Itinerary - 6 Night Holiday By Rail

Day 1 - Travel to Munich

Take the Eurostar from London to Brussels, where you change trains for the high speed ICE train for Cologne. In Cologne you switch to another high speed train to Munich.

On arrival in Munich check into the Courtyard Munich City Centre, where you will stay overnight.

Railbookers recommends stopping off in Cologne for an extra night on the way to Munich. Cologne has a lot to offer the casual visitor: some great dining opportunities and walks by the Rhine.

Day 2 - Munich to Salzburg

Spend the morning strolling the streets of Munich. The English Garden is a must and try the Hofbrauhaus for a beer and meal before your afternoon train to Salzburg. Journey time is 1 and a half hours.

On arrival in Salzburg check intol the Austrotel Salzburg, where you will stay for two nights.

Salzburg is your first taste of Austria and the mountains…and don't forget it's home to the Sound of Music! Try the restaurants on the right side of the river around Linzergasse for the real Salzburg. For the real beer experience you need to head for the atmospheric Mullner Brewery - known officially as the Augustiner Braustubel.

Day 3 - Day trip to Hallstatt

After breakfast you travel by train to the World Heritage Site of Hallstatt in the Austrian Lake District (Salzkammergut). Once at Hallstatt train station a small boat will take you across lake Hallstatter See (5 euros return, payable locally) to the village perched on the shore. You have the day at leisure to explore - take the funicular to the Salt Mine or have look at the wonderful painted glass arts in the shops, before heading back to Salzburg for your second night.

Day 4 - Salzburg to Innsbruck

Today you take the slow train from Salzburg to Innsbruck. The scenic route takes you to Zell Am Zee and on to the beautiful mountained-surrounded city of Innsbruck, in the middle of the Tyrol. You pass through some of the most mountainous and scenic parts of Austria, so just sit back and enjoy the panoramic views.

On arrival in Innsbruck check into the Weisses Kreuz Innsbruck, where you will stay for two nights.

Day 5 - Day trip to Italy on the Brenner Pass Line

After breakfast you take the train from Innsbruck to the Italian Alps via the Brenner Pass. This scenic journey takes you through Alpine meadows, and past snowy peaks before arriving into the beautiful Italian town of Trento where you will have time to eat some lunch and have a wander round the Renaissance centre.

Travel back from Trento later in the afternoon for your second night in Innsbruck.

Day 6 - Innsbruck to Zurich

After spending another morning in Innsbruck you will take the train from east to west across the Swiss border to Zurich. This is a spectacular journey as you travel along the Arlberg Pass, through mountain meadows and the Austrian and Swiss Alps. After passing the Swiss border the train journey finishes by travelling along the banks of Lake Zurich, before arriving into Zurich in the early afternoon.

On arrival in Zurich check intol the Helmhaus Zurich, where you will stay overnight.

Spend the evening by the lake in the old town district of Niederdorf, famous for its bars, restaurants, lounges and fashion shops for the young and stylish.

Day 7 - Zurich to London

Spend the morning in Zurich exploring Switzerland's most comopolitan and elegant city, situated on the banks of the river Limmat. The city features an impressive number of art galleries and museums, among which the Swiss National Museum and the Kunsthaus are probably the most famous.

Travel back to London via Paris after lunch on the high speed TGV Lyria and Eurostar trains.

Railbookers recommends to ask one of our travel department for a quote to upgrade your train travel to 1st class. Not only are you seated in more spacious carriages with more leg room, you also have a lot more room for luggage. There is also a waiter service on board throughout Germany on their ICE trains.