My husband and I will be taking the train from Munich to Venice. From Venice we will be going to Florence and then Rome. What is the difference between 1st class and 2nd class on the trains?

2nd class is comparable to business class seats on a flight. 1st class has fewer seats per car and is usually less crowded. 1 cl. is typically occupied by Europeans willing to spend 50% more on their tickets (business people and the like who tend to keep to themselves) and the occassional Eurailer. 2 cl has more of regular folks kind of feel. Both get you to the same place in exactly the same amount of time.

I usually prefer 2 cl. in most of northern Europe (France, Germany, Switzerland, etc.). However in Italy where tickets are cheap and 2 cl can be overcrowded and have non-existent or barely functioning air conditioning I ususally opt for 1 cl.

In your case I would say that 2 cl from Munich to Venice should be fine. You may want to consider 1st class for the Venice - Florence - Rome legs, however. Although I have heard that 2 cl on the high speed EuroStar trains is not bad at all. I have not had the opportunity to ride these trains so I cannot say personally.

First class has larger, comfier seats and usually more room for luggage - since generally many fewer seats are taken.

We always take first class for trips 3 hours or longer - or if we have luggage. For a short trip - or with no luggage - we do 2nd.

I agree with ripit. I traveled second class throughout Germany and to Salzburg last year without any complications. I even had a train compartment all to myself for parts of the trip between Heidelberg and Munich.

In Italy the year before, I bought point to point tickets rather than a railpass -- second class from Venice to Florence and first class from Florence to Rome. First class was a little more comfortable in that the seats were newer. A porter also came around serving a small cup of orange juice. I don't remember the cost differential, but I had the feeling that it wasn't worth it.

2nd class seats on an Italian ES* or Cisalpino train is definitely not like international business class on a plane. More like premium economy or domestic first class.

4 people sit in a group facing each other, with a table in between. If both you and the person opposite you have long legs, you guys need to compromise and find a way for both to put them.

The setbacks also don't recline.

Here are some photos of 2nd class on a typical ES* ETR500 trainset.

rkkwan.zenfolio.com/p226613367/?photo=937253008
rkkwan.zenfolio.com/p226613367/?photo=608782392
rkkwan.zenfolio.com/p226613367/?photo=639784174

This one onboard an ETR450 Pendolino tilting train (used for Cisalpino trains between Switzerland and Italy):

rkkwan.zenfolio.com/p226613367/?photo=655229003

Sorry, last photo is on a ETR 460, not 450.

I am an idiot. The Cisalpino train is a ETR 470. I'll go shoot myself now.

Hi 2,

I generally go 1 class for rides of 4 hr or more.

2 cl on ES* is perfectly fine.