Avignon to Florence by train...help please
Mar 27th, 2012, 05:42 PM
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Avignon to Florence by train...help please
We need to get from Avignon to Florence... is it feasible to get there in 1 day if we leave in the morning. The train schedule does not allow for much time between trains at Nice Ville or at any of the stops between Nice and Florence.
What's the most efficient way to travel by train from Avignon to Florence?
Thank you!!
What's the most efficient way to travel by train from Avignon to Florence?
Thank you!!
Mar 27th, 2012, 10:26 PM
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bahn.com takes you directly to the English language page.
It looks like your best bet is to take the TGV and backtrack to Lyon. Then from Lyon, transfer to the TGV to Torino. In Torino transfer to a Eurostar for Florence. This trip involves only two transfers; leaves at 7:08 and arrives at 16:30.
Most of the other journeys will take three/more transfers and take longer.
It looks like your best bet is to take the TGV and backtrack to Lyon. Then from Lyon, transfer to the TGV to Torino. In Torino transfer to a Eurostar for Florence. This trip involves only two transfers; leaves at 7:08 and arrives at 16:30.
Most of the other journeys will take three/more transfers and take longer.
Mar 27th, 2012, 11:01 PM
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The usualy technique for cross-border multi-leg journeys like this is to
(1) look for a suitable journey using the journey planner at the German site www.bahn.de - English button top right. It won't give fares, but will give times faster than the French or Italian sites and handles international connections much better.
(2) Then split the journey to book. Use French Rialways www.tgv-europe.com to book Avignon to Ventimiglia, then use Italian Railways www.Trenitalia.com to book Ventimiglia (on the border) to Florence.
Bahn.de may also give journeys via Lyon or Chambery. Again, book any train originating in France at www.tgv-europe.com, then any connection starting in Italy at www.trenitalia.com
(1) look for a suitable journey using the journey planner at the German site www.bahn.de - English button top right. It won't give fares, but will give times faster than the French or Italian sites and handles international connections much better.
(2) Then split the journey to book. Use French Rialways www.tgv-europe.com to book Avignon to Ventimiglia, then use Italian Railways www.Trenitalia.com to book Ventimiglia (on the border) to Florence.
Bahn.de may also give journeys via Lyon or Chambery. Again, book any train originating in France at www.tgv-europe.com, then any connection starting in Italy at www.trenitalia.com
Mar 27th, 2012, 11:02 PM
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The 08:57 from Avignon, change Lyon and Turin, arrives Florence 19:30, in time for dinner. Few Alpine views here too.
Though as Turin is the most wonderful, most under-rated city in Italy, I'd be tempted to stop off and head to Florence next afternoon!
Though as Turin is the most wonderful, most under-rated city in Italy, I'd be tempted to stop off and head to Florence next afternoon!
Mar 28th, 2012, 01:36 AM
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This isn't a quick or easy trip by train. At a minimum you will probably have to change trains twice. By the day trip will take at least 11 hours. You can try using bahn.de to search out possible routing and schedules.
Mar 28th, 2012, 03:56 AM
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investigate EasyJet or some discount airline from Nice or Lyon or Marseilles to Florence or Pisa's airport - to go thru by train is a long long slog with lots of changes where you must build in ample time if trains are late. For lots of good info on European trains I always highlight these great sites - www.seat61.com (Man in seat 61' - who posted above - his commercial site; and ww.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.
The Lyon route is likely to cost significantly more I believe than the slower route via Nice-Ville and Ventimiglia-Genoa route - but Genoa is also a great town so consider breaking your journey there and make it two much shorter rail travel days than a marathon with plenty of glitches in it when having to schedule changes at places like the hectic Turin station, etc.
The Lyon route is likely to cost significantly more I believe than the slower route via Nice-Ville and Ventimiglia-Genoa route - but Genoa is also a great town so consider breaking your journey there and make it two much shorter rail travel days than a marathon with plenty of glitches in it when having to schedule changes at places like the hectic Turin station, etc.
Mar 28th, 2012, 04:56 AM
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"investigate EasyJet or some discount airline from Nice or Lyon or Marseilles to Florence or Pisa's airport -"
The only scheduled flights of any sort between provincial France and Tuscany are two a week from Lyons to Florence on Air France. The fare will work out a very far cry from those on discount airlines.
