10 of 12 city-changes are by train. 1 short flight (Paris → Venice). 1 ferry (Hallstatt day trip). Long-haul via Asia both ways.
My top picks for the MEL ↔ Europe legs, all via Asia (not Middle East):
Outbound: MEL → SIN (SQ208, 7h 30m) → MUC (SQ326, 13h). ~26h door-to-door.
Return: FCO → SIN (SQ357, 12h overnight) → MEL (SQ207, 7h 30m). ~24h door-to-door.
Cost: A$2,400–2,800 economy / A$5,800–6,500 premium econ / A$15k+ business.
Why: Top-3 long-haul service globally. A380 + A350 fleet. Singapore Changi is the world's best airport. Easy add-on: 2-night Singapore stopover coming home to break up the 24h journey.
Outbound: MEL → HKG (CX134) → MUC (CX289).
Return: FCO → HKG (CX292) → MEL (CX105).
Cost: A$2,200–2,600 economy. Often cheaper than SQ.
Pros: cheaper. Cons: HKG layovers can be longer/awkward times.
Outbound: MEL → BKK (TG462) → MUC (TG924).
Cost: A$2,000–2,400 economy (cheapest of three).
Pros: cheapest, Bangkok stopover means great food. Cons: older fleet on some routes.
Outbound: MEL → Tokyo → FRA or MUC.
Cost: A$2,800–3,200 economy.
Pros: Japanese service is unbeaten. Tokyo stopover would be amazing. Cons: longer northern routing, fewer direct Europe connections.
For ~A$200pp extra on a multi-city booking, spend Jan 9–11 in Singapore on the way home. Marina Bay Sands for the night (~A$500/n with infinity pool). Maxwell + Chinatown hawker centres for chilli crab + Hainanese chicken rice. Gardens by the Bay at sunset. Lands you in Melbourne refreshed instead of zombie. Worth every dollar.
| # | From → To | Date | Mode | Time | Price/pp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Munich → Nuremberg | Dec 15 | ICE | 1h10 | €40 adv |
| 1b | (optional Rothenburg stop) | Dec 15 | Via Steinach | +3h detour | Eurail covers |
| 2 | Nuremberg → Prague | Dec 16 | EC direct | 4h45 | €40 adv |
| 3 | Prague → Vienna | Dec 18 | Railjet | 4h | €50 adv |
| 4 | Vienna → Salzburg | Dec 20 | Railjet | 2h22 | €30 adv |
| 4b | Hallstatt day trip from Salzburg | Dec 21 | Train + ferry | 2h30 each way | €50 return |
| 5 | Salzburg → Lucerne | Dec 23 | Railjet + IR via Zurich | 5h45 | €120 |
| 6 | Lucerne → Grindelwald | Dec 25 | Lucerne-Interlaken Express + cogwheel | 2h30 (scenic!) | CHF 80 ≈ €85 |
| 7 | Grindelwald → Strasbourg | Dec 29 | Local + ICE via Basel | 5h30 | €110 |
| 8 | Strasbourg → Paris | Dec 30 | TGV | 1h45 | €60 adv |
| 9 | Paris CDG → Venice VCE | Jan 2 | Flight (ITA AZ325) | 2h15 | €130 incl bag |
| 10 | Venice airport → Ortisei | Jan 2 | Pre-booked shuttle | 2h45 | €80 |
| 11 | Ortisei → Florence | Jan 4 | Bus to Bolzano + Frecciarossa | 4h30 total | €72 |
| 12 | Florence → Rome | Jan 6 | Frecciarossa | 1h32 | €45 adv |
| 13 | Rome → Singapore → Melbourne | Jan 9 | Long-haul | ~24h | (return ticket) |
Total intra-Europe per person: ~€770 ≈ A$1,270. Plus airport transfers ~€60 ≈ A$100.
15-day Continuous · 2nd class · Adult (28+):
€620 ≈ A$1,020 per person
Covers (for you): Legs 1–8 (every train leg), the Hallstatt day trip, regional trains in DE/CZ/AT/CH/FR. Activate on first train Dec 15 → clock runs 15 consecutive days till Dec 29 (Strasbourg arrival). After that you've got the Italy flight + the Frecciarossa segments to pay for separately (Bolzano → Florence → Rome = ~€110pp = A$180).
Pros: flex on day-trips and route changes, free regional trains, discounts on lake boats + cable cars. Catches: TGV / Frecciarossa / Railjet require seat reservation (€10–30 each). Doesn't cover the Jungfraujoch cogwheel (that's CHF 240pp anyway).
All 8 train legs + Italy segments:
~€570 ≈ A$940 per person
Pros: ~A$80pp cheaper than Eurail, pick exact seats months in advance.
