Hi- My family will traveling to San Marino in July for a soccer tournament which ends on July 13th. We are ultimately ending in Lucerne to visit our exchange student, but we were hoping to stop in Venice on the way. This seems more challenging than I thought. Getting from Riccione (where we are staying) to Venice seems doable on Trenitalia, but getting from Venice to Lucerne seems difficult. Any thoughts? I thought about possibly bypassing Venice all together and just going to Switzerland and traveling there. We would like to be in Lucerne by July 16th, so we have a few days. It will be me, my husband and 4 kids, ages 16,15, 13, and 11. Thanks!
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
From Venice to Lucerne is definitely do-able because I've done it. It's about a 7-7.5 hour journey and your kids < 16 will travel 100% free with you in Switzerland. I would not bypass Venice - there's not another place like it...and Switzerland is my favorite place in the whole wide world! Now from San Marino you'll have to catch a bus to Rimini and then Rimini onto Venice (2-3 hours). More info on the bus schedule can be found here: http://www.visitsanmarino.com/on-line/en/Home/Discover/HowtoreachSanMarino.html
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34207 posts
It may take a little while to go from Venezia to Luzern but it certainly isn't difficult. What is it about the trip that seems difficult to you? Most reasonable routings will have you changing trains in Milano and Arth-Goldau. That is because both Milano and Luzern are "dead-end" stations. Trains that go into a dead end station have to change ends so the back becomes front and vice versa. You have to change trains in Milano also because the fast train from Venezia to Milano does not go into Switzerland. If you want to take time in Milano Centrale station to get a bit of a meal or be sure you have plenty of time you can arrange that when you reserve your tickets/seats. Just plan to take the train the next hour. Through trains between Milano and Zurich don't call at Luzern because of the dead end station. Its also not a problem doing that. Arth-Goldau is the main transfer station for Luzern. Pop off there and tootle in to Luzern as you like. Trains in Switzerland don't have reservations. A bit more time planned for may yield comfort. Don't miss Venice. Even if you consider it you will still have to make the change in Milano and Arth-Goldau. Don't miss Venice.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
I think the problem is getting out of San Marino which isn't well served by public transport.
Posted by
OP
Zionsville, IN, USA
8 posts
Actually, we are staying in Riccione. Not sure that is much better, but Rimini is close and I think that there might be a train station there.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
Yes, once you get to Rimini on the bus then trains will be accessible.