We plan to take an overnight sleeper train, hoping to start in Amsterdam around 6 PM and ending in Cinque Terra, I assume about 20-24 hours later. I understand we will have to change trains often. We plan to buy tickets in Amsterdam for all legs of trip. Has nayone done this or a part of this trip?
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9099 posts
The total journey time will be about 19 hours with only one change (depending on your final destination in the CT). There is a direct city overnight train from Amsterdam to Milan at 5pm, arrives Milan at 745am. From Milan to Monterosso is another 4 hours. You should book your overnight train well in advance at www.citynightline.ch You can print your tickets out at home. The portion from Milan to CT you can purchase as soon as you arrive in Milan.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
Ouch, that's really a long ride. I see the night train mentioned above by Michael. 14.75hrs from Amsterdam to Milan with no train changes. Standard fare in a 4-couchette compartment is listed as 170Euro. At Milan, you change to a train going to the CT. Depending on which town you are staying in, you may have to change trains once again as there are very few direct trains to Vernazza, Corniglia and Manarola from Milan.
You might consider flying on an inexpensive airline. www.easyjet.com flys from Amsterdam to Milan Malpensa. www.transavia.com flys from Amsterdam to Pisa. Pisa is 90 minutes closer by train. It's just under a 2hr flight to Milan and it's 2hrs. to Pisa. Fares appear to be just under 100Euro. You can easily check out their websites. One suggestion is to not fly in the evening with the intent of arriving in the CT late in the evening. It does shut down and lock up unless you have made previous arrangements.
Posted by
Bay Area
3551 posts
Fly it , you will be disaapointed and exhausted to train it.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Same suggestion as several above, consider flying, check this website to see if you can fly to save much time and probably some money: Intra-Europe Discount Flightsselect departure and arrival airports then it will show you the airlines that fly that route and click below to go to the website to look at schedules and book online.
Posted by
Santa Clara, CA
5 posts
Last month, we travelled by train from Berlin (stayed for a week) to Amsterdam (stayed for a week), then from Amsterdam to Cinque Terre (stayed less than a week, wish we had stayed longer), via Milan. It is a long train ride, but it was a beautiful trip.
I looked into both overnight trains and flying. I found the overnight train expensive, even with a railpass. Flying can be really cheap, but the departure/arrival times are not convenient, plus if you're flying into Malpensa, you have to get from the airport to the train station (time & $).
We decided on an early train from Amsterdam, we changed trains in Paris, and arrived in Milan about 8:30-9 pm. We stayed overnight in Milan (hotel near the train station), then took an early train to Monterosso al Mare (that's where we were staying), arriving before noon. Like I said, it was a long train ride, but it was wonderful traveling through the French countryside. And the train seats were very comfortable. I bought railpasses and all supplemental tickets, plus made reservations for all legs of the trip before we left.
A few years ago, we traveled from Palermo, Sicily to Sorrento on an overnight ferry. That was a pretty comfortable trip (food so-so, beds and shower OK). Some overnight trains have high end sleepers with showers.
Good luck, and make sure you give yourself enough time to make your transportation connections.