We have 2 weeks to spend in Europe. We plan on flying into Frankfurt, going by rail to Breman (which we know nothing about at this point). We will be in Breman for 3 days visiting family, then off to Rome Italy. We want to stop in Munich, somewhere in Austria and on to Rome and possibly a stop in Milan, all by Rail, is this possible? Any ideas on using the euro rail would be so appreciated!

Hi Tilly - It's good to have starting and ending places figured out, from which city are you departing?

I think you are trying to fit too many cities into a 2 week trip. Keep in mind that in a typical 2-week trip to Europe, the day of arrival and day of departure are pretty much write-offs, so you really only have 11-12 days (depending on whether "2 weeks" includes the day you leave North America for Europe". On a day when you travel in Europe, you usually lose at least half a day (or even a full day) getting organized to travel and travelling itself. If you try to fit in all of what you mentioned in your post, you're mostly going to be seeing the train, and not the cities you want to visit.

In my experience, it's best to try and spend at least 2 nights (preferably 3) in each location on your itinerary. So, on a 2-week trip, the following might be more manageable:

Day 0: Fly overnight from North America (presumably?) to Frankfurt.

Day 1: Arrive in Frankfurt, then take the train to Bremen. Greet relatives, collapse into bed, wake up and have dinner.

Days 2-4: With relatives in and around Bremen.

Day 5: Fly or train to Munich. You may have time for some sightseeing, depending on when and how you travel from Bremen to Munich.

Days 6-7: In and around Munich

Day 8: Train to somewhere in Austria (Salzburg, Vienna)?

Days 9-10: In and around your Austrian base.

Day 11: Train to Rome.

Days 12-13: Sightseeing in Rome

Day 14: Fly home.

Even with the schedule I've set out, you're not getting to spend much time in most of the places you're visiting; you likely will only get two sightseeing days in each of Munich, Austria and Rome. If you want to experience Italy, you might consider giving up your Austrian plan and going directly to Rome (by plane) from Munich. Then, from a base in Rome, you could spend several days there but also venture out for a day trip to somewhere accessible nearby. Alternatively, you could drop Munich in favour of an Austrian destination.

See Germany/Austria or Italy---not both.
If you must, fly from Munich to Italy.

Thank You
Guessing it would be better to do Germany with family and then on to Italy.
Could we do an overnight rail from Breman or Hamburg to Rome?

The morning train takes over 19 hours.
The evening train takes over 21 hours.

I would fly to Rome or forget Italy.

IMO it is possible and something like i have done many times in my four decades of using European trains and railpasses. There are overnight trains between Munich and Venice, Florence and Rome so you can relocated quickly and save a night in a hotel to boot. If doing all that by rail then yes by all means investigate the Eurail Select Saverpass good for Germany, Austria and Italy - a 3 country Select Pass.

For loads of great info on European train travel and passes, etc i always spotlight these info-laden sites- www.ricksteves.com; www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com - download the latter's free (and superb IMO) European Planning & Rail Guide as it has a chapter on each country with rail maps, sample itineraries, etc. I have taken the overnight trains from Munich to Italy several times and have found them modern (air-conditioned) and very nice all in all as overnight trains in Europe go.

For your German trains investigate the Germany Railpass - that lets you hop on just about any train in Germany anytime - fully flexible - and those type of fares are sky high - the trip to Bremen and then to Munich could well cost more than a 4-day in 1-month railpass. But at www.bahn.de you can nab if act far in advance SPAR fares (or whatever they call them) - online advance deep discounts of a flat 29 or 39 euro and up regardless of distance. But they are non refundable nor changeable i believe and must be booked far in advance as they are sold in limited numbers - but for full flexibility in Germany a few longish train rides can be more than the German railpass costs. Check bahn.de and see.

For example full fully flexible fare Frankfurt Flughafen (Airport) to Bremen is 98 euros on most trains and Bremen to Munich is 129 euros on the fastest trains

that makes 227 euros or about $300

Yet you can get a 3-day/1month flexi German Rail Passfor $185 p.p. and then use it on any train anytime - good for those landing at airports and just wanting to hop on the next train - if you went the SPAR fare online discount done way in advance you would be locked into one train - you'd have to leve fudge factor time in case plane was late, etc as ticket is unchangeable non-refundable, etc.

And the 4th day on a German Pass is just $16/day p.p. - cheaper even than the Lander Pass per person and you do not have trains you cannot take.

German Pass IMO is one of the better bargains in Europe.

If thinking about the German Railpass and if traveling is done before this Aug 21, 2010 then a 5-day German Pass is on sale at 20% off the above prices i mentioned - a special to honor the Cologne Gay Games!