Ciao Bella! Navigating Italy by Train: Tips for Train Travel in Italy

This train travel guide will have you navigating Italy like a pro in no time! With our tips for train travel in Italy, you can forget airport stress, enjoy the scenery, and maybe even grab a cappuccino on the way.

Padua Station

Jump To A Section

• Choosing your train operator
• Trenitalia high speed vs. regional
• Trenitalia routes and maps
• Trenitalia seats and perks
• Trenitalia fares
• Snagging sweet deals on Trenitalia
• Italo routes
• Italo seat classes
• Italo fares and discounts
• Tips for booking your train tickets
• Essential tips for train travel in Italy
• Golden Rule (last tip)

All Aboard the Adventure Train: Choosing Your Train Operator

Trains are our favorite way to explore Italy. They’re comfy, convenient, and way more relaxing than airports. The urban legends of dirty and unreliable trains in Italy are a thing of the past. Italy has a reputation for an extensive rail network reaching major and small cities, while they are not running like clockwork they are often only a few minutes late (versus hours of delays on flights).

Can’t find routes to the hidden Italian village your agriturismo is in? Well if you are booking with Trenitalia they have a ‘door 2 door’ feature that will tell you what bus lines and trains you can use to get there on their app, you can even buy the tickets there.

If you plan to travel to other European countries in addition to Italy you can try the booking platform Eurail: a great option if you are traveling to multiple countries in Europe, they also offer Eurail passes that allow travel through 33 European countries. A side note- the rail passes are only worth it if you are traveling to multiple countries and will be taking several train trips (and long ones) each week, they aren’t quite what they used to be. Additionally, if you buy the rail passes you will still be required to arrive at the stations early to have a seat assigned (which you will often have to pay a small fee for).

Pro Tip: Book your tickets up to 109 days in advance (that’s almost 4 months!) for the best deals.

Stazione Centrale: Trenitalia High-Speed vs. Regional Trains

We will first focus on the options with Trenitalia as it is a more extensive network. Note that the High-speed and Inner City trains require a reservation and regional trains do not.

• High-Speed (FrecciaRossa, FrecciaArgento, or FrecciaBianca): The fastest choice with comfy seats, a cafe car, and WiFi. Perfect for longer journeys. The FrecciaArgento and Bianca have fewer seating options (than the FrecciaRossa) with first and second-class seats that you can select when booking. We will break down the FrecciaRossa seating options shortly.
• Inter City: this is the middle of the road, it has fewer stops than a regional, stopping in most but not all cities and usually only at one of the stations in that city (rather than all stops in one city). This makes it faster than regional trains but slower than high-speed trains. There are first and second-class seats, the first class includes more space. You can choose to pay for a seat assignment (do this if you prefer to choose a seat or if you are traveling with others).
• Regional: The budget-friendly option for shorter trips. They make more stops and have fewer amenities. There are no seat assignments and the luggage space is limited (although it is improving in some areas).

Maps to Help You Visualize Where You’re Going

If you need a visual of where these lines go, see the maps below for the high-speed and InterCity trains. These are direct from the Trenitalia website. We didn’t include regional maps because there are 21 regions covered and are further separated by the provinces in the region but you can find this on the Trenitalia website.

High-Speed Routes

FrecciaRossa Route Map

FrecciaArgento Route Map

FrecciaBianca Route Map

InterCity Routes

All Aboard the Comfort Express; Seats and Perks

If you’ve read other guides that say that a first-class versus second-class seat is not that big of a difference and thus not worth the money we want you to know this isn’t true, what matters is how you prefer to travel and your budget.

FrecciaRossa Breakdown:

• Standard: Your basic comfy seat with legroom and an outlet. No seat assignment.
• Premium: Standard seat with a bonus snack and drink.
• Business Class: More spacious seats, reclining seats, a welcome drink, and a small meal.
• Business Silenzio: Business Class with a quiet car – perfect for peace and relaxation. No cell phone chatter or noise. 
• Executive: The top tier has extra legroom, reclining seats, and exclusive cabin access.
• Business Salattino (Lounge): Craving ultimate relaxation with a small group? This option offers Business Class perks in a private cabin for just four passengers. Perfect for a mini-travel retreat with friends or family!
• Executive Seats: Think luxury on rails. Imagine spacious, reclining seats with legrests in an exclusive cabin for only eight people. Plus, you get all the Business Class goodies. This is the ultimate way to travel like a VIP.

Decoding the Fare Options

Freccia and InterCity have different fares depending on flexibility:

• Basic: Most flexible with changeable dates, times, & locations (restrictions apply) & refundable up to 80%.
• Economy: Changeable dates and times, but no refunds.
• Super Economy: The cheapest, but no changes allowed. *If things change, you do not want to book this option because the small savings will cost you in the end.

Snag Sweet Deals on Trenitalia (Discount Fare Fix)

While Trenitalia doesn’t have a permanent discount section, they do offer some sweet deals to keep an eye out for! 

Be a booking ninja! These discounted tickets pop up shortly after trains go on sale, so grab them fast. They’re not available for every route, but they’re a great way to snag nicer seats or save with travel buddies. (These are economy fare, so the date and time can be changed.)

• Couple Up & Save (Me & You Fares): Got a travel bestie? This discount is for ‘CartaFreccia’ loyalty card holders. Travel together on Intercity or Frecciarossa trains and score a sweet deal on two tickets!
• Double the Fun, Half the Price (Freccia2x1): Feeling lucky? Freccia occasionally offers a limited-time deal where you can snag two Frecciarossa tickets for the price of one! Keep your eyes peeled for these flash sales.
• Freccia Days: Keep an eye out for special Freccia Days offering reduced fares on Frecciarossa trains. These are perfect for budget-conscious travelers!
• Young & Free (Freccia Young Discount): Under 30? Take advantage of the Freccia Young discount! You’ll get reduced fares on Frecciarossa trains, but keep in mind these tickets are non-refundable and non-changeable.

Additional Tips for Saving on Train Travel in Italy

Pro Tip: Don’t forget to select your seats before checkout! It’s usually just a few extra euros (around 2-4€). Here’s a seat selection and luggage hack twofer: back-to-back seats often have space for carry-on luggage in between. Grab that spot for your luggage when you board to avoid the overhead racks. For larger bags, head to the luggage racks, usually at one or both ends of the train car.

Bonus Pro Tip: always buy your high-speed and inner-city tickets at least two days in advance, prices will jump in the last 24-48 hours. Regional tickets are the same price whether you buy them a week in advance or minutes before.

Stai Tranquila Italo (Don’t Worry, Italo)

Italo offers a simpler system with just one train type. As previously pointed out, the Italo network is not as extensive as Trenitalia but covers most major cities. Below is a diagram of cities they go to, it is also direct from their website. While this isn’t a map if you consider the left side is the north and the right side is the south you can get a general idea of where it goes geographically.

Italo Train Routes

After choosing your route you’ll need to select your class.

• Smart (Economy): Reclining seats leather seats, footrests, and WiFi – a great value!
• 1st Class: Similar to Business Class with more legroom, a drink, and a snack.
• Executive Club: 1st Class perks with a welcome alcoholic beverage (or non-alcoholic if you prefer) and access to station lounges.

Living Room (Sala): A private room for 4-6 passengers with Executive Club amenities.

Italo Fare Fun

Italo has similar fare categories as Trenitalia:

• Flex: Most flexible with free changes and partial refunds.
• Economy: Changeable dates and times with some fees and partial refunds.
• Low Cost: Least expensive, but limited changes and no refunds.

Discount Time!

Italo has various discounts for different groups:

• Extra Magic: Up to 70% off, but no changes or refunds.
• Italo Famiglia (Family): Free travel for kids under 14 and discounts for adults traveling with children.
• Italo Giovani (young): Up to 70% off for young travelers (14-29 years old).
• Italo Senior: Up to 60% off for seniors (over 60 years old).

Bonus Tip: Use the “Date Calculator” app to set a reminder 3 to 4 months before your travel date, to snag those early bird deals!

