Munich-Milan by train
 

I want to take the train from Munich to Milan Centrale August 30. I checked the Bahn.com website, and it shows the only way to do that is to take a bus from Munich to Zurich, then transfer to the train for Milano. Do you know if that's right...only a bus then the train? Or am I simply searching too early for the train schedule and will that schedule eventually appear?
Thanks,
Steve

No need for a bus. If you look at May on the Bahn site, you will see, for example, a 9:35 from Munich Hbf arriving Verona Porta Nuova 2:58 pm. You transfer and depart from there at 3:32 pm with an arrival in Milan central at 4:45 pm. About 7 hours to give you an idea. There are numerous trains from Munich to Verona that go through the scenic Brenner Pass. The Bahn site shows the same train leaving at 9:34 am to Verona on 8/30. The Italian Trenitalia site shows numerous trains from Verona to Milan including the one at 3:32. Not sure why Bahn isn't yet showing both options.

Do trains still go over the Brenner pass, or is the new tunnel open?

Not until 2026.

We have done the trip from Munich to Verona/Milan many times. It is a scenic route through the Dolomites. The change in Verona is an easy one although there are several platforms but there are elevators as well as stairs.

Sounds like an all-day marathon - check cheap flights instead or maybe the bus is quicker and more direct?

There are cheap flights from MUC on Easyjet, Lufthansa, and AirDolomiti you can check fares at www.skyscanner.com

And there's also a direct Nightjet sleeper train, an experience in itself and saves a hotel bill, www.oebb.at Austrian Railways. See https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/nightjet.htm for photos of what Nightjets are like.

Though I do like the Brenner scenery by day!

You MIGHT need to split the booking Munich-Verona Porta Nuova at German Railways www.bahn.de/en then (allowing at least 45 min between trains) Verona PN to Milan Centrale at www.trenitalia.com. That's if you see no prices for Munich-Milan via Verona on Bahn.de as one journey.

Pal - I'm surprised at you. Taking the train seems like a great idea particularly with all that wonderful scenery on the way. I'm considering taking the train from Venice to Munich myself this year, Train journeys seem to me to be far more of the holiday than hanging around at airports where there are far fewer opportunities for sightseeing and interacting with people. Why else do we travel?

ann - i whole heartedly agree but I'm not sure most feel that way - all day on a train that is. And the scenery is only scenic around the Brenner Pass area IME. The scenery of the 9:02 am departure from Munich by bus to Zurich then direct train to Milan is perhaps even more scenic from Zurich on. Both routes take about the same time.

I'm sorry, Pal, but I disagree with the "scenery is only beautiful" comment. I think the scenery is quite nice before Innsbruck, over the pass and at least as far as Bozen and even beyond but I'm obviously biased.

If you want to do all by bus, then take the direct Munich dp 11.30 - Milan ar 19.25 bus.
All by train:
Munich dp 7.34 - Milan ar 14.45 and then every 2 hrs until Munich dp 15.44; change at Verona
more scenic itineraries:
Munich dp by train 7.42 - Kufstein 8.57/9.09 - Landeck ar 10.31, dp by bus 10.58 - Scuol-Tarasp 12.27/12.30 - Susch ar 12.55, dp by train 12.58 - Samedan 1342/13.48 - Pontresina 13.55/14.08 - Alp Grum 14.50/15.42 -Tirano 17.00/17.08 - Milano Centrale ar 19.40;
Munich dp by train 8.32 - Lermoos ar 11.03, dp by bus 11.13 - Nassereith 11.40/11.45 - Landeck 12.47/12.58 - Scuol-Tarasp 14.27/14.30 - Susch ar 14.55, dp by train 14.58 - Samedan 15.42/15.48 - Pontresina 15.55/16.08 - Alp Grum 16.50/1742 -Tirano 19.00/19.08 - Milano Centrale ar 21.40;
Munich dp by train 8.32 - Lermoos ar 11.03, dp by bus 11.13 - Nassereith 11.40/11.45 - Imst 12.05/12.35 - Obergurgl 14.19/14.50 - Timmelsjoch 15.20 - Moos 16.15/16.26 - Meran ar 17.35, dp by train 17.46 - Milano Centrale ar 22.15; change at Bolzano/Bozen and Verona;
Munich dp by train 7.34 - Roverato ar 12.17, dp by bus 12.37 - Riva del Garda ar 13.20, dp by Lake Garda boat 15.10 - Peschiera del Garda ar 19.50, dp by train 20.18 - Milano Centrale ar 21.15.