrives at 16:11.  Most ships serving Brindisi now use a modern terminal a couple of miles out of town, reached by taxi or courtesy minibus from the shipping company offices in town.

• Hellenic Mediterranean Lines (www.hmlferry.com) normally sail from Brindisi via Corfu to Patras in Greece at around 19:30 several times a week (almost daily in Summer), arriving in Patras around 14:00 next day (day 3 from London).

• Superfast Ferries have an (almost) daily ship from Ancona to Patras, which is also free for InterRail passholders - see www.superfast.com for sailing dates and times.  Train times from London to Ancona are shown on the London to Italy page.

This is an overland adventure through the Balkans, via Brussels, Cologne, Vienna, Budapest, Transylvania and Bucharest...  Once past Budapest, don't expect western standards such as air-conditioning on the trains, and bring you own supplies of food, water, wine or beer.  But if you book a sleeper you'll have a safe and comfortable journey, rediscovering some of the mystery, intrigue and romance of long-distance sleeping-car travel across Europe.  You'll also see some great scenery with your feet up and a beer or glass of red in your hand.  The recommended journey takes you via Romania and Bulgaria, although it's possible to travel via Serbia and security problems there are now resolved, the journey via Belgrade is not as comfortable or convenient. 

Prefer to travel via Paris?  The journey shown here takes you via Brussels and Cologne rather than Paris.  However, if you prefer to travel via Paris, no problem, simply take a lunchtime Eurostar to Paris, a TGV from Paris to Strasbourg and the Orient Express (the real one) from Strasbourg to Vienna, following the instructions shown on London to Austria page, then pick up the trains shown here from Vienna onwards to Athens. 

Prefer to travel via Belgrade?  See the Serbia page for train travel options between London & Belgrade, but do not rely on same-day connections in Belgrade.  The Hellas Express leaves Belgrade daily at 22:20 arriving Thessaloniki next day at 13:08.  It has seats (not recommended) and a sleeping-car with 1 2 & 3 berth compartments.  An InterCity train from Thessaloniki at 14:54 arrives Athens at 19:49.  Westbound, the Hellas Express leaves Thessaloniki at 16:15 arriving Belgrade at 05:06 next morning, sleeping-car available.

Train times London ► Greece:

• Day 1, travel from London to Brussels by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 12:57, arriving Brussels Midi 16:03.

• Day 1, travel from Brussels to Cologne by high-speed Thalys train, leaving Brussels Midi at 17:25 and arriving in Cologne Hauptbahnhof at 19:45.

• Alternatively, if you'd prefer a safer connection in Cologne (and perhaps time to climb Cologne cathedral towers and have a meal), you can leave London earlier, at 10:00, changing in Brussels to arrive Cologne at 15:45.

• Day 1:  Travel from Cologne to Vienna on the excellent City Night Line hotel train 'Donau Kurier', leaving Cologne Hauptbahnhof at 20:06 and arriving in Vienna Westbahnhof at 08:35.  The 'Donau Kurier' has sleeping-cars (1 & 2 berth deluxe with shower, 1, 2 or 4 berth standard sleepers with washbasin), couchettes (4 & 6 berth compartments), reclining seats & a bar-restaurant car, see the photos & information below.  The train travels along the famous Rhine Valley between Koblenz and Frankfurt, so if you are in a sleeper and your compartment happens to be on the left-hand side of the train, switch off the lights and watch the Rhine pass by, mountains and castles lit by moonlight, while sipping a glass of Riesling.  Wonderful..!

• Day 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest on air-conditioned InterCity train 'Avala', leaving Vienna Westbahnhof at 09:52 and arriving in Budapest Keleti station at 12:53.  A restaurant car is available, serving drinks, snacks and affordable meals.  3D virtual tour of 'Avala' 2nd class, 3D virtual tour of 'Avala' restaurant.

• Day 2, travel from Budapest to Bucharest overnight on the EuroNight sleeper train 'Ister', leaving Budapest Keleti at 17:45 and arriving Bucharest at 08:43 next day.  The 'Ister' has safe & comfortable Romanian sleeping-cars with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin (recommended), 6-berth couchettes, and ordinary seats (not recommended).  There's a restaurant car for dinner & breakfast.  This train crosses Transylvania by night, and after Brasov (reached around 06:00 next morning) it descends a pass through the Carpathian mountains, a very scenic section of line.

