Which way would you recommend to go from Vernazza to Venice. Is it better trough Florence or Milan? Another question about the train ticket. We use Regional, intercity and fast train for both routes. If you have a ticket with the PNR number from Vernazza to Venice, when you are on the Regional train you do not need to validate because of the PNR number, right? Thanks for any help!
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16378 posts
No need to validate if you purchase via internet. They are valid for 4 hours after the departure of the selected regional train shown on your ticket. Actually since last November you don't even need to print it. You can show the PDF file on your smart phone to the conductor. Just make sure it displays all the info (name, train etc.) including the QR (Quick Response) code.
From the Trenitalia website:
"I biglietti regionali acquistati e stampati via internet sono già convalidati con la data e l'ora di partenza richieste dal cliente e hanno una validità di quattro ore. Il viaggiatore che si trovi in treno allo scadere del termine di validità del biglietto può proseguire il viaggio già iniziato fino alla stazione di destinazione, senza effettuare fermate intermedie."
As far as the route is concerned check the Trenitalia website to select the most convenient for your trip. Generally via Florence is faster, but it generally requires more train changes. Via Milan I think there are options to Monterosso with only one train change (in Milan), however it's a little longer in total time. Via Florence you'll need to change trains 3 times (Florence, Pisa, La Spezia) but they are often faster trains. If you go to Monterosso, I would do via Milan and save some train changes. It takes a little longer but not by much and loading and downloading luggage on trains might be a pain if you have a lot of luggage.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
Leslie, it's going to be much the same no matter which way you go. There's even a 3rd way via La Spezia/Parma/Bologna. All take a minimum of about 6.0hrs. Some runs take longer. Here's a link to a screenshot of 4 runs. http://gyazo.com/c6590360616d6ba3d6b5e59709d98c05 Two go to Florence, one goes via Parma/Bologna and one goes via Monterosso/Milano. Not too much difference.
If you buy any of these runs online at www.trenitalia.com, all Regionale tickets will be pre-validated and good for 4 hours. Note that Regionale tickets do not have the 6-digit PNR codes. They do have 8-digit numbers but they are not PNR codes. Still, if purchased online in combination with your other tickets, they will be pre-validated. Says so on the ticket (at least mine do).
Posted by
OP
Prince George, Canada
32 posts
We travel with just one carry on size each, but I think the fewer train changes will be less stressful. So Milan it is. Thanks so much for the information!
Posted by
Tampa, FL, USA
1054 posts
I did that trip in September. We left venice at 7:20am and went thru florence. I had a fast train to florence, a train to La Speza and the local train to Vernazza. I bought our ticket online thru trenitalia and printed off the PDF at home. It gave me a ticket on all 3 trains. THe regional ticket said it was validated for 6 hours starting at this time..... on the ticket. No need to validate just get on your train.
There were some trains thru florence that had an extra connection along the way.