Train travel can sound very overwhelming – particularly if you have never done it before. Trying to process everything in a new language combined with the unfamiliarity with using the trains in Italy can seem daunting. That being said, I promise it is not as scary as it seems. In fact, one of my favorite things about traveling to Europe is the train system. Sure – there are a few lessons learned that make it easier to tackle. That is what I am here for – to share my tips and tricks so that you can step onto the train platform like a pro.
Whether you are a first time traveler or need to brush up on your train navigation knowledge, this guide includes all the key information you will need to know on how to use the trains in Italy.
Why Train Travel Is the Best Way to See Italy
Benefits of Taking Trains in Italy
The major benefit? Not having to rent a car. Trying to rent a car and navigate roads in a country you’re not familiar with is far more logistically challenging, not to mention dangerous, than taking a train. Bottom line – noting these few key tips on navigating the trains in Italy is by far the best option. Not only will it benefit you for your trip to Italy, but it will also set you up well if you plan to travel to other parts of Europe.
A few of the main benefits:
- No rental car driving stress
- Avoid parking stress (there really are not many places to park in the city)
- Faster than driving between major cities
- Scenic views on the train
- Better budget flexibility
Articles that will help you plan your trip:
- A Realistic 2 Week Italy Itinerary for First Time Visitors
- How to Plan a Trip to Italy: A Step-by-Step Guide for First-Time Visitors
- Best Time to Visit Italy: Why October is Perfect
Understanding the Italian Train System
The Difference Between High-Speed and Regional Trains
High-Speed Trains
There are two train companies that we used during our trip to Italy. These were Trenitalia and Italo. The main difference between the two is that Italo runs only high-speed trains, whereas Trenitalia runs both regional trains and high-speed trains.
A few keywords to highlight:
- Frecciarossa: These trains are the top tier, fastest train service offered by Trenitalia. This train service connects large cities and can get you from point A to point B very quickly.
- Frecciargento: These trains are the second tier of high-speed trains offered by Trenitalia. This train service is slightly slower than Frecciarossa, but offers a wider variety of destinations, such as connecting larger cities to more regions.
Italo is the competitor to Trenitalia. Both are comparable in terms of comfort and speed. Italo is privately owned, while Trenitalia is state-run. We used both during our trip to Italy and had great experiences with both! When deciding which trains to take, the main factor is the availability of times and trains that work best for your schedule.
High-speed trains offer reserved seating, wifi, comfortable seats, and often have cafe cars to get snacks.
Regional Trains
Regional trains are slower and appeal more to locals commuting to and from work. That being said, they do open up broader access to local towns and are cheaper than the high-speed trains. These can be great for day trips, where as the high-speed trains make connecting the larger cities much faster and easier.
Trenitalia vs Italo: Which Should You Use?
We used both train companies during our trip to Italy. Italo is a privately-operated company that only runs high-speed trains. Trenitalia is state-operated and runs both regional and high-speed trains. Italo and Trenitalia are both great train companies that cover all the route options you could possibly need for your trip.
Trenitalia
As mentioned, Trenialia offers both regional and high-speed train options. This allows for plenty of options to search in terms of budget and routes.
Seat Type Call Out
Standard
There are four tiers of seating options for Trenitalia. For our journeys, we sat in standard and it was a solid experience. When going through the booking process, I would highly recommend using the seating chart to pick your seats. When we landed in Rome and took the train from Rome to Salerno, we did not thoroughly look at the seating chart and booked seats that had us sitting at a table of four. This was difficult with all our luggage so I would recommend reviewing the options to pick seat that will be most comfortable for you.
Italo
Italo offers only high-speed trains but offers highly competitive pricing compared to Trenitalia. The trains are modern and offer many direct options between larger cities. Italo did feel more like a premium experience compared to Trenitalia. Italo’s trains were more modern and overall more clean than Trenitalia trains.
Seat Type Call Out
Smart
We travelled on Italo sitting in the Smart ticket type. This was by far the most comfortable of all the train rides that we had on our trip. From Venice to Rome, which was about 4 hours, we had seats side-by-side with tons of leg room and a tray that folded down. I used this time to journal and rest. This lowest tier compared to our experience on the lowest tier of Trenitalia was definitely cleaner and more relaxed. That said, both will get you where you need to go.
