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Italy by Train

Discover the beauty of traveling Italy by train

Traveling Italy by train means you can get everywhere, from the ancient relics of Pompeii to the spectacular Tuscan coastline. Discover the many treasures of Rome and Florence, go shopping in Milan and explore the canals of Venice by gondola. With a Eurail Pass and comfortable Italian trains, the entire country is within your reach!

 

Train types in Italy

Map with main train connections in Italy
Map with main train connections in Italy

 

Popular connections

 

Please note: On certain days between April 18, 2025 and July 27, 2025, all visitors to historic Venice are required to pay an access fee to the Municipality of Venice. Before you plan your trip to Venice, please check details on applicable dates, exclusions, exemptions, and penalties here: https://cda.veneziaunica.it/en.

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 Regional High-speed
Rome to Florence 3h 30m 1h 30m
Rome to Milan 9h (1 stop) 3h
Rome to Venice 9h (3 stops) 3h 30m
Florence to Milan 5h 30m (1 stop) 1h 30m
Florence to Venice 4h (2 stops) 2h
Pisa to Florence 1h 1h
Venice to Milan 3h 30m (1 stop) 2h 30m
Milan to Naples 14h 4h 35m
Rome to Turin 10h 20m 4h 10m
Milan to Palermo - 20h 45m (overnight)
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.
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.
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.

 

Reservations

Eurail reservation self-service system

  • Eurail
  • IC, EC, Frecce (domestic), TGV, RailJet, Nightjet, European Sleeper

Administration costs when booking through Eurail self-service

  • € 2,- p.p.per train
  • Additional € 9,- per order (for paper tickets)

With railway carriers

Other platforms

  • Rail Europe:
    • Frecciarossa, Intercity, Intercity Notte
    • TGV to Paris, Eurocity to Switzerland, Bernina Express
  • Italiarail

An explanation of how each booking platform works can be found here: How do I book my reservations

 

Locally at the train station in Italy

 

By Phone 

Reservations can be booked through the Trenitalia call centre

 

Good to know

 

Which trains in Italy require reservations?

  • No reservations: Trenitalia regional trains.
  • Compulsory: Frecciarossa, Frecciagento, Frecciabianca, Intercity, and Intercity Notte trains

Reservations for the TGV (Paris to Milan)

  • Seats are limited for Eurail Pass Holders.
  • It's not possible to buy tickets or reservations for this route at Italian train stations.

Freccialink

  • Freccialink bus reservations can only be made at train stations in Italy and by phone
  • They can only be booked in combination with Le Frecce trains. See here for more information.

Travelling to France or Italy with a Eurail Pass?

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Get your Pass for Italy

Italy Pass

 

Spend your whole vacation exploring Italy by rail.

 

Standard prices from $ 158

Global Pass

 

Be free to visit Italy along with the other 32 Eurail countries.


Standard prices from $ 233

 

Pass benefits in Italy


    Ferry, 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

Tips and tricks for Italy

Quick facts

  • Capital: Rome

  • Population: 60 million

  • Language: Italian

  • Currency: Euro (EUR)

  • Dialing code: +39

 

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

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

 

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