Traveling Italy by train

Italy has an extensive high-speed train network, which will get you where you want to go a lot faster compared to the regional train system. However, for the high-speed trains you'll need to book a seat reservation. We'll explain you more about reservations a bit further down on this page.

How long does it take to travel by train between Italy's top cities? Check out approximate times for both regional and high-speed Italian trains:

Route	High-speed train	Regional train
Rome to Florence	1hr 30min	3hr 30min
Rome to Milan	3hr	9hr
Rome to Venice	4hr	8hr
Florence to Milan	2hr	5hr
Florence to Venice	2hr	4hr
Pisa to Florence	-	1hr
Venice to Milan	-	2hr 30min

Map with main train connections in Italy

International connections from Italy

Italy train routes: international connections

France-Italy	Thello day train from Marseille/Nice to Milan, or Thello night train from Paris to Venice. Take the French SNCF regional train to Ventimiglia on the Italian border, followed by a direct InterCity train to Milan (4hr) or Genova (2hr), where you can connect to trains across Italy. View more train routes between France and Italy.
Switzerland-Italy	Travel by EuroCity (EC) train direct to Milan from the Swiss cities of Bern (3hr), Geneva (4hr) and Zurich (3hr 30min).
Austria-Italy	Arrive in Venice from Innsbruck (7hr 30min) on the ÖBB Nightjet night train. Take the EuroNight train from Vienna to Milan (14hr), Venice (12hr) or Rome (14hr). There is also a EuroCity day train between Innsbruck and Venice (5hr). Travel for free on MICOTRA trains on the route Udine – Villach.
Germany-Italy	Travel from Munich to Venice (9hr) on the ÖBB Nightjet night train. Travel by day on EuroCity between Munich and Venice.
Slovenia-Italy	Take a regional train from the Slovenian city of Jessenice to the Italian border town of Gorizia, and connect with another regional train to Trieste (4hr) or Venice (5hr).

Italy ferry routes: international connections

Spain-Italy	Travel by ferry from Barcelona in Spain to Civitavecchia and Porto Torres (Sardinia) in Italy with Grimaldi Lines. Get a 20% discount with Eurail Italy Pass.
Greece-Italy	Sail with Minoan Lines from Igoumenitsa or Patras in Greece to Ancona on Italy's Adriatic coast. Get free and discounted travel with a Eurail Italy Pass.

Reservations for trains in Italy

When traveling Italy by train, you may need to reserve seats on trains in advance. As you plan your trip, make a note of which train types you'll take. Use the table below to check whether a seat reservation is needed or not.

All the trains listed in the table below are included in the Eurail Italy Pass so if a reservation is required, you only need to pay the reservation fee.

Trenitalia regional trains	Do not require reservations.
InterCity trains	You only need to reserve a seat during the busy summer period (May to September) and on public holidays.
Le Frecce high-speed trains	Advance reservations required.
Night trains	Reservations required. Prices depend on the type of sleeping accommodation you choose.

You can make reservations for domestic and international high-speed trains and night trains:

Through the Reservation Service.
We offer e-tickets for Italian trains - book fast and easy with us!
At a ticket desk at a local train station.

Please note that the number of seats available for Eurail Pass holders is limited on the TGV high-speed train from Paris to Milan. Tickets for this route can't be bought at Italian train stations. To book this train, visit the RailEurope office near Milan Central Station (Milano Centrale).

Address: Via Vitruvio 1. 20124 Milano
Phone number: +39 0240 32 6435

We recommend that you make reservations for the high season (May to September) and European holidays as soon as possible. Make reservations up to 3 months in advance. To check availability for the train, contact a booking center or visit a European railway station.

In case a train is fully booked for pass holders you can:

Check our alternative routes.
Buy a full-fare ticket (saving you a travel day if this is the only train you take that day).

Find out more about reservations

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Rail pass options for Italy

Train types in Italy

A range of Italian trains will transport you across the whole of Italy and its islands, and to and from other European countries by day and night. The majority of the Italian network is operated by Trenitalia. Use the Eurail train timetable or Trenitalia timetable to check times for trains in Italy.

