Overnight Train from Venice to Lucerne

There is no direct night train. You can take nearly 12 hours and change trains in Innsbruck, night train, the CNL, onto another night train, a EuroNight, but do you really want to make that change at 4:15 in the morning? That doesn't play for me. You then have to change again at Arth-Goldau because Luzern is a dead end station and through trains call at Arth-Goldau for connections to Luzern. There are several even worse overnight configurations. Or you cn just take a little over 6 hours and do it in the daytime and enjoy the scenery.

This is not a good route for a night train. Best do as Nigel suggests: travel in daytime, take the fast ES train Venice to Milan, change there for a train to Luzern with a change at Arth-Goldau. It is a nice trip through the Mountains.

Reenisya, My suggestion is the same as Nigel and Lola. That trip is much nicer during the day, so a night train would not be the best option. My preference on that route would be a departure at 07:50 from Venezia Santa Lucia, arriving Lucerne at 14:41 (time 6H:51M, 2 changes at Milano Centrale and Arth-Goldau, reservations compulsory on two legs). This includes a layover at Milano Centrale of 45-minutes, so you'd have time to buy a Panino and Coffee for the ongoing trip. Note that rail schedules are subject to change, so you'll have to verify the above information for the day you'll be travelling. I find that it's more convenient to arrive in a new city in the mid-afternoon, as Hotels usually have the rooms serviced by that time. If you arrive too early, you'll have to store your luggage and wander around until your room is ready. Happy travels!

I would definitely love to travel on a day train but time does not permit me to do so.I will be arriving Venice on 13th May at 1:33pm and plan to tour the rest of the day there and take a night train to Lucerne as I have a flight to catch on 15th May from Zurich to Paris. I can't seem to find the right tickets online. Can I purchase the night ticket upon my arrival in Venice? So can the following route work for me? From Venice - Milan - Arth Goldau - Engelberg Please advise.

The Venice/Milan/Arth-Goldau/Lucerne choice is the quickest journey time but there are three negatives to this choice. 1) no night trains on this run. 2) you will not see much of Venice as you must be on a train to Milan no later than the 17:20 train. This gives you 15 minutes to catch the last train to Lucerne out of Milan that departs at 20:10. 3) You will arrive in Lucerne just before midnight on this last run. You will need a hotel or place to stay. I would suggest that your best choice is the same as above. Stay in Venice on the night of the 13th and take the 7:50am train out of Venice for Milan/Lucerne. You'll see a lot more of Venice with this opton.

I found what I think is a better option. Instead of departing Venice at 07:50 and arriving in Lucerne at 14:41, follow the same route but depart at 06:20 and arrive at 12:41. Venezia Santa Lucia to Milano Centrale, departing at 06:25 and arriving at 08:55. The discount fare tickets are gone. The standard 2nd class fare is €35.00. Book now at trenitalia.com. Milano Centrale to Arth-Goldau, departing at 09:10 and arriving at 12:09. The standard 2nd class fare is €58.30; but if you book now at trenitalia.com, you still can get a Smart fare of €19.00. Arth-Goldau to Lucerne, departing at 12:14 and arriving at 12:41. The 2nd class fare is 12.20 CHF (€10.13). Buy your ticket when you get to Arth-Goldau. You'll only have five minutes to buy your ticket and make the connection which very well may not work. However, you won't have to wait long for the next train. It departs at 12:21 and another one departs at 12:48.

Thank you all very much for your kind replies. I'm back here again with questions as I really need help. After doing much search in the internet, I have found a route but I would need your advise if the below route is possible. Also for collecting the tickets, they have given an option of either self service or home delivery, do you know want it means by self service? Do I collect it at the station? 13 May 12 : From Venice (10:51pm) to Innsbruck (04:31am) VIA Trenitalia
14 May 12 : From Innsbruck (04:53am) to Engelberg with 2 changes (11:53am) Once I arrive in Innsbruck at 4:31am, it is possible for me to board the next train at 4:53am ? Cause thats just about 20 mins I have to switch trains. Also with one last question, overall would you advise me to purchase the train tickets online or to purchase it over the counter when I arrive at each station? Thanks again :)

Reenisya, that itinerary is possible but you will have to switch trains at a very early time in the morning, so you will not get much sleep. Twenty minutes is plenty of time to change trains. Even 10 minutes is usually plenty. It just involves a short walk from one platform to another, it is not like changing airplanes. "Self-Service" means you collect your ticket at the station, using a code they have given you or maybe showing the same credit card you used for purchase. Be sure to bring that. For tickets bought on Trenitalia you can pick up the tickets at any major station (like Venice).

Thank you all for your time. I have finalized the route and also purchased the ticket online. I have decided to take a train from Venice (7:50pm) and arrive in Milan (10:25pm) and stay over a night there (Quality Hotel Atlantic Milano). Then in the morning take a train from Milan (7:10am) to Arth Goldau (10:09am), in that way I'll be able to enjoy the scenery as some of you advised :) Thanks again guys! I hope to have a wonderful time in Europe.

I hope you do too! Please report back, now there is a forum for trip reports.