train trip to italy

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Train & Rail Tours in Italy

Relax and admire breathtaking views in Italy only accessible by train journey. With 40 Italy train tours lasting from 4 days up to 14 days, you're sure to find a railway carriage with your name on it on a route that will leave you speechless.

40 Train tour packages in Italy with 367 reviews

• Train & Rail
• Sightseeing

Highlights of Italy

Amazing trip through the highlights of Italy, saw all the places I wanted to. Had lots of freedom and free time to do what we wanted to do, didn't have to spend every second with the group which what I liked about it. Tour leader was amazing, in each location would give us maps, highlight places, how to get to spots, recommend things when we were not sure. Just really good trip through Italy, saw heaps, ate heaps, and made new friends!

• Christmas & New Year

Italy By Train

Overall what was on offer, was delivered. The hotels in Florence and La Spezia were hed out as 4 star, but e beieve they were at best 3 star. The hotel in One was advertised as 3 star and that was accurate.

Venice, Florence and Rome escorted small group by train

The guide, Constantino, was good. He was always willing to try and help those of us on the tour when we wanted to make reservations for tours or had issues. I would give 3 stars to the tour otherwise. I was not happy that we were not provided a more detailed itinerary of exactly what we would see and when. I know some of the others on the tour were frustrated by this as well. Because there was not clarity, I found I had to scramble and make extra arrangements, which cost money I was not expecting to spend! I did not know, for example, that the statue of Michaelangelo's David was in a location not included in the tour. When I asked Constantino, he advised me that an English-language tour was not available in the time frame we had. In Rome, I booked a Colosseum tour (extra), but because the Vatican tour ran behind schedule (and the guide was in a big rush), I was unable to visit St. Peter's Basilica.

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Italy By High-Speed Train

I was very impressed with the service I was provided with. The hotels we stayed at were a great choice and I truly enjoyed a fantastic time on the tours.

• €50 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Train tours Italy: Venice, Florence, Rome, Sorrento by train

We loved the small group by train. Once we got to the first hotel they did all the moving of our luggage and it would be waiting in our room at the next hotel. I would highly recommend to arrive a day or 2 before the tour starts to get rested. We booked 2 days on our own to see Venice, the one day walking tour is not enough for this beautiful city. I would also recommend an extra day at the end in Sorrento, there are so many wonderful day trips. Adding an extra day would have given us a relax day before the long trip home the next day. Regarding tours, get them in advance to skip the line. Don't wait for the tour to start to decide. You may not be able to get in. If this company doesn't offer the tour you want, go find it with another company. On the first day in Venice the mention of local tasting, is a full dinner. It was wonderful. Several people were tired from travel and opted out of the walking tour, they didn't know it included dinner. The dinners should be detailed out in the Itinerary. I had to ask for a list of tour descriptions and prices. I was given the wrong one. As I tried to book I was given a shorter one that was what was being offered. The list should be provided as soon as the deposit is received.

Eco-Comfort - Tour Of Italy By Train

Overall experience was excellent. The support staff was always available to answer any questions, as well as to provide vouchers for ad hoc optional tours that were selected during the excursion. Tour guides were knowledgeable. Hotels were very nice.

Alps By Bernina Train & Northern Lakes - 6 Days

Excellent choice of places to visit. Tour Leader Chiara was fantastc. Nino the Driver was also very professional and friendly. Would recommend this tour to all my friends and acquaintances.

Italy Experience (8 destinations)

Venice to Rome by Rail

Italy Rail Express Tour

A fantastic way to travel in Italy , explored 5 cities in 9 days. Our tour guide was amazing super organised with itinerary and very nformative Highly recommended for anyone who likes a busy ,fun holiday.

Rome, Florence, Cinque Terre & Venice in 7 Days

nice experience. Emma was a good guide.

• €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Sicilian Dream by Train

• In-depth Cultural

Naples Escape & Sorrento - Small-Group Tour

Independent Rome & Florence City Stay

Venice to Rome by Rail + Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast

What people love about train & rail tours in italy.

The tour itself was amazing! A lot of value for money. The tour guide did seem to be a bit annoyed at us at the end when we wanted to get transport back to the hotel, after walking over half a marathon. This is notable considering a few members had lower body injuries/ health concerns. Other than that, I really loved my trip. I made friends for life, memories I’ll cherish for years

Ourfearless tourleader Annamaria did an outstanding job. She gave us 110% at all times and rolled with the punches from train derailments to explaining to our group the optimal way to get 10 pounds of touring in a five pound bag and while still keeping everybody happy. Annamarias' experience combined with her local touring associates in Venice , Florence, Sienna and Rome gave us as much depth of information, history, and local flavor as possible within our alloted schedule. The best thing about the walking tour is the waistline didn't take a hit in spite of the occassions of overindulgence. Great folks Great memories Phil & Sue from The Mitten

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• Amalfi Coast (5)
• South Italy (5)

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Italy train guide — how to travel italy by train.

How to travel Italy by train — tips for buying Italian train tickets and advice for navigating Italy by rail.

Transportation

Italy is a joy to travel by train—the views of the countryside are amazing, the rail system is efficient, and booking tickets is easier than ever. Furthermore, Italy has a highly-developed high-speed rail network that quickly connects all major cities and slower local trains connect most of the small towns. It’s simply the best way to travel around Italy. In this guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know about Italy trains—from buying tickets to traveling between its great cities.

How To Buy Train Tickets in Italy

Buying Italian train tickets is generally easy—in most cases, you can purchase tickets online and have them sent electronically to your phone/app.

Let’s first take a look at where and how early to buy tickets…

Travel Tip: Most train tickets in Italy are now electronic so having reliable high-speed data for your phone is super helpful. Here are a few articles I’ve written to help you get cheap mobile data in Italy:  Guide To Mobile Data Plans and Smartphone Phones in Europe ,  How To Buy A SIM Card and Mobile Data Plans in Europe , and Guide To Buying SIM Cards and Mobile Data Plans in Italy

Where To Buy Italy Train Tickets

Buying Italian train tickets online is fairly simple and straightforward these days—but there can sometimes be a few quirks.

Note: Trenitalia is the official Italian Railways website. The site is known to have weird translation issues and some people have problems with getting their payments processed. Personally, I’d avoid using this if you’re not Italian. The options below are much more user-friendly for non-Italians.

Omio is a search engine that lets you compare and book trains (and buses and flights) anywhere in Europe. It lets you easily book tickets with your credit card at essentially the same prices as the Trenitalia website. Additionally, Omio searches routes for multiple rail services across Europe so it’s great for international trips (since it can easily combine rail journeys of multiple countries).

TrainLine is a website that searches multiple rail services across Europe so it’s great for international trips (since it can easily combine rail journeys of multiple countries). It’s also good for single-country travel. Plus, it’s designed for English-speaking travelers so it’s super user-friendly.

ItaliaRail.com

ItaliaRail is a worldwide distributor of Italian train tickets so their site is also simple to use for English speakers. You can use a credit card to pay in most currencies so anyone in the world use to able to buy tickets through the site. As an added bonus, the tickets are electronic so they can be sent straight to your phone (or can be printed at home if you prefer).

Italotreno.it

Italotreno is a private rail company that runs modern high-speed trains between most major cities—these trains only run between major cities. Be sure to check them out as there are some deals to be found. Luckily, when you search with Omio you’ll also get Italotreno trains in the results so I prefer searching there since you can compare all the rail companies.

At The Station

Of course, you can buy any Italian train ticket from any train station—either from a ticket window or an automated machine. You can purchase tickets in advance from train stations as well.

How To Collect Your Train Tickets

Tickets purchased online can be collected in a few different ways. Sometimes you’re given multiple methods and sometimes you’re only given one option:

• Electronic Tickets: Tickets are sent to your phone or sometimes an App. Simply show your phone to the conductor on the train when he checks the tickets.
• Print-At-Home Tickets: Print them and show them to the conductor on the train when he checks the tickets. You can often simply save the PDF to your phone/tablet and the conductor can scan it from there.
• Pick Up At the Station: Use your credit card or a booking number to print your tickets at the train station.
• Reference Number (PNR): You’re sent a booking reference number (PRN) and you show it to the conductor on the train when he checks tickets.

Do I Need To Buy Italian Train Tickets In Advance?

Long-Distance/High-Speed Trains: Yes – book early. Booking ahead online will get you the cheapest tickets and prices will continue to rise as the departure date approaches. For example, I just did a search for a day-of ticket for Rome-Milan and it was €95 but tickets bought two months in advance are €32—that’s a pretty big difference.

• High-Speed Trains: Frecciarossa (180mph), Frecciargento (160 mph), Frecciabianca (155mph), Italo (180 mph), InterCity (125mph).

Note: Trains between major cities will almost always be high-speed trains (Rome-Milan, Rome-Venice, Rome-Florence, Venice-Milan, etc). Also, most train tickets are available for purchase between three to six months in advance.

Regional Trains: Price-wise, there is no need to book early. Regional trains are priced by distance traveled so there is no discount for booking early. Simply show up at the station and buy your tickets at the window or automated kiosk.

Of course, you can still buy regional train tickets online so they’re ready to go on your phone and you can skip any lines at the ticket machines.

