I am in final planning stages of my Italy trip in June, and trains are the last puzzle to figure out. We start our trip in Milan then are headed to Varenna for two days, then a half day stop in Verona, then to Venice for 3 days, then on to Cinque Terre. I know there's not a train ticket agent in Varenna, so I think I have to buy all our tickets in Milan (or in advance, which my control freak nature prefers) through to CT. Is there a better approach? Is there any tricks with these cities and trains? Any worries? Thanks.
Posted by
Tampa, FL, USA
1054 posts
There is a Train Kiosk in Varenna where you can purchase tickets from. I just don't remember if they take the american chip and signature cards though. I have a canadian chip and pin card that I used with no problem in all the kiosks. But if you know the train you want to depart Varenna from, then purchase you return ticket in Milan. The route Milan to Varenna is a regional route and there is no savings to buying these tickets online or the day of at the station. You can buy them in Italy. You'll get savings on the fast trains from Milan to Venice (stoping in Verona) and from Venice to CT (at least the portion from Venice to Florence).
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23291 posts
The only reason to buy in advance is to take advantage of the discount tickets -- BUT - that locks you into a very fixed schedule. Some of that travel could use Regionale trains. Those tickets need to be bought at a station (Milan is fine) because the on-line Regionale ticket comes with additional restrictions. All trains except the Regionale come with a seat reservation and are specific to a day, time, and train. Regionale trains are open seating. Get on and go.
Posted by
Green Bay
20160 posts
The Regionale trains to Verona take about 2 hours, the fast Freccia trains in a tad less than 1 1/2 hours. The regional trains are cheaper when buying spur of the moment, about 12 euro 2nd cl or 18 euro 1st cl. They go once an hour, normally at 25 past the hour.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
The train ticket agent in Varenna is the travel agency, I Viaggi di Tivano, on the main road below the train station, next to hotel Albergo Baretta, and marked on Rick's maps. They're very proficient and in summer are open daily, but with lunch breaks, early closing on weekends, and ticket-buyer lines right before a train departs. Inside Milano Centrale station, ticket offices, machines, or the travel agency can also sell all tickets. For the Milan-Varenna route, train schedules are on www.trenitalia.com but not reflected on the DB (German) schedule site.