Day train, overnight train, drive or fly MUNICH to VENICE? We will spend October 24-29 in Germany using a combo of train and rental car. We have to be in Venice to meet friends on Oct. 30. This is our second trip to Italy, first time to Germany. What is the best way to get from MUNICH to VENICE? We thought of overnight train to save time and money and to have an adventure, but after reading so many bad experiences (no sleep, thieves, mixed up reservations) I'm not so sure it is the best way. Any recommendations? If we train or fly (flying is expensive but saves time - would love to hear your feedback on inter-continental flights) we will drop the rental car in Munich. Where is best? If we drive over the Alps (any tips on weather at the end of Oct.?)then we may skip Munich all together. Any rental car advice to get the best deal on the drop-off fee? Cheapest we found is USD400 to drop the German rental car in Italy, yikes! Lastly, is there a faster train than the 5.5 hours to Verona + 1.5 hours Verona to Venice? I know it I a lot of questions, now you see our dilemma.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19272 posts
"is there a faster train than the 5.5 hours to Verona + 1.5 hours Verona to Venice?". One of those ECs, the one that leaves Munich at 11:31, goes directly to Venice (through Verona but no train change there). It still takes almost as long, 6h39, but if you purchase in advance, you can get the Europa-Spezial Italien fare all the way instead of just to Verona. Supposedly that fare is as low as 39€/adult one way. I can only find 49€, but lots of those. If you tried to fly, you'd be looking at almost as much time (40m to get to MUC, check-in security, wait time, flight time, travel from airport to Venice), at a higher cost. The driving time, according to ViaMichelin, is almost 7 hours plus one person has to watch the road instead of the scenery. If you take the night train, book in advance and get the Savings Night fare (for example, I see an Eco double sleeper on Oct 30 for 228€, complete (train and accommodations for 2).
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
Rena, all of the above is possible. There is a night train. There are day train runs. Some are train all the way. Some are train to Villach, Austria and bus from there to Venice. You can purchase tickets from the Germans at www.bahn.de or even from the Austrians whose country you will be passing through. I can't see the fares on www.bahn.de but I can see a special fare of 38Euro on the Austrian website www.oebb.at The train departs Munich at 8:27 and arrives at 16:27. Overall travel time is 7hrs58min. On this run, you take the train from Munich to Villach and a bus from Villach to the Venice Tronchetto (large parking lot). Here's a link to a picture of what I see. http://gyazo.com/e4251cde785ba13009d9d12e7a52b072 Or, you can fly. www.airbelin.com will fly you there with a plane change in Dusseldorf. Fare is 143Euro. Total time is just under 5.0hrs with the wait time in Dusseldorf.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19272 posts
"I can't see the fares on www.bahn.de" Go to the German Rail (Bahn) website, put in from: Munich Hbf, to: Venice, on 30.10.13 at 11:00. The first connection is the direct (no change, no bus) 6h39 rail connection through Innsbruck and Verona. Right now it shows a Savings Fare of 49€.
Posted by
OP
Pullman, WA, USA
77 posts
After much consideration on time, budget, and what experience we want, we have decided to drive. We will pick up a car on arrival day, drive around for our week in Germany and then drop it in Venice. Thank you all for the great advice.
Posted by
Tucson
4183 posts
Be sure to check with Andy at Gemut.com for everything you need to know about driving this route. Get your rental through them if you haven't already. Make sure you understand the insurance implications of driving in Italy. Make sure you get the sticker you need to drive through Austria. Realize that there will be tolls. Google directions says it's about 545 KM and will take about 5 hours driving time. Check that out, satellite it and zoom in to see what you will drive through. We have taken the train from Munich to Venice and it is a beautiful ride. It takes almost exactly the same route as you would driving. I would be concerned about the late October weather. On a different trip, we got snowed in on top of a mountain in Austria in late June and had to wait for the plows and for things to melt before we could drive down. Even the Germans in their super-duper 4 wheel drive wouldn't go down until someone drove up to where we were waiting and said it was okay if we went slow. When you can leave Munich at about 11:30, arrive at Venice at about 18:00 (taking about 6 1/2 hours), pay only about 49 Euros each, follow virtually the same route and not have to change trains, we certainly wouldn't drive and we love driving. Check it out yourself at DB Bahn as others have suggested.
Posted by
maplewood, new jersey, usa
818 posts
We took the morning train from Munich to Verona, spent the night and them on to Venice in December. Nice trip. Pretty.
Posted by
Lewiston, Idaho, USA
2092 posts
Rena, Check out under "General Europe" Helpline about our "Moscow Travel Group" meetings. We would love to have you join us! This month our meeting is here in Lewiston but usually we meet in Moscow. If you private message me, I can give you my address. Many of us have been traveling for many years and just love to talk travel!