munich to cinque terre

The best source of schedules in Europe is the German Rail query page. However, you won't find Cinque Terre as a destination, it's an area. Use one of the towns in the CT, like Vernazza, as a destination.

sara, that particular trip is quite long by train (about 10-12 hours, depending on which train you choose). The shortest trip I found was 11H 57M with 3 changes (one of the trains on that route had 8 changes!) Compulsory reservations are usually required. If you budget a travel day for the journey, that's certainly one option.

The other option would be to use a budget airline from Munich to one of the cities closer to the Cinque Terre (Milano, Pisa?). I haven't checked to see what's available or the costs. Keep in mind that many of the budgets have very strict baggage limits, so if you're not "packing light", be prepared to pay a surcharge! Also, some of the budgets use out-of-the-way airports, so time and cost to get to these has to be considered too.

Using a budget flight would probably only save a few hours. You'll have to allow a couple of hours at Munich (travel time, check-in, waiting time), a few hours for the flight, a few hours collecting baggage, getting from the destination airport to the nearest railway station and then the travel time via rail from there to the C.T. The travel time will vary somewhat, depending on which of the five villages you'll be going to. You'll be accessing the C.T. either via Genova on the north or La Spezia on the south.

Good luck!

Unfortunately, while the actual flight is quick, as Ken points out, it's the ground transportation on either end that adds up. In this case, there is no airport near the Cinque Terre, so you will have considerable time to get from Milan/Pisa to the Cinque Terre.

Rather than fly, you might consider taking a night train from Munich to Bologna, then an early morning train from there to your final destination via La Spezia. That way most of your trasit time will be time you don't normally use anyway, and the cost of a sleeper is oftern not much more than the cost of air plus a night's hotel.

Using www.whichbudget.com I found a possible route for flying. It involves two flights: 1)Munich to Paris (Orly), 2)Paris (Orly) to Pisa. Pisa is an easy airport for transport into town. There is regular train service between Pisa and La Spezia Centrale, and sometimes Pisa to Monterosso. I'm sure there are other possibilities. For train travel, there is regular train service from Zurich to and through Italy. A train passes through the CT and makes a stop in La Spezia Centrale. Make a train connection to Zurich from Munich. Just a couple of ideas.

thanks everyone! I so appreciate your help. we are excited about the trip but sometimes the planning can be a little overwhelming. you make it easier. thanks!