• Slow Trains: InterRegionale (IR), Regionale (R), and Diretto (D)

High-Speed Vs. InterCity/Regional Trains: High-speed trains are faster (obviously) and nicer/more comfortable than InterCity/Regional trains. They’re also more expensive but we usually think the time savings are worth the cost. But if you’re on a budget then there is no shame in taking a cheaper train.

International Train Tickets

International train tickets (i.e. tickets between Italy and another country) can sometimes cause a few issues. Let’s take a look at a few:

• Otherwise, you can book two separate journeys (one for Country A and another for Country B) but that’s kind of a hassle.
• Buy Ticket From Departure Country’s Site: Always purchase your tickets from the country in which your train departs. This is because you can often only pick up your ticket from a station in the country where the trip originates. For example, for a journey from Nice, France to Milan, Italy you’ll want to buy your ticket from the French rail network but if you’re going from Milan to Nice then you’ll want to buy the ticket from an Italian site. NOTE: This isn’t an issue when you book through a third-party booking website.

How To Use Your Italy Train Tickets

On most high-speed trains in Italy, your ticket is only good for the time on the ticket. You’ll also be given an assigned seat. You don’t need a validate your ticket because your seat is reserved (but they might check your ID). NOTE: Your ticket will show the car and seat number so make sure you’re in the right car (the trains are clearly marked).

On regional trains , you might have a physical ticket. Make sure to validate (i.e. stamp) your ticket in the validation boxes on the platform before you get on the train. They’re sometimes hard to see so watch what the locals are doing. If you forget to validate, seek out the conductor immediately and have him stamp it — if you wait until he comes around you might be given a fine.

Regional trains won’t have seat reservations so just sit anywhere.

Once you’re on the train the conductor will eventually walk through the aisles to check tickets.

How To Make Rail Pass Reservations

Most high-speed trains require you to make a reservation when using a Eurail pass — the reservation costs around €10/seat. You must make the reservation before you get on the train. There are a few ways to make reservations:

• Online: ItaliaRail.com lets you book your reservation online through their platform. Simply look for a button that says something like “I Have A Railpass” and follow the prompts.
• At The Train Station: You can simply go to the train station and book your reservation from the customer service desk or self-service kiosks. You can book it weeks in advance or you can do it the day you depart. We suggest using the kiosks because the ticket window can take forever.

More Tips For Riding Italian Trains

• Check The Departures Board: You’ll find your train platform via the departure board at the train station. Don’t worry if you don’t see your train because they often only display trains departing within the next 10-20 minutes.
• Cheap Tickets Are Non-Refundable: One downside to cheap tickets is that they’re non-refundable and they can’t be changed.
• Pack A Picnic: You’re allowed to bring your own food and alcohol on trains. It’s great for those long train rides.
• Luggage: There aren’t any weight limits on luggage and you can bring as much as you want (well, as much as you can carry). Simply bring it on and store it above your head, behind your seat, or in the luggage racks in each car.
• Get To The Train Station Early: Train stations are usually fairly easy to navigate but they can be a little confusing—especially larger stations. There isn’t any security that you have to go through but it doesn’t hurt to arrive about 20 minutes early.
• Know Train Station Names: Most large cities have multiple train stations so this often creates confusion. Double-check to make sure you have the right station — especially when booking your ticket.
• Learn Italian City Names: Italian cities will often be called by their Italian name — for example, Roma (Rome), Firenze (Florence), Napoli (Naples), Milano (Milan), etc.
• First Class vs Second Class Tickets: First Class tickets normally cost 1.5x the second class rate. Second Class is perfectly comfortable but First Class seats are a bit bigger. There isn’t much more of a difference.
• Use A Credit Card With Chip: Automated ticket kiosks require a card with a chip so make sure you know your PIN code.
• Get High-Speed Mobile Data: Train tickets are electronic so you’ll want data on your phone. Check out my guide to the best prepaid eSIM plans for Italy to get a cheap data plan.

Learn More About Traveling In Italy

Here are a few articles I’ve written about traveling around Italy:

• Rome Travel Guide: Tips For Visiting Rome
• Florence Travel Guide: Tips For Visiting Florence
• Venice Travel Guide: Tips For Visiting Venice
• Recent Posts
• New York Pass Review | Is It A Good Value or Waste of Money? - May 20, 2024
• Paris Pass Review — A Good Value or Waste of Money? - May 13, 2024
• The Best Travel Backpacks | In-Depth Buyer’s Guide & Backpack Reviews - April 28, 2024

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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

• Domestic trains

International trains

• Night trains
• Scenic trains

Regional and intercity trains

Trenord regionale (R)

Runs through the central northern region of Lombardia, close to Switzerland.

No reservations required.

Trains between Lecco and Piona are not included in your Pass. 

Trains between Milan and Malpensa airport are not included in your Pass.

Check train times on the  Trenitalia timetable .

InterCity (IC)

Connects major cities like Florence, Milan, Rome, and Venice.

Faster than regional trains and fewer stops.

Reservations are mandatory.

The Leonardo Express

An express train between Rome and Fiumicino Airport.

All seats are 1st class, therefore a 1st class Eurail Pass is required to travel on this train . If you have a 2nd Class Eurail Pass you will need to buy a ticket.

2nd class Pass holders can travel between Rome and Fiumicino airport with Frecciarossa trains.

Domestic high-speed trains

Le Frecce high-speed trains (formerly known as Eurostar Italia) are modern and comfortable. All trains have air-conditioning, luggage racks, power sockets, refreshments, and usually a restaurant car.

Frecciarossa (FR)

• Connects the main Italian cities from north to south on high speed lines.
• The fastest trains in Italy, with speeds up to 300 km/h.
• Flagship: Frecciarossa 1000
• Reservations are required.

Frecciarossa (FR) to and from Fiumicino Airport (Rome)

• Fiumicino - Roma Termini 
• Fiumicino - Napoli (via Roma Termini) 
• Fiumicino - Venezia S. Lucia (via Bologna, Florence, Roma Termini) 

Frecciargento (FA)

• Connects the main Italian cities from north to south on high speed lines and conventional railway lines.
• Second fastest trains in Italy, with speeds up to 250 km/h.

Frecciabianca (FB)

• Connects the main Italian cities with secondary cities on conventional railway lines.
• Third fastest trains in Italy, with speeds up to 200 km/h.

Freccialink (Frecce + bus)

• Trenitalia offers bus connections with Freccialink to towns otherwise hard to reach by train. 
• However, 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.

EuroCity Brenner

• Connects Venice / Verona / Bologna to Munich (Germany), via Innsbruck (Austria)
• Reservations are optional
• 1st class: €15
• 2nd class: €10
• A supplement can be bought on board for an additional fee, costing €5

Railjet Brenner (from April 2024)

• Connects Venice / Verona / Bologna to Munich (Germany), via Innsbruck (Austria) 
• Seat reservations are optional
• 1st class: €15 (including supplement)
• 2nd class: €10 (including supplement)
• Business Class upgrade: €30(including supplement)

EuroCity to Switzerland

• Connects Milan and Venice to Zurich / Bern / Basel / Geneva (Switzerland)
• Reservations are mandatory

EuroCity (Express)

• Connects Milan to Frankfurt (Germany) via Basel (Switzerland)
• Reservations are mandatory if you're traveling to/from/within Italy.

EuroCity to Austria via Slovenia

• Connects Trieste to Ljubljana (Slovenia) and Vienna via Graz (Austria) 
• Reservations are optional.
• Connects Venice / Bolzano to Vienna (Austria) 
• Seat reservations are optional. 
• 1st class: €15 
• 2nd class: €10 
• Connects Turin / Milan to several cities in France

Intercity and Regional train to Nice

• Connects Milan and Genoa to Nice and Côte d’Azur (France) 
• Step 1:  IC Milan – Genoa – Ventimiglia / RE Genoa - Ventimiglia 
• Step 2:  RE Ventimiglia – Monaco – Nice – Cannes (France) 
• Transfer in Ventimiglia

Domestic night trains:

Travel between the north and south of Italy by night, saving you precious travel time while you sleep. These are the domestic night trains operating in Italy:

InterCity Notte (ICN) to Sicily

This is a unique journey as the train is transported by boat across the Strait of Messina.

• Milan – Bologna – Firenze – Messina – Catania - Syracusa
• Milan – Bologna – Firenze – Messina – Palermo
• Rome – Napoli – Salerno – Messina – Catania – Syracusa
• Rome – Napoli – Salerno – Messina – Palermo
• Rome - Messina – Catania – Syracusa
• Rome – Messina – Palermo

InterCity Notte (ICN) between the rest of Italy

• Milan – Bari – Taranto – Brinsidi – Lecce 
• Milan – Parma – Bari – Brinsidi – Lecce
• Torino – Alessandria – Bari – Brinsidi – Lecce
• Torino – Milan – Roma – Napoli – Salerno
• Torino – Genoa – Roma – Napoli – Salerno
• Torino – Genoa – Pisa – Livorno – Reggio di Calabria
• Trieste – Venice – Padova – Rome
• Bolzano – Trento – Verona – Rome

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  (EN)  has many trains connecting to and from several destinations in Italy:

• Rome – Florence – Salzburg – Munich (Not between 10 June – 9 September)
• Ancona – Bologna – Salzburg – Munich – Stuttgart (10 June – 9 September)
• Rome - Florence - Bologna – Vienna
• Ancona – Bologna – Vienna (10 June – 9 September)
• Livorno - Pisa - Florence - Bologna – Vienna (Not between 10 June – 9 September)
• La Spezia – Genoa – Milan - Verona - Vienna
• La Spezia – Genoa – Milan - Verona - Salzburg – Munich – Stuttgart
• Venice - Udine - Salzburg - Vienna
• Venice - Udine - Salzburg – Munich – Stuttgart
• Reservations for sleeping accommodation are required.

