train from Salzburg to Florence, which route is best?

Salzburg to Munich to Verona to Florence?

This route is just backtracking between Rosenheim and Munich. Salzburg-Innsbruck-Bologna-Florence is the way to go. Use www.bahn.com to look at the routes. You will need reservations on the EC (Innsbruck to Bologna) and Freccia (Bologna to Florence) trains.

I agree with the previous reply that travel through Austria will probably be a bit easier and quicker. They all eventually end up at the Brenner Pass, which is a very pleasant trip. Your departure station will be Salzburg Hbf and your arrival station will be Firenze S.M. Novella.

Which four countries does your Railpass cover? You can check the Bahn.de website using the link provided earlier, to see the departure times and travel times. One of the shortest trips is a departure at 07:00, arriving at 14:59 (time 7H:59M, 2 changes at Innsbruck and Bologna, reservations recommended for the second segment and compulsory for the third segment). Even with a Railpass, you MUST buy reservations for the Freccia train, or you'll risk hefty fines which will be collected on the spot! The reservations are specific to train, date and departure time, so can only be used on the ONE train listed. If you're planning to take any other trains in Italy, you'll have to determine which if them require reservations, and be sure to have those! If using the Metro or Buses in Florence or elsewhere, you MUST validate (time & date stamp) your tickets prior to boarding on the day of travel, or again hefty fines!

Take the RJ660 from Salzburg to Innsbruck then the EC85 train from Innsbruck to Bologna - no reservation with rail pass - both have bord restaurant. Book from Bologna to Florence here - be sure to indicate you have a pass

Please note that if you change trains in Verona (only a few trains from Innsbruck travel all the way to Bologna), it may be that the Italian train for the last segment calls at Firenze Campo di Marte instead of Firenze SMN. Campo di Marte is a secondary station; if you end there you can either board a local train for SMN (few minutes) or call a taxi directly to the center.

Thank you so much for the information!!!! I honestly have NO IDEA what I'm doing, and neither does my husband. Our 4 country pass is for France, Germany, Austria, and Italy.

We will be in Paris first (4 nights) .. then taking a train to Munich (3 nights) ... from Munich to Salzburg (2 nights). Then from Salzburg to Florence (1 night - we're been to Florence for 2 weeks before). ... from Florence to Cinque Terre (2 nights) .... then to Rome (5 nights).

Do you think I should try to get the tickets before I leave NY or just wait until I get to the station?

I was thinking of getting the Paris to Munich tickets in the station in Paris. Is this a good idea?????? I'm pretty sure we need reservations.

When we get to Munich - I'm thinking of getting reservations there for the next leg of the trip ...

....and getting the tickets for Cinque Terre and later on to Rome at the Florence station.

I'm nervous about ordering online and then we want to switch the times of the trains or I get the wrong tickets, .... and I'm nervous about getting reservations at the station .. what if we get reservations that aren't needed? What if we get on a train and don't know we need reservations? My husband keeps telling me to relax it will work out, but I'm super worried about it - ughhhhh

Any help is appreciated!!!! We are tying to be adventurous :)

If you are getting a railpass, you only need to purchase reservations for certain trains. Most important will be the Paris-Munich segment which has a limit of passholders allowed on each train, even if the train has plenty of empty seats. You should reserve now to make sure you get the train you want.