Please sign in to post.

First time in Italy....and my questions are....

Posted by on

We will be traveling back from Varenna to Milan Central in Sept. In Milan we will take another train to Venice. When I search the schedules and times, there is only 28 minutes from arrival in Milan to the train departing to Venice. Is that enough time to switch trains? I want to buy my ticket to Venice ahead of time, (economy) but am worried we might miss our train and have to buy another ticket!! Also if I buy my train tickets ahead of time (for the larger fast trains,Venice to Florence,Florence to Rome, and Rome to Cinque) do those also need to be validated at the station like the regional trains? Do I need a reservation on them also?

My second question is related to our stay in Tuscany. We are renting a car and staying at a B&B in San Gimignano for 5 nights. Besides Sienna and a quick stop to Pisa, what are some recommendations for places to visit? (not Florence-that's a separate trip)
We are interested in seeing the country, meeting the people, and eating the food and drinking the wine!!

Thanks,
Donna

Posted by
23666 posts

Twenty eight minutes is a life time in train transfers. Most are closer to ten. Get off the train, walk to the head of the platform, located the next platform and walk to your train. If you miss because the train is late then you can exchange the ticket.

Only the Regionale train tickets need to be validated because they are open ticket than can be used on any Regionale train. All other trains in Italy required a seat reservations that comes with the ticket when purchased. Since the ticket is only good for a specific train on specific day and time, it does not need to be validated. And do not buy Regionale tickets on-line.

Posted by
16240 posts

I'll give you some ideas for Tuscany.
Besides San Gimignano, really close to where you are, the following places are good choices:
Volterra, Colle Val D'Elsa, Monteriggioni, Certaldo, Siena. The Chianti hills are also not far, for example the town of Castellina in Chianti.
Just south of Siena is the Val D'Orcia with the following places: Pienza, San Quirico, Montepulciano and many others.
San Gimignano is in the Alta Val D'Elsa (upper Elsa Valley), which is really central to many places worth visiting. The whole of Tuscany, even the farthest corners, is actually within 2 hours drive.
For a comprehensive guide to the towns and villages of Tuscany, see the following website:
www.borghiditoscana.net/eng/
Take a look and find your personal favorite, there are thousands of villages in Tuscany.

Posted by
16895 posts

You're on the right track with the advice above. Since Milano Centrale is an end-of-the-line station, you don't need to go into a tunnel or overpass to connect the tracks.

This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity.