How to Take a Train in Italy

I take trains in Italy often, and I get lots of questions about it. So, I decided to create this guide to share practical tips and my personal preferences for train travel in Italy.

First, let me admit—I love taking the train. If I could take one back to the U.S., I would! I’ve never been fond of long car rides, and air travel has become frustrating for everyone. Italian trains, on the other hand, are fantastic! They usually run on time, the website and app for buying tickets work seamlessly, and they can take you almost anywhere in Italy.

Why Choose the Train?

Time Efficiency: Some people fly from Rome to places like Puglia or Venice, but when you factor in getting to and from airports, the train is often faster—or at least the same amount of time.

Scenic Views: The countryside is beautiful, and a train ride is the perfect way to see it.

Relaxation: Autostrada traffic can be stressful with slow trucks and speeding cars. The train lets you sit back and relax.

How to Buy a Train Ticket

You can purchase tickets directly from the Trenitalia website. I recommend creating an account to track your purchases and access discounts.

1. Searching for Your Trip: Enter the city names in Italian (e.g., Firenze, not Florence). Then select your departure date, time, and number of passengers. 

Tip: Major cities often have multiple stations; the one labeled “Centro” is usually the main station.

1. Choosing Your Train: The search results will list various trains. Pay attention to travel times and transfers (e.g., the Rome-Florence route can take 1.5 to 5 hours). Faster trains cost more, but I suggest choosing the quickest option. Here are the main types:

• Frecciarossa: Fastest and newest, connecting major cities.
• Intercity: Slower than Frecciarossa but often direct.
• Regionale Veloce (RV): Regional trains with more stops.
• Regionale (R): The slowest trains, serving smaller towns.

Tip: Use filters to sort by train type.

1. Selecting Ticket Type: Each train has a ‘starting from’ price in red. When you pull down the menu under the price you now have a choice of which class you would like to ride in, and which type of ticket. Depending how far in advance you buy your ticket (the further in advance the better the prices) you will be offered 3-4 levels of pricing:

• Base: Highest flexibility for changes and cancellations.
• Economy: Slightly cheaper but with a penalty for changes.
• Super Economy: Cheapest but no changes allowed.
• Senior/Young: Special rates for those under 30 or over 60 (when available).

Tip: There are many other types of discounts available for instance round trip on the same day (for a day trip); traveling with a companion; babies for free; etc.

1. Class of Travel: This really only matters on the Frecciarossa trains, since the local trains are usually one class.

• Standard: Basic Economy. It’s usually the most crowded car, but perfectly fine.
• Premium: Not really worth the upgrade from Standard, since it only gets you a free coffee and packet of cookies
• Business: This is what is sounds like: business class. There are fewer seats, the cars are less crowded and it’s more comfortable. Also there is complimentary coffee and snacks.
• Business Area Silenzio: It’s everything described in Business, but no talking in this car. It’s heaven.
• Executive: This class is only available on selected high speed trains. It is the most expensive class, costing up to 3 times as much as the basic ticket. But it’s definitely first class: There are only 8 seats in the entire car, and they are huge leather loungers that recline. There is also a full meal service with a menu. I’m including a video of me taking this class below. Personally, if it’s available, I choose it.

Tip: Once you choose the class of ticket, make sure you click the small button that says ‘choose seats’ on the lower left, before hitting ‘continue.’ If you don’t, then the seat will be assigned automatically. I always choose a window seat with no one sitting next to me if possible.

1. Payment & Tickets: After purchasing, you’ll receive an email with your ticket. You can print it or save the barcode to your Apple Wallet for access to the train platforms and verification on board.

NOTE: The above instructions are for buying a ticket through the website. I would also highly suggest you download the Trenitalia app. This will come in handy if you have to make any changes while traveling, or buy last minute tickets.

Navigating the Train Station

Train Track: Your ticket includes a four-digit train number. Match this number on the departure board rather than just the destination, as multiple trains can head to the same place.

Boarding: Your ticket shows the carriage (carrozza) and seat number. Most trains have 10-12 cars, each clearly labeled.

Regional Trains: Regional trains require digital check in before boarding.

My Personal Tips for Train Travel in Italy:

• Pack Light: Avoid large luggage—Italian trains don’t have much space for it. Trust me, dragging oversized bags onto trains and through narrow aisles is a hassle.
• Food: For long trips, pack a meal. While fast trains have a bar car, the food isn’t great. I recommend picking up a panino at the station—I made a video about my favorite food court in the Rome station, and there is also Mercato Centrale
• Entertainment: Don’t rely on train Wi-Fi; it’s spotty at best. Download shows or movies in advance. Most fast trains have outlets to charge devices.
• Station Safety: Like in many places, train stations can attract pickpockets. Keep an eye on your belongings, and secure wallets and phones in zipped bags kept close to your body.
• Car Rentals: If you’re exploring the countryside, consider taking a train to the nearest city and renting a car there. It’s less chaotic than renting at Rome’s airport, and you avoid driving while jet-lagged.
• Strikes: Strikes sometimes happen, but are usually announced way in advance. They often happen on Fridays, so check ahead by Googling potential strike dates.