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By train to Slovenia
For many European holiday destinations you don’t need to fly. But can you take the train to Slovenia? We looked into the train journey from the Netherlands to Slovenia for you. Where do you book this? And how long does the train journey take? You’ll find it all here at GoSlovenia
On holiday to Slovenia by train
A holiday by train has become increasingly popular in recent years. The ideal would be a direct train connection to your final destination. Unfortunately, at the moment there are still no trains running directly between the Netherlands and Slovenia. But with a few changes, you can get to Slovenia by train quite easily. On average, a train trip to Slovenia takes 16 hours. But there are several options. What are they?
Train routes to Slovenia
There are several routes to get to Slovenia by train. Below we discuss the most interesting train routes towards the capital Ljubljana and the northwest by Bled and Triglav National Park.
Route 1: By night train to Slovenia
You start your journey from the Netherlands towards Germany. For example, take the fast ICE train from Amsterdam to Frankfurt. The second step is to travel by train to Augsburg, Munich or Salzburg (Austria). From these cities, there is a night train to Ljubljana. If you leave the Netherlands in the afternoon, you’ll be in Slovenia early the next morning.
Route 2: The Villach transfer route
If you prefer not to take the night train, it’s also best to travel first to Munich or Salzburg. From here you catch a train to the city of Villach. This city is located near the border with Slovenia. From Villach you can take a train towards Slovenia. This train also runs northwest towards Ljubljana.
Route 3: Via Vienna
From the German city of Frankfurt there is a fast train to the Austrian capital Vienna. From Vienna you take the train to Ljubljana. This route brings you into Slovenia via the northeast. You will pass the city of Maribor on the way.
Route 4: Linz-Graz route
If you take the fast ICE Train from the Netherlands to Frankfurt, you change in Frankfurt onto the ICE to Linz. In Linz you take the next fast ICE onwards to the Austrian city Graz. From Graz, the train heads to Ljubljana. If you leave Arnhem at 9am, you’ll arrive in Ljubljana just before 1am. A journey of 16 hours. Not the shortest, but it’s the fastest route with no sleeper train.
Train tickets to Slovenia
The easiest way is to plan and book your train journey via the website of the German Railways (bahn.de). Your route options and connections from your starting point will be worked out for you here. Slovenian stations are not yet shown on the NS International site. However, you can use the NS site to plan your journey to, for example, Villach or Vienna.
Watch out for delays in Germany
Bear in mind when planning that trains in Germany have frequently been delayed in recent years. If your changeover time is very short, you may risk missing your connection. Not a great start to your holiday.
Make your stopovers city breaks
If you take the train to Slovenia, you can also split up your journey into stages. Cities like Frankfurt, Munich and Vienna are well worth a visit. That way, a stopover on your route isn’t a chore but a fun city break to Munich or Vienna. And round off your journey with a city break in Ljubljana, the capital.
Car train
From the Netherlands, taking your car on the train to Slovenia? Unfortunately, that’s not possible yet. But from the German city of Düsseldorf there is a car train to Villach in summer and winter. This Austrian place is close to the border with Slovenia. Make sure you book this trip in good time. Places on this car train are often fully booked months in advance. The train journey saves you a long drive. The car train is particularly interesting for owners of electric vehicles!
Also discover the car train in Slovenia.
