Train from Bernese Oberland to Rome
 

Staying in Murren and need to get to Rome and Salerno. Suggestions? What is best route and how long? I'll reserve in advance for two adults via sites recommended here.
Will I need overnight train?

Also could use inn recommendations for Murren.

Details Station/Stop Date Time Duration Chg. Travel with Occupancy
Connection 11 Interlaken Ost Sa, 05.03.11 dep 08:00 7:45 3 ICE, IC, EC, ES 1. 2.
Roma Termini arr 15:45


Connection 22 Interlaken Ost Sa, 05.03.11 dep 09:29 9:16 3 R, IC, IR, ES 1. 2.
Roma Termini arr 18:45


Connection 33 Interlaken Ost Sa, 05.03.11 dep 13:29 7:16 2 R, EC, ES 1. 2.
Roma Termini arr 20:45


Connection 44 Interlaken Ost Sa, 05.03.11 dep 14:00 7:45 3 IC, EC, ES 1. 2.
Roma Termini arr 21:45


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go to www.sbb.ch and click on the "EN" version (upper mid right of the screen)

There are no longer any overnight trains between Switzerland and Italy.

And from Interlaken and as Bob above shows it will take nine hours all told so from Murren at at least one hour on to that. You first take a train from Murren to Grutschalp, then the aerial cableway down to Lauterbrunnen, then a train to Interlaken-Ost (East) station - then a regional train to Spiez, on the main line south to Milan, Italy - you often now have to change at Brig since the Italian Railways have decided to terminate many cross border trains - some still go direct to Milan so try to get one of those for one less change. Then change in Milan to a Eurostar Italia high-speed train to reach Rome's Termini station.

Why not break up this long journey - the main line from Switzerland goes right by gorgeous Lake Stresa and the train station at Stresa is in the heart of town - check out Stresa and the fabled three Borromean Islands right offshore.

and if going to Murren and traveling around the Jungfrau Region then you should check out a Swiss Railpass, which covers travel up to Murren from anywhere in Switzerland in full - including the otherwise pricey aerial cableway and Grutschalrren electric train. For lots on Swiss trains, passes, etc check out these fab IMO sites - www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com. You can use a Swiss Pass to reach Brig, on the Italian border - then check out www.trenitalia.com for online discounted Brig via Milan to Rome tickets.

Super...now help me out with all the initials!

Whoops, initial question was to Bob. Your advice is much appreciated. Lots of train travel and a long day but we have an apt. in Ravello waiting on Saturday!

Note that you will probably have to change in hectic Milano Centrale train station - one of Europe;s biggest and busiest IME train sheds with oodles of platforms to search for your train - and also trains can be late so cushion your change time - 15 minutes change time as may automatically pop out from online schedules like www.sbb.ch just ain't enough - espcially since Italian trains, except regional trains, require seat servations specific to that train and with a ticket you cannot just board a later train without first having to make a new seat reservation and lines can be long to do that though automatic ticket machines can also do it.

An hour at least is what I'd like and if on time have a coffee or beer in a station bistro.

EC= EuroCity
ES=EuroStar
IC=InterCity
IR-Regional

all of those initials are for train TYPES

Again, my thanks! About to book...

and don't worry about Milan. There is a HUGE electronic board suspended over the platforms which will tell you where your next train is leaving from

I would get a driver from Salerno to Ravello.

Yes, there is a huge board in Milan. However, when we took this same trip, our train from Milan was not ending in Rome, I think it was going on Naples or somewhere. That meant that when I looked for our 11:15 a.m. train to Rome it wasn't listed because it was listed by its endpoint. Just be prepared to ask questions.

You can also take the thrilling world-famous Amalfi Coast buses from Salerno to Ravello - and pay a few euros and not a fortune for a driver taking the exact same road at the exact same speed - usually slow due to the sinuous curving cliffside roads and often bumper to bumper traffic. Buses go very very frequently - you'd have to change buses in Amalfi for the few mile ride uphill to Ravello - again easily done.

There are also high-speed ferries from Salerno to Amalfi, just under Ravello. Save the $100 or so I would expect a private driver to pay and see the fantastic coast along the way.

Like cherrb advises about destination names of your train being on the board there is usually also a train number and I always have this with me - like ES 2316 - EuroStar Italia train #2316 - if that matches with the board that is all you need to know

Re Ravello - if staying there and you are fairly mobile then consider walking down to Amalfi - there is a really nice paved footpath albeit with some stairs that runs thur a verdant valley of fig trees, citrus groves, etc most of the few miles - with more vertical steps near Ravello

I walked up that way and from Ravello took a really sweet route zigzagging down thru the vineyards that overlook the coast - going by small farmhouses and seeing folks working in the vines, etc.

Two sweet walks to do to or from Ravello if not in a hurry

Investigate flights from Zurich to Naples, take the ferry or train to Sorrento and bus to Ravello (or private driver from Naples) then take train to Rome and fly out of Rome. May be cheapest way and certainly quickest.

All good...many thanks. Am booked from Switzerland through Milan to Rome...will overnight near station and out next am by bus or train to Salerno, then taxi or bus up to Ravello. Good suggestions from all!

I doubt if there are many or any buses Rome to Salerno but there are hourly or so trains and the Amalfi Coast buses leave from close to the Salerno train station - they go more than once most hours and cost only a few euro - one of the most famous bus rides in the world and of course by car is the same.