How to travel around Italy cheaper. Trains of Italy. Taxis and scooters
Coming to Italy, tourists are often faced with the problem of choosing transport for the best sightseeing, so in this article I would like to talk about 10 methods of transportation, you just have to make a choice.
1. Urban transport
Buses are the most common means of public transport in most Italian cities. Usually a ticket costs about 1 euro. Urban transport covers most cities very well. But you should keep in mind that if it is a small town, the wait for the bus can be long.
2. Metro
Many Italian cities, with the exception of Rome, do not have a metro, and even Rome only has two lines (they are under construction). Compared to other European countries, Italy lags behind in the use of the metro. The main reason for this lag is the political and bureaucratic red tape that is so common in Italy, and in the case of Rome, the difficulties of digging a tunnel between ancient Roman architectural monuments.
3. Cars
A car is recommended in rural areas, because in large Italian cities there are terrible traffic jams in which idle time is a true nightmare. Petrol stations in Italy close for lunch and then again around 7pm and throughout the night. In the evening and at night it is difficult to withdraw cash and credit cards are accepted only during business hours. Although there are self-service stations which are a plus from all of the above.
4. Taxi
The most convenient way to get around the city is by taxi, but this method is not the fastest or most economical. In some cases, you will need to pay extra for luggage. There are private taxi services often found at the airport, but when using their services, make sure that the car has a special permit (checkers) that is placed on the roof. If this is not the case, then most likely the taxi is operating illegally and it is better to find another one.
5. Boat transport
Some cities, such as Rome, offer a boat as a means of transportation along the river. The operating scheme of boats is the same as that of buses or metro with its own, like a regular bus or metro, the boat floats along the river stopping at various points in the city. This type of transport is a great way to avoid traffic jams and see the city streets in a different way. If you go to Venice, don't miss the opportunity to ride a gondola, it will leave unforgettable memories in your memory.
6. Bicycle
You can rent a bicycle for an hour or a day, the advantage of this transport is that you can ride around the city without traffic jams, especially in central areas where there are traffic restrictions and narrow streets. Climate in Italy, as a rule, is moderately warm, especially in the south, so a bicycle will be very useful. Bike stations throughout Italy are very common and will be very easy to find.
7. Cars for rent
Car rental offices are, of course, located in all cities of Italy, including at airports, so I think it will not be difficult for a tourist to find them. The rental process is the same as in any other country. But you need to take into account two things, as a rule, most cars have a manual transmission, second, make sure that the car is in good working order.
8. Walks
Perhaps for traveling around Italian cities, the best choice would be to walk. All you need is a pair of sneakers and a good mood.
9. Excursions
Every major city offers city tours in open double-decker buses. There is even a restaurant-bus in Rome, by visiting which you can have a full meal and ride around the city in one go, enjoying its beauty at night.
10. Friends in Italy
If you have Italian friends, this is in my opinion the best way, you will spend time with people who are interesting to you, you will be taken to the best places in the city, this applies to restaurants and attractions, you will get an unforgettable experience, and this is guaranteed to be a great vacation.
Italy, from its northernmost to its southernmost point, is incredibly beautiful! Be it a large temperamental city or a small hearty village. Every corner of this beautiful country attracts with its exclusivity and unique charm. Traveling around Italy, I want to explore it up and down, discovering unsurpassed beauty and filling my heart with new impressions.
Fans of such trips know that the bulk of the trip budget is spent on paying for hotels and buying tickets. Booking remains our constant assistant in finding a hotel, because it often likes to surprise with prices:
We decided to devote this article to the second most expensive part of the budget of any trip, namely, the purchase of travel tickets for traveling around Italy.
Few people know, but you can travel all over Italy by spending only 10 euros!
This is not real, you say, but you would be wrong. After all, we know exactly what we are writing about! And we have no right to give bad advice to our readers! Let's look at how an independent holiday in Italy can be extra cheap. For clarity, below we present several possible options for traveling around Italy.
So, imagine the following situation: from Milan we need to get to Rome. There are quite a lot of options on how to do this:
- air travel saves time, but not money; You can check current ticket prices
- bus – travel time from 5 to 10 hours (the best low-cost airline in Italy and Europe FlixBus);
- The train is the most common form of ground transport among travelers.
We will focus on the last option. Buy a train ticket in Italy can be found on the official website of the national railway. We wrote in detail about TRENITALIA tariffs, so in this article we will not delve into the types of existing tickets for trains in Italy.
