What is the Best Site for Booking Train Tickets in Italy
ItaliaRail.com is the easiest and best site for booking Italy train tickets. It’s cheaper then Trenitalia.com if there are 2 or more passengers. It’s an online website that sells Trenitalia tickets in Euros, Pounds, and Dollars.
The train station in Rome. The board will show what track your train departs from. There’s a similar board in all large train stations.
ItaliaRail.com is a better, cheaper, more efficient online booking site than Trenitalia.com in many ways. ItaliaRail.com shows a full day’s trains in the search results (not just an hour or two like other train booking sites), can book up to 20 people at a time (Trenitalia only books up to 5 people), and highlights the cheapest trains for each route. When 1st class tickets are cheaper than 2nd class tickets as a free upgrade those options are shown too. Although both sites access the same information, ItaliaRail.com can be cheaper for 2 or more people traveling together because it can combine the last remaining tickets at a cheaper price level with tickets at a higher level within the same booking. Trenitalia can’t, so will ignore any remaining tickets at the cheaper price level if there aren’t enough tickets for all the passengers traveling.
If you’ve bought your tickets in advance you can go directly to your train. It’s very easy to find your train and you don’t have to worry about line ups to purchase tickets.
Seats between the major Italian cities do sell out so book train tickets online and in advance for routes between Rome, Florence, Milan, Venice, and Naples and the Amalfi Coast.
You can always try to buy train tickets at your train station of departure. There are ticket kiosks that accept credit cards and are fairly easy to use (though a little intimidating the first time as you’ll have a line of impatient Italians queuing behind you).
As a general rule, it’s always better to buy tickets at an online ticketing website within that country rather than a ticketing site for all of Europe. So buy Switzerland train tickets on a Swiss ticketing site, Germany train tickets on a German ticketing site, and France train tickets on a French ticketing site.
Tip: Train is the best way to get to Florence from Milan, Venice, and Rome, but to see the Tuscan countryside or stay at a Tuscan Agriturismo it’s best to rent a car in Florence.
If you don’t buy tickets in advance you’ll need to buy them at the train station using a ticket kiosk. It’s not hard to do once you get the hang of it but the first time is sort of intimidating. There can be a long line of people behind you, just take your time and don’t feel rushed.
Should I Buy Italy Train Tickets in Advance?
Trains can sell out on the most popular routes between Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, and Naples. If your hotel is already booked for your next destination it’s usually best to purchase train tickets online and in advance.
If you show up at a train station in Italy without a ticket you’ll often be approached by people wanting to help you purchase tickets. These are nearly always scammers looking to trick you or steal something from you. They aren’t dangerous but it is annoying. Only accept help from someone with a TrenItalia badge.
Once you’re onboard train travel is easy, relaxed, and the best way to get around Italy.
What is difference between Trenitalia and ItaliaRail?
Trenitalia is the primary train operator in Italy and is owned by the Italian government. ItaliaRail is a private agency that sells Trenitalia tickets. Both companies sell online tickets to the general public.
What is the difference between Italo and Trenitalia?
Italo is a private train company in Italy that operates high-speed trains on a limited number of high-traffic routes. Trenitalia is Italy’s national train company and operates almost all other trains throughout Italy.
FAQs
The easiest way to book train tickets in advance is by using either trainline.com or trenitalia.com, with both being valid for Italian train tickets.
What is the difference between ItaliaRail and Trenitalia? ›
ItaliaRail is an official partner of Trenitalia, the national railway of Italy. We are the largest foreign seller of train tickets in Italy. We have direct, real-time connectivity to Trenitalia's schedule and reservation system, allowing us to give you the best fares and most up-to-date availability.
How far in advance should I arrive for a train in Italy? ›
As a general rule, it's a good idea to arrive 20-30 minutes before your train's scheduled departure time so you can get familiar with the station, find the information monitors as well as find your platform without being in a rush.
Are train tickets cheaper if you book them in advance? ›
They are subject to availability, which means that the cheapest ones on the most popular trains will sell out fast. Just like flights, the earlier you book, the cheaper the train fares and the greater the value for money.
How to book train seats in Italy? ›
You can choose and buy your seat on board the train on the website, the Italo Treno app, ticket offices in the station or by calling Pronto Italo 06.07.
What is the best way to buy train tickets in Italy? ›
The best way to buy train tickets in Italy is using Trainline. Both our app and website offer convenience, real-time availability, and often, cost-effective ticket options. While you can purchase tickets at station counters, online booking via Trainline simplifies the process and ensures you get the tickets you want.
Do I need to book trains in Italy in advance? ›
We highly recommend that you book out as far in advance as possible, especially for popular and high-speed routes between major cities, such as Rome to Milan, Bologna to Milan, Naples to Rome, or Florence to Rome.
Is it better to buy train tickets online or at the station Italy? ›
For example, Pisa to Florence, Florence to Lucca or Siena, Milan to Como or Tirano, Venice to Trieste. There's no need to buy in advance and no cost advantage in doing so as the price is fixed, buying online or in an app just saves time at the ticket office.
Is it cheaper to buy Italian train tickets in advance? ›
There's no need to buy regional trains' tickets in advance. InterCity and high speed trains (both Frecce and Italo) are the only ones offering cheaper tickets if bought in advance. If you want to save some money, then buy them as soon as you can.
How far in advance are Italian train schedules released? ›
Train schedules are usually released 60-120 days before departure. If you are looking for a train schedule for a later date you can request to be informed when the route becomes available by completing the Find Train Tickets in Italy form above and submitting your email address.
IRCTC has been the most used website for train tickets booking.
What's the cheapest way to book train tickets? ›
You can wisely save the money on online train ticket booking. Here are some smart tips for booking tickets and saving money.
- Book Ticket in Advance. ...
- Split Your Booking. ...
- Look for Cashback Offers. ...
- Use IRCTC Payment Card. ...
- Avail Senior Citizen Discount Quota. ...
- Choose to Travel in Sleeper Class. ...
- Get Online Food at a Low Cost.
Advance reservation of berths and seats can be done 120 days in advance excluding the date of journey at the originating station. The advance reservation period at intermediate stations for any particular train would be reckoned with reference to the date on which booking starts at the train originating station.
Do you have to sit in your assigned seat on a train in Italy? ›
Some trains require seat reservations, and on other trains it's optional. If you're riding a train on which reservations are only recommended or completely optional and you don't have a reservation, you can sit in any available seat in the appropriate class you have booked.
Can you bring luggage on trains in Italy? ›
Traveling by train in Italy means always traveling with carry-on luggage. You'll carry on board everything you have with you. It's your responsibility to bring your bags on board and stow them properly, which is a great incentive to packing light. There's no fee to bring luggage on the train.
How to choose seats on Trenitalia? ›
If you want to choose your seat, please click on "Select" and the train seat map will appear. You can select a different coach if possible (subject to availability) or just choose an available seat by clicking on it. The "Cancel" button and the cross allow you to go back without confirming anything.
Is ItaliaRail cheaper than Trenitalia? ›
Italiarail can be cheaper than Trenitalia for 2 or more people travelling together as it is capable of combining (for example) the last remaining €19.90 ticket with a ticket at the next price level up, say €29.90.
What is the official train company in Italy? ›
Trenitalia is the primary train operator in Italy. A subsidiary of Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane, itself partly owned by the Italian government, the company and partly from a private investors group. It was established in 2000 following a European Union directive on the deregulation of rail transport.
Can you bring luggage on ItaliaRail? ›
There's no fee to bring luggage on the train, nor do you need a special ticket to carry luggage on board. The limit on bags each passenger may carry on board is technically three pieces of luggage - but the limit is rarely if ever enforced.
What is the ItaliaRail website? ›
ItaliaRail is the exclusive online provider of Italian train tickets and rail passes outside Italy, and are experts in European train travel. We have been in the hospitality business helping customers plan their train travel for 20 years.
