Slovenia, Austria: Part 1 - Day 1 and 2: Stockholm to Berlin to Augsburg

Summer holidays 2024 in Slovenia and Austria! The train adventure continues further south. It get warmer the farther south we go. This year, after my travels, I felt that my summer adventure is not fulfilling. I felt that the countries I travel to are similar in its architecture and landscape. I would like to do something different for my next summer holiday.

This is my route for this year:

Stockholm, Sweden --> overnight train to Berlin, Germany --> train to Augsburg, Germany (1 night) --> overnight train to Ljubljana, Slovenia (2 nights) --> bus to Bled, Slovenia (3 nights) --> train to Salzburg, Austria (3 nights) --> train to Vienna, Austria (2 nights) --> overnight train to Berlin --> overnight train to Stockholm

Here is a summary of what is spent on Day 1 and 2

23/7 Day 1: Overnight train from Stockholm at 4.20pm. Changed train at Malmö at 9.20pm. Departed Malmö 10.40pm

24/7 Day 2: Reached Berlin at 8am. Visited Information Centre for the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. Train to Augsburg at 2.18pm. Reached Augsburg 8.18pm. 

Costs

(1) Snälltåget train ticket return Stockholm to Berlin SEK3197. 

(2) Train from Berlin to Augsburg EUR22,30, reserved seats EUR4,90

(3) Locker at Berlin train station EUR6 (shared)

Accommodation

(1) Hotel Jakoberhof, Augsburg - Shared room EUR79 for 3 persons, EUR26,33 per person

 

Food

(1) Dinner on Snälltåget - Salisburg steak with red wine sauce, roasted potato and haricot verts SEK139

(2) Breakfast at Berlin train station - Cheese sandwich EUR5,60 and cappucino EUR3,80

(3) Lunch at Augustine Bierhaus, Berlin - 1kg pork knuckle EUR22,50, 500ml radler EUR4,90, shared tip EUR8,25

(4) Tea break on train to Augsburg - Brewed coffee and chocolate cake (shared) - EUR6,20

(5) Dinner at Fugurei Biergarten - Leftover pork knuckle from lunch, 500ml radler EUR4,90

The Story

23072024 Evening: My favourite train, Snälltåget arrived on time! I did not realise that the train had 1 change in Malmo and we were nervous if we will miss the connecting train. The first time we took Snälltåget in 2022, I booked a direct train and the train stopped in Malmö but we did not change our carriage. We did not miss any connecting train. The train had to stop in Malmö to connect to another locomotive that will travel to Berlin. 

We had our dinner in the train. We booked a table at 7.30pm through Snälltåget's website. The table is reserved for 1 hour only. However, as we booked a late time, there were no other diners after us and we sat longer than 1 hour.

Prices in the menu has increased by SEK10. In 2022, I had carrot and feta cheese patties for SEK119. This year, that dish costs SEK129. I knew the menu photo I took will come in handy. Haha! 

This year, I decided to have steak with red wine sauce and roasted potatoes. In 2022, the menu had this dish for SEK129. It increased by SEK10 this year. The portion is not huge but it was sufficient. 

We reached Malmö by 9.20pm, as scheduled. We waited for the connecting train to arrive. It was slightly delayed but we were happy when it arrived.

I had a good night sleep in the train and woke up feeling good in Berlin!

24072024: We arrived in Berlin main train station at 8am. We were supposed to arrive at 7.46am but the 15 minutes were not a huge delay. We put our bags in the locker storage which is in the train station too. We chose a locker that could fit all 3 backpacks. Then, we bought cheese sandwiches and coffee at a random bakery in the train station. 

After breakfast, we walked to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe to visit the Information Centre. We were here last year during a walking tour but we did not have the time to visit the Information Centre. The guide told us that it was worth a visit and it is free. So, I planned it for this year. While waiting for the doors to open, we checked our train ride to Augsburg which was scheduled at 3.34pm. Luckily, we checked because the 3.34pm train changed its final destination and it was not going to stop at Augsburg. We had bad experience from our train ride in Germany in 2022, hence, the check. So, we decided to try to get the earlier train at 2.04pm instead which will stop at Augsburg. We did not even get any email or messages that our train is affected. 

Then, it was lunch at Augustine Bierhaus. We made the mistake of ordering the 1kg pork knuckles each. I did not realise that 1kg was too much. I have very poor judgement when it comes to distance and weight. The first bite was really good. Crunchy and warm. Unfortunately, I could not finish my lunch and I packed it to be eaten for dinner. :) The left-overs followed me on my train ride to Augsburg!

Menu at Augustine Bierhaus because I know one day, I am going to compare the prices...

After lunch, we hurried to Berlin train station and went to the Information Centre where we got to change our tickets. Initially, the customer service lady said that we were unable to board the 2.04pm as we bought the 3.34pm tickets at a discounted price and this price is not applicable for the 2.04pm. We informed her that the train was not going to stop at Augsburg so we have no choice. She keyed in some information in the system and stamped on our printed tickets that we could take the earlier thain. Unfortunately, the lady could not help us with seat reservations as it was too close to the train departure time. It was 1.55pm. We went to the designated platform, spoke to a train attendant in English but he replied to us in German although we said that we could not understand German... wow. So, we spoke to another train attendant who could speak English and he informed us that his colleague just explained the same thing. I said that we don't understand German. Ohmaigawd...

We boarded the train and there were many available seats. We had no problem in finding seats with a table. The train departed at 2.18pm and we arrived in Augsburg at 8.18pm, as scheduled in our initial tickets. On the train, a train attendant came out with a tray of goodies to sell. So, we went to the restaurant carriage and bought ourselves some coffee and cakes. We got complimentary cookies with our coffee. There were no seats in the restaurant carriage. Only tables and we leaned against the carriage. 

We arrived in Augsburg at 8.18pm. Too bad that there was no sign on the train station that states Augsburg. Building looks a bit dull. 

We walked to the hotel. It took us 20 minutes. We got a shared room for 3 persons. It was warm although there was an air-cond in the room. The air-cond was far from me and we could not open the window as there were bugs flying in. 

After checking in, we had our dinner at a Biergarten which was just behind the hotel. It took us about 1 minute to get there. We did not realise that this is Fuggurei Biergarten which we visited the next day. I was confused when there were some persons closing the gate when we were leaving the Biergarten. I understood why the next day as this is the Fuggurei.

My travel companions had some sausages while I had my leftover pork knuckle from lunch. Haha! It was no longer crunchy and I did not eat pork knuckles for the rest of the trip.

Beer to end the day. I had my favourite radler, of course!