The insider's guide to Italy

Trains to and in Italy

TRAINS IN ITALY: TRAVELLING TO & IN ITALY BY TRAIN

For information and to buy online rail tickets and passes for Italy, visit


Italian Rail for UK residents

Italian Rail for USA residents

The Italian railway system, run by Trenitalia company, is good and rail tickets are cheap.

National trains provide fast connections between Italy's main cities with stylish, modern Premier Trains like Eurostar Italia, also called ES*.

Regional and local trains are 7,200 per day, including Intercity (IC) Trains.

International Premier Trains connect Italy with Switzerland, Austria, Germany, France and Belgium, offering short traveling times, excellent comfort and quality services. Night Trains operate both nationally and internationally.
Ferries connect the country with Greece, Turkey, Tunisia, Malta, Albania, Egypt and Spain.

In Italy nothing beats train travel. Although there are many and frequent coaches and bus lines, they are not as cheap and fast as the rail. And air travel within Italy is not cheap.

And, not least, travelling by train gives you the possibilty to admire the beautifully landscaped countryside of areas like Chianti and Tuscany (see picture), or the dramatic sea scenery of the Amalfi Coast or the Cinque Terre, to name but a few well-known coastal regions.

In Italian cities, the main railway stations are located in the city center, but secondary stations can be in other areas. For instance, the main railway station in Rome, Termini, is very central, but Trastevere is on the other side of the river Tiber (beyond the Tiber, that's what the name means), in a more working class but also more picturesque borough, with strong historical traditions. Similarly, in Florence the main station of Santa Maria Novella is right in the city center, two minutes' walk from the Duomo and other artistic treasures. Campo di Marte, on the other hand, is not such an important station, and is on the opposite side of the river Arno (Oltrarno), not far from the football stadium.
Venice, as might be expected, is a special case. Venice Terminal railway station is in Piazzale Roma, connecting Venice to Mestre and the mainland. It's still fairly central, 10-15 minutes' walk from the main historical monuments but, due to the city's unique characteristics, it's not right in the middle of town, but at the edge of the historical center.
Milan central rail station, Stazione Centrale, is in Piazza Duca D'Aosta, near the famous Pirelli skyscraper. The station is at the end of a series of tree-lined avenues, fairly close to both the city center and its heart, Piazza del Duomo, and to the Fiera Campionaria, Milan Fair Exhibition Center.
In towns, as opposed to big cities, the main railway station may be situated not exactly in the town center.
Milan Malpensa Airport and Rome Leonardo da Vinci Airport (Fiumicino) both have a rail station.

There are two types of train tickets. First class seats often recline, there are fewer seats per car, and there is more space for luggage. On some Premier Trains, the price of a first class ticket includes a meal. Second class accommodations are less expensive, but not as spacious, as there are more seats per car. A ticket allows you to board the train, but does not guarantee you a seat. You must make a seat reservation to have a guaranteed seat on the train.
For certain trains, such as fast trains or Inter City, there's a supplement to be added to the ticket price.
In Italy, you have to purchase your train ticket before getting on the train. It's not acceptable to buy it on the train, and if you're found without ticket you'll be fined. There are often long queues at the ticket office of the railway stations. Ticket dispensing machines can luckily be found on the platforms of train departures sometimes, but not always.

For this reason it's more practical and often cheaper to buy train tickets or make your seat reservations before, so you can avoid fully booked trains. The simplest way to do so is online, through the Internet.

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ITALIAN & EUROPEAN RAIL PASSES FOR UK RESIDENTS

For complete travel flexibility in Italy, choose the EuroDomino Pass. It allows you anything from 3 to 8 days extensive travel within a one month period on the entire rail network of Italy (or any other country you've chosen).
For Italy, prices start from £97 for Youth Passes and from £129 for Adult Passes.

Inter-Rail Pass is the perfect way to see Europe and make new friends. For one all-in price that offers incredible value for money, you can enjoy unlimited travel across up to 29 countries in Europe and North Africa.
Inter-Rail Pass divides Europe into zones. Italy is part of the zone G, which comprises Greece, Italy, Turkey and Slovenia.
Prices start from £145 for a 1 zone pass for people under 26 years and at £215 for over 26s.

Here's the link to get more info or purchase European and Italian Rail Passes online:

You can also buy tickets for Premier Trains to Italy, like the Artesia, from here:

ITALIAN & EUROPEAN RAIL PASSES FOR NORTH AMERICAN RESIDENTS

Click here for Rail Europe

In Italy train fares are particularly cheap, and train travel is convenient, efficient, and comfortable.
If you want to see as much of Italy as you can in a limited period, or you'd like to travel to several countries within a short period, a good option is to get a Rail Pass. There are many different passes.

Italian Rail Passes are:

France'n Italy Pass gives you travel in the two most popular European countries, France and Italy. Saverpass and Youthpass versions are also available.

Trenitalia Pass provides you with any 4 days unlimited train travel in a 2 months period and an option of adding up to 6 additional days.

