slferen

I'm traveling with my family (spouse and three kids) from Riomaggiore on a Wednesday morning to Venice and am wondering what is the most convenient train to take. Should I purchase online ahead of time? We will have some light luggage so I would rather not make too many stops but would like to arrive in Venice with some time remaining in the day! Any advice would be really great!

organictuscany

Have a look here:

http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en

This looks like a good option (1 change)

10:27 La Spezia Centrale
16:40 Venezia S. Lucia

Depending on how busy the Wednesday is when you need to travel, I would purchase online ahead of time!

PalenQ

You can score nifty discounts on long-distance express trains if you book way early to guarantee getting those limited in number discounted ducats at the site given above - great sources of info on Italian trains: www.seat61.com- great insights on discounted tickets; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

You can always get tickets once in Italy but probably at full fare if you do not want to peg yourself into a non-refundable non-changeable train-specific ticket you must book weeks in advance.

bvlenci

It's a long trip from Riomaggiore to Venice, involving a minimum of three trains (sometimes four) and from almost 5 1/2 hours to over 6 1/2 hours. I think your best option, with a shorter travel time and only three trains, would be the 8:59 train leaving Riomaggiore, arriving in Venice at 14:20, with changes at Viareggio and Florence. Earlier and later trains either take more time or have more stopovers, or both.

The first two trains on this itinerary are regional trains, and these are best bought at a train station in Italy. The train from Florence (leaving at 12:15) to Venice is a Frecciargento train, which sells limited numbers of discounted tickets, which are nonrefundable. These you could buy online at http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en

However, since you're a group of five, you could probably save money buying at www.italiarail.com . That's because they, unlike Trenitalia, will mix and match fare categories to get you the best price.

You can get a simple meal or snack on the train from Florence to Venice, but I would bring some fruit or crackers along, railway fare being what it is. You could also catch an earlier train to Florence so you would have time to eat at the station.

Regional tickets can be used on any trains on a given route, but <b> if you buy them online they're much more restricted.</b> Regional tickets (except those bought online) have to be stamped in a machine at the station before you board the train, to establish the time of travel and prevent them from being re-used.

PalenQ

It's a long trip from Riomaggiore to Venice, involving a minimum of three trains (sometimes four)>

www.bahn.de/en says if you leave at 8:59 or 9:00 you have just two changes - Pisa and Florence and it takes 5 h 20 mins to Venice.

Is bah.de/en wrong - it rarely is IME

BTW great advice as usual from bvlenci!

bvlenci

Two changes is three trains, which is what I said.

bvlenci

Trenitalia doesn't show a 9:00 departure, but surely that would be the same as 8:59, no? The total time of the trip is 5:20 hours. As I said, all the earlier or later trains involve more changes, longer trips, or both.

PalenQ

Two changes is three trains, which is what I said.>

Ah I read too quick - should have known you were right on as usual. But bahn.de/en does not say anything about changing at Viareggio as you do for the 8:59 train but says to change Pisa Centrale - could change to Florence train at Viareggio but you have just 6 minutes between trains (which can be late) and 34 minutes between changes in Pisa Central - either place to the same regional train to Florence - I'd change at Pisa Cle rather than Viareggio unless the first train is on time and the other train is standing at a nearby platform for an easy change - then you may get better seats as many more folks crowd onto the Florence regional train at Pisa Centrale.

Takes 5 h 20 minutes according to bahn.de/en alltold Rio-Ven.

bvlenci

If you were to change in Pisa, I would be more worried about the 15 minutes it would leave you to change trains in Florence, a much bigger station, than the 5 minutes to change trains in Viareggio; if you change trains there, you have 25 minutes between trains in Florence.

If it were I, I might take an even earlier train from Riomaggiore, so that I could get to Florence with more than 25 minutes to spare. Partly to be able to eat lunch there, especially if traveling with hungry children; and partly to be more sure of not missing the Frecciargento train to Venice, especially if you have discounted tickets. If you miss the train due to the late arrival of a different train, they will put you on a different train even if you had nonrefundable tickets. Changing the tickets is always a pain.

However, the earlier trains to Florence involve two changes of train, so you're back to four different trains to get to Venice.

Whatever you do, pack as light as possible.

neckervd

Riomaggiore dp 7.23 - Venice ar 14.18. All regional trains, no reservation needed, fare 31 EUR

slferen

You are all wonderful! I will do a little research and let you know what I decide. I certainly would have been challenged to do this without your valuable insight!

bvlenci

Neckervd, what exactly is the itinerary for your suggestion? I don't know of any regional trains between Florence and Venice. Does it pass through Milan?

neckervd

Riomaggiore - La Spezia - Parma - Bologna - Venezia

bvlenci

It sounds like hell on wheels to me.

PalenQ

Riomaggiore - La Spezia - Parma - Bologna - Venezia>

It's the most direct route and just about as fast - some links just over 5 hours as most routings thru Milan or Florence (though a few trains via that route take 4:15 hours. Ideal for breaking your journey at a gem like Parma or Bologna.

No more Hell on wheels than other routes in terms of times or number of changes.