florence to salzburg by day train
Feb 15th, 2010, 07:14 AM
#1
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florence to salzburg by day train
I'll be there in September 2010 - would prefer a day train.
We are travelling Rome to florence - florence to salzburg - salzburg to Prague - in case anyone has any suggestions. Much appreciated
Cheers
We are travelling Rome to florence - florence to salzburg - salzburg to Prague - in case anyone has any suggestions. Much appreciated
Cheers
Feb 15th, 2010, 07:38 AM
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Well it's a long 8 hour ride in the day (overnight trains are possible as well)
The best connection leaves Florence SMN (Santa Maria Novella, the main station daily 11:00am - changing in Bologna, arriving in Innsbruck at 16:32- changing there and arriving in Innsburck at 19:07
Alternatively you could leave Florence SMN at 9:30 and get to Salzburgat 17:48 but this involves changing at Venice Mestre and walking a few minutes to the Venice Mestre bus station -then getting off at the Villach bus station and walking to the Villach train station for a direct train to Salzbrug (this is currently the situation but for September perhaps the bus link would revert to a rail link it always has been -perhaps there is track work or something with a bus substitution? - Sep schedules are not yet out and will not be until June or so typically for Italian trains
anyway i get these schedules from www.bahn.de - the German rail web site that i find is the easiest to use for schedules all over Europe. A good way to get to the English schedule part of the bahn.de site is to go to www.budgeteuropetravel.com and on the home page click on the link to All European Railway Schedules - then up pops the English schedule page - but on the home page they also give you several valuable tips to fully use the Wunderbar bahn.de site that should help you find the schedules easily and well as other info -like are reservations obligatory (yes on the Italian portions) and where and when you change and how much time you have to change, etc. For lots of great info on European trains i always point to not only budgeteuropetravel.com but www.seat61.com and www.ricksteves.com. You may consider the Eurail Select Saverpass valid in Italy, Austria and the Czech Republic, which if over 25 only comes in 1st class and IMO first class is definitely worth the extra cost- 2nd class point to point tickets would i think be cheaper but first class may be more than the pass- check the above sites for lots of details on the pass.
The best connection leaves Florence SMN (Santa Maria Novella, the main station daily 11:00am - changing in Bologna, arriving in Innsbruck at 16:32- changing there and arriving in Innsburck at 19:07
Alternatively you could leave Florence SMN at 9:30 and get to Salzburgat 17:48 but this involves changing at Venice Mestre and walking a few minutes to the Venice Mestre bus station -then getting off at the Villach bus station and walking to the Villach train station for a direct train to Salzbrug (this is currently the situation but for September perhaps the bus link would revert to a rail link it always has been -perhaps there is track work or something with a bus substitution? - Sep schedules are not yet out and will not be until June or so typically for Italian trains
anyway i get these schedules from www.bahn.de - the German rail web site that i find is the easiest to use for schedules all over Europe. A good way to get to the English schedule part of the bahn.de site is to go to www.budgeteuropetravel.com and on the home page click on the link to All European Railway Schedules - then up pops the English schedule page - but on the home page they also give you several valuable tips to fully use the Wunderbar bahn.de site that should help you find the schedules easily and well as other info -like are reservations obligatory (yes on the Italian portions) and where and when you change and how much time you have to change, etc. For lots of great info on European trains i always point to not only budgeteuropetravel.com but www.seat61.com and www.ricksteves.com. You may consider the Eurail Select Saverpass valid in Italy, Austria and the Czech Republic, which if over 25 only comes in 1st class and IMO first class is definitely worth the extra cost- 2nd class point to point tickets would i think be cheaper but first class may be more than the pass- check the above sites for lots of details on the pass.
Feb 15th, 2010, 01:04 PM
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For the overnight train option you would leave Florence about 9:30pm and get to Munich at 6:30am - then 90 minutes by train to Salzburg (or you could get off the Florence to Munich overnight train in Innsbruck but around 4:30 am and then be in Salzburg about 8am - but since you ask for daytime i assume you are not into the night train but thought i would add that option - this is a CityNightLiner - CNL - crack German train - some private compartments even have WC/shower inside them on some CNL trains.
Feb 19th, 2010, 05:28 AM
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Florence-Munich by sleeper train then connection to Salzburg is the most time effective.
But a day journey over the scenic Brenner Pass route through the Alps would be great, Florence-Verona-Innsbruck-Salzburg.
