We are thinking about taking a night train from Milan to Budapest in early Oct. Has anyone used euro Railways night trains?

Euro Railways is an agency, it doesn't run trains

However as an answer to your question -

http://www.seat61.com/international-...Milan-Budapest

Wonderful! Thank you for the link. That answers all of my questions.

I have taken hundreds of night trains and all have similar patterns - the quality of sleep depends often on whether you have a private compartment or not - and those can be pricey but IME well worth it vs a 6-person mixed sex couchette - for lots of details on night trains in general check not only wonderful www.seat61.com but www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

You are really taking the Zurich to Budapest overnight train with a connecting train to Zurich - you could go earlier in the day if you want and spend some time in Zurich - check www.sbb.ch - Swiss Railways for night train fares and deals.

Milan Lampugnano dp 13.00 - bus - Munich 21.25/23.36 - Euronight train - Budapest ar 9.05

Milano Centrale dp 16.25 - train - Zurich 20.28/21.40 - Euronight train - Budapest ar 9.05

Milano Centrale dp 18.05 - Frecciabianca - Mestre 20.28/21.09 - Euronight train - Wien Hbf 7.51/8.12 - Budapest ar 10.49

Milano Centrale dp 16.25 - train - Zurich 20.28/21.40 - Euronight train - Budapest ar 9.05>

Of the three options neckervd presents this is the only one that makes sense to me - no crowded bus and only one change of trains.

I've taken an overnight train from Venice (Venezia Santa Lucia) to Vienna with a change in the morning to Budapest. It worked very nicely, was an excellent train with private sleeping compartments, if that would fit into your plans.

http://www.seat61.com/international-...#Venice-Vienna

But that is one more change of trains - Milan to Zurich to Budapest is more direct but if in Venice yes but to go from Milan to Venice then change in Vienna - always nice on a night train to end up at your destination on the night train IME.

I'm by no means suggesting she go to Venice to take that train if she isn't going to Venice anyway. One never knows what may be included in an itinerary of which we are unaware and why I mentioned it.

I think it could be a good idea for some to go to Venice for the day - perhaps having been there before - and spend a day then hop the night train - even from Milan. And I second your endorsement of the Venice to Vienna night train being one of the nicer ones I've been on - have taken it several times. Good info.

When I took the evening train from Venice I'd come from Lucca. I'd been to Venice twice before, once for 2 weeks, then 1 week, in the years prior and just as you say PQ, spent the late afternoon & early evening walking and getting a bite to eat before getting on the train.

Here it is: http://www.travelgumbo.com/blog/chan...la-serenissima

Palen:
The train I mentioned
Milano Centrale dp 18.05 - Frecciabianca - Mestre 20.28/21.09 - Euronight train - Wien Hbf 7.51/8.12 - Budapest ar 10.49
and that recommended by Mme Perdue is just the same.

Price could be a factor on what type of tickets remain on each - say if all private compartments are booked up on one - try the other - otherwise I'd take the one that got there the earliest and with fewest changes.