Tips for Booking Your Train Tickets with Ease

Online booking

When searching for the best way to book your ticket you may have seen other articles telling you it’s difficult to use the websites of the train operators. This is simply not true. As long as you select the language (usually at the top of the website) it should be easy to navigate (it’s not that different than navigating an airline website). We prefer to book direct than to use a third-party middleman. Both train lines also offer an app but you may not be able to register if you are not a resident, you can still use the app but you will have to input your personal information each time you book. We strongly advise booking in advance if you know when and where you need to travel (especially if it is a longer distance).

If you buy your tickets online you should receive an email with a PDF of the tickets. You can save the PDF on your phone, tablet, or computer, and you can also print them. Choose what works best for you but if you keep them electronic make sure to have enough battery power for your journey. Most seats will have an outlet but some can be broken.

Booking at The Station

If you prefer you can buy your tickets at the stations. There should be a counter for purchasing tickets (biglietteria), keep in mind this can take a while even if the lines are short. There are ticket machines sprinkled throughout the stations, most are red- the blue ones are only for regional trains but you can also buy the regional tickets on the red machines. These have language selection and are somewhat easy to use but it’s worth noting that you can’t always pay with cash (euros) and that to pay with a card it must have a chip and a pin number (basically a debit card, not a credit card), this is not always the case but if it rejects your card this may be why.

If you choose to use the machines you will hear ‘Beware of pickpockets’ when you first start the process. Don’t be alarmed. While you’ve probably heard stories about pickpocketers all you need to do is be aware and alert of your surroundings. Just like any other major city in the world. If anyone offers to help you with the machines, without your asking for their help, say no. They are likely some sort of a scammer. If you do actually need help find someone who works at the station. They are easily identifiable with a shirt or vest that says Trenitalia on it. If you buy at the station you will need to validate your paper ticket. More information on that below.

Essential Tips for Train Travel in Italy

• Station Savvy: Ticket prices can vary between stations, so compare if you have flexibility.
• Platform Power: Platforms (Italian: “Binaro” or “bin.”)are usually displayed 10-15 minutes before departure, giving you enough time to find your platform and car. If you don’t see your destination city (they are listed by the last stop on the route which may not be yours) look for the train number- this is important as there may be more than one train going to the same destination.

• Car Number Chaos: Look for monitors displaying car numbers to find your designated train car. They are located along the platform and the numbers appear a few minutes before the train arrives. 
• Board Like a Boss: Find the correct boarding door to avoid climbing over fellow passengers. The row numbers are on the door or a nearby electronic screen, board the correct side and you won’t get side-eyed. 
• Take Your Time BUT We Gotta Go!– ready yourself to exit the train within the last 5 minutes of your journey, stops are often only a couple of minutes and no one will be checking to make sure you got off where you needed to.
• Pack Smart, Travel Happy: Pack light for easier maneuvering and luggage storage. While you will see large suitcases blocking the walkway, it’s frowned upon, don’t be that guy. 
• Restroom Roulette: Train restrooms vary in quality. Opt for the FrecciaRossa or Intercity ones if possible. Bring tissues, just in case! Always have some coins for the restroom at the station if you need it.
• Passeggiare (Take a Stroll): Get up and move around on long journeys, or grab a coffee at the cafe car.
• Train Times… Maybe: Trains can run late. If you miss a regional train, just use the same ticket for the next one. Don’t validate until you are about to board, you don’t want to miss a train that you already validated for. If you have an assigned seat go to the ticket counter for help rebooking to the next train. If you don’t have time to go to the ticket counter find the manager on board immediately, they can help and you don’t want to get caught without a valid ticket. You may have to pay a small fee for the last-minute change but if you get caught trying to just get away with it you will have to pay a hefty fine, and a record will be kept of your wrongdoing. Furthermore, if you can’t afford both the fine and the price of the ticket you would be kicked off at the next stop!

Golden Rule

Now the last tip for train travel in Italy, but certainly not least. Avoid booking the very last train of the day. While train travel is generally smooth, occasionally you may be the cause of your delay.  This gives you a buffer in case of unforeseen circumstances.  Imagine if that delicious dinner in Florence drags on a bit longer. You wouldn’t want to miss your train back to Pisa (not that this has ever happened to us…wink wink).  By booking the second-to-last train, you have peace of mind. Knowing you can still catch your connection even if your plans run a little late, is everything.

-XO, The Twins

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