We are landing in Vienna to see friends, and want to go by high speed train to Venice by day. Does anyone know if this is possible? We can only find the OBB overnight train (8-11 hrs). Also, would appreciate tips on where to rent car in/around Venice to get to Tuscany, or if it's better to take train Venice --> Rome, get rental car, drive to Tuscany. Thanks in advance for your help & tips!
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
According to the German Rail Website, there are at least three trains a day leaving Vienna for Italy. However, they all connect in Villach to an Austrian Rail run, intercity bus. That's the fastest way. There are all-rail connections but they will take longer. To find them, use the German Rail website and put in "Innsbruck" as a stopover. There are no "high speed" trains, like Thalys or TGV, between Vienna and Venice due to the mountainous terrain.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
As to this part of your question: "Also, would appreciate tips on where to rent car in/around Venice to get to Tuscany, or if it's better to take train Venice > Rome, get rental car, drive to Tuscany." We can give a better answer if you could give us an idea of where in Tuscany you're going, it makes a difference in what the best answer might be.
Posted by
OP
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
2 posts
We're looking at staying in Siena. Given poor trains from Vienna --> Venice, we're thinking either: a) Vienna --> Salzburg ---> Rome (get car) --> Siena OR
b) Vienna --> Salzburg ---> Rome --> Florence (get car) ---> Siena Rental prices seem comparable in Rome and Florence, and we'd like to avoid the intimidating driving conditions in Rome (unless someone can convince us otherwise!) :) Thanks again for all of your help! This is such a friendly forum!
Posted by
Tilburg, Netherlands
2829 posts
If you are fearing the conditions of Rome urban traffic, just rent the car from Fiumicino Airport: it has easy access to highways leading out to Toscana without re-entering the city.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
The train from Venice to Siena is only 4hrs15mins. Go here for train schedules, you want Venezia Santa Lucia to Siena: http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en Looking at a map, train from Venice to Rome and then renting at Rome airport involves some back-tracking; but on the other hand, picking up and dropping off at FCO airport is relatively easy ( relative meaning compared to other car rental locations I can think of in Italy). The other option is train Venice - Siena, and rent car in Siena. Renting the car in Florence is not recommended because of the ZTL problem in the historic center of Florence. It may be best to pick lodging in Siena that offers the amenity of providing overnight parking at reasonable cost.
Posted by
Lake Forest, CA, USA
1633 posts
I would take the train from Venice to the Florence airport and rent the car there. This will avoid backtracking from the Rome airport back up to Tuscany. Since you will have a car while visiting Siena, I would stay on the outskirts of the city and then drive in for the day. Rick Steves' Italy book gives great ideas on where to park in Siena that avoids any ZTL zones. If you need a recommendation for a place to stay outside Siena, PM me.
Posted by
Lake Forest, CA, USA
1633 posts
I would take the train from Venice to the Florence airport and rent the car there. This will avoid backtracking from the Rome airport back up to Tuscany. Since you will have a car while visiting Siena, I would stay on the outskirts of the city and then drive in for the day. Rick Steves' Italy book gives great ideas on where to park in Siena that avoids any ZTL zones. If you need a recommendation for a place to stay outside Siena, PM me.