Scenic train routes in Italy

There are 2 scenic train routes that cross into Italy:

Popular connections

• Domestic routes
• International routes
• Ferry routes

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:

View more train routes between Italy and France

Reservations

Eurail reservation self-service system

• IC, EC, Frecce (domestic), TGV, RailJet, Nightjet

Administration costs when booking through Eurail self-service

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

With railway carriers

• ÖBB (Austrian railways) : Domestic and international trains to Austria, Switzerland, and Slovenia 
• SNCB (b-europe) : Only Eurocity trains to Switzerland 
• ÖBB Nightjet : Only Nightjet

Other platforms

• Frecciarossa, Intercity, Intercity Notte
• TGV to Paris, Eurocity to Switzerland, Bernina Express

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

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 . 

Travelling to France or Italy with a Eurail Pass?

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Get your Pass for Italy

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 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)

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

Get inspired

Change of currency

You cannot change the currency once you have a Pass in your cart. Remove the Pass, and then change the currency on the website header.

Train Travel in Italy: The Ultimate Guide

Train travel in Italy is relatively easy, but may pose some challenges if you have never been to the country or if you are not used to this mode of transportation. This is why we have created this ultimate guide to traveling by train in Italy, which you can also print out and carry with you during your trip as a reference. 

Let’s look at the main points to consider. 

What is the Best Way to Get Around Italy?

Buying an italian train ticket, arriving at the train station in italy, safety at the train station.

• Types of Italian Trains
• Should I Book a First Class Ticket or a Second Class Ticket?  
• What To Do If Your Train is Canceled or Delayed

How to Pack for Train Travel in Italy 

• Train Travel Times for the Most Common Italian Routes  

The Most Important Train Stations in Italy

The train is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to travel around Italy, however this does not mean you have to do it all by train. Whether you use the train for all or part of your Italian trip depends on the itinerary that you are planning. If you do the classic Rome-Florence-Venice tour, then you can do it all easily by train, and it is the recommended option because the train stations in these cities are conveniently located in the city centers and you do not need a car to tour them. If you plan to visit the countryside or the mountains, you should consider renting a car as it gives you more freedom and flexibility. You can also combine different modes of transport: train between major art cities, a rental car for an on the road and to reach smaller towns and hilltop towns that may not be as well connected, plane if you need to go from the north to the south of Italy or vice versa. 

Most train stations in Italy are located in or very close to the city center (hence why many have ‘centrale’ in their name), so they’re very easy to reach, sometimes even on foot from your centrally located hotel. 

Where Italian trains are the best or only choice:

• Rome, Florence, Venice, Naples, Milan, Cinque Terre

Where Italian trains are better avoided:

• Amalfi Coast, Sicily, Sardinia, remote countryside

Where a car is a good option, but you can also get by with trains and buses:

• Tuscany, Umbria, the Dolomites 

You have two options to buy train tickets for your Italian trip:

• Buy your ticket online in advance via the train company’s website (Trenitalia and Italo), an intermediary like Italian train travel specialists ItaliaRail , or through your travel agent;
• Directly at the train station in Italy, either at the ticketing window or using the self-serve ticket machines (instructions are available in English and the machines accept credit cards).

We recommend buying your tickets in advance whenever possible so that you do not have to wait in line, deal with a machine if you’re in a hurry, you have more seat options, plus having your trip mapped out beforehand can save you precious time while in Italy.

As a general rule of thumb, the sooner you book, the cheaper the fare. Seniors and children (or family packages) generally have reduced fares on Trenitalia’s Frecce and Italo. 

*For more information about buying train tickets in Italy, see our dedicated feature .

First of all, always arrive early (at least 20 minutes before your train’s departure time). Train stations in major cities like Rome, Milan and Bologna are very big and you may have to walk five to ten minutes to reach your track ( binario in Italian). 

The first thing you want to do when you get to the train station in Italy is to find the electronic board with the trains departure information. There are several throughout the stations, with the bigger one in the main hall and ticketing area, and smaller ones on each platform, in underground passages and waiting areas.

The board has the following information:

• Type of train and train number ( treno )
• Train’s final destination ( destinazione )
• Departure time ( orario )
• Delay ( ritardo ) - expect a 5-10 minute delay as standard in Italy
• Information ( informazioni ) - this usually displays the intermediate stops of the train with arrival times and where the different classes are located scrolling by
• Platform number ( binario )

To identify your train, look for the train number on your ticket, as the destination shown on the board is the final one, but your destination may be an intermediate stop (which you will see in the part of the display that scrolls by). 

If your train does not have a specific train number, date and time printed on it, you must validate it before boarding . Look for a green, white or yellow electronic box and insert your ticket into it to get it timestamped (ie validated) before getting on your train (the validation lasts for six hours). This mostly applies to regional trains. You do not need to validate your ticket if you are taking a Freccia high-speed train or Italo train (see below for specifics). 

When at the platform, double-check that the train you are about to board is the right one by looking at one of the several boards positioned overhead along the track, it specifies train number and destination.

Also, make sure to board the correct carriage; the number is visible on the side of the train, on an electronic sign on the door, and before boarding, on a screen overhead. This way you will avoid creating more confusion and blocking aisles as you walk through carriages to reach your seat.  

Generally speaking, traveling by train in Italy is safe, but be vigilant of pickpockets and other petty criminals that may target disoriented travelers intent on finding their way through the station. Always carry your bag in the front, and consider investing in a money belt to place your passport, credit card, money and important documents. 

If your luggage on the train is not close to you (ie if it’s big you’re going to have to place it in the luggage area at the front or end of the carriage), take a look at it when the train stops at intermediate stations.

Do not accept help from strangers who may offer to carry your luggage or help you get a ticket at the ticketing machine. They may insist on getting a ‘tip’ from you once their ‘service’ is done and not leave until you do. Just send them away as soon as they approach you. 

Types of Italian Trains 

Two companies run trains in Italy: Trenitalia and Italo. For a long time, Trenitalia has been the only railway company in Italy and to this day it has the widest network and routes. Italo began operating in 2012, and offers high-speed service between major Italian cities. 

When traveling on Trenitalia, you have three different types of train to choose from which differ based on speed and price. 

Le Frecce - they are Trenitalia’s most modern, comfortable and fastest trains, which also means they cost more. They require advance reservation, have seat assignment, and provide most of the high-speed service on the main lines between Turin, Milan, Venice, Bologna, Florence, Rome, Naples, and Bari. 

There are three types of Frecce: 

Frecciarossa : the fastest and most expensive trains, traveling up to 300 km/h. They connect Italy’s biggest cities (Turin, Milan, Bologna, Florence, Rome, and Naples), but not Venice. Frecciargento : these trains use both the high-speed and traditional lines; they are not as fast as the Frecciarossa and take you to main cities such as Florence, Bologna, Rome, and Naples, but not to Milan or Turin. They go to Venice and southern regions like Apulia and Calabria.

Frecciabianca : the slowest among the Frecce, they run on traditional lines and connect large and medium-sized cities in 14 of the 20 Italian regions (Valle d’Aosta, Trentino Alto Adige, Umbria, Basilicata, Sicily and Sardinia are not covered).

Intercity - these trains are less expensive than the Frecce ; they operate outside of the high speed line, therefore your trip will take longer. They connect medium to large cities across Italy, making few intermediate stops. It is not always possible to reserve your seat in advance. These trains are usually quite old and don’t have amenities like wi-fi and restaurant service, available on the Frecce .

Regional trains   - the cheapest option, these trains are used by locals to get to and from work and school, connecting minor towns and villages. You cannot reserve a seat in advance, therefore if you need to take a regional train, try to avoid rush hours. Coaches are mostly second class, with only one or two reserved for first (which in this case you may want to get). These are the trains you would take for example if you were going to the Cinque Terre or to Assisi.

General tip : use the Frecce to reach the biggest cities, then use regionali to move around the region to smaller centers (when possible - sometimes you will need to take a bus instead; sometimes renting a car will be the easiest option). 

Should I Book a First Class Ticket or a Second Class Ticket? 

All trains generally offer first class and second class, or, in the most modern trains, ‘standard’, ‘premium’, ‘business’, ‘executive’ (the most expensive, the less seats available and the less people around you). What corresponds to second class (or standard) on the Frecce and Italo is absolutely decent, but obviously more crowded, so if you wish for tranquility and silence, go for an upper class of service. You may want to step up to first class on the Intercity and regional trains.  

What To Do If Your Train is Canceled or Delayed 

When you travel by train in Italy, you should be aware that things don’t always go as smoothly as you may expect in countries such as, say, Switzerland or Germany. Try to remain patient as your train may be canceled or delayed because of a strike, an accident or repairs on the line. 

As reported on the Trenitalia website:

- if your Freccia train is delayed by 30 to 59 minutes, Trenitalia will issue a bonus equal to 25% of the ticket price that you can use for future purchases.  