Which Is Better for Tourists?
Both Trenitalia and Italo are perfectly usable for tourists. We used both on our journey. Deciding between the two companies mostly came down to route availability and price.
I would highly recommend booking primarily high-speed trains to get from one city to another. We found it to be fully worth the slightly higher price compared to regional trains to get from one destination to another quickly.
How to Buy Train Tickets in Italy
Booking Tickets Online
Should you book Italy trains in advance?
Yes. 100%, yes. I booked all of our trains ahead of our trip and it made the whole trip go so much more smoothly. Both Trenitalia and Italo have apps that you can easily download to book trains. I also highly recommend booking in advance as the prices are often cheaper when booked ahead of time. I also found that booking through the app made it easy when we arrived at the train station because our tickets were on the app and we didn’t have to fuss with paper tickets.
How far ahead should you book?
I booked our trains about a month in advance. If you are able to book ahead sooner, I would do so. However, a month ahead of time will allow you plenty of runway to buy your tickets ahead of your trip.
Buying Tickets at the Station
Buying tickets at the train station is a fairly simple process. There are kiosks and ticket windows that you can approach, select your language, and click through to buy your tickets. This option is really best suited for regional trains or last-minute travel.
I really would recommend booking your tickets in advance via either the Italo or Trenitalia Apps. It will make your trip much less stressful because you will already have your tickets ready to go and all you’ll have to focus on is getting on your train.
Do You Need to Validate Train Tickets in Italy?
Train ticket validation in Italy is one of those concepts that travelers panic-search before their trip to Italy. I know I was so worried about this before my trip. However, I learned that this concern is highly overblown. The only tickets you need to validate are for regional trains with paper tickets.
I booked all of our high-speed train tickets ahead of time via the Trenitalia and Italo apps. The only time I needed to take an extra step before boarding our train was for a regional train I had to check in on the app before the ride. This was simple and the app prompted me to do so.
Overall, I would not overthink this process. Just book your tickets ahead of time, make sure you have the apps downloaded, and check your tickets before boarding so that you have everything in order.
How to Navigate Italian Train Stations
Reading Departure Boards
If there was one “hack” I could share for navigating the train stations in Italy, it is to know your train number before you get to the train station. The platform for the train was often not shared until 10 minutes before departure, which means you need to be checking the departure board tracking your train number to make sure you know which platform to go to.
This is the only part of the process that can feel like a mad dash because as soon as the platform pops up, everyone moves to the platform. It isn’t challenging, it just requires attention and focus. Another thing to note, knowing your train number can be very helpful so that if the platform changes or there are delays, you can easily track that by looking at the departure board.
Finding Your Platform
I recommend getting to the train station about 30 minutes before departure. This allows you plenty of time to get all your luggage into the station and position yourself in a spot where you can easily watch the departure board. Each train station’s setup is a bit different. However, the main thing to watch for is the platform, or Binario, that your train is assigned to and then you literally just go to that platform number. You can also verify the platform by looking at the platform board to see if it has your train station number.
Boarding the Train
This is the other part that can be a little tricky if you have luggage. Once you know your platform, look at your ticket for the train car number and walk until you reach the train number. After that, you can board the train, stow your luggage, and find your seat. The most important thing to remember is to refer to your train ticket religiously and verify your seats before getting comfortable. We never had any issues in Italy finding our proper seats, but it is important you get into the correct train car and then find your seat.
Luggage Storage Tips
Luggage storage on the trains sits in the space between the cars. As soon as you board, find space for your bags, stow and go. This is another reason to arrive at the train station early so that you can board as soon as the platform is listed. This space can fill up quickly, so the earlier the board the easier it is to find space. Again, we never had any issues with this but we were always early birds.
Something that stressed me out that you really can’t do anything about is sometimes the trains make stops along the way (entirely route-dependent) so I felt like I had to watch my bags the whole time. There are two ways to negate this stressor. The first is to not bring oversized luggage. Sticking with a carry-on will make your life easier when traveling on trains. The second is, if you’re like me and wanted extra space for souvenirs (spoiler alert we used every bit of luggage space we had), is to put an airtag in your bag and just trust it is going to be ok. You can also try to select a seat close to the baggage so you can more easily keep an eye.