The poster might find a discount airline flight from somewhere to Milan or Rome (though I wouldn't hold my breath) - but by the time she's got to the French or Swiss airport, then got from the Italian airport to Florence, she'd have been a great deal better off and less stressed simply changing trains.
If PalQ stopped flogging his hokey railway passes and used trains as often as most of us do, he'd stop going into old-maid conniptions at the prospect of a simple cross-platform railway connection at Lyons and Turin.
The only scheduled flights of any sort between provincial France and Tuscany are two a week from Lyons to Florence on Air France. The fare will work out a very far cry from those on discount airlines.
The poster might find a discount airline flight from somewhere to Milan or Rome (though I wouldn't hold my breath) - but by the time she's got to the French or Swiss airport, then got from the Italian airport to Florence, she'd have been a great deal better off and less stressed simply changing trains.
If PalQ stopped flogging his hokey railway passes and used trains as often as most of us do, he'd stop going into old-maid conniptions at the prospect of a simple cross-platform railway connection at Lyons and Turin.
Mar 28th, 2012, 07:35 AM
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If PalQ stopped flogging his hokey railway passes and used trains as often as most of us do, he'd stop going into old-maid conniptions at the prospect of a simple cross-platform railway connection at Lyons and Turin.>
how many continental trains have you ridden bub? I have ridden trains all over Europe annually for decades - I will put my general knowledge of European trains over your any day - you characterization of a simple cross-platform change means you have not changed trains much either - rarely it is cross platform though it may well be in those cases - but not generally in stations like those that yes see thousands of passengers pass thru each day.
In all the years on Fodors I recall you talking about a handful of continental trains you have taken and yes that makes you an expert ole boy!
how many continental trains have you ridden bub? I have ridden trains all over Europe annually for decades - I will put my general knowledge of European trains over your any day - you characterization of a simple cross-platform change means you have not changed trains much either - rarely it is cross platform though it may well be in those cases - but not generally in stations like those that yes see thousands of passengers pass thru each day.
In all the years on Fodors I recall you talking about a handful of continental trains you have taken and yes that makes you an expert ole boy!
Mar 28th, 2012, 08:24 AM
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DeniseO: It really all depends on what you want - to get on clean, fast trains that will get you to Florence as quickly as possible
Or, to go along the Mediterranean via Ventimiglia-Genoa on trains that are about as old as Moses - very atmospheric with plenty of stops along the way. Not the fastest and with any number more of train changes.
flanneruk: I haven't heard "old maid conniptions" in years! LOL! Nobody since the 1940's (novels) talks about "conniptions" anymore and it's such a descriptive word!
Or, to go along the Mediterranean via Ventimiglia-Genoa on trains that are about as old as Moses - very atmospheric with plenty of stops along the way. Not the fastest and with any number more of train changes.
flanneruk: I haven't heard "old maid conniptions" in years! LOL! Nobody since the 1940's (novels) talks about "conniptions" anymore and it's such a descriptive word!
Mar 28th, 2012, 09:57 AM
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Actually the more scenic route - along the coast via Nice and Pisa takes only about an hour longer than the circuitous inland and infinitely more boring route (and also I would think a lot more expensive unless you nab three separate PREM-type fares fare in advance online)
The 9:51 departure goes via Lyon and Chambery and Turino - and gets to Florence at 19:30
the slower route via Nice and Genoa and Pisa offers a departure at 10:54 and gets to Florence SMN at 10:11 - not as convenient arrival time but a lot nicer scenes en route - if you don't blink your eyes you can even see the Cinque Terre towns the coastal train line largely tunnels under - in fact the Cinque Terre would make a wonderful stopover on this route IMO or any place along the Riviera Levante.
The 9:51 departure goes via Lyon and Chambery and Turino - and gets to Florence at 19:30
the slower route via Nice and Genoa and Pisa offers a departure at 10:54 and gets to Florence SMN at 10:11 - not as convenient arrival time but a lot nicer scenes en route - if you don't blink your eyes you can even see the Cinque Terre towns the coastal train line largely tunnels under - in fact the Cinque Terre would make a wonderful stopover on this route IMO or any place along the Riviera Levante.