Let's go to the site trenitalia.com and let’s see how much a standard travel document costs for the destination we are interested in. To do this, first of all, you need to enter a request on the main page:
- points of departure and destination,
- expected date of travel,
- and also check the following boxes: tutti trenni(all trains) and solo andata(one way only).
After this, you need to press the big red CERCA (Search) button.
Train tickets Rome - Naples
Great offer from Rome to Salerno
Flights with numerous transfers, hitchhiking, couchsurfing, house sitting and eating from supermarkets are all cheap, but damn tiring. Most people just want to take a break from everyday affairs, and not struggle for every penny. These tips will help you save on travel, but at the same time have a great rest and get a lot of new experiences.
Transport
Railway
This is the most convenient, safe and economical way to travel around the country. Italy does not have a monopoly on passenger rail services, so you can compare prices and conditions between different providers, for example on the websites of Trenitalia and Italo.
On the Trenitalia website you can find discounts on hotels and attractions, special offers for families with children and couples. Both companies have sales and offer discounts on tickets. From Italo you can buy a train ticket from Rome to Venice or Venice to Milan for just 9.90 euros. There is no catch: these trains run on time the same as regular ones. You just have to adapt to the schedule - trains depart on certain days and times.
The price of a ticket for the same route may differ by 2–3 times. It depends primarily on the class of the train. Passenger (Regionale), fast passenger (Regionale veloce) and intercity (Intercity) trains are usually cheaper than branded high-speed trains (Frecciarossa, Frecciabianca, Frecciaargento), but they are also slower. If an extra hour on the road is not significant for you, but saving 15–20 euros - yes, feel free to choose a more attractively priced option.
The date of purchase also affects the cost of the ticket. The sooner you purchase it, the cheaper it will be.
If you bought a ticket at the station at a self-service terminal or at the ticket office, do not forget to validate it in special green machines located at the station or in the transition to the platforms. Remember that traveling with a non-validated ticket may result in a fine.
By buying a ticket online, you save time and money, since you have the opportunity to choose the cheapest fare in advance. In addition, such a ticket does not need to be validated.
Taxis and scooters
Don't try to hail a taxi in Italy by waving or giving a thumbs up. The maximum that awaits you is an ironic smile. You can take taxis (which, by the way, are white) at specially designated parking lots in squares, near popular attractions and shopping centers.
Thanks to the powerful union of taxi drivers, the cost of a trip via Uber will be much more expensive than using an official taxi. However, in Italy there is the MyTaxi application, through which you can call a car at regular prices.
There is also Scooterino, an Italian startup created by a 24-year-old native of Rome. The application, which works in Rome, Milan, Genoa and Florence, will help you get from point A to point B on a scooter. Scooterino functions similarly to BlaBlaCar, meaning it's more of a way to split the cost of a trip between driver and passenger, so the price will pleasantly surprise you. Weaving through traffic jams on a cute scooter, you will certainly feel like a hero from the movie “Roman Holiday”.
Bus, metro, tram
The cost of a standard ticket in Italy for one trip (Biglietto semplice) ranges from 1.2 to 2 euros. And it doesn’t matter whether you are going to drive one stop or are going to the other end of the city. Within 90–100 minutes you can transfer from bus to tram or metro using the same ticket. This is why composting is mandatory.
There are also 24-, 48- and 72-hour tickets and a weekly pass. If you plan to travel a lot by bus, metro or tram, it will be more profitable to purchase a pass. And thanks to the Moovit program, you can build travel routes taking into account public transport schedules. The application works in Milan, Rome and Naples.
You shouldn't ride like a hare. Conductors, of course, are not found on every route, but if it turns out that you are traveling without a ticket, you will have to pay a fine of 50 euros or more. If all ticket composting machines suddenly turn out to be inoperative, you must write the date and time on the ticket with a pen.
Automobile
Compare prices on different car rental aggregators, such as Auto Europe, Economy Car Rentals, Rentalcars. It often happens that it is cheaper to rent the same car from local Italian companies (Sicily by Car, Maggiore, Noleggiare) than from international ones (Hertz, Avis, Budget, National, Dollar, Europcar). However, you need to carefully read the rental conditions and reviews.
Hotels
Large chain hotels are quite expensive. A significant part of the price is the overpayment for the brand. Luckily, Italy has a large selection of family-run guesthouses, boutique hotels, B&Bs and apartment hotels with relatively affordable prices and friendly hosts.
