12 days in Italy and Austria - need help for train travel

Your itinerary isn't very practical and with this schedule you would only see the inside of a train and train stations. With only 12 days I would pick either Italy or Austria, not both.

Budget airlines would be a better option than the train and possibly cheaper.
http://www.whichbudget.com/en/

Why are you flying to Rome if you aren't spending any time there? You would have to at least stay your last night there to catch your flight.

I think your itinerary is very doable as i have done similar trips by rail many many times so it is a value judgment as to whether or not it is practical. Check on train schedules at http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en?, the German Railways website that has schedules for all of Europe and is easier for me to use than trenitalia.com, the Italian Railways web site. For loads on rail travel in Europe i always point out: www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com - sites with lots of info. Off hand i do not see any railpass being of great value on your itinerary - esp since in Italy with a pass you still must pay about $20-25 extra to use the fastest trains.
When are you doing this trip? If in winter Zell-am-See area may not be too exciting unless skiing.

Hi LI,

Check the train schedules at www.bahn.de.

You might want to rethink this plan.

Fly into Rome and Train to Bologna - stay for 2 nights
Train to Innsbruck for 2 nights
Train to Zell am see for 3 nights
Train to Verona/Venice for 3 nights
Train to Florence for 3 nights

Ira what is wrong with this plan - where would you spend more time - the train distances are not all that long it seems and there is lovely scenery when going between Italy and Austria.

Sincerely, why re-think - i would do that trip in a flash and have that type many many times. Am i daft?

I am assuming OP has been to Rome already

as for train travel times

Rome to Bologna, with opening of Florence to Bologna high-speed line this Dec should be a tad over 2 hours

Bologna to Innsbruck about 5 hours and a lovely ride thru Brennero Pass and the Italian and Ausrian Alps

Innsbruck to Zell/See - not sure but about an hour - again a lovely ride thru Alpine valleys

Zell/See to Venice about 6 hours

Venice to Florence about 2.5 hrs

now 5 hours on a train to some is a lifetime but in this scenic area between Austria and Italy it is part of the journey and not wasted time.

How long would you spend in each stop - a week in each? No for the average tourist a few full days in Venice or Florence are enough IMO

yup you could spend the whole two weeks in Florence and Venice i guess but then you miss seing the lovely Alpine scenery, etc.

If OP re-arranged itinerary they could take an overnight train from Innsbruck to Florence, going at night one way over Alpine scenery they would have already seen and maximizing the time in say Florence.

PQ - You know it's not that simple. The OP would likely have to stay in Rome the last night before departure so add in one more change of hotels. Traveling, getting familiar with a new city, checking in and out of hotels takes lots more time than what you think it will take.

Day 1 - Arrive FCO (8?, 9? 10?)
Train to Rome (30-60 minutes - depending on whether you have to wait for a train).
Train to Bologna (current shortest travel time is 2:45)no way of knowing if the Italian high speed trains will start when they say they will.

Total train time for day 1 about 3 1/4hours minimum, not counting having to wait around for connections. Then you have to figure out the local transportation, getting to and from hotel, etc.

This schedule has the OP spending as much time on trains as at the cities he claims he wants to visit.

Thanks for information. The reason why i am flying into Rome is because i have free tickets. Since i have already been to Rome, not so keen to stay overnight there ...Choose to train directly to bologna since it is on the way to austria. Based on the feedback -

I could fly into Rome - direct train to Verona (4hr) Stay 3nights
Verona-Zell Am See (6hr) Stay 3 nights
Zell am See- Innsbruck (2hr) Stay 3 nights
Innsbruck - Florence (7hr) Stay 4 nights
Florence - Rome (2hr) Direct into airport

I could also consider flying directly from rome to austria - however there is no direct flight apparently. Only to Vienna..Sigh

I m planning a trip for January. During winter, will Innsbruck and Zell am see still be interesting? I am not planning to ski. Thanks so much for all the contribution.

Lisay,

These 2 countries are so beatiful that you can spend months and years exploring them.
Any place would be good.
But are you getting the most out of your time and money?

Can you not get an "Open Jaw" ticket where you fly into Rome and fly out of Vienna or Milan.
this will save a lot of time and backtracking.

Capri, Sorrento, portofino would be warmer.

Florence 2 N
Venice 2 N
night train to Austria. ( Very comfortable and practical)
Innsbruck, Salzburg, Salzkamargut- lake district ( Hallstat)
would be more interesting.

Vienna is not in your itinerary, so I guess you have already seen it. It needs 3 nights.

Zell amSee is good if you are skiing, otherwise Austria has many more beautiful places.

All the best for your trip.

You can fly from Rome to Innsbruck on Air Berlin since you say that you are going to Bologna only because it is on the way to Austria. Bologna is a great place to stay a few days IMO and IMO. But Innsbruck is a city I would eliminate personally from this itinerary unless you are a skier.

You could fly into Munich from Rome and then head to Salzburg if what are looking for is a great place to base and explore the countryside. Zell am See is an easy trip from there and Salzburg is beautiful.

I have been to both Austia and Italy a number of times and love them both.

Dear all

Thanks for the help. i am considering moving the trip to early april given Palenque's comment. Will i be able to see greens and flowers during that time? Also, i noticed that are some flights during April between Austria and Verona which i could travel via.