Train travel from Munich to Milan

MisterSteve
Traveller
1092 comments

The fast way direct isn't possible anymore as Milan has been cut from the places served. The fast way , now indirect, is the Eurocity service operated in partnership by DB of Germany and ÖBB of Austria which runs every couple of hours from Munich to Verona where you will have to change trains. If using an Interrail pass there is a surcharge of these trains in Italy (because Trenitalia get the Italian pass revenue but don't run these trains) but it's not massive and saves changing trains at Brenner and using a slower service in Italy. The only service where no change of trains is required is the NightJet but that runs in the dark and the route is hardly direct. The fastest option takes about 7½ hours. But the section between Munich and Innsburck is not the most scenic option for that journey. The slower regional trains form Munich to Innsbrick via Garmisch take a very scenic route. Interrail is valid but if you don't have it, 5 is the magic number! For groups with passes there is a bargain ticket for this route, "Regio-Ticket Werdenfels + Innsbruck". This ticket costs €28 for the first person then up to 4 extra people can be added for €13 each - so for a group of 5 that avergaes out at €16 each - bargain! The ticket is also valid on regional and S-Bahn trains throughout the Munich area so if you are starting from the suburbs buy it at the local station and travel to Hauptbahnhof or Pasing stations without paying extra. You buy ONE ticket for the number of people in the group. There is a catch, that line is undergoing some serious repair works and the trains are not running direct until 13th September.

Innsbruck would be the place for lunch (if you start early enough) or overnight. If you do not have Interrail the Innsbruck -Milan section should be booked in advance from ÖBB ( https://www.oebb.at/en/ ). It may be cheaper to book the section to Verona with them and Vernona-Milan with Trenitalia but that carries risk if the first train is delayed. Using the fast train from Munich needs some skill in booking to avoid paying more than you should if you stop for lunch.

To summarise an answer to your question, for a picturesque trip through the Alps I recommend Munich-Innsbruck via Garmisch, then an overnight stop in Innsbruck, then direct train to Verona for connection to Milan. There are other places to overnight but this fits the ticket system best.

Arend7
Traveller
645 comments

Most scenic(but not fastest) in my opinion: Munich-Zürich-Chur-Samedan-(St. Moritz)-Tirano-Milano. On the last part at this moment bus replacement because of trackworks (timetables www.bahn.de, www.sbb.ch and in PDF tables 940 and 960 at www.fahrplanfelder.ch)