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Car or Train

Posted by (Pleasant Hill, CA, USA) on

We are going to Ortisei on our first stop of our northern Italy holiday this June. We fly into Venice and have a car booked. The current plan is to drive through the Dolomites on our way there. Always wanted to drive the passes. We will drop our car at Verona airport and catch a train to Varenna. Plan B is taking train to Bolzano and either take a bus or transfer to Ortisei. Then on to Varenna by train from Bolzano. We are flying to Venice from San Francisco via Philadelphia. The train sounds more relaxing than driving. But less scenic. Any opinions out there?

Thanks

Posted by
16232 posts

I'd drive the whole trip, and take the car to Varenna as well, driving via Merano and the Stelvio Pass. Then if you don't want to keep the car in Varenna, you can probably return it in Lecco (just a few miles south of Varenna) and go back to Varenna by train after you return the car. You could do so after you check in the hotel and drop family and luggage in Varenna.
Or you could also keep the car in Varenna and return it later when you drive to wherever the next destination after Varenna is.
You can do so much more in the mountains with a car.
It's not that bad to drive there. Just take a drive on the summit road to the top of Mt. Diablo and it's about the same. There are more curves and switchbacks on the Dolomites, but the roads are about the same type as on Mt. Diablo or the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Posted by
473 posts

Roberto, thanks. We are headed back to Venice after Varenna. So no need for car. Then back to the bay. The drive looks stunning. Plus I got a great deal on my rental car. I just need to go slow on the curves. Wife gets car sick sometimes. Can't wait for our trip. Thanks again.

Richard

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