Germany-Italy Itinerary Help
 

I and my 2 daughters, ages 15 and 24, will be flying into Munich on 12/18 and Leaving from Munich on 12/30 or 31.

As part of our trip, we are planning on a visit to Venice, as well as some time with relatives in Belluno, IT. The bulk of our time will be spent in Germany. Some of the sights we hope to see include:

Munich (and the Christmas Markets!)
Neuschwanstein and Fussen
Salzburg (can be a day trip from Munich)
Rothenberg or Regenburg/Coburg
Venice : likely 2 nights here
Belluno: one night

I am hoping to get ideas for an itinerary from seasoned travelers to the area which would minimize long train rides and possibly provide an interesting "loop".

I know I could base in Munich and do day trips from there, but was hoping for something more exciting.!!

Also, any ideas if it would be better to but a Eurail Select Pass or a pass from Deutsche
Bahn??

Any and all suggestions are extremely appreciated. Thanks so much.

Lori

If you haven't booked your return flight yet, check whether Venice would be an option and/or whether you could fly Venice-Munich-home in one shot. Otherwise, you'll spend a day returning to Munich by train.

Traveling to Belluno will be time-consuming and involve connections in both directions. If Belluno remains your last destination, then Belluno to Munich will take 9.5 hours with 2 changes. Are you sure you want to make the effort and then only spend one night there?

Why fly home from Munich when you've left Munich and gone to Italy by then? Makes no sense. Better to fly home from Venice or from Milan.

From Munich to Venice you can save a night in the hotel by taking the night train (lvg 23:40 arr 08:33) but it's peak travel time that week, so book right now at www.bahn.de

For info about sleeping accommodations on the train and their varying comfort levels look at www.seat61.com

That Belluno plan has me baffled. It is so far out of the way, and it will be Xmas time when things close and public transport likely is much reduced and days awfully short- are you sure you have all those ducks in a row, a place to stay, people to pick you up etc? For just one night?

Thanks! I'll definitely look into the night train from Munich to Venice. I'll also look into flying home from Italy.. To visit the relatives in Belluno, I'll go from Venice...much shorter train ride. Cousins also offered to pick us up in Venice...maybe I'll take them up on that offer!!

I have taken the night train from Munich to Venice a few times - a very nice night train - all your other train trips are short.

Also, any ideas if it would be better to but a Eurail Select Pass or a pass from Deutsche
Bahn??>

No no pass for you - not traveling enough on trains - all of your German train rides are in Bavaria so just buy the Bavaria Day Ticket (Lander Card) which allows unlimited train and bus travel on regional trains (not on faster trains) throughout Bavaria - 29 euros or so for two people and can use it also in Munich on city transports - buy that ticket at the stations.

For lots of great info on trains in those countries check out these IMO superb sites - www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.seat61.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Your cousins' offer to pick you up in Venice is very generous. It's about a 4-hour round-trip drive and about 42EUR in fuel and tolls.

Thanks! I'll definitely look into the night train from Munich to Venice.>

check www.bahn.de/en for discounted fares if into sharing compartments with others - there may be triples on that train as well but they would cost a lot more - but private compartments so may well be worth the cost - anyway check bahn.de for discounts - book them far in advance as they are sold in limited numbers and can sell out early.

Thanks everyone!!
PalenQ-- can the Bayern ticket be used going from munich to Salzburg, or will I need something different for that trip??

the Bavarian Ticket is valid from Munich to Salzburg but only on regional trains which take up to an hour longer than the fast IC or ICE trains but you'll save a ton by taking the extra time. Even though Salzburg is indeed in Austria for tarifaction purposes it is also consider by the German Railways to be a Germany Railway border station - so yes any pass valid in Bavaria or Germany is valid into Austria a few kms to Salzburg.