Regional trains in Italy

Italy's regional and InterCity trains operate frequent services across the whole of Italy, train routes even including the islands of Sardinia and Sicily. It’s on these trains that you’ll meet Italians going about their daily lives.

Trenord regionale

Covers the central northern regional of Lombardy (Lombardia), which borders Switzerland.
Trains between Milan and Malpensa airport are not included in your Pass.

InterCity

Connects key cities like Rome, Milan, Venice and Florence. They are relatively fast and make fewer stops than regional trains.

Leonardo Express

An airport express train that runs between Rome and Fiumicino Airport. This train has 1st class seats only, so to make use of it you need to travel with a 1st class Eurail Pass. 2nd class Pass holders need to buy a regular ticket.

On the Eurail timetable InterCity trains are listed as "IC", and Trenitalia regional trains as "R". Trenord regional trains are only shown on the Trenitalia timetable and not on the Eurail timetable. They are named "Regionale". Regional trains do not require seat reservations. Reservations are however mandatory for InterCity trains during high season (May - September) and public holidays.

High-speed trains in Italy

Le Frecce trains (formerly known as Eurostar Italia) are Trenitalia’s modern and comfortable high-speed trains that get you to all the popular Italian cities. All trains have: air-conditioning, large luggage racks, power sockets for electronic devices, plus refreshments and usually a restaurant car.

Trenitalia operates 3 Le Frecce (Eurostar Italia) high-speed trains:

Frecciarossa	Connects the main Italian cities from north to south.
Frecciargento	Connects Rome to the main cities in the northeast and south of Italy.
Frecciabianca	Connects Turin and Milan to Italian cities in the northeast of Italy

On the Eurail timetable shows Frecciarossa trains as "FR", Frecciargento as "FA" and Frecciabianca as "FB". The Trenitalia timetable lists the specific Italian name, e.g. "Frecciarossa". These trains always require a seat reservation.

Night trains in and between Italy

International night trains:

Night trains connect Italy with Austria, Germany and Spain, saving you travel time and money. These night trains operate to and from Italy:

ÖBB Nightjet	Rome – Florence – Salzburg – Munich Rome - Florence - Bologna - Vienna Livorno - Pisa - Florence - Bologna - Vienna Milan - Verona - Vienna Milan - Verona - Salzburg - Munich Venice - Udine - Salzburg - Vienna Venice - Udine - Salzburg - Munich
Thello night train	Paris – Milan – Verona – Venice

Domestic night trains:

Travel between the north and south of Italy by night, saving you precious travel time while you sleep. There is a domestic night train operating in Italy

InterCity Notte

Milan – Genova – Pisa – Livorno – Salerno – Catania (Sicily).
This journey is unique. The train is transported by boat across the Strait of Messina.

ÖBB Nightjet appears as "EN" in the timetable. InterCity Notte appears on the Eurail timetable as "ICN". On the Trenitalia timetable it is simply listed as "InterCityNotte". You are required to book sleeping accommodation in advance.

Scenic train routes in Italy

There are 2 scenic train routes that cross into Italy:

Bernina Express	Chur – Lugano (Switzerland) via Tirano (Italy
Centovalli Railway	Locarno (Switzerland) – Domodossola (Italy)

Pass benefits in Italy

Ferry, Italy

Ferry travel

Free and discounted ferry travel is an extra benefit of the Eurail Italy Pass. Get free and discounted ferry travel from mainland Italy to:

Sardinia and Sicily (Italy)
Spain
Greece

Bus travel

Eurail Pass holders also travel for free on this international bus route:

Venice (Venezia) – Villach – Klagenfurt in Austria

See all pass benefits for Italy

More about traveling Italy by train

Train station of Milan, Italy

Quick facts

Capital: Rome
Population: 60 million
Language: Italian
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Dialing code: +39

Italian hub stations

Italy's 2 main hub stations are Rome's: Roma Termini and Milan's: Milano Centrale. From these train stations it's possible to connect to trains to most of Italy's main cities.

