This covers two countries, I know. I want to travel from Florence (SM Novella) to Avignon (Centre) in France. The RailEurope site can't handle this request, but it must be possible. What are the best possible routes to take. I realize I may have to call RailEurope, but I'd like to have options. I prefer traveling with a RailPass rather than buying tickets as I go.
Thanks.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23267 posts
A couple things - First, you do understand that R Europe is a travel agency and not a train company. They do not sell tickets for every train and schedule. Second, use bahn.com to see all schedule options. Third, when decided on a schedule go to Trenitalia to purchase tickets since you are starting in Italy. Even using a rail pass, you still have to buy seat reservations for the faster trains as you go. In Italy only the Regionale train allows you to get on and go at any time. You use a rail pass for convenience but not to save money. In France rail pass have the additional problem of limited seats available for rail passes so that can mean that you cannot get on the train you want. You might want to rethink using a rail pass.
Posted by
3245 posts
Check out rome2rio.com.
We took this trip in reverse, from Avignon to Florence, in 2014. The trip was too long for our liking so we broke it up by spending a couple of nights in Torino.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11316 posts
I researched this route at CaptainTrain. It is a long trip. I suggest you break it up with at least one night somewhere along the way. Torino is quite lovely, or maybe go to the French Riviera.
Rail passes no longer make sense. Advance purchase of high-speed trains does make sense and saves money if you can commit to a schedule.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
A rail pass is not the correct term if you just have this one travel day. For that, you need reserved tickets. If you have additional travel days, then a rail pass could make sense and you'd need more math to decide.
Rail Europe's shopping cart can't book more than two connecting segments as one ticket, and sometimes even two should be broken up. So after finding the schedules you prefer through the Deutsche Bahn schedule search, you would reserve each leg separately in Rail Europe's cart. That would also be the best way to proceed if using CapitaineTrain.
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7029 posts
Train is about 9-1/2 hrs with a couple of changes. Easier to take a bus to Nice (4hrs), then train to Avignon from there (3hrs). It's a long trip and if you have the time spend one night in Nice on the way.
Posted by
Rockport, Maine, USA
98 posts
Consider taking train to Rome and flying from Rome to Marseille, close to Avignon.
I'm doing basicly same thing flying from Marseille to Rome. Easy flight and not expensive.
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
1) FR 9508
Dep 09:00 FIRENZE S.M.N. (Italy)
Arr 10:40 MILANO CENTRALE (Italy)
2) EC 143
Dep 11:10 MILANO CENTRALE (Italy)
Arr 16:00 NICE VILLE (France)
3) TGV 6180
Dep 17:02 NICE VILLE (France)
Arr 19:55 AVIGNON TGV (France)