We will be traveling with our 2 kids this July. We will need to take the train from Florence to Venice to Salzburg to Frankfurt. Is it necessary to purchase tickets well in advance (before leaving the states)? We will have about a week in Florence and we're wondering if we can buy all three legs of our trip at the station in Florence. We REALLY appreciate all the great information on this site...thank you!!

I recently traveled by train from Vienna to Prague and then later on to Berlin. Taking the advice of some posters, I did not buy my tickets in advance.

Really bad idea. I lucked out both times...but only by a hair.And I needed only one seat, not 4. Too risky. Get them reserved in advance.

Given the tone of the previous poster I expect I'll be ignored but FWIW...

there are at least 12 trains a day between Florence and Venice and unless you are planning to travel at some sort of peak time or holiday and you are going to be in Florence for several days prior to travel, I would NOT get tickets in advance <b>of leaving home</b>.

I <b>would</b>get them when I first arrived in Italy.

Similarly, there are at least seven timings involving anywhere from 0 to 2 connections between Venice and Salzburg on most days; between Salzburg and Frankfurt there are at least 12 timings before 2 PM on most days.

You'll pay MORE for any seat reservations you buy out of Europe and if you buy tickets through an agency such as RailEurope and some others you will pay at least a shipping and handling fee plus possible mark-ups.

I am the most anal retentive person when it comes to getting tickets early but I've finally learned my lesson.

Whatevewr you decide I hope you have a great trip.

Dukey is right. Just look at the frequency of trains on your journeys. If you can be slightly flexible and travel an hour or two earlier or later, then book tickets in Italy.
It is exceptionally rare for trains to be fully booked on any day. If trains are likely to be busy, the railways normally run extra trains, or longer trains. In most European countries, they've had over 150 years' experience of running trains.

I purchased mine in advance only one time, because I needed to make a specific connection. The advance purchase was made when I got to Italy and I was already in the train station. I bought it one day ahead.

Hi K,

www.bahn.de will sell you Salzburg to Frankfurt tickets online in advance for only 29 E, instead of 95E.