A little tip: first look at the hotel price on Booking or another popular booking site, and then try to find the hotel's official website and compare prices. It often happens that on the hotel website they are lower. If you write to the hotel representatives directly by email and ask for a discount, then there is a high chance of getting it.
Many people recommend booking apartments and apartments, but this option has disadvantages, so you need to weigh the pros and cons. Please note that there are no additional room cleaning fees or property deposits (this amount may be placed on your credit card).
But for a long term (from four days), an apartment with a kitchen and washing machine is the best option. Italians themselves book apartments and apartments through. For longer rental periods (from 1 month) there are local Italian sites.
Excursions
Those who recommend saving on excursions and exploring everything on their own do not value their own time. Yes, you can and should take a walk, explore different historical areas, read guidebooks and articles to broaden your horizons. But even if you read dozens of articles before your trip, without the help of those who live in Italy, you will not be able to 100% get to know and experience the country.
Modern excursions have moved far from the standards of the last century, when guides loaded tourists with memorized history, a bunch of dates and meaningless names. Generations Y and Z need a completely different approach - live communication, emotions, an element of interactivity and games. It is important for them to receive impressions, not just information.
It’s more interesting to communicate with a guide as a friend who will share life hacks, show you secret attractions and romantic spots for selfie-kissing, and tell you where the pizza is tastier and the shopping is better. As a result, by going on at least one excursion in a modern format, you will save time and see much more than if you walked on your own.
Rail transport in Italy is organized by several transport companies, the largest of which are Trenitalia and Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori, better known as .italo. Trenitalia serves more than 80% of the transport market and has the largest route network.
Trains in Italy
The classification of trains running in Italy is quite extensive. Nowadays, competition among carriers is quite high and each company is ready to offer its own route map, a wide range of services along the way and updated train cars. Most trains have air conditioning, free Wi-Fi and a choice of meals to suit every requirement and budget.
High speed trains
Frecciarossa(“Red Arrow”) is a high-speed train that runs through the northern regions of Italy and the coasts of the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic seas. The service is carried out according to 4 classes. This type of train provides hot meals and free Wi-Fi. The Red Arrow is the fastest passenger train in Italy.
Frecciargento(“Silver Arrow”) is a high-speed train covering a wide network of cities on the Tyrrhenian coast and the north of the country. They are a little slower than Red Arrow.
Frecciabianca(“White Arrow”) is a high-speed train connecting the north of the country with the resorts of the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian coasts. This type of train serves shorter intercity routes.
Italo- a high-speed train connecting the largest cities in the country and owned by the private railway carrier Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori.
Regional trains
Regionale And Regionale Veloce— regional trains, analogues of electric trains. Tickets for such trains are much cheaper, since the trains make stops at each station along the route. The Regionale Veloce makes slightly fewer stops than the Regionale.
RegioExpress— regional trains operated by Trenord (Lombardy) and SAD (South Tyrol).
Long distance trains
InterCityNote- a fast regional train that runs exclusively at night. This type of train is in high demand due to the saving of time and money (tickets for the night train are cheaper than for the Strela).
InterCity- a fast regional train that carries passengers between major cities in Italy. Tickets for this type of train are cheaper, since their speed is half that of the Strel.
International squads
EuroCity runs between major European cities. The international train is convenient because it makes only short stops and travels only during the daytime. Travelers choose day trains to explore the country's natural beauty and cityscapes in a short period of time.
ÖBB Nightjet is an international night train connecting the largest cities in Italy with Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Hello is an international night train connecting the largest cities in Italy with Paris and Marseille.
Special trains
Railway ticket offices
This method is the most reliable and easiest. If you speak Italian or English, purchasing a ticket will not be difficult. Very often the cashier speaks only Italian, but the passenger can only speak English. In this case, you need to study the information on the departure board or on the carrier’s official website, write down the flight number, date, time of departure, ticket price and number of passengers on a piece of paper, and then hand it to the cashier. As a rule, this method of purchasing tickets works without problems.
You can also purchase tickets in bars, kiosks, tobacco shops if the railway ticket offices are already closed, but it is worth remembering that the return procedure for purchases outside of official sources is completely different and a commission may be charged for returning or exchanging tickets.
Tickets purchased at the box office must be validated. Composters are installed on the departure platform or in the terminals of the railway station. The compost stamp reflects the date and time. The absence of a stamp during control on the train entails a large fine.
