Getting to and around Italy by train is very easy, and it’s a great way to explore the ‘boot’ and see its cities. You can visit major points of interest, from the wonderful Tuscan coastline to the picturesque Umbrian countryside, from Pompeii to the most popular destinations of Rome, Florence and Venice, as well as Sicily and Sardinia.

Italy is well connected via its train links. And for the odd occasion you can’t reach every corner of ‘il bel paese’, you’ll find a bus just outside the railway station that will bring you whenever you need to.

It represents a perfect alternative transportation to cars. So you won’t need to worry about speed limits and cameras, ZTL boundaries or parking.

Get aboard and enjoy the landscape through the window.

Italian trains

ITALY — The publically owned Trenitalia covers travel into all regions of the country.
It will provide you three different solutions:
• Regionale – Ideal if you have to cover short distances as it stops at almost all stations and is also very affordable.
• Intercity – Faster than a regionale as it does not stop at small stations but only at major ones. It is also more expensive.
• Freccia (Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, Frecciabianca) – It’s high-speed rail network transports you from Florence to Rome in less than 90 minutes or from Turin to Milan in less than 45 minutes. Other destinations include Bologna, Naples and Venice, making almost the entire country available before lunch! However it is more expensive than an Intercity line, and you’ll need to book in advance.

Trenitalia also offers youth and senior discount passes (called Carta Verde and Carta D’Argento) that will save you plenty of money in the long run. If you are in the peninsula for a short journey, you should opt for InterRail and Eurail passes.

Should you desire a more luxurious and exclusive train journey, you can choose NTV (Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori), or more popularly known as Italo. The private operator offers high-speed connections to 13 cities, covering Venice, Milan, Florence, Rome, Naples and others. Free Wi-fi, leather seats with a table and even vending machines can be found on board all trains. In addition, the ‘Club Executive’ class seats you in a private lounge with complimentary drinks, snacks and pastries. Power sockets, large armrests and a reading light are only a few of the services keeping you comfortable at speeds of up to 300 km/h. NTV is also planning to expand its services to regional destinations in the near future, so watch out for an alternative to Trenitalia to smaller destinations too!

EUROPE — Italy has good travel connections with France, Switzerland, Austria and Germany and other European countries as well. For instance local trains (regionale) can bring you until Slovenia (Jessenice station). Paris-Milan route is well served by TGV service.

With the Gotthard Railway Base Tunnel (the longest tunnel in the world!) through the Alps in Switzerland completed in June 2016 and the Brenner Base Tunnel in Austria under construction, future train travel to and from Italy will become even more convenient!

How to Buy Tickets for Trains in Italy?

One of the perks of the Italian railway network is the wide availability of tickets.

Go to Trenitalia or Italo official websites, depending on the service you want to use, to purchase advance tickets online. The platforms are available also in English and you can often find special offers, available for a short time only. As in many other countries, advance purchases can save you a significant amount of the ticket price. It definitely pays to plan ahead!

Go to GoEuro if you want to browse and book from a number of travel options. Just enter your starting location and destination, ticket prices and timetables can be found with additional info on hotels and car rentals available as well, helping you to make a decision quickly and without much hassle. You can also compare time and prices using different means of transport.

If you prefer to buy tickets in person, railway station counters can be found in all larger stations, as well as self-serving ticket machines that you can use anytime, especially when the ticket office is closed.

Furthermore, travel agents can be found in all major cities. But also newsstands and tobacconists shops sell bus and tickets as well, in case you need to catch a local train.

Train ticket validation in Italy: How does it work?

Ticket validation might seem confusing at first, but is actually, very straightforward. Online tickets do not fit the machines, and as such, do not have to be validated. Make sure to carry your ticket with you during the entire journey, as staff may validate it during the journey. In all other cases, look out for the validation boxes on the platforms before you board the train!

Travelling by train with pets in Italy

Trenitalia allows small dogs, cats and other pets to board the train free of charge as long as it is kept in a container no larger than 70 x 30 x 50 cm.

Dogs of any size are allowed only if they are muzzled and on a leash during the entire journey. However, in some cases, such as sleeper cars, a half-price ticket must be purchased for the dog. Guide dogs can always board the train free of charge. Please be aware that pets are not allowed in the on-board restaurant under any circumstances.