More on Getting from AMS to Bolzano

How about flying from AMS direct to Bologna, then getting the train to Bolzano,. About three hours, depending on whether it's direct or one change.

Linate, Bergamo, Verona, Venice, Bologna, are the closest airports to Bolzano on the Italian side. All trains to Bolzano go through Verona, there is no way around that. I think only those coming from the south of Verona (Bologna) might require no change in Verona, although they all stop there.

Thanks - I'll look into Bologna. I just figure the less we have to change trains, the better. Also, need do-able flights from AMS so will look. I hadn't thought about Bologna!

Last year, I flied from AMS to Venice, then took the train from Venice to Bolzano.

Just a couple more random questions.

1. Is Easyjet pretty reliable? Or should I pay a bit more and fly on ITA?

2. How much time ahead would we need to be at the Milano Centrale train station to check in etc? If our flight arrives at LIN airport at 1:30pm, could we make a 2:45pm train from the Milano Centrale station? An Easyjet flight would get in earlier but I think we flew them once and got delayed on the tarmac, missing a shuttle that was to start our tour a few years ago.

3. Same question for the Bologna train station. The flight would arrive at 12:20 and the train leaves at 13:15.

4. I assume I would book the train called ItaliaRail? Are there other trains to consider?

Thanks!

Is Easyjet pretty reliable? Or should I pay a bit more and fly on ITA?

Easyjet is fine. No guarantees at all that ITA will do better arriving on time. However, given what you said about Easyjet arriving earlier, I'd pick them to allow more time to get to Milano Centrale.

How much time ahead would we need to be at the Milano Centrale train station to check in etc? If our flight arrives at LIN airport at 1:30pm, could we make a 2:45pm train from the Milano Centrale station?

It depends on flight arrival time, time to taxi to gate and unload etc., plus whether or not you have checked luggage. I would consider that a bit tight. I would take the earlier flight or a later train, but it is theoretically possible. You only need to be at the train station with enough time to get into the track area (show or scan your ticket and walk through the barrier, almost no time required unless there is a lineup), find the correct track by looking at the electronic display board for your train number, and get on any carriage before the doors close. Since it is a regional train, you don't need to worry about finding your reserved seat, just hustle on board and take any seats.

Same question for the Bologna train station. The flight would arrive at 12:20 and the train leaves at 13:15.

Sorry, I have never flown into Bologna, don't know how long it takes to get from airport to train station by taxi.

I assume I would book the train called ItaliaRail? Are there other trains to consider?

No, ItaliaRail is a third party ticket reseller. Buy your tickets directly on the Trenitalia site.

And yes, there is another option. The Milano Lambrate station is closer to Linate, a shorter taxi ride plus you don't have to go into the often snarled central station area. Just catch a train there and save a few steps. It is a more local train, i.e., more stops than the one from Centrale, so it takes a half hour longer, less the time saved by not going to Centrale first. Also has only one change, in Verona. Up to you, either one is fine. The Lambrate station is smaller, possibly less confusing. Centrale is prettier, in the grand European train station tradition, and has some good food options if you need them. I think it would be a wash.

Italo is the private train provider that competes with Trenitalia only on fast routes. You could take Italo from Milano Centrale to Verona, and then switch to a Trenitalia regional train from Verona to Bolzano. That would be your fastest option and really doesn't add any complexity, the trains use the same stations and tracks. You just can't get all the way through on one provider. And you can't get Italo at Milano Lambrate. See Italo's site for researching schedules and buying tickets here: Italotreno

Nelly, thank you SO much! This is why I love the RS forum. The EasyJet flight is actually a little earlier so will book that. Very helpful just to have someone point out all the little things that take time. And I didn't know about the Labrate station at all or the other private train so will check that out. I'll check the distance to Centrale again - last time I looked it seemed close, like under 10km? But will also look at the distance for Lambrate. I assume there is Uber at the airport or taxis or maybe even a shuttle? But this is all so helpful - many thanks!

Another possibility could be taking a train to Düsseldorf, then flying to Bolzano direct on Skyalps.

I’ve never flown them but was surprised to learn they serve quite a few destinations from Bolzano.

Thank you and good suggestions. My head was swimming with all this yesterday so I went ahead and booked an EasyJet flight for us from AMS to LIN. Now I just have to figure out the trains! This trip has been way more complicated than I thought but almost done with all the planning ahead part - whew. Someone else gave me a great reference to understand the trains (Seat61?) so need to read it more thoroughly. It makes me nervous to wait to buy the train tickets at the platform so would really like to have them ahead of time.

We need two different trains. One from Milan to Bolzano and then at the end of the trip from Bolzano to Munich (where we'll spend a night before leaving Europe.) I'd like to be able to have seats reserved. Anyone done this sort of thing?? Some of the trains already say they only have a few seats left.... really??

I do not know why you have to worry about Italian trains for July and August in March, but they are available for purchase at SuperEconomy and Economy prices now. But these prices are generally nonrefundable and that would be risky, as you cannot be sure your inbound flight will land on time. Trains from Milan to Bolzano will not sell out. They go hourly or even more often.

You could buy Bolzano to Munich now, since you know you will be in Bolzano. OeBB operates direct trains and you can buy tickets from Trenitalia, Deutsche Bahn, or the operator, OeBB, the Austrian National Railway.

Many many thanks, Sam. I've never heard of OeBB? But can book through Trenitalia and was thinking as you suggest - at least get the Bolzano to Munich train tickets ahead since we know we'll be in Bolzano at a certain time at the end of the tour. As for the Milan to Bolzano train, I'll wait and may even go against my very need to plan ahead nature, and get them once we arrive! Again, thank you!