How to buy a train ticket in Italy online
You can purchase tickets online in advance on the official websites of carriers. The Trenitalia service is available in Italian, English, German and French. In case of difficulties, you can always use online translators. It is not necessary to register on the website to purchase a ticket.
November 3rd, 2014 , 12:40 pm
I would like to give out invaluable advice (based on personal experience, of course, which may not coincide with yours) with a small request.
Let's not write that this is all nonsense. And in Italy it is better to rent a car.
This is a post about how to live without a car.
After all, thousands of Italians somehow get by, and nothing.
1. If speed is important to you, High-speed trains run between major cities in Italy - le frecce.
Tickets for them are sold on the trenitalia website, at the box office, and in machines at the station. High-speed trains are on average twice as expensive as regional and intercity trains, even at the cheapest ticket level. And business class in Frecciarossa costs as much as an airplane.
2. Speed is not so important, and are you satisfied with a regular train? If you buy train tickets online on the trenitalia website, Make sure that when entering data you click "tutti i treni" - "all trains".
The site constantly insists on “le frecce” - it seems like it was designed to sell high-speed trains. But they do not go in all directions, unlike regional (regionale) and intercity (itercity). So if the site tells you “no offers”, it’s possible that high-speed trains do not go to the city you need, and you have this option clicked.
3. If you have a transfer, the site will still be tricky- even in the combination “tutti i treni”. Only give out combinations with high-speed ones.
It is a fact that online information is less objective than in ticket machines at train stations. So if you want tickets at the best price, it is better to buy them at the box office or from a machine at the station. There are much more offers for selected destinations. I checked:)
4. If you need a transfer and you think that the trenitalia website (or the ticket sales machine) has selected the best route for you, go to the “route information” section. AND make sure there is enough "window" between your trains so that you have time to change from one train to another. This is important because....
5. ...in Italy trains are late. 10-20 minutes late is common. In my experience, more than half of the trains do not arrive on time. If you have less than 10 minutes for a transfer, there is a risk of “leaving the race.”
Somehow, the only thing that saved us in such a situation was that our next train was also late :)
5. Did you get to the station a couple of minutes early? This is not a reason to rejoice. Even if a ticket is purchased, to the station itself and boarding Allow at least 10-15 minutes - you will spend them to find your train.
In Milan, on Milano Centrale there is platform number 24, which is located quite far from the main ones. Well then. On the outskirts. Very far! To get to it, saw and saw.
And in Bologna the station is simply a miracle of the designers' thoughts. The station there is arranged in the shape of the letter P. Trains depart from the main platform, from the western platform and from the eastern platform, that is, from the head and legs of this letter Pe. Between them - step and step. The station is huge!
I can’t imagine how a person without experience can avoid getting confused and find his train! Which stands on the fourth path of the eastern sector.
It’s good if the destination is indicated on the board, as on the ticket. What if the ticket contains an intermediate station and not a final one?
6. Then oh Pay attention to the train number. The board may indicate anything, but not your city. But the train number will be the one on the ticket.
7. If the train number is not on the ticket(this happens with regional trains) and you can’t find your train, don’t be afraid to open a map of Italy in your phone. The departure time will not tell you anything - different trains leave the stations at the same time.
For example, I needed to go to Tortona, but the train number was not on the ticket - it was a regional route. I immediately found possible destinations for my train in Google Maps, one of them was just lit up on the departure board.
A fan of the program "What? Where? When?" I was rewarded with a large Lindt comfort tile.
7. Tickets, depending on the type of train, are available with or without specified seats. High-speed trains all have seats, they are more comfortable, but intercity trains - depending on your luck. These are ordinary trains, painted with graffiti, or more modern cars, even with sockets.
Important! If the ticket is without date and place (that is, regional), punch it in the composter on the platform. Otherwise you will be fined.
The same applies to the Malpensa-Milan Aeroexpress. There is a composter before going down the escalator.
I have brought this to automaticity and, as a last resort, I punch all the tickets, there is such a thing :)
8. When tickets “with seats” run out, in Italy they sell tickets without a seat. That is, you will ride standing. There are many such people on the train. This winter I traveled, sitting on a suitcase, from Monte Carlo - a great experience :) So it’s better to buy a ticket in advance.
9. Tickets on trains and commuter trains are almost always checked. Don't save money. If you don't have time to buy a ticket, you'll miss the train, take the next one.
10. When I buy tickets online, I show the ticket inspector on my phone screen e-ticket. It's enough.
11. If you are looking for tickets to a specific city, please note that the most convenient train may not necessarily arrive at the central station. Enable the option "tutte le stazioni" - all stations.