Station facilities

Stations in Italy usually have excellent facilities, often including:

Luggage lockers
Foreign exchange desks
Restaurants and cafés
Tourist information offices
ATM cash machines
Elevators and escalators
Access for disabled passengers

Italian cities on timetables

On Italian train timetables and at train stations you'll usually find the local spelling of Italian cities and stations.

Here is the local spelling of some popular Italian cities:

Florence = Firenze
Genoa = Genova
Milan = Milano
Naples = Napoli
Padua = Padova
Pompeii = Pompei
Rome = Roma
Sicily (island) = Sicilia
Turin = Torino
Venice = Venezia

Places to visit in Italy

Dolomites mountains

For the adventurers

Looking for more of a challenge? The Via Ferrata (iron ways) are the steel ladders and fixed cables in the Dolomite mountains (Dolomiti) that make climbing a safe experience for both beginning and advanced climbers. Spread throughout the Dolomites, these climbs offer spectacular views and stimulating challenges. There are many routes and difficulty levels to choose from, so the daredevil inside you is likely to be satisfied. One beautiful route for beginners is accessible by Calalzo train station (about 3 hours from Venice).

From station Calalzo, take a local bus to Santo Stefano di Cadore (about 20 minutes). Expeditions through the Via Ferrata in that region are offered at most difficulty levels.

Statue of David in Piazza della Signoria, Florence

Get close to genius in Florence

Florence offers art lovers the chance to stand in the presence of greatness. Almost all of Italy’s world-famous art pieces are on display there. Visit Michelangelo’s David at the Galleria dell'Accademia di Bella Arti. Next, take in the Uffizi Gallery and especially The Birth of Venus, by Botticelli. When you’re done, enjoy the culinary delights of this world-famous city. Whether you’re an art lover, a history buff or just a curious adventurer, Florence offers a celebration for the eye, and for the palate.

From Florence station Firenze SMN, Michelangelo’s David is only a 15-minute walk away.

Cinque Terre, Italy

Hike and climb in paradise

The Cinque Terre (five lands) includes the five picturesque fishing villages Riomaggiore, Manarola, Monterosso, Vernazza and Corniglia, all situated along the northwest coast of Italy. Nature lovers can hike along the cliff-side trails that connect the villages in a single day, but with the breathtaking scenery, you may want to stay longer.

From Stazione Riomaggiore, you can be in the Cinque Terre National Park in 15 minutes by foot, or even faster with a bus.

Shopping in Milan

Modern magical Milan

Milan is a bustling center of high finance and higher fashion. Skyscrapers blend with historical buildings, and give the city a modern flair combined with an old-world feel. Known for its fabulous nightlife and high-energy pace, Milan is a modern mecca for the young and the young-at-heart. Read about traveling around Italy by train.

The world-famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping center is a 20-minute walk from Porta Venezia train station. But take a tram to save energy for all the shopping!

Trevi fountain, Rome

Rome: a royal adventure

Rome, known as the eternal city, offers a feast for the eyes and a festival for the soul. Drop a coin into the famous Trevi fountain, and take in the historical architecture and the unique beauty of this vibrant, ancient metropolis.

The Trevi fountain is a 20-minute walk from Roma Termini train station. And there’s plenty to see on the way.

Carnaval in Venice

Venice: sailing through the centuries

Venice can feel like the décor of your own fairy tale. Tour the breathtaking cathedrals and spectacular museums that make Venice a truly unique destination. Get lost in the winding streets that hide mystery behind every corner. Or discover Venice as it was meant to be seen – from a gondola. Either way, you’ll find mystery and passion wherever you look.

Vaporetti (city ferries) are the main mode of public transport in Venice. They stop right outside Venice’s Santa Lucia station (Stazione Venezia Santa Lucia).

Events in Italy

Pavia Barocca

Dates for 2020 TBA

Pavia Barocca is an international series of early music produced by Ghislierimusica in partnership with several public and private institutions; its artistic projects are developed in collaboration with european early music organizations (Ambronay, Oude Muziek Utrecht, etc.). It has an internationally renowned ensemble in residence, Ghislieri Choir & Consort, and supports emerging ensembles through "eeemerging", a “EU large scale cooperation project”.

Find more information here

Italy by Train