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Best way from Cinque Terre to Salzburg

I need some advice on traveling from Cinque Terre to Salzburg. My daughter and I wanted to take a day train because of the scenery but it seems that would mean a very long trip--11-12 hours--with several changes along the way. Has anyone done that trip and could give us advice? Thank you!

Posted by
5362 posts

I don't know what kind of advice you are looking for as you have already figured out this is one heck of a haul in one day. If it were me, I'd fly or re-evaluate my itinerary.

Posted by
18 posts

I was thinking of flying but am not familiar with local airlines. Is there one you would recommend?

Posted by
16893 posts

Train travel to either Innsbruck or Munich saves some time and one connection (versus Salzburg). Within Italy, Verona or Bolzano are also logical overnight stops along the route.

The best direct flight options you find will probably be from Pisa to Munich, not to Salzburg or Innsbruck.

Posted by
1507 posts

It is a long trip and somewhat difficult whatever transportation you choose.

By car, it is by the upper limit of what a single person can drive in a day. I have often done Florence to Salzburg, it may get exhausting and leaving from Cinque Terre would mean adding a couple of hours.

By train: indicatively, you should change in La Spezia or Pisa, Florence, Verona and Innsbruck. The leg up from Verona is on Austrian trains so there is not a single ticket but two separate tickets. An added difficulty is that trains from Pisa arrive at Firenze SMN, trains from Florence to Verona leave mainly from Firenze CM, so there would be an added railway leg internal to Florence or an additional change in Bologna. Difficult? You bet.

By plane: airports at Salzburg and Innsbruck service mainly feeder flights to Vienna and in summer charters to holiday resorts. The only practical option would be train to Pisa, plane to Munich, and then train to Salzburg (add a couple hours). If you can find a flight in the middle of the day it may be the only practical option.

Do not worry about scenery. It is difficult enough just to get there.

Posted by
16893 posts

Versus the Florence route options that lachera mentions, I would choose a route via Milan with fewer connections, e.g., departing Monterosso northbound around 6:50 or 10:50 a.m.

Posted by
18 posts

Thanks to all of you who replied. I think the best way for us would be to train from Cinque Terre to Pisa then fly to Munich and train to Salzburg. I know that even that will be a long day, but seems less stressful and gives us more time to enjoy "being there" as opposed to "getting there."
So, does this seems like a good plan based on your experience?

Posted by
32171 posts

One other option would be to travel by train but make an intermediate stop for one night, perhaps in Verona. That would break up the long journey.

For air travel you can look at flights from Pisa, Genova or Florence. Check the Lufthansa schedules as that might be your only option.