vienna to venice Itinerary help

Ive been to Slovenia and I agree with Ann. Also if you consider driving consider the dropoff cost of renting in Austria and dropping in Italy.We drove from Venice thru Slovenia and to Venice and it was a great trip.However we drove back to Austria again.

You can take the train from Vienna to Venice BUT I'd consider stopping over to see Slovenia on the way. We have both driven from Vienna to Venice AND we rode our bikes from Vienna to Ljubljana, Slovenia (That was fun!).

Slovenia is beautiful. I'd recommend Ljubljana and/or Maribor for a stopover. Maybe spend 1-2 days in either city.

Driving is safe. Roads are fine if a little more worn in Slovenia. Trains are fine too.

In Venice, I'd recommend going to the Venice Islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello. You can take the public ferry for a very reasonable price.

Ann

My daughter took the train from Vienna to Venice and I was to meet her at the RR station. When she didn't arrive on her train I was concerned.

I called her home and learned that she had boarded the train on time. After 2 hours of meeting every train, she finally showed up.

Where have you been I asked. She then told me that she had boarded the wrong car and it was dropped off her train in motion at a junction and was taken by another engine for Rome.

She asked the conductor and he told her to get off at the next station and catch a train going North to Venice.

Be careful which car you catch when traveling by train in Europe.

It seems people are answering about generic questions of train travel from Vienna to Venice...I need ideas of where to go and what to see, an itinerary, between the starting point of Vienna and the ending point of Venice.
Thanks to all who have responded!

Diane: The suggestions by Ann, Jack & the others are good. I'm just organizing it a bit, based on what they've said:This is an itinerary by carYou could drive from Vienna to Venice in one day, about 400 miles--but that wouldn't be any fun.You could also go by train but that limits your ability to explore the countryside between Vienna and Venice.Days 1 - 4: Vienna, including a day trip (by river boat or train) to Melk, Krems, and possibly other towns of the Wachau Valley; consider making the 4 days into 5 days.Note: you don't need a car for your time in Vienna or the Wachau Valley. Suggest you pick up rental car in Vienna on the morning of day 5Days 5 - 7: drive to Ljubljana but take time to explore in one or two days Graz, Maribor & Ptuj, on the way to Ljubljana, and give Ljubljana at least a full dayDays 8 - 9: Explore the Karst region, caves, etc on your way southwest toward Venice, this region is described in Rick's book, Croatia & SloveniaDays 10 - 13 in Venice, 4 days(drop the car off when you get to Venice)Your homework assignment is to research these destinations in order to develop the details of what you want to do in each area, based on your interests--we wouldn't want to ruin your fun by planning your entire trip! :). Rick has 2 books that will get you started in your research: Germany & Austria (covers Vienna) and Croatia & Slovenia. You could substitute the Michelin Green Guide to Vienna for Rick's Germany & Austria book, since you don't need the coverage of Germany that is in his book.The above is only one of at least 10 possible itineraries you could develop after doing more research. Determine what the dropoff charge will be for picking up the car in Austria and dropping it in Italy, unless it's horrendous, consider it a good investment in a fine trip.

Kent
Thank you. This is more of what I wanted. We have been to Vienna and are only going there to visit friends, so we will not do the Melk trip. Been there, done that, and loved it. I always research for months before we go, but this time have a shorter time until we go and the train schedules and bus schedules are a little tougher to figure out in this area.
I really appreciate all replies!

Diane: Okay, because you've been to Vienna before, the itinerary I listed above could be adjusted as follows:Fewer days in Vienna, however many you need to see your friends there.Let's say you spend days 1 - 3 in ViennaPut the extra day or two gained into more time exploring northwestern and southwestern Slovenia. It might look like this:Days 1 - 3: See friends in ViennaNote: you don't need a car for your time in Vienna, pick up rental car in Vienna on the morning of day 4Days 4 - 6: drive to Ljubljana but take time to explore in one or two days Graz, Maribor & Ptuj, on the way to Ljubljana, and give Ljubljana at least a full dayDays 7 - 10: From Ljubljana, drive west to explore regions of Bled & Julian Alps; and then drive south to explore the Karst region, caves, etc on your way southwest toward Venice, all as described in Rick's book, Croatia & SloveniaDays 11 - 14 in Venice, 3 or 4 days
(drop the car off when you get to Venice)

Hi, I have been planning and booking a similar trip for quite a while now. Although I agree that driving through Slovenia would probably be the best option there are some other ones that I have found - always better to consider all avenues.

Vienna-Bratislava-Budapest-Venice

www.ddsg-blue-danube.at have a hydrofoil from Vienna to Budapest along the Danube (via Bratislava) that runs during summer months, starting May 2009. Wizzair.com then fly from Budapest to Venice Treviso.

Vienna-Bratislava-Milan-Venice

The train from Vienna to Bratislava takes about an hour, then Ryanair.com flies from Bratislava to Milan (actually Orio al Serio in Bergamo). The train from Milan to Venice takes about 3 hours.

Vienna-Bratislava-Budapest-Milan-Venice

Hydrofoil from Vienna to Budapest (via Bratislava), then fly with Wizzair.com from Budapest to Milan (Orio al Serio), and finally catch the train from Milan to Venice.

There are obviously more options, but these are all very cost-effective and with only 14 days you can only do so much.

Hope that helps.