Common Mistakes First-Time Travelers Make
The train system in Italy is fairly easy to navigate and should not cause any concern ahead of time. That being said, there are a few things we wish we knew before traveling to Italy.
#1: Booking a seat at the four-seater tables if you have luggage
This was truly the only inconvenience or hang-up we experienced while riding the trains in Italy. We just got off the plane, took the train from the airport to the main train station in Rome then switched trains to get down to Salerno. On the leg from Rome to Salerno, I had booked the cheapest seats. Unbeknownst to me when I booked, this meant we were sitting in a 2×2 situation around a table. If it had just been for a day trip it would totally have been fine. However, we had all of our luggage with us and had to find space for our larger bag in the luggage storage area but then had to keep our carry-ons rolled between our legs under the table and ride with our personal items on our laps.
Obviously, we survived but it was really uncomfortable. If I had known better, when I booked I would have looked at the seating chart more closely to see the seating arrangement.
#2: Not arriving early the train station
I would recommend getting to the train station about 30 minutes before your train is supposed to depart. The platform isn’t usually given until about 10 minutes ahead of departure time, but it is helpful to get there ahead of time to get positioned near a departure board so you can monitor when your platform is listed.
#3: Not booking tickets in advance
Be sure to book your tickets in advance through the Italo and Trenitalia apps so that you always have a digital version of your ticket on you. This made navigating the Italy train system so much easier.
#4: Getting distracted in the train station
There can be a lot of distractions in a train station. Unfortunately, pick pockets target distracted travelers. Be sure to keep all of your belongings close and ALWAYS be aware of your surroundings. Consistently keep your head up, scan the area, and never pull important documentation out in the train station.
Best Italy Train Routes for First-Time Visitors
There are a variety of routes to choose from while travelling to Italy. Two routes that were very easy and quick during our trip were: A few routes I would recommend are:
- Salerno to Florence
- Florence to Venice
- Venice to Rome
Other routes that I would also recommend for first time visitors are:
- Rome to Florence
- Rome to Milan
Italy Train Tips That Make Travel Easier
- Download train tickets before going offline
- Travel in the early morning
- Keep an eye on your belongings
- If you can, pack light
- Watch the departures board for your platform
Is the Italy Rail Pass Worth It?
We did not buy an Italy rail pass. For our trip, it made the most sense to book point-to-point tickets. Two rail passes are offered – one through Eurail and one through Trenitalia. These can be handy if you plan to go on several longer train journeys, however to book high-speed trains there is still an additional fee. Therefore, if you want to take the high-speed trains, it may not be as cost effective.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Be Intimidated by Train Travel in Italy
Navigating the train system in Italy can seem intimidating at first, but it really is fairly simple, especially if you leverage the key information I have shared in this article. Train travel in Italy is all part of the experience. I have full confidence that you too will be able to ride the rails in Italy like a pro!
Be sure to save this guide as you book your trains for Italy!
FAQs
- Are trains in Italy easy for tourists?
- Yes. At first they can seem a little intimidating, but this guide has everything i learned from italy train travel and will set you up perfectly to ride the trains in italy like a pro.
- Is it better to book Italy trains in advance?
- Yes. You can easily book your train tickets through Italo or Trenitalia. You can book online, but I would recommend using their apps to book.
- What is the difference between Trenitalia and Italo?
- They are both train companies, but Italo is privately-owned and runs only high-speed trains. Trenitalia is state-owned and runs both regional and high-speed trains.
- Can you bring luggage on Italian trains?
- Yes. Although, bringing a lot of baggage can definitely make it more difficult to navigate the trains in Italy. I would highly recommend keeping what you pack to a minimum so that you don’t have extraneous bags to lug around.
- Are trains in Italy safe?
- Yes, Italy trains are safe. That being said, pick pocketers are everywhere and target unsuspecting travelers. Stay safe by keeping your belongings close and not getting distracted with your phone. Keep your eyes up and remain aware of your surroundings and you’ll be fine.
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