Cons: Advance fares are non-refundable. Miss your train, ticket dies. Time-locked plans. 4 different rail apps.
My take: Eurail Global Pass. The ~A$80pp surcharge is the best insurance you can buy when winter weather affects mountain trains. Worth it.
| City | Hub | To | Mode | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Munich (arrival) | MUC airport | Marienplatz | S-Bahn S1/S8 | 45 min | €15 (group day pass) |
| Prague | Praha hl.n. | Old Town | Metro C → Můstek | 10 min | CZK 80 ≈ A$7 |
| Vienna | Wien Hbf | Stephansplatz | U1 | 15 min | €4.80 (2 × single) |
| Salzburg | Salzburg Hbf | Old town | Walk OR bus 25/2 | 15 min | €5 or walk free |
| Hallstatt (day trip) | Hallstatt Bahnhof | Village across the lake | Ferry (meets every train) | 5 min | €8 (return) |
| Lucerne | Lucerne Bahnhof | Old town | Walk | 5 min | Free |
| Grindelwald | Grindelwald Terminal | Hotel | Walk or free hotel shuttle | 5–10 min | Free |
| Strasbourg | Strasbourg Gare | Petite France / Cathedral | Walk | 10–15 min | Free |
| Paris (Gare de l'Est arrival) | Gare de l'Est | Saint-Germain | Métro line 4 | 15 min | €4.80 |
| Paris (CDG departure to VCE) | CDG | — | RER B | 40 min | €11.45pp |
| Venice → Ortisei | VCE | Hotel | Cortina Express / Südtirol Transfer | 2h45 | €80pp prebook |
| Ortisei → Bolzano | Ortisei village | Bolzano Bahnhof | Bus 350 (hourly) | 1h | €7pp |
| Rome (final) | FCO airport | Termini | Leonardo Express | 32 min | €14pp |
Uber: Paris. Bolt: Germany, Czechia, Austria, France, Italy. FreeNow: Munich, Vienna, Rome. Switzerland: traditional taxi only — book through your hotel. Strasbourg + Dolomites + Grindelwald: tiny — walk or call a local taxi.
| City | Card | Cost for two | Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Munich | Airport-City Group Day-Ticket | €15/day | All transit + airport |
| Nuremberg | VGN Day Ticket | €11.40/day | Tram + U-Bahn + bus |
| Prague | Public Transport 72h | CZK 660 for two | All metro/tram/bus + airport bus |
| Vienna | Wiener Linien 72h | €34/pp | All transit + 210 attraction discounts |
| Salzburg | Salzburg Card 48h | €68/pp | Transit + most museums + fortress funicular |
| Lucerne | Tell-Pass 2-day (winter) | CHF 220/pp | Mt Rigi + lake boats + cable cars + transit |
| Grindelwald | Jungfrau Travel Pass 4-day | CHF 240/pp | Top of Europe + First cable car + transit + Lauterbrunnen + Wengen |
| Strasbourg | Walk + tram day pass | €4.60/day pp | Tram + bus (1 night only) |
| Paris | Navigo Easy + Day Pass | €16.90/pp/day | Métro + RER in Paris + close suburbs |
| Dolomites | Dolomiti Superski 2-day | €138/pp | All 4 Val Gardena ski areas + Alpe di Siusi cable car |
| Florence | Walk — no card needed | — | Florence is tiny, on foot |
| Rome | Roma Pass 72h | €52/pp | Public transport + 2 museums + discounts |
SBB handles snow well but mountain lines (Jungfraujoch cogwheel, Rigi) sometimes close. If so: spend the day in the village. Lucerne-Interlaken Express has alternate routes via Brünig.
EU 261 gives cash compensation (€250–600pp) for 3+ hour delays or cancellations less than 14 days notice on flights departing EU. Don't sign vouchers — ask for cash. AirHelp + Flightright handle claims for 25%.
DB Germany: SuperSparpreis lets you take the next train if missed due to a connection issue. Italy Trenitalia: strict — buy a new ticket at the machine. Eurail pass solves this — just board the next one.
Common in winter. Lower elevation green runs at Alpe di Siusi usually still open even when high lifts close. Or: spa day at hotel, Apfelstrudel at Café Mauriz, save the lift pass for Day 2.
Prague Old Town is a maze. Get to Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí) as your anchor. From there, Charles Bridge is southwest, Wenceslas Square is southeast, your hotel staff knows the way.
Carry 2 cards (Wise + Revolut) in separate bags. Freeze a lost card instantly via the app. Always carry €200 + €200 cash split between you. See the Safety page for the full lost-card response.