Switzerland to Italy
#2

Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 0
There are lots of train booking sites in Europe, and all those I've seen have pages in English.
Basically, you're going to have to get to Milan, where you can get a local train to Varenna. You can use the Swiss railway site to research the trip, or to buy tickets.
https://www.sbb.ch/en/timetable.html
The closest station to Wengen that has a direct train to Milan is Spiez, but you'd have to take two different trains to get to Spiez. In addition to the few direct train, which leaves Spiez at 14:05, there are also routings that have a change of train somewhere. If you don't mind getting to Varenna in the late afternoon, you might prefer to get the direct train from Spiez to Milan, to save yourself changing trains at least once more.
Once you're in Milan, you can get a local TrenNord train to Varenna-Esino. The station is in Varenna. You can see the timetables for this train on the Trenitalia web site:
http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en
The whole trip is on local trains, except for the part on the EC train from Spiez (or Brig) to Milan. These local trains have no reservations, so there's no advantage for buying the tickets online. The EC train has reserved seats, and offers excellent discounts if you purchase well in advance (at least one week, better two weeks).
The whole journey will take you over 6 hours, and you'll have to take a minimum of five different trains, six if you don't choose the direct train from Spiez. I hope you're planning to travel light!
Basically, you're going to have to get to Milan, where you can get a local train to Varenna. You can use the Swiss railway site to research the trip, or to buy tickets.
https://www.sbb.ch/en/timetable.html
The closest station to Wengen that has a direct train to Milan is Spiez, but you'd have to take two different trains to get to Spiez. In addition to the few direct train, which leaves Spiez at 14:05, there are also routings that have a change of train somewhere. If you don't mind getting to Varenna in the late afternoon, you might prefer to get the direct train from Spiez to Milan, to save yourself changing trains at least once more.
Once you're in Milan, you can get a local TrenNord train to Varenna-Esino. The station is in Varenna. You can see the timetables for this train on the Trenitalia web site:
http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en
The whole trip is on local trains, except for the part on the EC train from Spiez (or Brig) to Milan. These local trains have no reservations, so there's no advantage for buying the tickets online. The EC train has reserved seats, and offers excellent discounts if you purchase well in advance (at least one week, better two weeks).
The whole journey will take you over 6 hours, and you'll have to take a minimum of five different trains, six if you don't choose the direct train from Spiez. I hope you're planning to travel light!
#3
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
The closest station to Wengen that has a direct train to Milan is Spiez, but you'd have to take two different trains to get to Spiez.>
Acdtually three trains to get to Spiez - Wengen to Lauterbrunnen; change there for Interlaken-Ost and then there for Spiez and then there for trains to Italy.
Bvlenci has given all the relevant info as usual.
For lots of info on Swiss and Italian trains in general check www.seat61.com -great info on discounted tickets for trains; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.
Acdtually three trains to get to Spiez - Wengen to Lauterbrunnen; change there for Interlaken-Ost and then there for Spiez and then there for trains to Italy.
Bvlenci has given all the relevant info as usual.
For lots of info on Swiss and Italian trains in general check www.seat61.com -great info on discounted tickets for trains; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.
#4

Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 9,504
Likes: 0
Wengen (insignificant small Swiss village) - Vernazza (insignificant tiny Italian village): timetable
Wengen dp 7.03 - Vernazza ar 15.15, change at Lauterbrunnen, Interlaken Ost, Spiez, Brig, Milano C, Levanto.
Wengen dp 12.33 - Vernazza ar 20.33, change at Lauterbrunnen, Interlaken Ost, Spiez, Milano C, Genova PP, La Spezia.
Wengen dp 13.03 - Vernazza ar 21.23, change at Lauterbrunnen, Interlaken Ost, Spiez, Brig, Milano C, Sestri Levante.
Standard tickets can be bought at any somewhat important Swiss railway station counter.
Web tickets:
Wengen - Spiez, Brig or Milan: www.sbb.ch
Spiez, Brig or Milan - Vernazza: www.trenitalia.it
Wengen dp 7.03 - Vernazza ar 15.15, change at Lauterbrunnen, Interlaken Ost, Spiez, Brig, Milano C, Levanto.
Wengen dp 12.33 - Vernazza ar 20.33, change at Lauterbrunnen, Interlaken Ost, Spiez, Milano C, Genova PP, La Spezia.
Wengen dp 13.03 - Vernazza ar 21.23, change at Lauterbrunnen, Interlaken Ost, Spiez, Brig, Milano C, Sestri Levante.
Standard tickets can be bought at any somewhat important Swiss railway station counter.
Web tickets:
Wengen - Spiez, Brig or Milan: www.sbb.ch
Spiez, Brig or Milan - Vernazza: www.trenitalia.it
#5


Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 26,498
Likes: 4
bvlenci has given info for Milano to Varenna-Esino, so disregard the part after "Once you're in Milan..."
Milan to Vernazza involves a change at either Levanto or La Spezia. (You could also go via Genoa, but it takes longer and involves another connection.) This part of your journey will take 3+ hours, so if you're doing Wengen to Vernazza in one day, you're looking at probably 8 hours on trains.
Milan to Vernazza involves a change at either Levanto or La Spezia. (You could also go via Genoa, but it takes longer and involves another connection.) This part of your journey will take 3+ hours, so if you're doing Wengen to Vernazza in one day, you're looking at probably 8 hours on trains.
#6

Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 0
There should be no need to make so many changes of train between Milan and Vernazza. There are hourly (at least) direct trains from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino, and the trip takes about an hour. These trains are operated by Trenord, not Trenitalia, but you can buy their tickets from Trenitalia. Maybe the website that Necker used doesn't show Trenord trains. You can see them on the Trenitalia website, whose link I gave above.
Trending Topics
#10
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
But even Milan to Vernazza can be done all by regional trains though quicker ones run the route too -but the beauty of regional trains is that you just show up buy ticket and take any of them -no pre-booking hassles - there are not even any reserved seats possible I think.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
HappyCheesehead
Europe
15
Nov 7th, 2009 05:11 PM




