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I am coming (first time) to Italy with a Family of 4 (including 2 kids of 6 & 9) this June. I have a Eurail Global Pass & my travel plan is as follows:

  • June 23rd - Geneva to Rome
  • June 25th - Rome to Florence
  • June 27th - Florence to Munich
  • July 7th - Munich to Milan

I would prefer Free or Low-cost travel on all the above routes. Now coming to my route-wise queries:

Geneva to Rome

This is the trickiest one & would really need your detailed guidance here. I have two options for this route:

  • Option 1 (my preferred option if it can be executed, as with it I can also experience Bernina). Getting on Bernina Express from somewhere and reaching Tirano. Then take the regional Bus to Milan. Lastly, Travel from Milan to Rome on a regional train.
  • Option 2. Take any available trains from Geneva to Rome.

Now coming to my questions related to this route:

  1. Is Option 1 feasible? As to hop on Bernina, I first need to reach some point and do not know if I can reach in time to catch Bernina. I have no issue starting my journey early, but staying at some other location other than Geneva will be an issue.
  2. If Option 1 is feasible, what all reservations etc I need to do?
  3. In case of Option 2, please suggest trains/sub-routes to follow?

Rome to Florence

  • I will take the free 3-hour train.
  • Please advise on the reservation procedure?

Florence to Munich

  1. Please suggest which trains / sub-routes to follow?
  2. Also advise on the reservation procedure.

Munich to Milan

  1. Please suggest which trains / sub-routes to follow?
  2. Also advise on the reservation procedure.

Thanks

Geneva - Rome : Bernina is impossible to do but there are other scenic options.

Here would be one :

- IC5 Geneva - Olten 06:15 - 08:18

- IR26 Olten - Locarno (over the Old Gotthard Railway) 08:30 - 12:25

- spend 2-3h there as a break

- RE Locarno - Milano Centrale 15:25 - 17:17

- FR Milano Centrale - Roma Termini 17:35 - 20:34 13€ (impossible to avoid)

This is an example as all trains run hourly.

Or another one (I'd choose this one) :

- IR90 Geneva - Brig 08:10 - 10:32

- IR Brig - Domodossola 10:44 - 11:12

- PE Domodossola - Locarno 11:25 - 13:17 (Centovalli scenic railway), 1.50€ surcharge -> you pay on the train

- Locarno - Rome see above

Florence - Munich - Milan : we've already given you advice. Use regional trains whenever possible. Only this train will require a seat reservation :

- FA Firenze S.M.N - Bolzano/Bozen 13€

I recommend to pay for it as otherwise you'd add at least 3h to the journey.

Nothing to book for trains without mandatory reservations : the pass is your ticket.

See my other post.

Thank You.

What would be ‘generally’ the time required at places, where we need to trains? As I would be with kids & 2 luggage bags of 23 KG each... Like:

 

Geneva - Rome : Bernina is impossible to do but there are other scenic options.

Here would be one :

- IC5 Geneva - Olten 06:15 - 08:18

- IR26 Olten - Locarno (over the Old Gotthard Railway) 08:30 - 12:25

- spend 2-3h there as a break

- RE Locarno - Milano Centrale 15:25 - 17:17

- FR Milano Centrale - Roma Termini 17:35 - 20:34 13€ (impossible to avoid)

This is an example as all trains run hourly.

Or another one (I'd choose this one) :

- IR90 Geneva - Brig 08:10 - 10:32

- IR Brig - Domodossola 10:44 - 11:12

- PE Domodossola - Locarno 11:25 - 13:17 (Centovalli scenic railway), 1.50€ surcharge -> you pay on the train

 

 

 

 

And just for the sake of repetition (apologies), which would be the best website to purchase the required reservations for FR Milano Centrale - Roma Termini 17:35 - 20:34 13€ and FA Firenze S.M.N - Bolzano/Bozen 13€

 

 

 

Thank You! I will go with the second option you recommended for Geneva - Rome! By the way, why you have chosen your option 2 as a better option?

 

About the seat reservation, I am trying to buy on https://shop.oebbtickets.at/

However, it is not showing me any option to buy (for any time of the day):

 

I have added four passengers & also added eurail pass as a discount code. What I might be doing wrong?

If you go to Lucerne as a day trip from Geneva, you'll already have done half of the journey of option 1.

Option 2 includes a small mountain railway (Domo - Locarno) which I hope you'll enjoy !

For ÖBB you need to add the discount and then select one-way tickets.

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