For example, we once found convenient tickets from Siena to Milano Lambrate - this is not the city center, but there is a metro and other transport there.
12. Taxi in Italy is a topic for a separate post.
Inside cities, it costs adequately (in Milan, for example, 15-25 Euros is my usual bill), but outside cities, traveling by taxi can cost a pretty penny. And we’re not talking about long trips, but about moving from suburban point A to point B, with seemingly very little between them.
For example, 80 Euro is our check in Tuscany, a short period (30 km) where there were no alternatives.
The fact is that when you get into a taxi in Italy, 12 Euros will already appear on the meter: for boarding, for a bag (yes, yes), for the second passenger. I am not kidding! And as icing on the cake they will throw 20 Euros at you for the fact that “I was coming to you from Siena.” That is, they will also calculate the path to your departure point from above. And you can defend your opinion as much as you like - in Italy this is an absolutely useless exercise. Even with knowledge of the language.
13. If it is possible for someone to call you a taxi, trust the Italians.
And don't try to do it yourself :)
For example, even I, with my Italian, did not immediately realize that the taxi service requires a tone confirmation that you will be waiting for the car.
That is: after a telephone conversation with the operator, the robot tells you the car number and the waiting time. And he asks you to dial a number (I don’t remember which one) as confirmation that you will be waiting for your order.
No number - no taxi.
Do you understand, right?
14. Buses.
Ahaha, well, I’ll say it right away: only where there is no train. Unfortunately, this happens very often. When a bus is the only way to get from city to city within a region. There are also minibuses. For example, we traveled around Tuscany by minibus - it was very convenient.
15. Tip number 1 on buses - When you get on the bus, immediately tell the driver where you are going.
The longer you are silent, the further you have to go.
When I was young and inexperienced in my travels around Italy, I wrote funny texts about walking on the motorwaygirls who don’t know how to tell the driver where they’re going.
It happens that the bus consists entirely of locals who travel with this driver every day - from work to work. He knows who should go where. And it’s in the order of things for him that you warn him where to drop you off. Don’t rely on the fact that “the next one seems to be mine” - he can pass by without even taxiing into this town.
16. When choosing a city where you would like to go for one day, make sure that you will return from it. And that you have enough time to walk around without fuss.
For example, you arrive in a city at lunchtime. And often the last bus leaves from it, for example, at 16.00. That's all.
While studying in Sicily, I had fun - I would come after lectures to the Taormina bus station and buy a ticket “for the next flight.” After a couple of situations when the last bus to Tarmina left an hour after arriving in city N, and I didn’t even have time to look at anything, I began to buy round-trip tickets, specifying the return time in advance. And choosing your destination based on this.
17. The schedule of intercity bus routes in Italy is very tricky.
It's this and that... There are several different schedules, depending on the season and day of the week.
Orario invernale - winter schedule.
Orario estivo - summer schedule.
There is also l’orario festivo - a schedule of weekends and holidays, which often includes August.
If I am wrong somewhere or understand it in my own way, I will be grateful if my Italian friends correct me.
18. Where to buy bus tickets?
In cities this is a bus station, usually near the train station. In small towns there is always a bar or tobacco shop (tabaccheria), which is responsible for selling bus tickets. There may be several of them. Don't be afraid to ask locals where you can buy tickets. On Sunday at In Italy everything is closed. So it is always better to buy bus tickets in advance.
Tickets the driver checks at the entrance- There is a composter there.
19. Who will help you sort out the buses?
The one who sells tickets. Fact: regarding the schedule, all mobile applications lie, so in principle I will not advise anything. Simply, when arriving in a foreign city, first of all, buy tickets back or check the departure time at the bus station/bar/tobacco shop. And the place of departure is also important.
20. Tickets purchased directly on the bus cost 5-10 times more.
Not all drivers care that you haven’t found where to buy a ticket.
Once we came across a driver who took pity and stopped us on the way near a bar. Where we were able to buy tickets for 2 euros, and not 10. A small thing, but nice.
I would like to sum it up with a phrase like “It’s not difficult! Go for it.”
But I’ll just write that over the past five years, having covered thousands of kilometers in Italy with transfers by buses and trains, I can still get stuck on some task.
So traveling without a car is not very difficult, but not entirely easy either :) But everything can be solved!
Do you agree?
In the comments we share our experiences, tips and stories!