Venice (photo © Grafner / dreamstime.com)

Route 27: Historic Habsburg cities

Travelling from Venice to Zagreb by train

Route introduction

This route starts with a train journey along the coast to Trieste, from where we zigzag up into the hills to reach the dry karst. After that we travel east to the Slovenian capital Ljubljana, then follow a scenic rail route down the Sava Valley towards the Croatian capital, Zagreb. We are, in effect, following in reverse the journey described by Ian Fleming in From Russia with Love, where James Bond took the train out of Yugoslavia (though not, as it happens out of danger).

MAP Double click on the map (or double tap on mobile) to zoom in. You can connect onto other routes in places shown in red. Change to a layer showing a more familiar road map view by clicking on the menu at the top right of the map. Get back to the original view by clicking on the house icon shown in the top left menu on the map.

Europe by Rail: The Definitive Guide

Whether you are making a long grand tour or just planning a couple of weekend breaks, Europe by Rail is the perfect guide. The book describes over 52 key routes in detail. Together, they span mainland Europe and – brand new for this 16th edition – now also the British Isles. Find out more about the guidebook below.

The 19th edition of the definitive guide to exploring Europe by rail is published on 22 June 2026. With tips on ticketing, fares and accommodation, Europe by Rail has become the definitive guide to exploring Europe by train. Read here the book's word of welcome.
Europe by Rail contains all that's necessary to plan your rail journey through Europe: 52 route descriptions, a country gazetteer, rail connections, information on Eurail and Interrail passes and more.
The 19th edition of Europe by Rail: The Definitive Guide will be published on 22 September 2026. This page lists retailers who stock this edition of the guidebook.