- If your Freccia train is over an hour late when you get to your destination, you are entitled to a compensation equal to: 25%   of the ticket price for a delay ranging from 60 to 119 minutes; 50%   of the ticket price for a delay of more than 120 minutes. The compensation may be issued in the form of a bonus for a new ticket to be purchased within 12 months; cash if the ticket was paid cash or refund on the card that you used for payment.

You can request your bonus after 24 hours from the date of travel and up to 12 months, at the ticket office of any train station, online on the Trenitalia website, at the travel agency that issued the ticket, or by calling the Call Center. 

Use this page for reference .

Pack light! You don’t want to have to carry around a huge suitcase that is hard to lift and lower when you get on and off the train. Remember, there are a few steep steps up (and down) the train, there may be stairs to the platforms, especially in the older stations where you won’t find the automatic ones, and you may have to walk the distance in large train stations like Rome Termini or Bologna Centrale. 

Go for a light carry-on or even a backpack, this will be helpful in general as you may decide to also walk between your hotel and the train station. 

We have a great feature with general tips on how to pack for travel to Italy by Sarah Murdoch, a Rick Steves tour guide and Italy expert. 

Train Travel Times for the Most Common Italian Routes  

Rome – Florence 

1 hour 31 minutes (Frecciarossa – Trenitalia)  

1 hour 23 minutes (Italo)

Rome – Venice 

3 hours 45 minutes (Frecciargento – Trenitalia)

3 hours 45 minutes (Italo)

Rome – Milan 

2 hours 55 minutes / 3 hours 20 minutes (Frecciarossa – Trenitalia) 

3 hours 14 minutes (Italo)

Rome – Naples  

1 hour 10 minutes (Frecciarossa – Trenitalia) 

1 hour 20 minutes (Italo)

Florence – Milan 

1 hour 40 minutes (Frecciarossa – Trenitalia) 

1 hour 50 minutes (Italo)

Florence – Venice 

2 hours 5 minutes (Frecciargento – Trenitalia) 

2 hours 5 minutes (Italo)

Milan – Venice 

2 hours 23 minutes / 2 hours 35 minutes (Frecciabianca – Trenitalia) 

Milan – Naples 

4 hours 40 minutes (Frecciarossa – Trenitalia)

4 hours 31 minutes (Italo)

• Rome: Roma Termini
• Florence: Firenze Santa Maria Novella
• Venice: Venezia Santa Lucia
• Milan: Milano Centrale
• Naples: Napoli Centrale
• Turin: Torino Porta Nuova
• Bologna: Bologna Centrale 

Now that you know everything you need to know about train travel in Italy, enjoy the ride as you watch Italy’s beautiful scenery roll by!

For more Italian train travel, check our dedicated section , Italy by Train. 

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Train travel in europe..., train travel in asia..., train travel in africa..., train travel in america..., train travel in australasia, breakfast in london, lunch in paris, dinner in italy.

You can travel to Italy by train in a single day, London to Paris by Eurostar in 2h20 from £78 return then Paris to Turin (5h40) or Milan (7h) by TGV or Frecciarossa from €29 each way, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats, free WiFi, a glass of wine to hand and not an airport security queue in sight.

Next morning, another high-speed train whisks you from Turin to Florence in 2h54 from €19.90, Venice in 3h24 from €19.90 or Rome in 4h10 from €29.90.

Great scenery, room to breath, loads of legroom, no baggage fees, no airport taxes, no seatbelt signs, no 2-hour check-ins at remote airports, under 4s go free and around 80% less CO2 than a flight .  Watch the video & see for yourself .

This page explains all you need to know to travel to Italy by train, including the cheapest way to buy tickets either online or by phone.

Train times, fares & tickets

Train travel within Italy

    Turin   Milan   Venice   Bologna

    Florence   Rome   Naples

    Map of Milan    Map of Venice    Map of Florence

    Map of Rome    Map of Naples    Map of Turin

International trains to & from Italy

Other useful information, video guides, useful country information, which route to choose.

There's a choice of train routes from the UK to Italy, some fast & direct, some slower but amazingly scenic.  Browse the list below and click on whichever appeals most.  By all means go out one way & come back another, or stop off on the way, as each train is ticketed separately.

Option 1, by Eurostar & TGV

Breakfast in London, lunch in Paris, tea in the Alps, dinner in Turin or Milan...

This is the easiest, cheapest & fastest way to reach Italy by train (along with option 2).  It's a safe, civilised & scenic way to reach Italy, the route is shown in dark blue on the route map above .

Take a morning Eurostar to Paris from £52 one-way or £78 return then an afternoon high-speed TGV train from Paris to Turin or Milan from €29 each way, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Stay overnight and continue to Verona, Venice, Florence, Rome or Naples next day.

Alternatively, take an evening Eurostar from London to Paris, stay overnight in Paris, then take a TGV from Paris to Turin or Milan, changing at Turin for a fast train to Verona, Venice, Florence, Rome or Naples.

This option has one key advantage over option 2 below:  It's now possible to travel from London to Venice, Florence or Rome in a single day on most weekdays.  Northbound, Naples, Rome or Florence to London is possible in a day, but only on Sundays.

Click here for train times, fares & how to buy tickets .

Option 2, by Eurostar & Frecciarossa

Option 3, by eurostar, tgv & the stuttgart-venice sleeper.

Take a mid-morning Eurostar to Paris, the afternoon TGV to Stuttgart then a high-quality Nightjet sleeper train to Venice.  You don't even need to cross Paris, with this option it's just a 7-minute walk from Paris Nord to Paris Est.

Option 4, by Eurostar & TGV via Switzerland

Just as direct, a little more expensive & with an extra change compared to options 1 & 2, but with some great views of Swiss & Italian lakes (but if you want the ultimate in Swiss Alpine scenery, see option 5 below).  Leave London on an evening Eurostar and stay overnight in Paris.  Next day, take a high-speed Lyria TGV to Geneva, then a EuroCity train through the Swiss Alps to Milan.  Change in Milan for an Italian high-speed train to Verona, Venice, Bologna, Florence, Rome or Naples.  Or you can travel from London to Milan in a day this way, stay overnight and continue to anywhere in Italy next day.  This route is marked in orange on the route map above .  Daily departures.  Click here for train times, fares & how to buy tickets .

Option 5, via the scenic Bernina Express

This is the ultimate scenic option, meaning UNESCO-listed world class scenic.  It's slower than all the other options and takes a little more organisation, but it's worth it.  Travel from London to Zurich by afternoon Eurostar & evening TGV and stay overnight in Zurich.  Next morning, take a Swiss InterCity train to Chur and the fabulous narrow-gauge panoramic Bernina Express to Tirano through spectacular scenery high in the Swiss Alps.  An Italian regional train links Tirano with Milan arriving early evening.  Why not go out this route, and back by a direct route?  See the Bernina Express page for details .

Option 6, via Munich & the Brenner Pass

Take Eurostar & TGV from London to Munich and stay overnight.  Next morning, take a comfortable Austrian EuroCity train from Munich to Verona or Venice via the scenic Brenner Pass through the Alps , changing in Verona for Florence or Rome.  This route is marked in green on the route map above.  Daily departures.  Click here for train times, fares & how to buy tickets .

Option 7, via the Harwich-Hoek ferry

Option 8, via the portsmouth-caen ferry, option 9, by ferry from newcastle or hull, option 10, by venice simplon orient express.

The vintage 5-star luxury option - if you can afford the 5-star price!  The famous & fabulous Venice Simplon Orient Express runs from London to Venice, usually once a week from March to November.  This 24-hour journey in historic restored Pullman cars & Wagons-Lits sleepers costs over £2,000 per person including meals.  Expensive, but you will never regret it.  See the Venice Simplon Orient Express page .

Take your car to Italy by train

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IMPORTANT UPDATE:  On 27 August 2023, a landslide in the Alps blocked the Paris-Milan line. All direct Paris-Milan TGV & Frecciarossa services are cancelled until further notice, at least until the end of 2024.  See the landslide on video .  You can still travel from Paris to Milan via Switzerland, so while the direct line remains blocked, use option 4 instead .  See timetable of alternative Paris-Milan trains .

FURTHER UPDATE:  From 10 January 2024, a temporary service will operate:

Paris Gare de Lyon depart 14:48, Turin Porta Susa 21:46, Milan Porta Garibaldi 23:10.

Milan Porta Garibaldi depart 14:10, Turin Porta Susa depart 15:41, Paris Gare de Lyon 23:14.

This TGV is shown as direct but incorporates a bus transfer around the landslide.

Breakfast in London, lunch in Paris, dinner in Italy.  Every day, three high-speed TGV trains run by SNCF French Railways link Paris with Turin & Milan, with connections to Florence, Venice, Rome & Naples.  Leave London in the morning, have lunch in Paris, reach Turin or Milan in the evening, stay overnight then take a high-speed train to Florence, Venice, Rome or Naples next day.  Or leave London in the evening, stay overnight in Paris and travel from Paris to anywhere in Italy next day.

This route is usually the most inexpensive way to reach Italy by train, as Paris-Milan starts at just €29 each way.  It's a scenic option, shown in dark blue on the route map above , see the video guide , although not as scenic as the more expensive route via Switzerland in option 4 or the ultimate scenic Bernina Express route in option 5 .

Milan is a great city, with the best onward connections to other Italian cities, but Turin is even better and well worth a stopover.  It could be Italy's most under-rated city even if you're not a fan of the 1969 Michael Caine film The Italian Job .  Why not take an earlier Eurostar and have lunch at the famous Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon before catching your TGV to Italy?  Perfect!

Summary timetable southbound

Change in Turin for Bologna, Florence, Rome, Naples, Verona & Venice , see the Journeys in detail section below .

*  Following day, overnight hotel in Paris necessary.  Why not book an earlier Eurostar and have dinner in Paris?

** The 12:46 Paris-Milan TGV is randomly replaced by a 09:43 on certain dates in 2023 with no connection from London, that's SNCF timetabling for you.

Always check times for your date at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com as times can vary.  Booking usually opens 4 months ahead .

How much does it cost?    How to buy tickets     What's the journey like?    Paris-Milan TGV video guide    Map of Milan showing stations

Summary timetable northbound

For connections from Bologna, Florence, Rome, Naples, Verona & Venice , see the Journeys in detail section below .

* Following day, overnight hotel in Paris necessary.  By all means book a later Eurostar and have a leisurely breakfast in Paris.

** The 14:10 Milan-Paris TGV is randomly replaced by a 12:10 on certain dates in 2023, that's SNCF timetabling for you.

Check times for your specific date at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com , as times can vary.  Booking usually opens 4 months ahead .

Train times in detail , London to Italy

London ► italy in a single day, leaving 07:55 monday-friday.

For Venice :  Get off in Turin.  A Frecciarossa leaves Turin Porta Susa at 19:10, change at Bologna Centrale arriving Venice S. Lucia at 23:34.

London ► Italy in a single day, leaving 09:24 every day

For Rome, Naples & Salerno :  If you overnight in Turin, a Frecciarossa leaves Turin Porta Nuova at 07:00 or Turin Porta Susa at 07:10, and arrives Rome Termini at 11:49, Naples Centrale at 13:15 & Salerno (for buses to Amalfi) at 14:06.  By all means book a later train and have a leisurely breakfast and a look round Turin.

For Verona or Venice :  If you stay overnight in Turin, there's a Frecciarossa 500 train leaving Turin Porta Nuova at 07:00 or Turin Porta Susa at 07:10, change in Milan Centrale and arrive Verona Porta Nuova at 09:28 & Venice Santa Lucia at 10:42.  If you prefer to stay overnight in Milan, the same train leaves Milan Centrale at 08:15.  But by all means have a leisurely breakfast at your hotel and catch a later train, they leave regularly throughout the day.

London ► Italy with overnight stop in Paris

Step 1, travel from London to Paris on any evening Eurostar you like .

The last one leaves London St Pancras at 20:01 arriving Paris Nord at 23:18, but by all means book an earlier one for an evening in Paris.

Change trains & stations in Paris by metro or taxi from the Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon .

Stay overnight in Paris

The Mercure Paris Gare De Lyon is part of the Gare de Lyon station complex, ideal for catching an early train next morning and great reviews for staff, cleanliness & comfort.  Other recommended hotels near the Gare de Lyon include the Citizen M Hotel (a 2-minute 160m walk from the station, great reviews, 4-star); Hotel Terminus Lyon (in front of the station, 3-star);  Mercure Paris Gare de Lyon (on the station itself, 4-star); Novotel Paris Gare de Lyon (opposite the station, 4-star);  Hotel 26 Faubourg (5 min walk from Gare de Lyon, 2-star).

Step 2, travel from Paris to Turin or Milan by TGV , leaving Paris Gare de Lyon 06:39 every day, arriving Turin P. Susa 12:23 & Milan P. Garibaldi 13:49.

On Saturdays & Sundays there's a later TGV , leaving Paris Gare de Lyon 09:43, arriving Turin P. Susa 15:23 & Milan P. Garibaldi 16:50.

Step 3, take an onward train from Turin or Milan to anywhere in Italy , check times at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com .

For Bologna, Florence, Rome & Naples, get off the TGV at Turin Porta Susa .  A Frecciarossa leaves Turin Porta Susa at 13:10, arriving Bologna 15:24, Florence SMN at 16:04, Rome Termini 17:49 & Naples Centrale 19:12 & Salerno (for buses to Amalfi) at 20:05.

For Verona or Venice , get off the TGV at Turin Porta Susa and have lunch.  A Frecciarossa leaves Turin Porta Susa at 15:18 arriving Verona Porta Nuova at 17:28 & Venice Santa Lucia at 18:42.  An earlier connection is possible with changes of train in Bologna or Milan, check times at www.raileurope.com , www.thetrainline.com .

Train times in detail , Italy to London

Italy ► london in a single day, leaving milan 06:00 or turin 07:36.

From Venice or Verona :  A Frecciarossa leaves Venice S. Lucia 16:48 & Verona P. Nuova 18:02, change Milan Centrale , arriving Turin P. Susa 20:49.

From any other Italian city, check train times to Turin Porta Susa or Milan P. Garibaldi at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com .

This train runs every day.  The TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's a relaxing & comfortable journey, passing directly from France into Italy via Modane and the Mont Cénis tunnel through the Alps, see the video guide below .

Italy ► London in a single day, leaving Milan 12:10 or Turin 13:38 on Sundays

From Naples, Rome, Florence or Bologna :  A daily Frecciarossa 1000 leaves Naples Centrale at 06:40, Roma Termini at 08:10, Florence SMN at 09:55 & Bologna 10:36, arriving Turin Porta Susa 12:49.  An earlier departure is available from Rome, Florence & Bologna if you like.

From Venice or Verona :  A Frecciarossa high-speed train leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 08:18 or Verona Porta Nuova at 09:32, arriving at Turin Porta Susa at 11:38.  Have lunch in Turin.

From any other Italian city :  Check train times to Turin Porta Susa or Milan Porta Garibaldi at either www.raileurope.com , www.thetrainline.com or www.trenitalia.com .  Make sure you arrive in Turin at least 45 minutes before the TGV is due to depart, to allow for any delay.

Italy ► London with overnight stop in Paris, leaving Milan 12:10 or Turin 13:38 Saturdays

From Venice or Verona :  A Frecciarossa high-speed train leaves Venice Santa Lucia daily at 08:18 or Verona Porta Nuova at 09:32, arriving at Turin Porta Susa at 11:38.  Have lunch in Turin.

From any other Italian city :  Check train times to Milan or Turin at either www.raileurope.com , www.thetrainline.com or www.trenitalia.com .  Make sure you arrive in Turin at least 45 minutes before the TGV is due to depart, to allow for any delay.

Step 2, travel from Milan or Turin to Paris by TGV leaving Milan P. Garibaldi 12:10 or Turin P. Susa 13:38, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon 19:16.

If you want a hotel room on arrival at the Gare de Lyon, I suggest the Mercure Paris Gare De Lyon as it's part of the station complex.  If you'd prefer to stay near the Gare du Nord ready for a morning Eurostar next day I suggest the excellent 25 Hours Terminus Nord , directly across the road from the Gare du Nord with great reviews & great feedback from Seat61 users.  See other suggested hotels near the Gare de Lyon or Gare du Nord .

Step 3, travel from Paris to London next morning on any Eurostar you like

On Sunday mornings the first train leaves Paris Gare du Nord at 08:12 arriving London St Pancras at 09:30.

Italy ► London with overnight stop in Paris, leaving Milan 14:10 or Turin 15:41 Monday-Friday

From Naples, Rome, Florence or Bologna :  A daily Frecciarossa 1000 leaves Naples Centrale at 06:40, Roma Termini at 08:10, Florence SMN at 09:55 & Bologna 10:36, arriving Turin Porta Susa 12:49.

From any other Italian city :  You can check train times to Milan or Turin at either www.raileurope.com , www.italiarail.com or www.trenitalia.com .  Make sure you arrive in Turin at least 45 minutes before the TGV is due to depart, to allow for any delay.

Step 2, travel from Milan or Turin to Paris by TGV , leaving Milan P. Garibaldi 14:10 or Turin P. Susa 15:41, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon 21:14.

The first train leaves Paris Gare du Nord at 07:12 on Mondays-Saturdays arriving London St Pancras at 08:30 or at 08:12 on Sundays arriving 09:30, but by all means book a later one.

Italy ► London with overnight stop in Paris, leaving Milan 16:10 or Turin 17:38 every day

From Naples, Rome, Florence or Bologna :  A daily Frecciarossa 1000 leaves Naples Centrale 10:40, Roma Termini 12:10, Florence SMN 13:55 & Bologna 14:36, arriving Turin Porta Susa 16:59.  By all means travel earlier and spend an afternoon in Turin.

From Venice or Verona :  A Frecciarossa leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 11:48 & Verona Porta Nuova at 13:02, arriving Milan Centrale at 14:15.  Transfer from Centrale to Porta Garibaldi station by metro or taxi .  By all means travel earlier and have lunch in Milan.

Step 2, travel from Milan or Turin to Paris by TGV , leaving Milan P. Garibaldi 16:10 or Turin P. Susa 17:38, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon 23:19.

The first train usually leaves Paris Gare du Nord at 07:12 on Mondays-Saturdays arriving London St Pancras at 08:30, but by all means book a later one.  On Sundays the first train is the 08:12 arriving London at 09:30.

How much does it cost ?

London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £97 one-way, £168 return standard premier (1st class).

Paris to Turin or Milan starts at €29 each way in 2nd class, €44 each way in 1st class.

Turin or Milan to Venice or Florence starts at €19.90 each way in standard (2nd) class, €29.90 in business (1st) class.

Turin or Milan to Rome or Naples starts at €29.90 each way in standard (2nd) class, €39.90 in business (1st) class.

Like air fares, fares increase as the cheaper seats are sold, so book early & shop around for the cheapest departure.  Check the online booking system to see prices for your date of travel.  Children under 4 go free.

How to buy tickets

Book at www.raileurope.com

Raileurope.com connects to the British, French & Italian ticketing systems so you can buy all your tickets from the UK to Italy in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $.  There's a small booking fee.  You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.  Who are Raileurope.com?

When does booking open?

Booking for Eurostar opens 6 months ahead, sometimes up to 11 months.  Paris-Milan TGVs & onward Italian trains open only 4 months ahead, but this varies.  I recommend waiting until booking is open at least as far as Milan, so you can confirm times & prices before buying a non-refundable Eurostar ticket.

There's an annual timetable change on the second Saturday in December, Paris-Turin-Milan TGV bookings for dates after this (including Christmas & New Year) usually open in mid-October.

More about when train bookings open .  You can reserve accommodation before booking your trains risk-free if you use www.booking.com with free cancellation.

Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead

Fares for Eurostar and for French & Italian mainline trains are dynamic like air fares, so book early and search for the cheapest departures.  The cheapest tickets mean no refunds, no changes.

Out one way, back another?

You can go out one way & back another if you like.  Almost all European trains are priced as one-way, where a return is simply two one-ways.  I usually find it easier to book one way at a time.

How to book

First, a reality check.  You can't just put London to Naples into a journey planner and expect it to book you from London to Turin, arrange an overnight hotel with an 8am wake-up call, then book you from Turin to Naples after breakfast next day.  Systems aren't that clever!

You can book from London to Turin or Milan as one seamless transaction, but if you're going further into Italy or want to stop overnight in Paris, you'll need to split the booking.

Method 1 is easiest, use this if you are travelling from London to Turin or Milan in a single day, one-way or return, with or without an onward train further into Italy the following day.

Method 2 can cope with more complex journeys, use this if you're planning an overnight stop in Paris on the way out or the way back, or using different routes out & back.

Incidentally, there are no through tickets from London to Italy, however you book you get a Eurostar ticket to Paris, a French ticket from Paris to Milan and separate onward Trenitalia tickets.  But connections across Paris are protected by the Railteam/HOTNAT and AJC .

1.  Go to www.raileurope.com

2.  Enter London to Turin or Milan , number of passengers, date of travel, set departure time 07:00.

3.  If you're coming back and will also be going Milan or Turin to London in a single day, enter your return date with departure time set to either 06:00 or 12:00.

On French & Italian trains a return is two one ways, but on Eurostar, London-Paris return fares are significantly cheaper than two one ways so a round trip involving Eurostar should always be booked as a return.

4.  Now the science bit.  Click More options and enter Paris Nord as a via station with stopover duration set to 1 hour (to guarantee a minimum acceptable 1 hour between trains in Paris) or 2 hours (a more robust connection, recommended) or 3 hours (for lunch in Paris at the famous Train Bleu restaurant ).  If you don't do this, the system can offer risky cross-Paris connections as tight as 42 minutes.  Advice on crossing Paris .

5.  Run the enquiry.  Look in the search results for journeys with 1 change.  Add to basket.

6.  If you are staying overnight in Turin/Milan and travelling onwards next day, book a suitable train from Turin or Milan to Venice, Florence, Rome (or wherever) as a second separate booking and add to basket.

7.  If you're making a round trip, book a suitable train from Venice, Florence, Rome (or wherever) to Milan or Turin for the day before your return journey from there to London, as a third separate booking, and add to your basket.

First, browse the train times above and find a train service that suits you, out & back.  By all means go out one way and back another, or go outward with an overnight stop in Turin, back with an overnight stop in Paris, whatever.  Note down each individual train you want to book, on what specific date.  Then go to www.raileurope.com

Step 1, book your chosen train from Paris to Turin or Milan, one-way, add to basket.  This is the crucial bit so we do this first & confirm times.

Step 2, book your chosen train from Milan or Turin to Paris, one-way, and add to basket.  Confirm times.

Step 3, book the Eurostar from London to Paris & back as a round trip and add to basket.

Eurostar return fares are significantly cheaper than two one ways, so a round trip on Eurostar should always be booked as a return.

Use the suggested Eurostar times above as a guide, but by all means book an earlier Eurostar than the one I suggest going out, or a later one coming back, if you'd prefer a more robust connection (as I do), if the fare is cheaper, or if you want to have lunch in Paris (also me!).

Just remember that with this method, it's up to you to make sure there's at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris southbound, 90 minutes northbound (to include the Eurostar check-in), ideally 2 hours.  So engage brain!  Advice on crossing Paris .

Step 4, if you are travelling beyond Turin/Milan, book a suitable train from Turin or Milan to Venice, Florence, Rome (or wherever), add to basket.  If you're making a same-day connection in Turin/Milan, look for a train leaving at least 1 hour after the TGV from Paris arrives.

Step 5, if you're coming back, book your train from Rome, Florence, Venice (or wherever) to Milan or Turin & add to basket.  If you're making a same-day connection in Milan/Turin, book a train which arrives at least 1 hour before the TGV to Paris leaves.

Travelling from the UK regions

Raileurope can book journeys starting from any British station, not just London.  It allows about an hour for Eurostar check-in.

However, consider booking from London to Italy first, then buying a separate ticket from your local station to London.  There are 2 reasons to do this:  First, you might want a more robust connection between trains in London, say 2 hours.  Second, Raileurope doesn't sell the special tickets to London International CIV which can sometimes save you money in the weekday morning peak, learn about these here .

Child fares & infants

Children under 12 travel at the child rate on Eurostar, on the TGV & on Trenitalia regional trains.

Children under 15 travel at the child rate on Trenitalia's high-speed & intercity trains.

On Eurostar, TGV, Trenitalia & Italo, infants under 4 go free, no need to buy them a ticket, just bring them along.  But they don't get their own seat.

Tip:   You can give an infant their own seat on the Paris-Turin-Milan TGV for €9 with a Billet Bambin .  Simply add the infant to your booking with their correct age.

After booking, you can view & change your Eurostar seats

After you have booked trains between London & Italy using www.raileurope.com , you can go to www.eurostar.com and use the Manage booking feature to view and change your Eurostar seats, see instructions & tips for choosing seats here .

Train seat maps:   Find Eurostar, TGV & Italian train seat maps here .

Or buy at Thetrainline.com

You can also book trains from London to Italy at www.thetrainline.com .

Like Raileurope, it connects to the Eurostar, SNCF (French Railways), Trenitalia (Italian Railways) and Italo ticketing systems so you can easily book all your tickets in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $ with overseas credit cards no problem.  Who are Thetrainline.com?

Most of the Raileurope booking tips above also apply to booking with www.thetrainline.com .

However, Raileurope.com has a killer advantage, you can specify a via station with a stopover duration.  This is really useful for a London-Milan journey where you want to allow sufficient time in Paris.

Thetrainline.com lets you specify a via , but not duration , so I recommend using method 2.

Or book each train separately

Alternatively, you can book each train separately direct from the relevant train operator with no booking fee.  It's more effort than booking everything in one place in plain English at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com and the actual fares are unlikely to be any cheaper, so if you're new to this I'd stick with www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com .  If you want to book each train separately, do a dry run on each site to confirm times, prices & availability before booking for real.

Step 1, book the TGV from Paris to Turin or Milan & back using the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com .

It can be used by anyone from any country, a little more fiddly than Raileurope, but no booking fee and a full range of seating options - it even allows seat selection from a seat map if you're booking 1st class.

Step 2, now book a connecting London-Paris Eurostar at www.eurostar.com .

Or book your Eurostar at www.sncf-connect.com if you prefer.

Allow at least 1 hour southbound between trains in Paris, ideally more.  You simply print your own ticket or can choose to collect it at the station from the e-ticket machines.  There's no booking fee.

By all means choose an earlier Eurostar than the one suggested, or a later one on the way back, if you want to stop off in Paris or if it has cheaper fares available.  Just make sure you always allow at least 60 minutes southbound, 90 minutes northbound, to change trains and stations in Paris, ideally more.

Want to choose your exact seat?  www.eurostar.com allows you to choose an exact seat from a numbered seating plan.  First buy your ticket then after payment use the Manage booking facility to change your seats.  See tips on choosing the best seats on Eurostar .

Travelling from outside London?  Buy a separate ticket up to London to connect with Eurostar, see the advice here .

You can buy Trenitalia tickets from Turin or Milan to other Italian cities at www.italiarail.com (in €, £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in €) or www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (in €, £ or $).  Which of these to use?

The competing Italo trains between Milan and Florence, Rome or Naples can be booked direct with Italo at www.italotreno.it (no booking fee) or at www.raileurope.com (with small booking fee).

Booking for Italian trains opens up to 4 months ahead , but the Europe-wide timetable changes on the 2nd Sunday in June and the 2nd Sunday in December often shorten this to around 2 months.

www.italiarail.com is an agency which links directly to Trenitalia's ticketing system.  Easy to use, in plain English, seat61 receives some commission if you book this way and they'll refund seat61 users their booking fee if you email [email protected] with your PNR.

Trenitalia's own site www.trenitalia.com is also now pretty easy to use, although you'll need to use Italian-language place names such as Firenze for Florence and Napoli for Naples, it has a few quirks, especially confusing translations when booking sleepers, so see this advice on using it .  However, there is no booking fee and it allows specific seat selection on high-speed trains for a small fee.

All these sites sell the same tickets at the same prices and all offer ticketless travel for high-speed, InterCity & sleeper trains, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.  Simples!

Or use an Interrail pass

Pass or point to point?

Let's be clear, a pass will not save money over the cheapest point-to-point advance-purchase fares you might see if you book a few months ahead.  But when point-to-point fares are expensive (for example, at short notice) OR you want flexibility, for example the ability to change your mind, re-route or reschedule as necessary, you can travel from the UK to Italy & back using an Interrail pass.

If flexibility is what you want, buy the pass.  If it's about saving money, you'll have to check point-to-point prices and do the maths.

It's worth doing the maths if you are under 28, if you have kids (kids get a free pass when accompanying an adult but still need to pay reservation fees) or if you live a long way from London (as a pass covers you from your home station to London). Passes are available in 1st & 2nd class.

How to use a pass for a trip to Italy

Step 1, buy a 4-days in 1-month Interrail pass from www.raileurope.com (click Rail passes and select Europe ) or www.interrail.eu for €283 adult, €212 youth or €255 senior.  You load the pass into the Railplanner app on your phone.  See pass prices on the Interrail page .

A 4-day pass is sufficient to get from almost anywhere in mainland Britain to almost anywhere on mainland Italy & back again.

A 4-day pass gives you unlimited train travel on any 4 dates you choose in an overall 1 month period.  The first travel day can be any date you select in the 11 months after buying the pass, the overall 1 month period starts from that date.  Learn about how Interrail passes work here .

Step 2, you need a Eurostar passholder ticket from London to Paris & back, €30 each way.  See prices & how to make Eurostar passholder reservations .  Tip:  Eurostar passholder availability is limited, so check availability before buying a pass .

Step 3, you need a passholder reservation on the Paris-Milan TGV, €31 each way.  See cost of reservations & how to make them .

By all means go out one way, back another, with an Interrail pass you can use almost any of the trains & routes to/from Italy shown on this page, find out how to reserve the relevant trains using the Interrail reservations guide .

Step 4, you need a €13 passholder reservation for each high-speed train you take in Italy, €3 for Intercity trains, no reservation needed for regional trains.  See cost of reservations & how to make them .

Or have your trip arranged as a package

Railbookers are a train travel specialist who can put together a tour, holiday or short break for you as a package with rail travel, hotels & transfers.  Their website offers a range of tours, holidays & breaks to France by rail which can be customised to your requirements.  As you're booking a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens to one part of the itinerary such as a strike or delay.

Their most popular trips include UK to Venice via the Alps , UK to Lake Como via the Alps , UK to Florence via the Alps , UK to Rome via the Alps , UK to Amalfi Coast via the Alps , all of which are customisable to your requirements.  They have offices in the UK, USA & Australia.

Byway ( Byway.travel ) is a new UK-based eco-holiday firm with a 5-star TrustPilot rating .  If you're nervous about booking train travel yourself, they'll book a London-Italy journey for you as a package, including overnight hotels, starting from any British station you like.

To see pre-configured packages from London to Turin, Milan, Venice, Florence, Pisa, Varenna (Lake Como), Rome, Naples or Catania (Sicily), use the journey planner on their website .

Tip:   First book a one-way outward journey to your destination city on your outward date.  Then change the direction of the arrow and book an inward journey on your return date.  The journey back to the UK can be from a different location if you like, for example if you plan to travel around a bit before your return to the UK.

Alternatively they can build a trip to your requirements, email them or use the contact form .  Please say you heard about them from Seat 61.

Byway includes package protection, a 100% Covid refund guarantee, free disruption & re-planning and on-demand WhatsApp support while you're away.

Tailor Made Rail also offers packages from the UK to Italy by train which can be customised your own requirements, one-way or round trip, with any stopovers you want.  Indeed, they can organise a trip for you entirely based on your own requirements, they welcome complex itineraries!  As it's a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens on one part of the trip, for example, a national strike.  They're TTA-protected - like ATOL, but not only for agencies that sell air travel.

Call their dedicated seat61 phone line 020 3778 1461 and quote seat 61 when booking.  From outside the UK call +44 20 3778 1461.  Lines open 09:00-17:30 Monday-Friday.  Their website is www.tailormaderail.com/destinations/italy .

Escorted tours to Italy by train

If you'd prefer to go to Italy on an escorted tour with a convivial group of travellers rather than travelling solo or independently, here are the two UK companies which arrange escorted tours by train from the UK to destinations all over Europe on various dates through the year.  Both companies are part of the same group.

How to buy tickets by phone

What's the journey like .

1. London to Paris by Eurostar

Eurostar trains link London & Paris in 2h20, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in at London St Pancras as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More about Eurostar & check-in procedure .  St Pancras station guide .  Paris Gare du Nord station guide .  How to cross Paris by metro or taxi .

Lunch in Paris at the Train Bleu restaurant?

The trains to Italy leave from the magnificent Gare de Lyon in central Paris.  Why not have lunch (or at least a drink in the bar) at the fabulous Train Bleu Restaurant inside the Gare de Lyon (pictured above right) before catching the train to Turin or Milan?  Paris Gare de Lyon station guide .

2. Paris to Turin or Milan by TGV

SNCF (French Railways) operates three daily 186 mph TGV trains from Paris to Turin & Milan.  Previously operated by Artesia, a consortium of Trenitalia & SNCF, they are now operated entirely by SNCF, officially via a new Italian subsidiary, Società Viaggiatori Italia.  On leaving Paris they sprint over the high-speed line at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) as far as Lyon St Exupéry, but they then slow right down to meander through the scenic Alpine foothills on conventional lines via Chambéry, crossing into Italy at Modane and heading through Turin to Milan.  These TGVs have 1st & 2nd class seats and are air-conditioned with interiors designed by Christian Lacroix.  There's free WiFi, power sockets for laptops and mobiles at every seat, baby-changing facilities and designated spaces for passengers in wheelchairs.  There's a cafe-bar serving drinks, snacks & light meals, or feel free to bring your own food & wine along for the journey.  You can now buy Paris metro tickets from the bar car, too.  1st class TGV passengers can use the Grand Voyageurs 1st class lounge at Paris Gare de Lyon.

3. Turin to Venice, Florence, Rome or Naples by Frecciarossa

Take a Frecciarossa 500 or 1000 from Turin to Florence, Rome or Naples, or a Frecciarossa 700 to Verona or Venice,  All have cafe-bar, power sockets a all seats & free WiFi.  See the Frecciarossa page for more details & photos .

Or try the competition, NTV's Italo

Trenitalia now has competition.  A private company called NTV now runs Italo trains between Milan and Bologna, Florence, Rome and Naples, in competition with State-run operator Trenitalia.  On Italo there are 3 classes:  Smart (2nd class), Prima (1st class) & Club (premium 1st), all with Poltrona Frau leather seats and free WiFi.  More about Italo .  Buy tickets at www.italotreno.it .

Video guide :  Paris to Milan by TGV

IMPORTANT UPDATE:  On 27 August 2023, a landslide in the Alps blocked the Paris-Milan line. All direct Paris-Milan TGV & Frecciarossa services are cancelled until at least the end of 2024.  See the landslide on video .  You can still travel from Paris to Milan via Switzerland, so while the direct line remains blocked, use option 4 instead .  See timetable of alternative Paris-Milan trains .

On 18 December 2021, Trenitalia launched a twice-daily Paris-Turin-Milan Frecciarossa 1000 high-speed train , in competition with SNCF's 3 daily TGVs.  In terms of price, speed, facilities and timings the Frecciarossas are pretty similar to the TGVs ( see a blow-by-blow comparison here ), but the Frecciarossa is the newer and more glamorous train with an interior styled by Pininfarina.  It offers 4 classes, including the luxurious Executive class.

The Frecciarossa arrives at the well-connected (and magnificent) Milan Centrale , not the secondary Milan Porta Garibaldi used by the TGV, so with the Frecciarossa I recommend changing in Milan rather than Turin.

London to Venice is 1,645 km (1,022 miles) by train via this route.  London to Florence is 1,685 km (1,047 miles).  London to Rome is 1,946 km (1,209 miles).

If you want to avoid crossing Paris

The Frecciarossa stops in Lyon, so you can travel London to Lyon with a simple same-station change in Lille, stay overnight, then travel from Lyon to Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome or Naples next day, with no need to cross Paris!   See the journey via Lyon below .

London ► Italy in a single day

Affordable hotels with good or great reviews just outside Milan Centrale include the Hotel Bristol , Hotel Bernina , 43 Station Hotel , B&B Hotel Milano Central Station , Guesthouse Teodora .  Pricier more upmarket hotels include HD8 Hotel , Glam Hotel , Made to Measure Business , Starhotel Echo or Starhotel Anderson .

For Rome & Naples : A Frecciarossa 1000 leaves Milan Centrale at 07:30, arriving Rome Termini 10:40 & Naples Centrale 12:03.

For Verona or Venice :  A Frecciarossa 500 train leaves Milan Centrale at 08:15 arriving Verona Porta Nuova 09:28 & Venice Santa Lucia 10:42. 

