interrailing

max_power

just organised a rough route there with my mates, we're planning on gettig the global ticket, flying into amsterdam and have the ticket start 3 days later from there we're gonna go...berlin-prague-krakow-budapest-zagreb-split-hvar-pescara-rome-florence-then all the way to barcelona-end in biarritz.

few questions about this, we were looking to get a ferry across from croatia to pescara, anyone ever done this? know the prices? is it worth our while or should we just train it back up? also wondering about italy, planning on hitting rome and then heading north, anyone know of any nice spots on the coast?

we're planning on basically bypassing the south of france due to cost and time, anyone have any opinions on this decision? also is it possible to get a night train for the north of italy direct to barcelona?

Any advice on croatia would also be greatly appreciated, only heard good things about it but dont have much info, on the islands particularly.

finally do you think this plan seems a bit ambitious? we'll prob be gone for about 32 days, few before in amsterdam and a few after in biarritz. thanks.

daiixi

best place in Italy is Cinque Terre on the northwest coast. Go there for a few days, you won't regret it.

Croatia is great - not much to see or do but a brilliant place to chill out with friends and soak up with sun. Zagreb and Split are missable but Dubrovnik and the islands are lovely. Personally I'd stay on the train through Zagreb and spend maybe a day/night in Split then head to the islands.

Berlin and Prague are gorgeous. There's a fair few things to do in/around Krakow (Salt Mines/Auschwitz for example) and the city is fabulous (and cheap!!). Zakepane (about 1.5hours away) is definitely worth visiting as well.

Budapest is gorgeous, make sure you indulge in a Turkish Bath and ask your hotel/hostel/the tourist office about visits/tours to the local wineries.

Rome and Florence are lovely. You can do a (very long) day trip from Rome down to Pompeii and I'd recommend stopping by. Don't forget to get off the train at Pisa and take a photo of you holding up the leaning tower.
You'll find Cinque Terre north of Florence - google it and then go. You won't be sorry, I promise! Try the grapes, the wine, the seafood and the pesto.

The south of France is nice but there's greater places to visit. Not sure if you can get an overnight train straight through to Barcelona but you probably can. Barcelona is brilliant and you can spend forever there. I aslo loved San Sebastian (and the rest of Spain tbh) although I didn't go to Biarritz.

If you mainly catch overnight trains then your plan is definitely doable. If you do find yourself short on time while travelling around, remember that all these places are close (and cheap enough) to visit on a long weekend later down the track.

If you have any queries, just pm me.

Zaph

As far as I know there's a ferry from Genoa to Barcelona, which would allow you avoid the south of France completely. No idea on cost or how long it takes, but it might fit in with your plans.