• Day 3, travel from Bucharest to Athens on the 'Romania', leaving Bucharest at 12:15 and arriving next day in Salonika ('Thessaloniki' in Greek) at 05:41, Larissa 09:24  & Athens at 14:06 (all on Day 4 from London).  The 'Romania' has a Romanian sleeping-car which runs from Bucharest as far as Thessaloniki, with 1, 2 & 3 bed carpeted compartments with washbasin.  This is the recommended civilised option - if you're heading for Athens or Larissa you can simply transfer from the sleeping-car to a seating carriage in Thessaloniki.  There is also a modern air-conditioned Romanian couchette car running all the way from Bucharest to Athens, with 2nd class 6-berth compartments & more comfortable 1st class 4-berth compartments.  There's no restaurant car, so take your own supplies of food, water and wine or beer.  The train crosses the wide River Danube on a long steel bridge from Romania into Bulgaria, then meanders through pleasant green river valleys, a very enjoyable journey.  It stops in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia.  Next day in Greece, the train passes right by Mount Olympus, the mythical home of the Greek gods soon after leaving Thessaloniki, and once south of Larissa passes through some spectacular mountain scenery, crossing viaducts whose predecessors were famously blown up by the British Special Operations Executive in WW2 before descending a dramatic escarpment.  Highly recommended!  Passport formalities will be carried out at both the Romania/Bulgaria border and the Bulgaria/Greek border, but these take place on board the train.

On board the City Night Line hotel train from Cologne to Vienna...

The City Night Line 'Donau Kurier' is a travelling hotel, with bar-restaurant-reception car, distinctive double-decker sleeping-cars with 1 & 2-bed deluxe sleepers with private shower & toilet, 1, 2 & 4 bed standard sleepers with washbasin, single-deck couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and reclining seats.  A wonderful way to travel..!  The sleeper berths come fully made up with sheets and duvets.  All sleeper passengers get mineral water in the evening and a light breakfast served in their compartment next morning, deluxe sleeper passengers also get a complimentary glass of wine in the evening.  Towels and toiletries are provided, including shampoo and shower gel in the deluxe sleeper.  Couchette passengers get mineral water, each couchette is provided with clean sheets, blanket and pillow.  The bar-restaurant is open to all passengers, and it's normally open to about 2am.  If you like, you can book a table for dinner in the restaurant car before you travel, by emailing service@citynightline.ch or using the online form at www.bahn.de/citynightline.  When waiting for the northbound City Night Line train at Vienna Westbahnhof, if you have a sleeper ticket (as opposed to couchette or seat ticket), you can use the first class station lounge, with complimentary drinks.

				3-D panorama, City Night Line 2-berth deluxe sleeper 3-D panorama, double-deck sleeper corridor City Night Line sleeper, couchette & seat numbering plans City Night Line website: www.bahn.de/citynightline.
One of the impressive double-deck sleeping-cars in the new City Night Line red & white livery...		A table for dinner in the train's bar-restaurant.  There's also a bar serving drinks & snacks.

Deluxe sleeper: Compact rooms on top deck, 1 or 2 berths, table & chairs, shower & toilet.  3-D panorama.		Standard sleeper:  Very compact 1 or 2 berth rooms with washbasin.  Mainly lower deck.		4-berth couchettes:  Ideal for families.  Much more space per person than 6-berth, so worth the extra few euros.		6-berth couchettes:  Shown here with middle bunks lowered to form sofa.  Very economical, far better than a seat.		Reclining seats:  The cheapest way to travel, but a couchette is a far better option.

From Vienna to Budapest by EuroCity train - what's the Vienna-Budapest EuroCity train like..?

From Budapest to Bucharest by EuroNight 'Ister'...

You can choose between a comfortable sleeper (carpeted 1- 2- or 3-bed compartments with proper beds and washbasin) or a basic couchette (6-berth compartments).  The Romanians use comfortable sleeping cars like this one on the night trains between Budapest and Bucharest, and there's even a shower at the end of the corridor (although water pressure and temperature might not be brilliant!).  Couchette cars have compartments with 6 seats by day which convert to bunks for night time use with rug, sheet and pillow supplied.  Couchettes are fairly basic - a proper bed in the sleeper is much more comfortable and secure, costs very little extra, and is the recommended option.
A Romanian sleeping-car, of the sort used on both the 'Ister' between Budapest and Bucharest.  They have comfortable, carpeted bedrooms.		A 1-bed sleeper.  The same room can be used as a 2-or 3-berth room.		6-bunk couchette.  The other 3 bunks are just out of shot to the left...

From Bucharest to Athens on the 'Romania'...

The 'Romania' is a new service introduced in December 2007, with a new direct sleeping-car between Bucharest and Athens.  It