Transportation in Italy: Getting Around the Country

Long Distance Travel Options

Although Italy packs a lot into a relatively small size, the distances you might be trying to cover can add up and the terrain can affect the route. Instead of going from Milan to Sicily to Rome on your trip, I suggest you stick with a specific region or area to avoid wasting too much time on the commute.

If you need to get between cities or between regions, these are the best travel options:

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By Train

Train is without a doubt my preferred way to travel in Italy. Generally, towns and cities are well-connected, trains are reliable (unless there is a pre-announced strike), and they're the most comfortable option for longer trips.

All major cities in Italy have at least one train station, some having multiple. While you might not always be able to buy a direct train ticket between your destinations, you can usually get where you want to go with minimal transfers, if your destinations are two cities.

Train travel becomes more difficult when trying to travel between towns. Unless located near a big city, many small towns don't have train stations or aren't regular stops on routes. Usually on the regional trains make stops there, with the high speed trains buzzing right by.

The Dolomites and Southern Italy in particular aren't very well-connected by train compared to the rest of the country.

To plan your transportation in Italy by train, I recommend the app Trainline. This app allows you to see all train schedules and routes between two destinations. If you're traveling with a dog that is too big for a carrier, you'll need to skip the app and book directly with the train operator in order to add a pet to your booking. We've never had any issue traveling in Italy with our dog and cat on public transport but often we get asked to show their ticket on a train.

The main train operator in Italy is Trenitalia and is run by the Italian government. Many regional trains, like Frecciarossa, run under this umbrella company.

Other options are Intercity trains, Italo trains, and a few others that are only regional or international.

From my personal experience, all the train operators in Italy are similar. Italo is known as being the nicest train line but I don't always think that the high price is worth it. If you're planning on traveling a lot in Italy, I'd look into rail passes. There are a variety of different ones to choose from based on your travel plan so you might find one that'll save you a lot of money.

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By Bus

I'll discuss more about bus travel below in the short-distance section as buses in Italy are really great when traveling between smaller towns or within cities, rather than covering long distances.

If you're looking to travel from one city to another or between regions, likely your only option for bus travel is with Flixbus. You can plan your route and buy tickets on their website or app.

Flixbus is a large international bus company that has numerous routes all throughout Europe. It's typically really cost-effective and more affordable than train travel. Depending on your destination, it might be the same or a little faster than a train but when covering large distances, it's usually slower, especially if there are high speed trains to compete with.

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By Plane

Depending on how much distance you're trying to cover, traveling by plane might be the best option. If the timing is comparable though, I always choose trains over planes.

When traveling by plane, you need to account for the time getting to the airport, since usually, unlike a train station, they aren't in the city center, and the time it takes to go through security. Unless you're traveling carry-on, you'll also need to pay for your baggage, whereas on a train, bags are included.

I recommend traveling in Italy by plane when the time really makes a difference. For example, from my home base in Trieste, I chose to fly to Sardinia and to Puglia but went with the train to Bologna and Rome.

Note that just like in other European countries, there are a lot of budget airlines in Italy so it's more than possible to find super affordable flights. Just keep in mind that the cheapest ticket prices often don't include anything but a personal item or small carry-on.

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By Private Car

Another option to travel in Italy is by car, either your own or a rental car. Generally, the highways and roads are in good condition and driving is relatively stress-free here...until you get to a city and need to find parking.

While the highways are ample, most city streets are incredibly narrow and lack a lot of parking options. This can add a lot of stress to your trip, especially if this is your first time driving in Italy.

A big perk for renting a car and driving yourself is that you'll have absolute freedom over your route and when you go. It's also the best way to explore places like Tuscany or the Dolomites where trains are far and few between.

If your plan in Italy is to explore the major cities though, I recommend sticking to public transport but if you want to get off-the-beaten-path, you'll like having a car.

You'll need to double check based on your nationality and where you have your driver's license from but most likely you'll need an international driving permit in order to rent a car. Car rental companies are found at all airports and within most cities and even some towns.

If you decide to rent a car, keep a close eye on the speed limit when driving. It often changes quickly and while I haven't seen any speed traps like I see in the US, they do have permanent speed detectors set up and will mail you your speeding ticket later. The good thing is Google Maps has these speed detectors on their maps and warn you when you're getting to one.

Keep in mind that there are a lot of toll roads in Italy. Most take card but some don't so it's best to keep some change on you when driving in Italy.

