irishgals
Traveller
15 comments
Posted 11 years ago
Hi all,
We have just decided on a rough route 18th August 29th/30th August.
This will be our 3rd time interrailing :)
We are used to travelling at a quick enough pace & love to see new places - interested in scenic areas, places with a good atmosphere etc. - not particularly party areas - any recommendations highly welcome:
[b]18th August - Fly Dublin - Paris[/b]. As we have been twice before we will just stay for 1 night as a sort of stopover. We will arrive before 10am on the 18th and stay until the following morning. We may visit Versailles as we haven't been before. Any other ideas?
[b]19th August - Train from Paris- Zurich[/b] We will most likely take the fast option - 08.23am-12.26pm/10.23am-14.26pm - would anyone have any experiences on this train - where can we buy the reservation (I believe it is €10?)
As Zurich seems to be quite expensive we will most likely only stay one night there - arrive on the afternoon of the 19th and stay until the evening of the 20th before a night train. We were thinking of using one of these days to visit Interlaken? Is there any other areas that are a must see?
[b]20th August - night train from Zurich - Bled 20.40-07.30[/b] Can anyone tell me where I can reserve this?
[b]21st August [/b]- we have been thinking to leave the night train at Lake Bled - store our luggage somewhere and spend the day in Bled before moving onto Ljubljana that evening to stay.
Move onto Ljubljana on the evening of the 21st - stay here until approx 23rd - what are some other areas of interest in Slovenia?
[b]23rd/24th August - Move on from Ljubljana to Zagreb[/b] From this point we have about 6-7 days to spare - we need to get back up to Vienna for a flight home on 29th/30th. Could anyone please advise where our time would be best spent? Perhaps thinking of a couple of nights in Zagreb, then off to an island off Croatia, then maybe back up to Vienna for a night or 2 before heading home?
Any suggestions would be greatly welcome.
Also - do you think a 10 in 22 day interrail pass would cover this? We have used a continuous pass on 2 previous occasions.
Thanks everyone.
DerWerner
Traveller
151 comments
Hi,
the price for the TGV Lyria between Paris and Zürich is several.
Yes, Zürich is quit expensive like whole Switzerland. Why you want to go to Interlaken?
A very great place whichis closed to Zürich is the Rigi Kulm. One of the best viewpoints from Switzerland. But you have to pay extra money for the train up to the Rigi. You get 50% on the ticket prices with IR.
One idea: Drive by train to Arth-Goldau, change to the Rigi Train, enjoy the view, take the other Rigi Bahn to Vitznau and then the ship over the Lake of Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee) to Lucerne and enjoy there the rest of the evening and back to Zürich to the nighttrain
irishgals
Traveller
15 comments
I thought Interlaken looked to have nice scenery - on doing a bit more research we may go to Zermatt and visit Matterhorn instead?
Rigi Kulm also looks nice.. will have to look into this, thanks for the tips!
Bit of a change in itenerary now, we are thinking about the following:
Paris(stay 1 night)-Zurich (travel on same day to Brig and stay here - from here visit Zermatt)-Milan (I've seen the scenic route from Brig to Milan but it seems to take an entire day? Would the direct train be scenic at all?)-Venice (perhaps 1 night - we love it here so would just like a quick visit) -Ljubljana(with a visit to Bled)-
Last part is still undecided - from Ljubljana on to Zagreb & perhaps some nice island off Croatia- then on to Vienna before flight home.
I'd greatly appreciate anyone's input on the above.
It doesn't seem from first glance we need to take any night trains - would this be correct? Also - can someone please tell me if any of these routes require extra supplements?
Thanks.
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Hi.
Just check the schedules: [u]https://rail.cc/en/search-interrail-route[/u]
There you will see if you need a reservation or not. :) And as well free alternative routes to avoid reservation fees.
