Hi - my wife and I are planning on taking a night train from Naples to the Cinque Terre, but have read some bad things about Italian night trains in general. Is this is a bad idea? Should we just go with the day train instead? The day train takes almost 6.5 hours and I was trying to save us some time...
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
Aside from night train issues, you may want to look closely at the train schedules. There is one night train leaving Naples at 21:38 and arriving in La Spezia Centrale at 4:14am (6hrs.36min). Trains into the CT begin at 4:30am but what hotel is expecting you that early? You might see some fisherman going out that early but nothing is open.
There are two later local trains that leave later but they both require train changes to the 768 Scilla night train. One change is at 00:38. Total time on the night train is 6.5hrs. The other intercept takes you to Salerno to catch the same train. About 7.0hrs sleep there. The 768 Scilla arrives at 6:59am so you are alright there.
One problem with night trains if you have a 6-bed compartment is people coming on to the train at later stops and climbing over you to get to the higher bunks and to store their luggage.
Are you getting the sleep and value for your money?
Posted by
OP
San Francisco
2 posts
Hi - I was thinking of taking the NAP - Salerno - La Spezia (768 La Scilla) night train (leaving Salerno around midnight, arrive La Spezia at 7am). I was hoping to book the 2 person cabin and figured this would allow about 6.5 to 7 hours sleep.
However, I was worried more about safety - I've read stories of people getting gassed and robbed, even with the compartment locked, and was wondering if it was worth the trouble to take the night train. With the 2 person cabin, there would be nobody coming in and out of the cabin so I figured it would be quieter and would allow us to sleep through the night.
Thanks,
--Yogesh