susieswe
Traveller
1 comments
Posted 13 years ago
I'm new to this forum and also new at Interrail. I've read the information here and found it really helpful, thanks for the good work you do.
I have planned to give myself a trip for my 50th birthday summer (june-july) 2012. I know I'm early, but planning is part of the fun, isn't it! :) I have planned to buy the 10/22 days 1st class pass. I want to travel somewhat comfortable and I'm probably also going to travel alone. I might be wrong, but I thought 1st class might be a little safer to travel for a lonely lady. My main interests are art history and photography and I've planned to do both on my trip. I live in Finland and planned to take a budget flight to Vienna and start my trip there. I also planned to end my trip in Copenhagen and fly from Copenhagen to Helsinki.
This is my preliminary route:
Stay a night in Vienna and visit the Schönbrunn Palace.
Take the night train from Vienna to Sofia.
Visit Rila monestry in Bulgaria.
Take train from Sofia to Athens. I read about the problems in Greece, but since there's more than a year till I go on my trip I figured the problems might be solved and if they're not I have to change my plans.
Stay a couple of days in Athens.
Take ferry from Patras to Bari
Train from Bari to Rome.
Stay a couple of days in Rome.
Take train to Venice and stay a couple of days at my aunt's in Asolo (not far from Venice)
From Venice (or Asolo) I go to Paris, stay there a couple of days and after that through Amsterdam to Copenhagen.
Is this doable or is it going to be to tight? An alternative route could be to take a budget flight from Helsinki to Athens and start the trip there. In this route I would skip Vienna and Sofia altogether.
Thanks in advance,
Susie
anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments
Well, to my best knowledge, there's direct sleepers from Vienna to Sofia, Venice to Paris and Amsterdam to Copenhagen (which is part of a service bound for Warsaw, Moscow, Minsk and Berlin!)
You could bus it to Thessaloniki, then get the train from Athens...I think...I'm not so sure of that! Beware that the Venice - Paris supplements are pretty costly compared to a majority of overnight services. Booking far enough in advance, you might as well book the full fare which can be very cheap. Paris to Amsterdam only takes about 5 hours, and the same might apply as above from Venice.
Rome is beautiful, although somewhat expensive (actually Scandinavian in price...!!!) a quick walker can see everything in a couple of days, just watch out for traffic!
Vienna is like a living museum. I'd be inclined to spend more time there, as it's quite a big place and so much for the avid photographer to see!
Sorry I'm not much more help!
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hi Susie!
Wien - Sofia night train :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/vienna-sofia-night-train/f1846[/u]
Sofia - Rila by regular trains
Rila - Athens hopefully with the then reinstated direct train ;)
Greece...well, let's see how the situation there is develpoing throughout the next year
Bari - Roma with ES train, 10€ compulsory reservation
Roma - Venezia with ES train, 10€ comp res or with IC train 3€ recommended reservation
Venezia - Paris: Either with direct night train :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/venice-milan-paris-night-train/f3675[/u] or, what I would recommend if you have a little time left, through the Swiss Alps via Milano and the Bernina and Glacier Express routes :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/glacier-express/f1750[/u] [u]https://rail.cc/en/bernina-express/f1749[/u]
Then continue to Paris with direct TGV, either from Geneve or Zürich/Basel.
Paris - Amsterdam :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/paris-to-amsterdam[/u]
Amsterdam - Kobenhavn; I'd recommend the night train :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/amsterdam-to-copenhagen[/u]
Flo 8)
susieswe
Traveller
1 comments
Thank you both for your replies. Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. I'm taking up planning again and this is very useful information.
Susie
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hej Susie,
no worries. I hope everything goes smooth and if you have any questions, just ask. Of course we would be glad if you'd get your ticket via [ux]https://rail.shop/interrail[/ux] ;)
Flo 8)