Mar 28th, 2012, 10:37 AM
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I took the Cinque Terre to Nice train in '06 and it was a lot less scenic than I anticipated. Too many tunnels & not enough glimpses of things "interesting". Not a real comfortable ride either.
I'll take the TGV anyday - especially for a 10 hour trip.
Stu Dudley
I'll take the TGV anyday - especially for a 10 hour trip.
Stu Dudley
Mar 28th, 2012, 11:29 AM
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Actually Stu IME is correct about those tunnels but the portion between Nice and Genoa does roll right along the coast most of the way and the portion between Nice and Ventimiglia is dramatically scenic as at points only the railway rolls, right along a pristine stretch of coast.
Apr 7th, 2012, 05:56 PM
#16
Yes, there are AV/ES trains from Turin to Florence. Enter your cities on Trenitalia.
http://www.trenitalia.com/homepage_en.html
http://www.trenitalia.com/homepage_en.html
Apr 9th, 2012, 06:37 AM
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Hi, DeniseO:
Sorry to get back to you a bit late.
Knowing the date of your departure is CRUCIAL.
Not knowing it, I plugged in departure for April 12, 2012, into bahn.com. Here's the trip from Lyon to Florence at 7:00.
http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/que...&rt=1&OK#focus
Please note a couple of things:
a) For that week, this one-stop train runs only on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 7:00. On Monday, Friday, and Sunday, it runs at 13:00. There is NO one-stop train on Wednesday. So, it's really important that you use the above form and at the top change to the actual date of your departure and then press "Refresh".
b) On the left side you will see a series of red arrows pointing to the right. For the time of departure that you choose, click on that red arrow and it will then point downwards. When it does this, it will give you all the details of the journey: the exact train station, the type of train, the class (e.g., second class only), the time of departure from Lyon and the time of arrival at Torino, the time of departure from Torino and the time of arrival in Florence.
c) You will notice under the "Duration" column that the journey with one stop takes nine and a half hours, with a wait time in Torino of two and a half hours between trains. You can take a later train, the one that leaves at 8:40 which involves two stops: one at Chambery for about an hour and another at Torino for about 20 minutes. You save about an hour and a half by taking this journey, but it involves two stops. This second journey takes seven hours and forty minutes.
Both trips will put you on the Eurostar from Torino to Florence and arrive at 16:30. One leaves earlier and involves a long stop in Torino and the other leaves later, involves two stops but your wait time in the train stations are a lot less.
Hope this helps a bit. If not, please come back and ask some more.
Sorry to get back to you a bit late.
Knowing the date of your departure is CRUCIAL.
Not knowing it, I plugged in departure for April 12, 2012, into bahn.com. Here's the trip from Lyon to Florence at 7:00.
http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/que...&rt=1&OK#focus
Please note a couple of things:
a) For that week, this one-stop train runs only on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 7:00. On Monday, Friday, and Sunday, it runs at 13:00. There is NO one-stop train on Wednesday. So, it's really important that you use the above form and at the top change to the actual date of your departure and then press "Refresh".
b) On the left side you will see a series of red arrows pointing to the right. For the time of departure that you choose, click on that red arrow and it will then point downwards. When it does this, it will give you all the details of the journey: the exact train station, the type of train, the class (e.g., second class only), the time of departure from Lyon and the time of arrival at Torino, the time of departure from Torino and the time of arrival in Florence.
c) You will notice under the "Duration" column that the journey with one stop takes nine and a half hours, with a wait time in Torino of two and a half hours between trains. You can take a later train, the one that leaves at 8:40 which involves two stops: one at Chambery for about an hour and another at Torino for about 20 minutes. You save about an hour and a half by taking this journey, but it involves two stops. This second journey takes seven hours and forty minutes.
Both trips will put you on the Eurostar from Torino to Florence and arrive at 16:30. One leaves earlier and involves a long stop in Torino and the other leaves later, involves two stops but your wait time in the train stations are a lot less.
Hope this helps a bit. If not, please come back and ask some more.
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