As I plan our trip to Italy next year we have decided our first stop will be Bolzano. I cannot get flights into Venice w/ my frequent flyer miles but I can into Zurich. Can someone share w/ me how they would recommend I get from Zurich to Bolzano?

Do you want to go by plane, train or automobile?

Steve

I think Steve raises a very good point. There are "budget" air options from Zurich to Venice and from there you could travel by rail (most likely with a change at Verona Porto Nuevo unless you get one of the few direct services) to Bolzano. You can rail it all the way from Zurich via Milan, etc., but to really offer useful help you will have to decide on the mode of travel.

Hi laner,

The trip from Zurich to Bolzano by train takes 5h53 with a change in Innsbruck. If you decide to go this route, I suggest you split your journey in Innsbruck instead of Bolzano -- because you have to change trains anyway and because it's just about halfway on the trip.

Did you know that there are direct trains from Zurich to Venice that take 7h48?

Unless you have a luggage problem, or unless you share my fascination for European train travel, perhaps the low-budget airlines would be your best choice.

To compare flying & the train, check out www.whichbudget.com and www.rail.ch.

Best of luck!

s

If you could fly into Verona, Bolzano is only 90 minutes north by frequent train.

Train takes too long... need to go through Innsbruck. Don't feel like driving... don't know the roads or the rules of their roads... so I guess plane or some sort of ground transportation - bus?

I am honestly not sure going by bus would be any more rapid than going by rail but I could be wrong. At least on a train you can get up and really move around, have something to eat (depending on services offered) perhaps, etc. but am topping this for you so someone may have further, more helpful, info.

I would think train would be quicker than flying too.

I don't believe there are flights to Verona from Zurich - so your nearest airports would be Venice, Milan, Innsbruck or Munich.

You would then have a 3-4 hour rail journey to Bolzano from any of those.

Steve

Thanks for all your ideas... looks like we have changed flight plans. It makes more sence to fly from Zurich to Venice then train to Bolzano. I just don't want to spend all my time trying to get from one place to the other.