Train Route
 

We are spending 10 days between Geneva, Switzerland-Italy-Amsterdam, Netherlands:

1. Leave Geneva, Switzerland to Portofino, Italy
2. Portofino to Tuscany
3. Tuscany to Venice
4. Venice to Amsterdam, Netherlands
5. Amsterdam back to Geneva

We would like to do most of this traveling by train, if possible. The travel from Venice to Amsterdam and from Amsterdam to Geneva are pretty lengthy. Can either of these be traveled by night train. ALL help and suggestions would be wonderful.

That itinerary is insanity in 10 days.

Or - are you just into long distance train rides and don't care about the destinations?

The travel from Venice to Amsterdam and from Amsterdam to Geneva are pretty lengthy. Can either of these be traveled by night train>

Not directly-but there are I believe overnight trains between Basel and Zurich - both to Amsterdam

and Venice to Paris just about 3hrs by Thalys train from Amsterdam.

For loads of great info on train check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Where in Tuscany? Of course to Florence but also to Siena and some other hill towns (buses pick up the slack so you can get around Tuscany by public transport).

You can fly from Venice to Amsterdam AND Amsterdam back to Geneva using the discount airline Easyjet.

On janis'point - If you left Amsterdam out it would be much nicer all in all and if you fly into one place and out of the other so you do not have to backtrack. fly into Milan and out of Venice or Rome.

Even flying will eat up half a day each leg.

Be aware that there is no train station exactly in Portofino, even though there is a station called Santa Margherita Ligure-Portofino. From that station you will need to take a bus, a taxi or a boat to Portofino itself. However, very few people actually stay in Portofino because of the expense & and how tiny the town is. Staying in Santa Margherita Ligure is a good option, or Rapallo or Camogli.

There are no night trains to or from Amsterdam.
Cheap airlines killed night trains.

There are no night trains to or from Amsterdam.>

but there are night trains a few hours away from Germany still I believe- like Duisburg or Cologne to Zurich I believe -can never be sure because as hetismij2 says more and more are being scrubbed.

Check www.bahn.de/en to see.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_Night_Line
Austrian rail still runs some sleepers, but not many, and none useful to OP.

right no overnight trains useful to OP's schedule - regular night trains that is - there are regular trains sometimes but changes required at odd hours, etc.

Amsterdam anyway for a day or so is such a detour -if wanting to do it fly there and home from there. Drop Geneva.

There are almost no overnight services by train left. PalenQ, I wish you'd read up on the current situation before giving your stock advice on train travel. Venice - Amsterdam is just not doable by train within a realistic timeframe. Better to fly.

Venice - Amsterdam is just not doable by train within a realistic timeframe. Better to fly.>

Venice to Paris overnight - 3.5 hrs to Amsterdam?

But you're right nearly no night trains - at least not for the OP's plans.

To be clear to others the statement nearly no night trains pertains to Amsterdam and Germany - there are plenty still around (but dwindling in number) in other areas of Europe -like UK, Italy, France (though only couchettes and 1st cl seats); eastern Europe.