Train or fly from Rome to Salzburg

Could it be that different trains or different sleeping accommodations are involved? How soon are you traveling? There's a substantial cost difference between 1st and 2nd class, too.

Trip would be first part of July. I chose 2nd class. Now I'm thinking maybe take train from Rome to Venice, spend a few hours there then take a train from Venice to Salzburg. Ack! Too many choices. Of course, these are good problems to have. : )

I suspect I won't get much sleep on a night train, anyway. I did this once 20 years ago and didn't sleep a wink. Just thought it would be a neat experience for my sons, but if it's going to be crazy expensive it doesn't make sense.

Thanks for responding.

I used to be able to sleep a good bit in a couchette. Not so last June when I took an overnight train from Naples to Sicily. Way too much jerking from left to right. I think the other women in my compartment did sleep, so maybe it was just me.

I see a 39.20 euro fare in early June for the 11 PM InterCity Notte from Rome to Bolzano. It arrives around 8 AM and you then wait an hour for the regional to the border at Brennero. That's as far as the 39.20 takes you. After a one-hour layover in Brennero (and there seems to be absolutely nothing there except some vending machines) you can resume your trek, ultimately reaching Salzburg around 2 PM. Don't know how much the Austrian leg would cost, but the whole thing should not come to $200 per person.

Bolzano is an attractive Sud Tirol city. Bressanone (closer to Brennero) is nice, too, but there's more to see in Bolzano. The reason most folks go up there, though, is probably to go up in the Dolomites.

Looks as if there are two routes from Venice to Salzburg. One goes back to Verona and up through Bolzano. The other goes through Villach and also requires transfers (2 or 3). The Villach route sometime (or always?) involves an initial bus leg. Not a huge difference in travel time.

I guess it's a lot more expensive than I was thinking--to do an overnight train. Now I may do the Rome>Venice>Salzburg and arrive late in the evening.

Thank you for your help!

I'm so sorry; there was a critical word omitted from my earlier post. I meant to say that I do not think the total fare should reach $200. I wish I could be more specific.

I would just fly

I also would be likely to fly. But note that $200 is basically the full fare per person (€176) for Rome-Salzburg in a 5-person couchette; prices for double and single compartments are higher. The best way to get an advance-purchase ticket discount on would be through the DB site and selecting the 19:04 departure time, so that you start with the night train itself, not a domestic Italian train.

Myself wife and I did a trip from Rome ,then to Florence , then Venice by train , then we took a 2 hour tour bus ride run by the German rail line which took us to a train station then a 2 hour train ride into Salzburg.

christine,

Using a flight would be the most efficient method, the best use of your valuable holiday time and probably the cheapest method. I believe Vueling has flights from Rome to Munich, so you might have a look at their website.

The other option would be to add an intermediate stop such as Verona. Spend one night there, have a look at the incredible Roman Amphitheatre and perhaps the hokey Romeo & Juliet balcony. It's an easy trip from Verona to Munich by train.