Use www.bahn.de journey planner to check train times.
Then be aware of a railway political issue. The Verona-Innsbruck-Munich trains are now run by DB & OBB (German and Austrian railways) in partnership with regional Italian operator Le Nord. DB & OBB have snubbed Trenitalia, and are operating these trains not on the normal European co-operative basis but as an 'open access' private operation under the EU's new rules which allow private operators to run trains internationally in Europe.
As a result, you can't buy tickets for the Verona-Innsbruck-Munich trains at the station in Italy, or from any Trenitalia station or website. Daggers are drawn betwen Trenitalia and OBB/DB/LeNord!
You can book Verona-Innsbruck/Munich trains at www.bahn.de or buy tickets without penalty on board the train, you may then need to book Florence-Verona sepatarately at the station or at www.trenitalia.com.
But a day journey over the scenic Brenner Pass route through the Alps would be great, Florence-Verona-Innsbruck-Salzburg.
Use www.bahn.de journey planner to check train times.
Then be aware of a railway political issue. The Verona-Innsbruck-Munich trains are now run by DB & OBB (German and Austrian railways) in partnership with regional Italian operator Le Nord. DB & OBB have snubbed Trenitalia, and are operating these trains not on the normal European co-operative basis but as an 'open access' private operation under the EU's new rules which allow private operators to run trains internationally in Europe.
As a result, you can't buy tickets for the Verona-Innsbruck-Munich trains at the station in Italy, or from any Trenitalia station or website. Daggers are drawn betwen Trenitalia and OBB/DB/LeNord!
You can book Verona-Innsbruck/Munich trains at www.bahn.de or buy tickets without penalty on board the train, you may then need to book Florence-Verona sepatarately at the station or at www.trenitalia.com.
Mar 16th, 2010, 11:18 AM
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Can a Eurail Pass be used for the CNL train (Florence/Innsbruck/Salzburg) and then just pay a supplement for the sleeper, etc.? We're looking at this route for May 2010 and thought the overnight trip would be good. PS: Traveling with my 84-year-old mother.
Mar 16th, 2010, 11:41 AM
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MBB - Ordinarily yes - a railpass valid in all the countries the overnight train passes thru has the train fare portion paid by the pass but the pass does not cover optional sleeping accommodations - well you must pay extra for any kind of reclining seat to sleeper berths on CNL trains - no option to just sit in a regular seat - now there has been a political issue like Man in Seat 61 discusses above so i do not know how this may affect overnight trains between Italy and Austria/Germany and the Italian portion. I would suggest for a definitive answer call Byron at Budget Europe - 800-441-2387 - that's what i would do if i had to have a definitive answer IME and always get one. I think you are actually talking about taking the Rome - Florence- Innsburck - Munich overnight train and getting on it in Florence and then getting off at Innsbruck and taking a day train to Salzburg - check however that the overnight train does not get into Innsbruck at some unGodly hour - esp with 84-yr-old Mum - if you have a pass then the beauty of it is you can stay on the overnight train all the way to Munich and then take the hourly trains to Salzburg - taking 1.5 hours and not having to get off in Innsbruck at around 4am but in Munich around 6:30 - early enough but not 4:30am as in Innsbruck - when you may have to wait in a dark station for the first train to Salzburg. So the pass would pay for both the overnight train fare and the daytime train to Salzburg - if you have a flexipass and leave after 7pm on the overnight train then the following day is your unlimited travel day - so you put in tomorrow's date if boarding the overnight train tonight - and can travel the whole next calendar day to boot.
Mar 16th, 2010, 02:04 PM
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Yes you can use your pass on City Night Line.
The supplement is 20 euros in 6-berth couchettes, 30 euros in 4 berth couchettes, around 40 euros in 3 bed sleeper, 50 euros in 2-bed sleeper, all per person.
You can pay the supplement online at www.bahn.de, use the journey planner to find the train, act as if you were buying a ticket, then at some point it usually asks you whether you want a ticket, ticket plus reservation or reservation only.
The supplement is 20 euros in 6-berth couchettes, 30 euros in 4 berth couchettes, around 40 euros in 3 bed sleeper, 50 euros in 2-bed sleeper, all per person.
You can pay the supplement online at www.bahn.de, use the journey planner to find the train, act as if you were buying a ticket, then at some point it usually asks you whether you want a ticket, ticket plus reservation or reservation only.