No Uber in Italy, with a few caveats, see below. Look for a white official taxi in a taxi rank out front of the terminal, just like any other airport. Do not follow anyone who tries to take you away from the taxi stand and into a non-official taxi. They will approach you as you leave the terminal. Just get in line at the taxi rank (look for big TAXI sign) and wait for a proper officially licensed taxi (always white, with the taxi light on top.) A shuttle is unlikely but I haven't checked recently.

Re Uber - it is not allowed to operate with private drivers like in the States or Canada. You might see it as available on your Uber app but that is because it has contracts with local taxi companies to call their licensed cabs and allow you to pay through the Uber app. This is convenient if you're in a city and need to call a cab randomly. At the airport, it is useless because you just have to get in the taxi line anyway, no one legal/official can pick you up outside the taxi stand.

Finally, Uber Black is available to hire limos/town cars. Expensive and pointless in your situation.

Good luck with your choices, now that you know a few options I'm sure you'll make the choice that's right for you.

Great advice - thank you, Nelly!

OeBB are the Austrian federal railways. They run the international EC trains from Italy to Munich, there should be one every two hours over the Brenner pass. Even if the trip starts in Italy and ends in Germany, I would buy the ticket from Oebb running the middle section, as in a sense they are the main organizer of this kind of trains; trains switch crews at borders but the engine and coaches are Austrian. In July and August be warned that, during the last years, their trains are quite crowded and if you do not reserve (it is not compulsory) you may find having to stand. Reserving may be difficult as there is much request (a friend of mine never succeeded in finding a place Innsbruck to Verona and vv. on the August days she needed and had each time to change her plans).

If there is really no place, you can split the trip in several parts: Bolzano to Brenner on Italian local train, Brenner to Innsbruck on Austrian local train (these are rarely much crowded) and then look for an Innsbruck to Munchen that should have more choiches than Bolzano to Munchen. Of course, this is slower and more inconvenient than a single, no-change train.

Oh my. I'd better get our reservations. Are the Italian trains from Bolzano actually Austrian? Can I book all via Trenitalia? Why do you prefer the Austrian train line - how is it different than the Italian?

They are not different, they are the same train. But since it originates in Italy, you can buy at Trenitalia, and since it is going to Germany, you can buy it from Deutsche Bahn, and since it is going through Austria, and as lachera pointed out, is actually an Austrian train, you can buy it from OeBB.

Peggy, last summer we spent several days in Dolomites and then took train from Bolzano to Munich and flew home next day. The Railjet trains operated by OBB, Austrian rail service, are direct and take about 4 hours. Departs every 2 hours from Bolzano to Munich. May be a little early to book for July. As others have suggested, you can book on OBB website. I found the third party website Trainline more user friendly and the small service charge worth the easy booking. You will need to take the S-Bahn commuter train from Munich station to the airport, an easy transfer at Munich Ost, a little busier at Munich HBF. The Hilton at MUC airport is a great place to stay.

Are you staying in Munich for a few days, or going to Munich airport for a flight home the next morning? If the latter, you can buy the ticket from Bolzano to Munich airport and the S-Bahn will be included. And besides the Hilton Munich City, the Holiday Inn Munich City is equally convenient and also quite nice. If that is the case, you can buy the ticket to Munich Rosenheimer Platz and the S-Bahn will be included for that as well.

Thanks for all the explanations! Being a novice at all this, I think I will book through the Trainline site - it looks the easiest and I don't mind the small fee. I've already booked us at the Hilton at MUC for one night after others suggested it - glad to hear it is a good one. We are really just passing through Munich - will spend the night and fly out the next day around 2:00 PM. I just wanted to make sure we had plenty of time!

Would it be better to wait to book the Bolzano to Munich train in April for a date in late July? When they say 3-4 months ahead is that because more trains will be listed then? It sounds like the consensus regarding the Milan to Bolzano train is that it can be books on the day of travel after we get into Bolzano.

Many thanks to all of you for the help.

Yes, I would wait until April to book your July train from Bolzano to Munich. Schedules for different types of trains are added and updated at different times. If you are using the Trainline website, you can search for trains on your travel date and Trainline will alert you when booking is available. Also, the Man in Seat 61 website is a great source of detailed information about train travel in Europe.

Perfect! Marking my calendar for April and will go to Trainline right now!

Well. I see I must retract some advice. You can buy the ticket now from Bolzano to Munich at DB. A SuperSparpreis Europa ticket is 59.99 EUR to Munich Ost, and 64.09 EUR to Munich Rosenheimer Platz. So DB is charging you 4.10 EUR to go the short way from Ostbahnhof to Rosenheimer Platz. But you can buy a ticket from MVV for 2 EUR. Hmmm.

Now I'm confused! Sam, what is DB? And what is MVV? Is Rosenheimer Platz where I need to go to get to the Hilton at the airport?

Is there a special kind of train I should look for? A Super Sparpreis Europa?

You can buy the ticket now from Bolzano to Munich at DB. A SuperSparpreis Europa ticket is 59.99 EUR to Munich Ost, and 64.09 EUR to Munich Rosenheimer Platz. So DB is charging you 4.10 EUR to go the short way from Ostbahnhof to Rosenheimer Platz. But you can buy a ticket from MVV for 2 EUR.

I just copied and pasted your last note to the bottom so I could get the letters and names right!