Traveling to Cinque Terre

Dennis, To begin with, it would be a good idea not to base your planning entirely on Rick's "Best Three Weeks in Europe". That trip is feasible, but it's very rushed and requires precise planning. If this is your first trip to Europe, I would highly recommend reading Europe Through The Back Door, especially the "Rail Skills" chapter. Use the country-specific Guidebooks for planning hotels, restaurants, sightseeing and transportation. The rail trip from Munich to the C.T. (using Monterosso as an example) is going to be a LONG day. The shortest trip appears to be 10H:47M with 3 changes. The easiest would be a departure at 07:31, arriving Montetrosso at 19:02 (time 11H:31M, 2 changes in Verona and Milan, reservations compulsory on all three legs). You can check rail trips by using This Website. The trip from the C.T. to Gimmelwald is considerably shorter, but still a long day. Again using Monterosso as an example, there's a departure at 07:36, arriving Interlaken Ost at 14:28 (time 6H:52M, 4 changes, reservations compulsory on several legs). Once you arrive at Interlaken Ost, you'll transfer to the local Berner Oberland train for the trip to Lauterbrunnen, then Post Bus to Stechelberg and finally Cable Car to Gimmelwald. It sounds complicated, but it's not really too bad. There's another route to Gimmelwald via Mürren, but the one I suggested is more direct. Happy travels!

Ok than you so much, and I am not following Rick Steve's 3 week trip exactly just the part in CT and to Gimmelwald.

The CT is really a wonderful place to visit. However, it is in a geographically remote northwestern part of Italy. Although there are lots of people in Liguria, it's most reached by the slower Regionale trains that stop at every stop. From Munich, you would most likely transition in Milan and then, it's a 3.5hr. train journey from there. From the CT to Gimmelwald, it's an 9hr. train/bus/gondola journey on most runs (but well worth it). As a hint, the Italian train website system will only sell you a ticket from the CT to Interlaken Ost. Their screens cannot see Lauterbrunnen or Gimmelwald. It's OK. When you get to Interlaken Ost, just go into the small train station there and get the remainder of your tickets. It takes only minutes. You'll need your credit card or Swiss Francs. They don't really like the Euros on the two train systems in the Lauterbrunnen Valley. The train/bus/gondola do not run full. The Swiss system (www.rail.ch) will sell you a ticket from the CT to Gimmelwald.