Im planning to travel from Geneva To Naples on 15th May.
Could anyone suggest a route with mimimal reservations fees?
I know it'll l be a very long day and would prefer not to arrive too late.
Thanks
Answer
Geneva to Naples
+1Best answer by thibcabe
Let's say that it isn't the most ideal route.
There are works on the Italian side (restrictions at least - we don't know whether works are happening or not lol).
You've got a few options:
- 05:27 EC to Milan, change for Naples. 2 x 13€. Easiest but do you wish to wake up that early? Especially coming from the UK the day before.
- 13:27 EC to Milan. 11pm in Naples. 2 x 13€. Relaxing morning but long day afterwards -> not what you want.
- go via the Gotthard: i.e. 07:05 Geneva - 18:33 Naples. 1 x 13€ Frecciarossa (reservation-free RE80 to Milan).
- go via Domodossola - Locarno (scenic Centovalli). 1 x 13€. This is what I'd do, more below!
- or as I suggested in one of your previous threads: sleep in Lausanne and take the early morning EC at a more reasonable 06:10am. 2 x 13€.
Honestly for this long itinerary, rather than doing the cheapest I'd pick the one with the least bad timetables...
+8The route will go via Milan. No reservations needed in Switzerland, and you can avoid the reservation fee on the Eurocity to Milan by taking a regional train from the last stop in Switzerland.
From Milan to Naples, I would bite the bullet and pay the €13 fee for a direct Frecciarossa. It's <5 hours, as opposed to 16 hours on a series of regional trains.
A middle option is to take the Intercity, which takes 9 hours and costs €3.
Let's say that it isn't the most ideal route.
There are works on the Italian side (restrictions at least - we don't know whether works are happening or not lol).
You've got a few options:
- 05:27 EC to Milan, change for Naples. 2 x 13€. Easiest but do you wish to wake up that early? Especially coming from the UK the day before.
- 13:27 EC to Milan. 11pm in Naples. 2 x 13€. Relaxing morning but long day afterwards -> not what you want.
- go via the Gotthard: i.e. 07:05 Geneva - 18:33 Naples. 1 x 13€ Frecciarossa (reservation-free RE80 to Milan).
- go via Domodossola - Locarno (scenic Centovalli). 1 x 13€. This is what I'd do, more below!
- or as I suggested in one of your previous threads: sleep in Lausanne and take the early morning EC at a more reasonable 06:10am. 2 x 13€.
Honestly for this long itinerary, rather than doing the cheapest I'd pick the one with the least bad timetables...
So this is what I'd do. A good itinerary overall:
- EC Geneva - Domodossola 07:27 - 10:11 -> pretty fast across Switzerland and through the Simplon tunnel. Buy some breakfast at the station and eat on the train.
- Domodossola - Locarno 10:26 - 12:20 -> scenic route, little train, pure enjoyment. Sit on the left (and then right).
- break, quick lunch
- RE80 Locarno - Milano Centrale 13:22 - 15:17
- coffee break (the 15:25 departure is too tight sadly)
- Frecciarossa Milano Centrale - Napoli Centrale 16:10 - 21:13 13€ -> high-speed train across most of Italy!
+1That sounds fabulous!
For the return trip on 19 May (was considering an overnight break in maybe Mulhouse, mainly just to sleep and refuel cheaply, next day to get to Paris for a good few hours to be nostalgically touristy, final morning 21st May Eurostar home) what would you suggest?
Would happily replace Mulhouse for somewhere else easy and cheap to stay
Mulhouse doesn’t have the best reputation but it’s a perfect place to stay yes. Alternatively consider Colmar → direct TGVs to Paris (plenty more with a change in Strasbourg).
For example…
- Frecciarossa Napoli Centrale - Milano Centrale 08:25 - 12:58 13€
- RE80 Milano Centrale - Cadenazzo 13:43 - 15:20 → hourly and reservation-free across the border, very convenient
- IR26 Cadenazzo - Basel SBB 15:46 - 19:56 → scenic old Gotthard route (the base tunnel is much faster)
- TER Basel SBB - Mulhouse 20:21 - 20:44 (Colmar 21:04)
If you take the Gotthard base tunnel, before 7pm in Mulhouse.
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