Part of our itinerary in September is to travel from the Amalfi coast to Venice. Since this is such a long trip, and would take up most of a day, we thought we should take an overnight train. Has anyone done this? Is this a good idea? Recommendations?

I know that during the day the trip can take between 7-8 hours with one or two changes (# of changes depending on where you start out from). My greater concern with doing it overnight would be the connections, and the timing of those connections. For example, I know you can do it overnight through Bologna but you have to change there at about 5 AM as I recall.

I would check the schedules on Trenitalia.com (if you haven't already) before making any final decisions.

If this is enough of an "issue" for you you might also consider re-arranging your itinerary and breaking up the trip with a stopover on the way such as in Rome or Florence.

I took an overnight from Naples to Venice and it was fine. Got in very early in Venice though, but it was a cool experience to see the city that early before anyone was outside.

But I was on a train that didn't require any changes.

Have you thought of flying?

Alpi Eagles and Volare are budget airlines which fly Naples-Venice. It can be surprisingly cheap, depending on your dates.

www.alpieagles.com
www.volareweb.com

Steve

Hi chi,

Are you staying in Amalfi or on the Amalfi Coast.

You can take trains from Naples and from Salerno.

What is your itinerary?

I wanted to ask Robkoval which train you took that got you from Naples to Venice overnight with no changes. I'd be interested in looking into that train.

It is a good idea, and you can avoid too early an arrival in Venice if you stay in bed beyond Venice, then carry on back south. The reference library of a city near you may have the Thomas Cook European Timetable. This shows a connection. Salerno 1849, dine in the restaurant, Formia 2025 to 2126, train with double sleepers in second class, crowded 6 berth couchettes, and dinner in the restaurant car. Pordenone 0727, pick up coffee and sandwich, leave 0815, breakfast and wash, Venice Santa Lucia 0943. There is a note on getting the best from sleepers and couchettes at http://www.twenj.com/tipsnighttrains.htm/.

Please write if I can help further. Welcome to Europe.

[email protected]

Chicago - You can find this info on the Trenitalia website.

The only train with no changes is the 20.27 from Naples, arriving Venice S.L at 05.31.

www.trenitalia.it

Hope this helps ...

Steve

topping

Chicago, it's the ICN (InterCity Night) train 774. This train is subject to compulsory reservations for first class. It has a sleeping car and couchettes.

We were considering doing the same thing, but the idea of arriving in Venice at 5:30 a.m. did not sit well with my family. You have until 6 a.m., when the train departs, to get off the train. Instead, we bit the bullet and decided just to spend the day on the train and arrive around 6 p.m.. Gives us some down time, a chance to look at the countryside and check out Bologna's train station.