I have a one month railpass for Italy. I can travel 5 days within that month. I am flying into Geneva to visit an old friend. From there I want to travel by train to Venice. Can I buy my train ticket in Geneva, going to Venice and only pay for the leg that gets me across the border into Italy? or must I buy a ticket from Geneva to the closest Italian town, get off the train and use my Eurailpass to get another ticket from there to Venice?
Posted by
Paris
7291 posts
Try Eurail's own reservation service to reserve a seat from Domodossola (Italian border station) to Venice. Or reputable agency Italia Rail. And buy a Swiss ticket from Geneva to Domodossola.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Hello Rainbow and balso,
Thank-you so much for your helpful replies. It is good to know that Domodossola is an Italian border town to Switzerland. I was thinking, to be safe, I might get off the train in Domodossola and go to the ticket window and get my railpass validated. Unless it’s a small train station that only has machines. Any thoughts?
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
You don't need to get off the train. A Swiss rail station can activate the pass and sell the extra ticket at the same time. It's a Eurail product and the deal with these regularly. Once you do so, you'll know it's done.
Rainbow's reply (deleted) was talking about Interrail passes for European residents, and those rules don't apply.
Balso's reply about activation (deleted) was also misleading. It's true that you do fill in the travel date in ink yourself, but that is AFTER activation. Activation means having a station agent enter the first and last dates of validity, such as Sept 15 - Oct 14, and stamping it. See https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/using-your-rail-pass.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Laura, so if I understand you correctly, the station agent in Geneva can activate my Italian railpass?. That would be so convenient! Thank-you for your help!
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23601 posts
And for the Italy trains you will need to pay a supplemental fee for a seat reservation on all trains except the Regionale trains.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Hello Laura. It happened just as you said. The Station Agent in Geneva activated my railpass and sold me the ticket from Geneva to the Italian border. He also sold me the reservation for the train in Italy. It was very easy! Thank-you!