There is a direct overnight train leaving at 19:30 and arriving at 9:05 the next day. If you don’t mind the overnight trip, it will take only one rail day if you have a flexi or select pass since it leaves after 7:00 PM. A reservation will be required — 20 to 30 euros for a berth in a 6 berth couchette will probably be the cheapest available, although some trains have reclining seats that are a little cheaper.

Use www.whichbudget.com to see which low fare airlines fly this route and check our “cheap flights” forum for more ideas and help. Cost comparison for this may be difficult as you could probably buy a cheaper railpass if you didn’t cover this trip and the true cost of airfare (getting to/from airports, taxes, baggage fees, other fees) isn’t always easy to spot until you’ve actually bought the ticket.

A snapshot of fares for this June might give you a general idea: http://www.skyscanne… … but that’s no guarantee of prices a year from now. Part of the reason you can fly some days for only $62 one-way is entry of low-cost airline FlyNiki on this route. Like many small low-cost airlines, there’s no certainty a year out, but I would imagine Rome would be a likely keeper in their route network from VIE hub.

That overnight train only costing 1 pass day on a youth pass, and only 20-30EUR couchette, seems like a deal. Myself, I’d fly, or at least break it up to 2 travel days, but it sounds like you might be more of a train person.

Thanks, guys, for the input. I’m getting a vibe that the train may be easier to handle. I think for this leg I’ll take the night train but I won’t completely rule out the low-fare flights because it is still a while away and prices fluctuate. Thanks again

I am planning on taking a night train in the other direction. From Rome to Vienna. I have been planning on using it as one of my selectpass travel days but I am not real sure how/when to reserve my couchette. Same story for my night train from Munich to Rome. How far in advance and how do I make these reservations to ensure that my friend and I have a couchette to Rome and so that I alone have one to Vienna?

I normally try to book overnight trains about 3 days in advance. I would probably try to book both trips at the station in Lucerne, but you could probably wait until you arrive in Munich — just buy it before you leave the station. The Rome to Vienna leg appears to be on a Sunday and overnight trains on Friday and Sunday are usually more crowded, so I’d book that at the same time you book the Munich-Rome leg.

I take it there’s a reason for this odd routing???? Munich to Vienna is a great train trip. An all day stopover in Salzburg or Innsbruck makes sense, a “stopover” in Rome doesn’t. Two overnight trains in 4 days might be exhausting, although I’ve done it and would probably do it again. My 6’2” husband wouldn’t….

Yeah, haha there is a reason. My friend and I are taking this trip together up until Rome. Then he is heading home and I am going on to Vienna to stay with some friends. Rome is his number one place he wants to go so this is what we came up with. Thanks for the advice. Although it doesn’t seem ideal. Would you say my trip is feasible/enjoyable? This is my first time, I don’t want to be setting myself up for any disasters.

I take it the “back to Zurich” at the end is to catch your flight home? I think your trip is doable. Having 4 days is Rome and friends to crash with in Vienna should provide “disaster” relief if you find you really don’t like overnight trains. I’d probably skip Zurich and add a day to Munich — but I’m guessing that won’t work for you. I thought Vienna was dull, but I’m sure having friends there would improve it significantly. I highly recommend a day trip to Bratislava (which I love, but perhaps because I have friends there) from Vienna.

Have you looked into cheap flights to/from Rome? Use www.whichbudget.com to see which low fare airlines fly which routes and check our “cheap flights” forum for other tips and help. I slightly prefer overnight trains to flying, but if I found a cheap flight that didn’t kill the better part of a day, I’d think about flying. You might be able to get by with a cheaper railpass if you flew one or two legs.