Examples:
Paris - Zurich: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/paris-to-zurich[/u]
Zurich - Milan: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/zurich-to-milan[/u]
Instead going up to Zermatt, I would travel this day trip to Milan! Free and really nice!!! :)
Milan - Venice: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/milan-to-venice[/u]
Venice - Ljubljana: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/venice-to-ljubljana[/u]
Border crossing like explained here: [u]https://rail.cc/blog/travel-lake-bled-train/[/u]
... and so on. :)
And please be fair and buy your official Interrail passes in the railcc shop to support all the information here on railcc: [ux]https://rail.shop/interrail[/ux]
Thank you! :)
Peter :)
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hej!
...I think you could this trip with a 5in10 ticket as well:
1 Paris - Zürich
2 Zürich - Somewhere in Switzerland
3 Somewhere in Switzerland - night train to Zagreb, quick look around the city, go back to Ljubljana in the afternoon/evening
4 Ljubljana - Bled - Venice
5 Venice and night train to Vienna (day connections also possible)
I think fitting an island in would be a bit too much...maybe instead just head down to Koper from Ljubljana/Bled and then take a bus to one of the small villages in the vicinity, maybe Piran?
This would then require one extra travel day but you could just buy single tickets for that.
Somewhere in Switzerland. Luzern and Rigi are really really nice but my personal favourite in Switzerland is Bernina Pass - Peter already posted the link, here are some extra pics from there in winter: [u]https://rail.cc/blog/zurich-milano-albula-bernina/[/u]
Zermatt...I dont know. It is certainly nice to see the Matterhorn and all but it is quite touristy (as is Rigi, admittedly).
Brig - Milan is not an especially scenic route for Swiss standards IMO. However, you could take the Centovalli railway which branches off at Domodossola from the Brig - Milan main line which is really nice...but personally I would prefer the other route since you could fit in two night trains to save on accomodation costs.
Another option, similar to your adapted plans would be:
1 Paris - Zürich
2 Zürich - somewhere in Switzerland
3 Somewhere in Switzerland - Milan - Venice
4 Venice - Bled/Ljubljana
5 Bled/Ljubljana - Vienna
Flo 8)
irishgals
Traveller
15 comments
Thanks, that's a great help!! :D
irishgals
Traveller
15 comments
Hi all,
Route has pretty much been finalised -
Stay in Paris & then get train to Zurich -reservation £9. What is best to see in Zurich for a 1 day stay?
Zurich-Milan on the free scenic train- (Could someone please tell me what the orange blocks reflect? Are these changes on to a different train?) [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/zurich-to-milan[/u]
Milan - Venice
Venice to Ljubljana(with a stop in Bled) - we will probably get the 07.18 train - this is due to arrive in Bled at 13.50. Is there a change at Jesenice or why is this also in orange? How can we get from Bled train station to the lake? Also, how long would you think we would need to spend there? Would it be too tight for time to get the train at 17.51 in to Ljubljana? Is the next train departing Bled at 20.00?
Ljubljana-Piran (could someone please tell me the best way to go here? I believe you have to go from Ljubljana to Koper and then to Piran? I have seen some people say its easier by bus and some people have said by train? Is it easy to travel here on a Saturday?
After a stay in Piran we will have to return to Ljubljana to travel on to Zagreb- what would be the quickest route for this?
We will lastly travel from Zagreb to Vienna before flight home.
We are going to buy a 10 trip ticket on your website for this - do you agree that is sufficient?
Thanks again for all your help!
JoySeeker
Traveller
77 comments
Hey,
here some suggestions for Zurich:
1) If you want to enjoy a nice view you should take the local SZU train (50% discount) to the top of Üetliberg. There is look-out there from which you have a great view over the city, Lake Zurich and the surroundings. On clear days you can also see the Alps from there!
2) On a hot summer day i would definitely recommend to go swimming in the river, however you should do this in the places where it is officially allowed. My personal recommendation would be the Unterer Letten (free!), where you can enjoy a very cool atmosphere while swimming between old industry buildings.
3) In the evening I would definitely spend some time in the so-called Niederdorf, the old part of the town in the city center. Apart from the nice old buildings there are many nice cafes, bars and pubs there, just keep in mind that prices are most likely higher than in your country ;)
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
How many days in total do you want to travel? From departure in Paris until arrival in Vienna?
