TRAIN TRAVEL TIPS FOR ITALY - A BEGINNER’S GUIDE
One of the most frequently asked questions I get about our trips to Italy are about how to navigate the trains. While I’m not a train expert, I do have a lot of practical tips that we learned over two trips visiting over ten cities in Italy by train.
The best advice I have is that although it seems overwhelming and very confusing, once you are in Italy at the train station, it will all make sense. So, take a deep breath. You’ve got this!!
Milano Centrale Train Station
BEFORE YOUR TRIP
It’s entirely possible to just buy tickets as you go. We did this for little short hops so we weren't tied into traveling at a certain time. Although we felt better pre-booking the long distance trains and the ones that we thought may be super crowded in the summer to ensure we had a reserved seat. The earlier you book, the cheaper the price of the ticket. You’ll also see that booking non-refundable tickets is also cheaper, but I like to purchase a flex ticket just in case. Oftentimes it’s not that much more and I just feel less stressed.
While there are several train apps/websites that you can book your Italy train trip on, I always recommend booking directly. If you want to search on an aggregate third party site that will show you all the prices, I like Trainline or Omio. Once you find the train you want, then proceed to the train company's website and book directly with them.
There are two train companies in Italy: Italo and Trenitalia.
Trenitalia is state-run. There are different types of trains to be on the lookout for:
Regionale (REG) - (slower, can buy same day)
Medium-speed Regionale (RV)
Fast Inter-city (IC)
Frecciarossa (high speed train)
Italo is a private run train company and runs the fast trains on major routes (like Rome to Venice). We chose Italo for the longest train rides.
Search Tips:
You’ll need to use the Italian names of each city in order to book. For example, instead of Milan, you’ll search for Milano. Other common city names are:
Firenze instead of Florence
Roma instead of Rome
Venezia instead of Venice
Napoli instead of Naples
What train station do I choose?
As you’ll find if you’ve tried searching for train routes, you will have more than one choice on which train station you want to arrive at or depart from. A good rule of thumb is that you’ll almost always choose the station that says “centrale” but I always double check on google maps for the station location before I book. Here are the ones you most likely travel through:
Rome - Roma Termini
Venice - Venezia St. Lucia
Florence - Firenze Santa Maria Novella
Milan - Milano Centrale
Naples - Napoli Centrale
AT THE TRAIN STATION
There is no need to arrive at the train station two hours early. There is nowhere to sit and the train platform number doesn’t appear on the display until 20 minutes before departure. However, we do like to arrive 30-45 minutes early just to get the lay of the land, use the bathroom, grab food to eat on the train, etc.
You can purchase your train ticket online or at the train station. Many larger train stations have offices/ticket windows and ticket kiosks that are well staffed with English speakers. If you are at a smaller train station, look for ticket kiosks or inquire inside the newspaper/tobacco shop.
Validate your paper ticket in the machine like this found on most platforms
If you purchase your ticket at the train station, make sure that you validate it (stick it inside the green machine on the platform) before getting on the train. The rule of thumb is if your ticket includes a seat reservation, you do not need to validate it. The validation will stamp the date and time on your ticket, this prevents people from riding for free or riding multiple times on one ticket. If you are asked for your ticket on board and you have not validated it, you can be fined heavily. They do not care if you’re a tourist and don't know.
How to find your train platform: When you look at the departures board you are only looking for the DEPARTURE TIME and the TRAIN NUMBER. DO NOT look at the destination. The train may have 9 stops and only the final destination is listed. Remember, the platform number will not appear until about 20 minutes before departure.
Look for: Train Number and Departure Time to find platform number
There can be a lot of stairs in train stations, especially in smaller train stations. Make sure you can carry your luggage up and down the stairs, onto the train, lift up to put above the seat, etc. Yes, there are some elevators and even escalators, but stairs may be your only option at some stations, and you want to be able to manage your own luggage.
Make sure you can carry your luggage up and down platform stairs
BOARDING THE TRAIN
As soon as the platform number pops up on the display, you want to start heading quickly to the platform.
Your ticket will have the train car (coach) and seat number on it. Try to enter on the correct coach. If you’re running late, enter the train on any coach and then make your way to your reserved coach. Double check your coach so you don’t end up sitting in someone else's seat.
You have a short time to board so be ready to hop on. If the doors aren’t open, you can press the button on the side to open the doors (from the inside or the outside)
There are luggage storage racks at the end of each coach, above your seat and on the floor in between some seats. Most carryon bags will fit on the shelf above the seat. For safety reasons, do not leave your backpack on the luggage racks.
There may be NO luggage storage on regional trains. This is another reason to travel with a carryon bag.
There was no luggage storage on our Pisa to Florence train, so we just put it in the aisle in front of us.
You won’t have to show your ticket until you’re on the train and it’s moving. If you purchased your ticket online, I recommend taking a screenshot in case you don’t have service/Wi-Fi on the train. This happened to us on the train from Milan to Cinque Terre.
You can find a cafe cart on most long-distance trains
GETTING OFF THE TRAIN
You have minutes to get off of a train, so you want to be at the door when the train stops. As the train starts slowing down you may notice people start getting up and getting their stuff together. Follow their lead. If you wait until the train stops you may not have time to get off and you’ll be fighting the people trying to get on. Trust me on this one. Especially if you’re traveling in the summertime.
Always keep track of your stuff. Boarding and disembarking is primetime for thieves.
Monitors on board will show route and upcoming stops
GOOD TO KNOW
Download the train apps (Trenitalia and Italo) before your trip so that you can access tickets, routes and receive notifications about your trains. We found that the Platform number showed up on the app before it showed up on the display board. This gave us a head start to the platform before the hordes of people. You must create an account and log in BEFORE you book in order for your trip information to be stored.
Regional trains won’t have reserved seats. Fast trains will. I prefer to pay to choose my seat (rather than having it assigned) when possible.
There is not much difference between Second Class and First Class in comfort or price. So, if you’re on a budget, second class is just fine. We like to pay a little extra for First Class on the longest train rides, like Rome to Venice for a little extra room and it comes with drinks and snacks.
We were served drinks and snacks on our first-class ride to Venice on Italo
Safety: Just like riding public transportation anywhere else, thieves and pickpockets operate on trains in Italy. Make sure you keep your purse and backpack with you, never leave your phone on the table in front of you and if your suitcase can fit on the shelf above your seat, that will be the safest place for it. Be extra cautious as you are boarding and getting off, try not to have your phone in your hand during this time.
Don’t let anyone help you with your luggage. There are no official porters at train stations. They pose as porters, then demand money.
It’s possible that you get to your seat, and someone is sitting in it (this happened to us). Be polite and firm and ask them to move.
Train strikes (scioperi) are always announced in advance - check your train websites for more information before your trip so you can have a Plan B in advance. If you have a reserved-seat ticket, they are usually accepted on other similar trains running that day (without a seat assignment of course).
Carry euros to use the bathrooms. There are bathrooms in all train stations, but most (especially in smaller stations) are pay bathrooms and some have attendants that make sure and keep it clean.
Happy Travels!