My husband and I will be traveling to Munich for Ocktoberfest on Sept 25-28. We had planned to take an overnight train from Munich to Florence. Should we be concerned about the recent refugee surge in Munich? Should we consider alternate travel instead of train?
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5384 posts
Refugee surge or not, i would fly that distance anyway.
It is quite late to buy train tickets anyway.
I would add that you will travel in the opposite direction of the refugees as well.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you for your response - very helpful!
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
Night train tickets are not sold out, but they're also not cheap at €330 total for two in a double sleeper. Direct flights to Florence cost a bit more than that but flights to Rome or Milan are cheaper (www.skyscanner.com).
Posted by
TX
980 posts
I agree, even though the refugee crisis shouldn't affect the trains you should look into flights if possible. Even if it costs a little more the time saved will be worth it.
DJ
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5384 posts
Also check flights to Pisa and Bologna.
Posted by
Edmonds, Washington
19 posts
We have been in Munich since Sept 7th. We have seen family groups that appear to be refugees, but haven't had any problems with crowded trains. The city seems to be coping quite well so far. Enjoy your trip!
Posted by
Fredericksburg, VA
237 posts
We were in Munich's main train station yesterday. There was evidence of some presumed refugees / economic migrants at the station--sitting in groups along some corridors and passageways--but reasonably controlled and nothing of concern to travelers. We did not experience any crowding on the trains that we were on between Munich and several cities in Austria.
Posted by
Cincinnati, OH, USA
768 posts
I agree with the "fly" votes.
Posted by
4518 posts
About the train: It also stops at the Ostbahnhof on the east side of the center so there's no need to travel to the main station if that is a concern (the main station area can be a bit seedy, whereas the Ostbahnhof is in a posh area and no farther from the center).
We encountered a strong migrant presence on this train back in July but of course coming from Italy as the migrants are working north toward Germany. These were the African migrants taking boats across the Mediterranean to Italy who are not as much in the news as the Syrian, Iraqi, and Afghan migrants coming from the east. But they did overwhelm our car crossing the border to Austria.
Posted by
91 posts
My cousin lives in Regensburg. He was in Munich and took his kids to the zoo and had no problem. Said they have plenty of police out due to the refugees and of course Oktoberfest. He wouldn’t bring his children to Munich if there was a problem.
We contemplated a rail trip from Rome to Munich, but the 10 hour ride was more than I wanted. I hear both good and bad on night trains and we got a good deal on air travel and only 1 ½ hour flight.