Your planned overnight stays are: Zürich - Milan - Venice - Ljubljana - Piran - Zagreb?
irishgals
Traveller
15 comments
Thanks Joyseeker!
Flow- I've listed travel days below - any input is appreciated :)
Paris – (overnight stay)
Paris-Zurich 18th (travel day 1)
Zurich (overnight stay)
Zurich - Milan 19th (travel day 2)
Milan (stay 2 nights)
Milan - Venice 21st August (travel day 3)
Venice (stay 1 night)
Venice- Bled - Ljubljana (travel day 4)
Ljubljana (stay 2 nights)
Ljubljana- Piran (get train to Koper) (travel day 5)
Piran (stay 2 nights)
Piran (back to Ljubljana) – Zagreb (travel day 6)
Zagreb – Stay 2 nights
(Visit Plitvice lakes) (travel day 7)
Zagreb – Vienna (travel day 8)
Vienna – Stay 2 nights before flight.
Thanks all!
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Looks good. It is a bit sad that you dont take full advantage of the 10 travel days but you dont have more time to travel do you?
It _might_ also work out a bit cheaper if you would try to fit parts of the route into a 5in10 ticket plus using regular tickets for the remainder, however this would require pre booking in advance plus rather awkward travel routes which might not be the thing you want to do on your holiday. Plus, the price difference probably would be quite small.
The yellow/orange blocks symbolize a change of trains, as it is written somewhere if you scroll down. Peter, I think you should fix this! ;)
In Bled, there are two different stations: Bled Jezero on the line from Nova Gorica to Jesenice and Lesce Bled on the line from Jesenice to Ljubljana. Bled Jezero is directly at the lake, opposite the village, Lesce Bled is a bit further away; you should leave at Bled Jezero when arriving from Ljubljana and enter the train at Lesce Bled when going to Ljubljana.
We will edit these routes in the following days adding the different station names to avoid confusion. ;)
To get to Piran, go to Koper first, then proceed by bus: [ux]http://www.vozni-red.si/bus.php?x=Koper&y=Piran[/ux]
Piran - Koper - Ljubljana - Zagreb is the way to go
Keep in mind that the best and in fact only way to go to Plitvice is by bus! [u]https://rail.cc/en/plitvice-lakes/train/c[/u]
You could add a stopover in Graz if you want on your way from Zagreb to Vienna! :D
Flo 8)
irishgals
Traveller
15 comments
Hi all,
Another question on the below - I've found that there is luggage storage at Bled Bus Station which will be necessary for us. Can anyone tell me what is the best way to get from Bled Jezero to the bus station please? Also, as we will have to depart from Lesce Bled towards Ljubljana can anyone tell us if we can get a bus from the bus station to Lesce Bled and how frequent they are? We hope to get the train from Lesce Bled to Ljubljana at 17.50. Thanks
:
Bled Jezero is directly at the lake, opposite the village, Lesce Bled is a bit further away; you should leave at Bled Jezero when arriving from Ljubljana and enter the train at Lesce Bled when going to Ljubljana.
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
I have added the bus station of Bled: [u]https://rail.cc/en/bled/bled-bus-station/l3919[/u]
Have a look at the map, simply walk along the lake, it is a small village and you wont have troubles finding the station. Will you come from Ljubljana? Sorry, dont have your exact schedule at hand as I am travelling myself at the moment.
For the bus schedules, use this link: [u]http://www.ap-ljubljana.si/eng/[/u] Enter Bled and Lesce as from and to stations; the stop for the train station in Lesce is Lesce železniška postaja.
Flo 8)
LittleFrog
Traveller
9 comments
If you go from Ljubljana, get off Lesce Bled. You can take the bus to Bled Jezero what takes maybe 10min. It´s stupid to go to Jesenice and wait there for another train which goes back to Bled Jezero - it takes about one hour.
I recommand Soteska Vintgar near Bled. It´s the best place I have seen on my trip through Slovenia and Balkan, except for Piva Lake in Montenegro.