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Train or Plane - Naples to Palermo - Recommendation please & thanks

Posted by (Victoria on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada) on

Hi all,

Thank you for take the time to respond.

Flying from Victoria, BC, Canada. Using points - best option I can find it to go YYJ to YYZ then into Naples. ( Only other option is YYZ to Zurich (with 11.5 hour layover) and then onto Palermo arriving @ 23:00. Transit Hotel in Zurich does not work whether I book for a night or a day room due to check in/check out times. Overnight can't check in till mid afternoon, & day room have to check out too early.)

Flight arrives Naples at 10am. 2 choices - Easyjet around 13:00. Will have to pay more for baggage than the flight even tho I only go with a carry on & accessory due to their allowable miniscule dimensions.. Or, train from Naples Termini to Palermo, departs 13:45 arrives Palermo Centrale @ 23:00. One third the price of Easyjet.

Interested to hear what people have experienced and thank you.

Posted by
2917 posts

Schedules permitting, I would pick the one-hour direct flight over the 8-11-hour train. Ryanair and Easyjet do the hop. The train trip is not real scenic.

Posted by
137 posts

I was wondering what the scenery was like. Last year I took a train from Rome to Bari - meh! Plus the last few hours will be in the dark. Thanks for your input!

Posted by
2917 posts

Gail, It’s not as dull as the train out of Rome to Foggia & Bari because it’s got a bit of chaparral and. rolling hills that looks similar to what you see in Southern California. The train is actually put on the ferry to cross the Strait of Messina which made the sea crossing fun.

Posted by
1645 posts

Do you think you will be in any shape to enjoy a 10 hour train ride after an overnight flight from NA. I know I would be so jet lagged that all I would want to do is sleep.

Posted by
137 posts

Thank you all for your replies!

It would be something to see the train be put onto the ferry! for crossing to Messina! I also thought about the ferry. Seems ferries all leave in the evening, meaning I'd have hours to kill till the sailing time. I've was in Naples for 3 days when I visited both Puglia & Amalfi coast last year & doubt I'd be up for much site seeing after the long haul flight.

The "cons" of the train - it's long, but I could sleep. A portion of the trip is in the dark. Arrival in Palermo is after dark (not my fave), will need a taxi to my accommodation (possible rip off), and my booked accommodation charges for late check in.

Think it's best to fly with Easyjet, arriving mid afternoon & take the airport shuttle.

Thanks again for ringing in!

Posted by
8613 posts

My general rule of thumb, if a train is over 4 hours, certainly if over 6, then I either look at flying, or breaking up the trip with an overnight somewhere. Sounds like you have Palermo booked, but spending a night enroute would be very viable. But Yeah, sounds like flying is best. Smart move to pay for the bag, always smart with any of the budget, just focus on the total cost still being very cheap, not the cost of the bare bones flight.

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