Traveling Around Italy By Train

Train travel is one of the best ways to explore Italy. Tickets are cheap, service is frequent, and the trains between major cities are some of the most modern in Europe. Lines often run through lovely countryside and provide more convenient links between cities than roads or air travel. Only in the south of Italy or in deeply rural areas will you find service slow and infrequent.

The bulk of Italy's rail network is a state-run system operated by Trenitalia of the Ferrovie dello Stato (FS). These include the Alta Velocita (AV), the fastest trains in Italy that reach speeds in excess of 200 mph and connect the major cities, the Eurostar (ES), high-speed trains that require pre-booking of seats. Intercity (IC)and Eurocity (EC) trains are relatively fast trains that run the length of Italy and stop only at major train stations and require payment of a first- or second-class supplement on top of the standard ticket price. Seat reservations on Eurocity trains are mandatory and the fee is included in the ticket price. InterRegionale (IR) and Regionale (R) trains connecting small towns with larger cities make more stops. Italian local transport has a fleet of over 7200 trains.

The following map shows Italy's main rail network.

The easiest place to buy train tickets is at a train station where train schedules are readily available and easy to read. Tickets on all trains are purchased as one way (andata) or round-trip (andata e ritorno). These are Italian terms worth learning since you will more than likely be asked which ticket you would like by a ticketmaster. On some trains you will also be asked whether you want first-class (prima) or second class (seconda classe). You should also learn these terms.

If you plan to travel extensively on your vacation in Italy, you might want to consider an Italy Rail Pass.  This can sometimes save you a good deal of money. If your travel plans take you from major city to major city, then the Italy Rail Pass will surely save you money since it allows you to travel on Italy's high-speed (and much more expensive) trains at roughly a 30% savings. If, however, you plan to travel to many local places, then purchasing individual tickets is the way to go.