Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

Looking for a general idea - train from Interlaken to Florence or CT?

Looking for a general idea - train from Interlaken to Florence or CT?

Old Jul 7th, 2010, 07:54 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,198
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Looking for a general idea - train from Interlaken to Florence or CT?

I know I'll have a lot of research to do on this, but I was wondering if anyone could give me a quick overview of the best train route from Interlaken into Italy, and what cities we would go through. The initial plan is to go to the Cinque Terre region following the few days in the Berner Oberland, then later on to Tuscany. Some posts I've read say to go to Florence, but looking at the map I wonder if I should look at going to Genova and then along the coast to CT. Which would be the most time efficient? Should we take an overnight train? Are there TGV's (or whatever they are called in Switzerland and Italy) along these routes? What length train trip are we talking about? There will be 4 of us so maybe we should look at a train pass (arriving in Switzerland probably in Zurich, or maybe Milan as was also suggested, and taking the train to Interlaken and into the mountains to a hotel.)

Any tips would be appreciated so I know where to start when I go to the sites to look at train schedules. Thanks!
kwren is offline  
Old Jul 7th, 2010, 08:22 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 9,023
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Well you must go thru Milan from Switzerland to Italy and then yes take a train from there to the Cinque Terre - a nice rather scenic ride along the coast to any of the 5 Lands - each has a train station and then later go on to Florence.

To go to Florence first and then backtrack to Cinque Terre would be longer and the routes are not that scenic.

a Swiss Pass can be cost effective even for your limited time there - look at a Saver Pass for 2 or more traveling together on the same pass - but there is no other pass - like the Eurailpass that would be cost effective for your plans in Switzerland and Italy combined.

For lots on trains in Switzerland and Italy i always spotlight these info-laden sites - www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com.

Length of train trip - go to the www.budgeteuropetravel.com home page and on that home page click on the link 'All European Railway Schedules' (or some such wording) and this will take you to the Wunderbar Geramn Rail web site - www.bahn.de site that is the easiest i have found to use to get train schedules for all of Europe - the link i mention brings you to the English schedule page of the bahn.de site where you just put in From Interlaken To any Cinque Terre town and the date and you will get all the train schedules for that day - i reference this home page because they give several useful tips on fully using the fantastic bahn.de site that are not apparent to first time users.
Palenque is offline  
Old Jul 8th, 2010, 05:24 AM
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,198
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
That's very helpful - thanks! I didn't think Florence would make sense but it was suggested to someone else for a similar trip. Thanks too for all the sites - I'll definitely be using them.

Did you used to be called PalQ?
kwren is offline  
Old Jul 8th, 2010, 06:52 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 978
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
There are 2 trains going from this region of Switzerland to Milan, both via Brig. One is from Bern, in which case you should go from Interlaken to Spiez to hop on the right train till Milan. The other one is from Geneva, in which case you would also have to go to Spiez, then take a normal train to Brig and the hop on the train to Milan. Both are international trains.
I think you should take the Bern-Milan train leaving Bern 07:35, Spiez 08:05, Milan 10:35 (all am). It takes some 25 minutes from Interlaken to Spiez.
From Milan, there are trains via Genova and Parma, but via Genova is the best and more scenic route. I think, according to your connecting train, you could be in 5T in mid afternoon; you should add some 3 hours starting from Milan.
Then you could get from wherever in the 5T to La Spezia to take the train to Pisa and then onwards to Florence, which should be some 2-3 hours also. You could combine the change of trains in Pisa with the visit of the leaning tower area, which would take 3 hours. I wouldn't travel back from Florence to Pisa when passing by train.
baldrick is offline  
Old Jul 8th, 2010, 07:24 AM
  #5  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,198
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for the additional details on the train ride. I also like the suggestion on going to pisa on the way south - I hadn't thought of that. I think I read on another post that it is an easy walk to the Tower in Pisa from the train station. Are there lockers at the station for luggage?

Would it be a good idea to skip the car while at CT? It seems that we could takes trains or boats when we are not walking, but never having been there, I'd like a few opinions please.

Thanks again!
kwren is offline  
Old Jul 8th, 2010, 09:58 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,525
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Get your car in Pisa. The Tower is near the smaller San Rossare station but most trains do not stop there. Check it out at trenitalia.com.
Or, get the car in La Spezia and drive to Pisa.
bobthenavigator is offline  
Old Jul 8th, 2010, 12:34 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 9,023
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
No lockers in the secondary S Rossare station, at which regional trains from La Spezia to Pisa Centrale could stop (not sure it is on both the main coastal line and the Pisa Cle-Lucca line - the lines split at the station and there are platforms for each line - but it is just a few-minute walk from the Tower and square it is in - and there is (was in 2008) baggage check at the entrance to the Leaning Tower.

