We will be on our honeymoon in Austria, Switzerland , and Northern Italy. From Salzburg to Interlaken would it be better to take the Euro Rail or is there local railways that would be better. How long will it take to get there? Also going from Zermatt to Como, which is the best rail to use?

There is no such thing as Euro Rail. That is simply a travel company that sells various rail passes and tickets on the various railroads in europe (each country has at least one local RR company, some more). Unless you are doing a LOT of rail travel it's usually costs less to buy individual tickets as you go. (The only exception is overnight trains, which often sell out and tickets should be purchased in advance.)

Unless you're traveling on a major holiday you can buy tickets a day or two in advance at the station.

For schedules go to bahn.de the german rail site. It always has excellent schedule info - although it can give you prices for trips only starting in Germany.

That trip takes about 8 hours with a minimum of 2 changes.

Hey V,

Are you sure about going to Interlaken on your way to Italy?

It is a long train ride, with at least 2 changes.
see www.bahn.de

What is your full itinerary?

We fly into Vienna, Hallstatt, Salburg,Interlaken area, Zermatt, Lake Como, Portofino, fly out of Milan. Total of 19 days.

Hi V,

8 changes of venue in 19 days is not a honeymoon.

It is an expedition.

If you are going from the Swiss border with Austria to Interlaken and then to Zermatt and then to Italy actually a Swiss Railpass may be of benefit to you - a 4-straight day pass can be cheaper than the combined fares - especially if in Interlaken going up into the mountains. For lots of info on Swiss trains and Swiss Passes: www.swisstravelsystem.com links you to the Swiss Railways official site (where you can compare regular fares to the pass - note though that pass prices on this site are for those sold in Switzerland and are for some reason significantly higher than the same exact pass sold in the U.S. in dollars - so compare fares in Swiss Francs to Passes priced in $s); www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id3.html

Swiss Passes are also good on urban trams and buses, many postal buses and lake boats like those on the two lakes bookending Interlaken - Lake Thun and Lake Brienz - if going to Interlaken take one of these delightful old steamers on lakes girdled by ice-clad high Alpine peaks of the fabled Jungfrau region.

You need help on this--you may not understand the logistics and routings. Do you have air tickets now?

We fly into Vienna, Hallstatt, Salburg,Interlaken area, Zermatt, Lake Como, Portofino, fly out of Milan. Total of 19 days.

1,2,3 Vienna
4, 5 Hallstatt
6, 7 Salzburg
8, 9, 10 Interlaken
11, 12 Zermatt
13, 14, 15 Lake Como
16, 17 Portofino or Cinque Terre
18 Milano

<8 changes of venue in 19 days is not a honeymoon.> I heartily disagree with Ira's characterization and the scenario i sketched above IMO is rather relaxed expedition (at least for me) - go for it IMO

It is an expedition.