Trenitalia Pass Saver gives you a discounted version of Trenitalia Pass if you will be traveling throughout Italy with a friend or more.

Trenitalia Pass Youth is a special discounted version of the Trenitalia Pass for travelers under 26 years of age.

Eurail Greece 'n Italy Pass gives you two great countries with one great pass. Saverpass and Youthpass versions are also available.

Italy Rail 'n Drive gives you a combination of unlimited train travel and Hertz car rental with unlimited mileage in Italy.

Here's the link to get the Italian Passes:
Italian Rail Passes

Furthermore, there's the option of acquiring a European Rail Pass covering other countries as well as Italy, the so-called Multiple Country Passes.
If you would like to travel to Italy and 2 to 4 other countries, get Eurail Selectpass. If you would like the flexibility to see up to 16 other countries, the Eurailpass is the right pass for you.

Multiple Country Passes are:

Eurailpass gives you unlimited travel in the 17 countries of Western Europe, covering over 100,000 miles of rail network: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
There are several options, variations to suit one's needs, and discounts for groups of two or more and for travellers up to 26 years old.
Here's the link to get more info or purchase it online:

Eurailpass: flexible travel throughout 17 countries

Eurail Selectpass offers unlimited travel on the national rail networks of any 3, 4 or 5 bordering countries of your choice out of 22 European countries, including Italy, (newly included are Slovenia/Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro and Bulgaria) that are connected by train or ship.
Discounts for two or more people traveling together and travelers of 26 years of age and under apply here as well, with a variety of pass options including Saver, Youth and Drive passes.
Here's the link to get more info or purchase it online:

Eurail Selectpass

And don't forget that there are special discounts for people under 26 years of age with Youth Passes

There are also combinations of rail tickets and car rentals.

With all these Passes you get bonuses, for instance discounts on high-speed Premier Trains; free or discounted travel on ferries, lake steamers, boats and buses; a free train timetable.

When you visit Rail Europe, you may wish to consult their Interactive rail map

ITALY PREMIER TRAINS & OTHER TRAINS FOR NORTH AMERICAN RESIDENTS

Fares & Schedules

Premier Trains are Europe's best trains. The shining stars of Europe's rail network, Premier Trains are high-speed, high-quality trains, with excellent service and comfort. They're ultra-modern trains, unlike any others you have experienced. They all have public phones, bars and restaurants, reclining seats in first-class. On some Premier Trains, first-class passengers are served a meal at their seat, newspapers, magazines, and drinks.
A Premier Train ticket usually includes a seat reservation.

Many Rail Passes (see above) cover Premier Trains journeys, so you only have to purchase the Pass to travel on the Premier Train. Or you are entitled to a special passholder fare.

Premier Trains to Italy and in Italy are:

Eurostar Italia connects Milan, Rome, Venice, Turin, San Remo on the Italian Riviera, and more cities. It takes you from Milan in the North to Reggio Di Calabria, right at the southern tip of the Italian peninsula, in 11 hours. It links Rome and the western coast to Venice, Ancona and Lecce on the Adriatic coast in the east.
Eurostar Italia fares and schedules

Cisalpino connects Switzerland and Germany with Italy. It links couture-loving Milan, Florence and Venice with the Swiss cities of Zurich, Basel and Geneva and with Stuttgart in Germany. Cruising through the majestic Alps, the Cisalpino is one of the world's most modern trains.
Cisalpino fares and schedules

Artesia, also known as the France-Italy day train, lets you enjoy two of the most popular countries in Europe. Artesia is a high-speed premier train with five daily round-trip connections between France and Italy. It covers many routes along this beautiful countryside, including Paris, Lyon, Milan and Turin, all in a short amount of time. Artesia trains from Lyon reach a top speed of 160 mph and from Paris, an astounding 180 mph. Between Paris and Milan there is a bar car and snack service. The train between Lyon and Milan has a dining car where hungry travelers can sit down at a table to eat.

Artesia France-Italy Night is a high-speed premier train with four daily routes between France and Italy. Along this beautiful countryside, the France-Italy Night passes through such prominent cities as Paris, Chambery, Dijon, and the Italian cities of Rome, Milan, Florence, Turin and Venice. This train offers travelers an extremely convenient trip as well as shorter traveling times.

Riviera Day Train connects the French Riviera to Italy and Switzerland. The French Riviera conjures up images of famed film festivals, soft sand beaches and haute lifestyle. The train goes to Milan, Genoa, San Remo. It’s closer than your think, indeed it's so close to Italy that some cities of the French Riviera, such as Nice, were part of Italy until the 19th century.

Riviera Night Train connects Nice in the French Riviera to Venice, Rome, Naples. Feel the romance of the Riviera, the Cote d'Azur. Hop on board for an enchanting ride through the night. Wake up the next morning in bellissima Italy.

To find out more or to purchase tickets for Premier Trains (for North American residents only), this is the link:

Premier Trains

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