Otherwise from Pisa Centrale it is well over a mile - right thru the town center and Pisa to me is a nice town to walk thru but not one to waste time on if time is precious.
Palenque is offline  
Old Jul 8th, 2010, 09:45 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 978
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I would take the car from La Spezia. You'll find Avis, Hertz, Europcar and Sixt there.
Avis seems to be closest to La Spezia Centrale train station.
baldrick is offline  
Old Jul 9th, 2010, 03:53 AM
  #9  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,198
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
A car from La Spezia seems to be the way to go. We don't need to deal with luggage in Pisa and we can meander through the countryside on our way south. I think we would keep it until we get to Rome later that week. Drive to the hotel, unload the luggage there and then drop the car off at the closest office. We've done that in Paris a few times and it worked out well.

Palenque, if you are the same as PalQ, thank you for all your help. You helped me a lot in 2006 with Swiss train passes and the info was invaluable. The info now is just as helpful!
And thanks for everyone else for all your help - I'm making note of everything!
kwren is offline  
Old Jul 9th, 2010, 07:22 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 9,023
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
kwren - yes the same - some snafu when Fodor's was changing systems or whatever caused me to change names and thanks for your nice comments!
Palenque is offline  
Old Jul 12th, 2010, 09:08 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
kwren - investigate buying the Cinque Terre Pass good for a whole day's of unlimited trains (and perhaps boats) between all 5 towns and the shuttle bus from Corniglia's train station up to Corniglia - it also lets you onto the hiking trails, which without the pass is about 6 euros i think so as the pass is not much more it can be a great bargain.
PalenQ is offline  
Old Jul 12th, 2010, 12:56 PM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Cinque Terre Online - Travel Tips
Sep 11, 2008 ... Try the Cinque Terre day pass to travel all day between the Cinque Terre towns (specify 2nd class, La Spezia to Monterosso). ...
www.cinqueterreonline.com/tips.htm
PalenQ is offline  
Old Aug 3rd, 2010, 12:01 PM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,149
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Check the route Interlaken - Montreux - Milano. That is what we did, but the other way. We got to Milano and took the train to Geneva and got off in Montreux (2.5 hrs), then in Montreux took the Golden panoramic train to Interlaken West and Ost.
pookymimi is offline  
Old Aug 3rd, 2010, 12:36 PM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,939
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If you have a couple of days to spare, you could train from Interlaken to Chur. Spend the night there and the next morning take the Bernina Express to Tirono. Then on to Lake Como for a couple of nights. From there to Milan and on south.
scatcat is offline  
Old Aug 4th, 2010, 10:38 AM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yes indeedy - if you have a day or two to spare i would either take pookymimi's detour and do the Golden Pass route - one of Switzerland's legendary scenic rail routes to Montreux then stay there a night and go on via the Rhone Valley to Brig and on to Milan-Genoa-CT

Or for a more dramatic route but considerably longer then yes you could take the Bernina Pass rail route (Bernina Express is also one of Switzerland's legendary scenic trains) but you have to take a train to Zurich - Chur- St Moritz - stay overnight and then do the fantastic Bernina Pass Railway the next day and once in Tirano, Italy, terminus of the Bernina Pass Rail route transfer to an Italian train to Milan - Genoa - CT - Lake Como is right along this route say if you want to go to Bellagio for another night and then to Milan, etc.

But the quickest route is Interlaken-Spiez-Visp-Milan-Genoa-CT
PalenQ is offline  
Old Aug 5th, 2010, 03:52 AM
  #16  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,198
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
These longer routes sound wonderful, but unfortunately, we don't have the extra time...this trip! They are definitely something we'd like to do in the future so thanks!
kwren is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jackiebowyer1
Europe
9
Jan 8th, 2014 06:38 PM
lorijv
Europe
6
Sep 3rd, 2012 08:22 AM
SanDieganTraveler
Europe
6
Jun 6th, 2010 02:13 PM
NDChicago
Europe
4
Jun 20th, 2006 11:52 AM
Val
Europe
4
Aug 25th, 2003 09:54 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -