To Bella Italia!: Italy by train – great guide

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Italy has a very good rail network: Express trains running between major cities reduce travel times to a bearable level. Smaller towns can be reached by regional trains. Traveling by train to your (summer) resort in Italy is easy. Or better. Take a train ride around the country.

Which direct trains are there from Switzerland?

There are several direct train connections from Switzerland to Italy. (Only the main stops are indicated).

• Zurich – Zug – Como – Milan. Duration: 3:17 hours.
• Basel – Bern – Milan. Duration: 4:12 hours
• Basel – Lucerne – Milan. Duration: 4:47 hours
• Geneva – Lausanne – Milan. Duration: 4:01 hours
• Zurich – Zug – Milan – Genoa. Duration: 5:19 hours
• Zurich – Milan – Parma – Modena – Bologna. Duration: 5:57 hours
• Zurich – Milan – Verona – Venice. Duration: 6:09 hours
• Geneva – Lausanne – Milan – Verona – Venice. Duration: 7:03 hours

How good is the rail network in Italy?

The rail network in Italy is very good. A total of approximately 17,000 kilometers of rails run through «Bella Italia». Express trains run several times an hour, mainly between major cities of Italy (Torino, Milan, Florence, Rome, Naples, Palermo, Venice, Bologna, Bari).

The most important transfer station from Switzerland is Milan, where you can reach all major cities by express trains. For example, you can travel from Switzerland to Rome or Naples with one change.

What types of trains are there?

Finally, there are three types of trains in Italy, with some subcategories: regional trains serving small stations, intercity trains between major cities, and express trains (Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, Frecciabianca, Italo). The latter races across the country at speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour and connects key hubs. It is the most efficient but also the most expensive way to get around Italy. If you have a little more time and need to be mindful of your budget, Intercity is the best choice.

Do I need to book seats in advance?

Unlike Switzerland, you must reserve a seat on express trains, intercity trains and international lines. If you buy tickets online or at the box office, the seat is included in the price. For example, if you use a rail card such as Interrail, you must reserve and pay for your seat separately.

Reservation is not required on regional trains.

When should you buy the tickets?

When you need to buy the train ticket depends not only on the planning, but also on the train choice. Regional trains have fixed prices and no reservation is required. Therefore, these tickets can be purchased a short time before the trip.

Express train prices vary according to occupancy and time. The earlier you buy a ticket, the cheaper it will be. In addition, there are several special offers you can choose from when purchasing on time. Train connections come into effect 120 days before the date. In addition, trains can fill up quickly during popular times of the day and on public holidays. You should book early at these times.

It is recommended to purchase tickets online via the Trenitalia website or app – waiting times at the ticket office can be long.

Interrail or single ticket?

The Interrail ticket is very popular for train travel and is available in different models – either for individual days in a period or for consecutive days.

For Italy, the five-day pass in one month costs 186 euros (from 28 years old) or 161 euros (young people). Sounds cheap at first. However, this flat rate may include booking costs for express trains (approximately 10 Euros per trip).

Our experience: If you plan ahead and buy your express train ticket a few weeks before your trip, you will usually travel cheaper than an Interrail ticket. Interrail ticket is a good option for those who want to travel spontaneously. So: research and compare!

Source : Blick