Interlaken to Manarola

Kevin, Trenitalia has not been timely in posting many of their runs after June 15. That's why you don't see them. If you use a date, such as June 5, you will see the entire schedule. Don't worry. The trains won't stop on June 15. When the schedules are posted, they won't change much. You can buy your tickets when you arrive in Interlaken as I've seen the run to Manarola on the Swiss site.

From Interlaken, you will change trains at Spiez and maybe Brig depending on the run. Then you will change trains in Milan and maybe Genoa P.P. again depending on the run.

Manarola is a little tough to get to as they, along with Corniglia, get fewer trains a day than the other 3 towns.

When you are ready to leave two days later, I suggest that you look at the 7:52am run to Venice from La Spezia. It's a bit early and you have to catch a 6:36am or 7:24 local to La Spezia but it's the fastest run of the day and you arrive in Venice at 13:17 which gives you a good 1/2 day in Venice. There's a McDonald's at the La Spezia train station so you can get some early grub for your trip to Venice.

McDonald's? Walk right past the McDonald's and go out in front of the station. There is a coffee stand with outdoor seating. The taxi drivers hang out there. You may see people that look like they stepped right out of a Fellini movie. Here you will see a slice of the real Italy.

If you eat at McDonalds you will still have a half day in Venice, but it won't be good.

Kevin, first of all, congratulations!

I checked the train listings for 20 June, using Interlaken Ost to La Spezia Centrale as the search criteria. There are numerous journeys on that route, and the one I'd probably choose takes 7H:49M, with two changes:

Dep. Interlaken Ost 07:29

Arv. Spiez 07:50 (this is a small station, so changing trains is easy)

Dep. Spiez 08:05

Arv. Milano Centrale 10:35 (this is a larger station, but you have lots of time to locate which track your connection will be on).

Dep. Milano Centrale 12:10

Arv. La Spezia Centrale 15:18

Reservations are compulsory for two of the trains on that route, and the schedule indicates that it "runs daily".

At La Spezia it should be easy to get the local train to Manarola. According to Rick's book, trains depart for the five villages at 15:25, 16:01, 17:05, etc.

If you're using P-P tickets, you might buy the tickets for this journey at Interlaken when you first arrive there.

Good luck and happy travels!

Thanks for all the help.

I have eurail passes and I just bought reservations from raileurope.com for Spiez to Milan, then Milan to Monterosso. I think from there we can get to Manarola sooner than later.

Thanks again!