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Travel in France, Switzerland, and Italy

Posted by (Land of 10,000 lakes) on

Hello, I'm wondering if I need (if the best option is) a train pass for this itinerary. In the past I've done metro passes in Paris, done cheaper day train routes (tix bought at machines in the stations) in Germany & Italy; except for booking far in advance for long high speed routes (Venice to Salzburg & Florence to Rome), so Eurail, etc. passes seemed more expensive. But this time my fiancé & I will be spending about 4 days in Switzerland. Here's our itinerary, TIA:

Fly into Paris (Sept. 19), 3 nights mostly tour city, might go to Versailles

Gimmelwald, Switzerland 4 nights-travel here by train, tour Berner Oberland by train/etc.

Venice, Italy 3 nights, travel here by train

Cinque Terre 3 nights, travel here by train, day trips by milk run trains between towns

Rome 3 nights, travel here by train, city touring

Fly home from FCO day 18 of travel

Posted by
11330 posts

I would buy point-to-point for Paris to Bern, in advance, at a discount. From Bern, use a Berner Oberland Regional pass which will cover your trains and most lifts in the Berner Oberland. Essential for your time in Gimmelwald since you will need lifts and trains every day. Buy the pass in advance and just buy the ticket Paris to Bern. Once you cross into the Berner Oberland, the pass “kicks in” and no reservations are necessary.

Gimmelwald to Venice is an 8 to 9 hour journey. If you have a valid BO Reg Pass you are covered to Spiez but will need to buy tickets from there to Venice. Buy in advance for discounts. Long day.

For the rest of your itinerary again point-to-point, in advance for the best discounts on high speed trains, which I highly recommend. You can buy regionale tickets day-of as needed.

Posted by
11330 posts

Thought to add, it is another long train day from Venice to the Cinque Terre...

Posted by
3812 posts

Laurel is right, if you decide to stay Monterosso the train journey from Venezia S. Lucia takes 5 hours and 12 min. Three changes in Florence, Pisa and La Spezia.

Otherwise you can go via Milan and transfer only once, but it takes 2h27m (Venice-Milan) + 2h50m (Milan-Monterosso). The good thing is that you'd have reserved seats all the way from Venice to Monterosso. The Milan-Monterosso train should be booked in advance on summer Fridays.

Posted by
4412 posts

that helpful Man in Seat 61 might come in handy here as well

Posted by
84 posts

What website to book Paris to Bern? I've tried on Bahn.com, no luck; tgv/lyria.com, same thing.How about Gimmelwald to Venice. I read someone comment NOT to do an overnight train into Venice, because the scenery is too beautiful. Any suggested night trains in our itinerary?

Posted by
20114 posts

A lot of the long distance trains you ant may not be bookable yet or even on the schedule.
www.bahn.com can only be used for trains that pass through Germany, and I don't see any on your itinerary.
I see a lot of trains missing on the Italian end.
No night trains are a fit for your itinerary.

Posted by
11330 posts

No night trains really work for you.

Book at the SBB site for Paris to Bern and Spiez to Milan when you leave Switzerland. Be sure to take the EC - EuroCity - train from Spiez to Milan You will change in Milan for the high speed train to Venice which can be booked at Trenitalia.com.

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