1. Hourly train to Trieste from where four different companies run direct buses to Rijeka. The most frequent service is that operated by SAF, but they have no Sunday services. But one, possibly two, companies do have Sunday services. The companies to try are Autotrans and Autobus A Sibenek. The journey from Trieste to Rijeka takes three hours. The limited Sunday buses that do run will not be in the morning but rather late afternoon-ish, giving a mid-evening arrival in Rijeka.

2. There is a Sunday evening catamaran run by Venezia Lines to Rabac, from where it is a 40 minute taxi ride to Rijeka. The boat leaves Venice about 5.30 pm (check in from about 4pm) and gets to Rabac at 10.15 pm – too late for the last bus, but you’d still be able to arrange a taxi.

Hope this helps.
Nicky and Susanne

There is also an excellent once daily train option, departing Venezia at about 9 pm daily. Route options vary, but the most interesting is changing at Beograd and Thessaloniki. You’ll arrive into Athína Larisa 48 hours later, having seen quite a chunk of the Balkans along the way. This option allows nine hours sightseeing in Beograd along the way (from about 2 pm till 9pm on the day after departure from Venezia). This is a real bonus, just sufficient time to allow a good walk around the main sights.
Nicky & Susanne
hidden europe

I am looking for transportation between Venice and Athens . Will you be able to assist me.

Thank you i advance,.

1. There is no regular scheduled boat service that goes directly from Nice or the Côte d’Azur to Genova or beyond.

2. The best way to get from Venezia to Nice is undoubtedly by train (although there are also flights)

3. The best way to get from Nice to Roma via the Cinque Terre villages is undoubtedly train. (There are no flights that would allow the Cinque Terre stop, and a car would no asset at all along the Cinque Terre coast).

We think that answers all three of your questions. Book well in advance, at http://www.ferroviedellostato.it/ and you will find the train trips are very modestly priced. Stick to the Italian version of that website for the best functionality.

And, another tip: you may find it cheaper to buy tickets from Venezia to Ventimiglia and then (when you change trains at Ventimiglia, which is usually necessary) purchase the extra ticket for the onward hop over the border to Nice in France. The price for that extra bit is just €7.10 per person. Similarly for the journey from Nice through Liguria to Roma, it may be cheaper to buy the main ticket online to start at Ventimiglia, and use the local train from Nice to Ventimiglia to connect with the Trenitalia service.

Hope this helps.
Susanne and Nicky
Editors / hidden europe magazine

We’ll be three weeks in Italy–starting Tuesday, 6/23!! I’ve been planning for a year now, but of course there are now new developments and last minute details driving me crazy. one week in Tuscany, then Venice and Rome. The biggest development is that we will visit a friend in Nice for 3-4 nights. Can you help me figure our the best way to get from Venice to Nice, and then back to Rome?

We are thinking of staying for a night at the CT. I have left one night free that could be either before or after Nice.

We’ve never been to Rome and the CT. We’ve been to the rest of our itinerary, but 20 years ago, and not the same no. of nights.

what do you suggest and how can we get there? We’re a family of 4, with a 16 yr old boy, 13 yr old girl.

we have round trip tickets from the US to Rome, and booked a farmhouse in tuscanny from Sat to Sat, so our rome stay is broken up–our itinerary:

Sea to Rome
Rome 3 nights
Pienza 7 nights *can’t be changed
Venice 3 nights
Nice 3 nights
open 1 night–cinque terre?
rome 3 nights
thank you for your time