Note that it's possible to book one-way rental cars but the price tends to be much more expensive than if you were to pick-up and drop-off the car in the same location. Also, since manual cars are more common here, it's often more expensive to rent an automatic one.

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By Ferry Services

Italy has its fair share of islands and traveling by ferry is one of the best ways to explore them. If you're planning to visit Sicily or Sardinia especially and have some time to spare, you'll find ferry ports all along the coast.

Ferryhopper and Omio are helpful websites to plan and book ferry travel in Italy.

Since so much of Italy is on the coast, it's even possible to travel from town to town by ferry, not just big crossings. I'll cover more information on that in the section below.

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Travel Options for Short Distances

If you're traveling within a city, region, or between two close towns, the transportation options in Italy slightly change.

Please note that this is based on my personal experience. Each region might slightly differ from what I'm outlining below.

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By Metro

Most major Italian cities have metro systems. The metro typically connects to the main train stations but also have their own metro stations scattered throughout the city. Not all cities have a metro but these do:

• Rome
• Milan
• Naples
• Catania
• Turin
• Genoa
• Bari
• Palermo

I typically choose the metro over a bus when in big cities to avoid traffic but know that most likely the metro will run underground so you'll miss the views along the ride.

Google Maps does a great job showing metro stops, lines, and timelines to help you plan your trip. Just navigate to public transport after putting in your starting and ending point. Be sure to note the different icons between the metro and bus as on a quick glance they can look similar.

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By Bus

All big cities and small cities have their own bus system. Small towns also have bus routes but those are usually to connect the towns, more so than to circumnavigate one.

Google Maps also works well to show bus routes. You'll use it in the same way as you would to look at metro lines.

The only tricky thing about buses in Italy is that each region has their own ticketing system. In Friuli-Venezia Giulia, where I live, we have an app where you can add money to your account and purchase tickets. You can also buy tickets from most small kiosks or tobacco shops. You cannot buy a ticket from the driver and also have to remember to validate the ticket onboard.

In other regions, I've been able to buy tickets from the bus driver or by tapping my phone onboard.

If you're planning to travel by bus a lot in one day, it might be worth asking about the different ticket options. Some regions, like where I live, offer a variety of full-day or half-day tickets which are really affordable if you plan to hop on, hop off the bus a few times. A regular ticket usually lasts 1 hour from the time of validation.

It really depends on the region so it's best to ask either your hotel or a local when you arrive how the system works where you are.

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By Ferry

Believe it or not you can use ferry services like buses here. The only way to get around the islands of Venice is by ferry, unless you hire a private boat or take a tour.

In Trieste, there's always a ferry that runs to and from Muggia and in the summer months, we can also take the ferry up the coast and even across the Gulf of Trieste to Grado.

Ferry is also the easiest way to get from Naples to islands like Procida, Ischia, and Capri.

On all the major lakes in Italy, like Lake Como and Lake Garda, you can get from town to town typically much faster by taking a ferry instead of driving.

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By Car or Taxi

The next option to cover short distances in Italy is by rental car or hiring a taxi. I only recommend this when going from one small town to another. Because of parking, this isn't the most efficient way to get around a big city.

Uber is also not common in Italy and doesn't exist in the entire country. Each city has their own car app that works best but in general, regular taxis are still more common here.

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By Bike, Scooter, or On Foot

Pretty much everywhere in Italy is pedestrian-friendly. In most cities and towns, the old town is pedestrian-only, making walking the best way to get around. When it's possible, I suggest walking to be able to fully enjoy your surroundings. You're also likely to stumble upon more things when you explore slowly.

Most places in Italy are also bike-friendly. Note that it's nothing like Germany or the Netherlands but often you can safely bike around. Many Italian cities now have bike sharing and scooter sharing stands that are a fun option when you want a break from walking or need to cover more ground.

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How Will You Get Around Italy?

With so many different options for transportation in Italy, I recommend first planning your trip with the help of Google Maps, Trainline, Omio, or Ferryhopper before you choose how you'll get around. This will help you understand the best options for where you're trying to go and to see if public transport is even possible.

In general, the train and bus system in Italy is extensive but some smaller towns are cut off from the network, forcing you to get a little creative or build in some extra travel time.

Regardless, with so many modes of transportation to choose from, you're bound to get where you want to go. When in doubt, go for the train for long distances and walk short ones!