‘A welcome sight after any journey’: readers’ favourite European railway hotels

From Galway to Venice, our tipsters choose their favourite places to stay which are near a train station

Venice is a place where you want to maximise your time and enjoy its unique atmosphere; a stay at the Hotel Abbazia let me do both last summer. The hotel is a former monastery, home to Carmelite monks in the 15th century, and is just a three-minute walk from Santa Lucia station. It has a lovely courtyard, perfect for reading a Donna Leon detective book and sipping a spritz while waiting for the evening train to Rome, as I did. The rooms have lovely classical paintings and polished wooden tables. You can also relax around the wood fire in the lounge where the monks used to have their Bible readings.
Doubles from €117, abbaziahotel.com
Ann