We are heading to Europe in a week and were wondering what the best way to get from Vienna to Venice is? Train? Plane? Thanks a lot.

Hi A,

There is a train.
See www.trenitalia.com and click "international' for schedule and prices.

It's a nice ride over the mountains.

I don't think that there are cheap flights.

There are two direct connections from Vienna to Venice, but the schedule is not very good. You either leave early or get in late. Anything else is slow and requires at least 1 change of trains.

The earliest no-change connection leaves Vienna 6:44 from Wien Südbahnhof and arrives Venice Santa Lucia station at 13:26.

The other one leaves at 15:30 and takes about the same length of time, which means an arrival at 22:32.

There is a night train, but it, too, is a slow deal, taking some 12 hours and making about 19 stops.


The other one leaves at

Strike that last fragment. Should have been deleted.

It's an absolutely beautiful ride across the alps. Treat it as an excursion. Get seats next to the window!

Look at

http://plannerint.b-rail.be/bin/quer...n?L=profi&

or the Austrian Railaways site http://www.oebb.at">www.oebb.at

The latter shows trains at
06:30 (arr. 13:26), takes 06:56
07:30 (arr. 18:31), takes 11:01
07:57 (arr. 20:31), takes 12:34
09:30 (arr. 20:43), takes 11:13
10:57 (arr. 22:04), takes 11:07
15:30 (arr. 22:32), takes 07:02

Some leave from Wien-Süd, some from -West. I input the date of 6/18, double check with yours.

Then there are several night trains (you save a night but you see nothing). If you take a sleeper so that you won't be wiped out the next day, it'll cost something like what a hotel would. If you can sleep through the many stops and noises, then why not?

WK

Thank yall so much for all of the advice- I really appreciate it- this really helps a lot. From experience, should I get tickets at the station or should I get on in advance?

Hi A,

If you know when you are going, get your tickets in advance.

One less thing to have to do on vacation.

http://www.bahn.de is a good site.

Personally, I would pick a point about midway, or thereabouts, and spend the night there. Travel during the daytime so you can enjoy the scenery. It really is spectacular. Not have to leave too early, nor arrive too late. Just a thought.