My husband are moving to Mauritius, and have found we have 7 days and 6 nights to spend in Italy. We will be coming from Geneva (tickets are bought and cannot be changed) on the 30th of December, and going back there on the 5th . We know we would like to see Florence, Rome, Pompeii and Naples and anywhere else we can squeeze in, but are not sure if we should purchase a rail pass in advance or point to point tickets once we arrive. We were not sure what would be the least expensive way to get the most of our limited time. Coming from Oklahoma we are kind of looking forward to the train travel most in Europe find tedious or time consuming. Also, will museums and attractions be open at that time of year and will other travelers make it difficult to find seats? Thank you in advance for any advice you all have.
Posted by
Green Bay
20016 posts
Assuming you want to travel from Geneva by train after you land, it is 6 1/2 to 7 hours to Florence. You change trains at Geneva Cornavin and Milano Centrale. You will really only have Dec 31 to Jan 3, 4 full days. The Uffizi is closed Jan 1. If you are flying out of Geneva on the 5th, you need to be back in Geneva on the evening of the 4th, so that is a travel day. So limit yourselves to Florence and Rome it will still be hurried.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
We are flying into Geneva on the 29th, spending the night with a niece there and then meeting my sister on the evening of the 5th, also in Geneva so we figured a travel day on the 30th and 5th, and I was thinking that although it might be a little more expensive, flying into Naples and using the train to move our way north and back to Geneva. My niece says it might be too crowded on the trains to due this comfortably and most things may be closed due to the holiday season. (She is 27 and was born in Greece so has lots of experience traveling around Europe :0) ). I read the questions and answers on this forum and got alot of advice so thought it might be good to have other perspectives on the travel. My husband says he would prefer to train in by way of Aosta Valley, down the west side and train out basically on the east leaving by way of Milan, seeing the countryside as we go and stopping at the cities we are interested in. Both sound interesting and the time is coming for buying and reserving tickets if needed. All the web sites say we need to reserve seats on the train, but buying the tickets doesn't reserve the seat, so we could buy them when we need them. I guess I should have put all this in the original question.
Posted by
Green Bay
20016 posts
Your idea is best IMHO. Easy jet has a flight from Geneva to Naples afternoon of Dec 30. Do Pompei on the 31st and new years eve in Naples. Travel to Rome on new years day by train. With more than 1 train every hour, getting a seat should not be difficult. You still have limited time, only 3 full days to divide your time between Rome and Florence. So you can do one day in one and two days in the other.
You can get a train from Florence to Geneva morning of the 5th. Its 6 hours and 19 minutes and only a couple of connections, so get a reservation for that one. It will come automatically when you buy in advance since they are all reserved trains. You'll have assigned seats for both the Florence-Milan leg on the Freccia train, and Milan-Geneva EC train. Looks like 10 am out of Florence is best, but most expensive as the Jan 5 EC train is already full fare only.
There is no train service between Aosta and Geneva. Its bus only, so not a very practical travel route.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thank you for that info. I will book the easy jet and Florence to Geneva legs today then. I am looking forward to this trip and again Thank you for the tips.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
For medium-speed and faster trains within Italy, buying a ticket DOES reserve a seat on a particular date and time. Only the regional trains are not reserved. Seat assignments are not automatic on most Swiss trains, however. If you are shopping for tickets through Trenitalia, don't use that site to buy any trip originating in Switzerland; international tickets can only be picked up at Italian train stations.