Day 1, travel from London to Paris on any evening Eurostar you like

The last one leaves London St Pancras at 20:01 daily arriving Paris Gare du Nord at 23:18, but by all means book an earlier one.

Day 2, travel from Paris to Milan by Frecciarossa , leaving Paris Gare de Lyon 07:25, arriving Turin P. Susa 13:18 & Milan Centrale 14:07.

Day 2, take a train from Milan to anywhere in Italy , check times at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com .

For Rome : A Frecciarossa 1000 leaves Milan Centrale at 14:30, arriving Rome Termini 17:40.

For Naples : A Frecciarossa 1000 leaves Milan Centrale at 15:25, arriving Rome Termini 18:40 & Naples Centrale 20:03.

For Verona or Venice :  A Frecciarossa leaves Milan Centrale at 14:45 arriving Verona Porta Nuova 15:58 & Venice Santa Lucia 17:12.

All these trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi

London ► Italy with overnight stop in Lyon

Day 1, travel from London to Lyon with an easy same-station change in Lille

Leave London St Pancras by Eurostar at 11:04 every day, change at Lille Europe onto a TGV , arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 17:00.

Or daily except Saturdays, leave London St Pancras by Eurostar at 15:04, change at Lille Europe onto a TGV, arriving Lyon Part Dieu at 22:00.

Eurostar and TGV both have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  The TGV by-passes Paris on the high-speed avoiding line.

Stay overnight in Lyon:  The Ibis Budget Lyon Centre - Gare Part Dieu is affordable & right next to Lyon Part Dieu station with good reviews, the Radisson Blu Hotel, Lyon also gets great reviews and is just a few minutes walk away.

Day 2, travel from Lyon to Milan by Frecciarossa , leaving Lyon Part Dieu at 09:30, arriving Turin P. Susa 13:18 & Milan Centrale 14:07.

Day 2, take an onward train from Milan to anywhere in Italy , check times at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com .

For Rome & Naples : A Frecciarossa 1000 leaves Milan Centrale at 15:10, arriving Rome Termini 18:49 & Naples Centrale 20:10.

All these trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Italy ► London in a single day

From Venice or Verona :  A Frecciarossa leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 16:48 & Verona Porta Nuova at 18:02, arriving Milan Centrale 19:15.

This train runs every day.  The Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's a relaxing & comfortable journey, passing directly from France into Italy via Modane and the Mont Cénis tunnel through the Alps, see the scenery photos here .

Italy ► London with overnight stop in Paris

From Venice or Verona :  A Frecciarossa leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 11:48 & Verona Porta Nuova at 13:02, arriving Milan Centrale 14:15.

Day 1, travel from Milan to Paris by Frecciarossa leaving Milan Centrale 15:53 or Turin P. Susa 16:41, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon 22:34.

Day 2, travel from Paris to London next morning on any Eurostar you like

Italy ► London with overnight stop in Lyon

Day 1, travel from Milan to Lyon by Frecciarossa , leaving Milan Centrale 15:53 or Turin P. Susa 16:41, arriving Lyon Part Dieu 20:23.

Day 2, travel from Lyon to London with an easy same-station change in Lille

Leave Lyon Part Dieu at 11:00 by high-speed TGV , change at Lille Europe onto Eurostar , arriving London St Pancras at 15:57.

The TGV & Eurostar both have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  For more details see the Lyon to London section .

Paris to Turin or Milan by Frecciarossa starts at €29 each way in standard (2nd) class, €36 in business (1st) class or €165 in executive class.

Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.  Check the online booking system to see prices for your date of travel.  Children under 4 go free.

Book at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com

Both websites connect to the British, French & Italian ticketing systems, so you can buy all your tickets in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $.  There's a small booking fee.  You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.  About Raileurope.com   About Thetrainline

www.thetrainline.com has a key advantage, you can select seats from a seat map on both the Frecciarossa and onward Italian trains.

Eurostar opens 6 months ahead, sometimes up to 11 months.  Paris-Milan Frecciarossas and onward Italian trains open up to 4 months ahead, but it varies.  I'd wait until your trains are open for sale at least as far as Milan, so you can confirm times & prices before buying a non-refundable Eurostar ticket.  More about when train bookings open .  You can reserve accommodation before booking your trains risk-free if you use www.booking.com with free cancellation.

Fares for Eurostar & Trenitalia long-distance trains are dynamic like air fares, so book early and search for the cheapest departures.  The cheapest tickets may mean no refunds, no changes.

First, browse the train times above and find a departure that suits you, out & back.  By all means go out one way and back another, or go outward direct, back with an overnight stop in Paris, whatever.

Note down each individual train you want to book on what specific date.  Go to www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com .

Step 1, book your chosen Frecciarossa from Paris to Milan, one-way, add to basket.  This is the key train so add it first & confirm times.

Step 2, book your chosen Frecciarossa from Milan to Paris, one-way, and add to basket.  Confirm times.

Step 3, book the Eurostar from London to Paris & back as a round trip and add to basket

Eurostar return fares are significantly cheaper than two one ways, so a round trip on Eurostar should always be booked as a return. 

There are no through tickets, you'll get separate tickets for Eurostar and for the Trenitalia-run trains, so make sure there's plenty of time between trains in Paris.  Trenitalia is not a member of Railteam so the connection in Paris is not protected by HOTNAT (only by the AJC ), so I'd want at least 2 hours between trains in Paris southbound, 2½ hours northbound (including Eurostar check-in).

Step 4, if you are travelling beyond Turin/Milan, book a suitable train from Turin/Milan to Venice, Florence, Rome or wherever, add to basket.

If you're making a same-day connection in Milan, you can book from Paris to your Italian destination as one booking, the system knows how long to allow in Milan and as this is a through ticket you'll be rebooked on a later onward train if the Frecciarossa from Paris is delayed.

Step 5, if you're coming back, book your train from Rome, Florence, Venice (or wherever) to Milan/Turin & add to basket. 

If you're making a same-day connection with the afternoon Frecciarossa from Milan to Paris, book a train which arrives in Milan at least 1 hour before the Frecciarossa leaves.  You could let the system book a through journey to Paris for you, but it will allow a much tighter connection, there's no later train to Paris so you don't want to miss it!

How to book if you're going via Lyon

If you're going out and back via Lille, it's the same basic process.

Step 1, book the Frecciarossa from Lyon to Milan.

Step 2, book the Frecciarossa from Milan to Lyon.

Step 3, book from London to Lyon & back as a round trip.

I recommend booking from London to Italy first, then buying a separate ticket from your local station to London with at least 2 hours between arrival in London and your Eurostar departure. See advice about tickets to London International CIV .

Children under 12 travel at the child rate on Eurostar and on Trenitalia regional trains.

Children under 15 travel at the child rate on the Paris-Milan Frecciarossa and on Trenitalia's high-speed & intercity trains.

On Eurostar & Trenitalia, infants under 4 go free, no need to buy them a ticket, just bring them along.  But they don't get their own seat.

After you have booked a journey between London & France, you can go to www.eurostar.com and use the Manage booking feature to view and change your Eurostar seats, see the instructions and tips for choosing seats here .

Train seat numbering plans

Frecciarossa 1000 seat map .  For other seat maps see the train seating plan page .

A 4-day pass is sufficient to get from almost anywhere in mainland Britain to almost anywhere on mainland Italy & back again.  A 4-day pass gives you unlimited train travel on any 4 dates you choose in an overall 1 month period.  The first travel day can be any date you select in the 11 months after buying the pass, the overall 1 month period starts from that date.  Learn about how Interrail passes work here .

Step 2, you need a Eurostar passholder reservation from London to Paris & back, €30 each way.  See prices & how to make Eurostar passholder reservations .  Tip:  Eurostar passholder availability is limited, so check availability before buying a pass .

Step 3, buy a normal ticket on the Frecciarossa from Paris (or Lyon) to Milan using www.thetrainline.com .  The Frecciarossa isn't covered by Interrail as it's run by subsidiary Trenitalia France which hasn't signed up to the Interrail Scheme.  But as the rival TGV charges a €31 passholder fee and Frecciarossa fares start from €29, this isn't as big an issue as you'd think.  The Frecciarossa's Serenita fares are refundable less 20% and changeable, up to departure, so you still have some flexibility with this bit.

2. Paris to Turin or Milan by Frecciarossa

Trenitalia's Frecciarossa 1000 has 4 classes, Standard, Premium, Business and Executive.  There's a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's capable of 360 km/h (223mph) but in service it's limited to 300km/h (186 mph) on the French & Italian high-speed lines, shown in red on the route map here .  The scenery is the same as for the competing TGV, see photos of the scenery here .

3. Milan to Venice, Florence, Rome or Naples by Frecciarossa

Take a Frecciarossa 500 or 1000 from Milan to Florence, Rome or Naples, or a Frecciarossa 700 to Verona or Venice,  All have cafe-bar, power sockets a all seats & free WiFi.  See the Frecciarossa page for more details & photos .

Option 3 , London to Venice by sleeper

The direct Paris-Venice Thello sleeper was suspended in March 2020 due to the pandemic and then discontinued permanently.  But there's a direct TGV from Paris to Stuttgart and a high-quality Austrian Nightjet sleeper from Stuttgart to Venice - if you're going to Venice, this option may suit you.

London ► Venice

Venice ► london, how much does it cost.

Each train is ticketed separately, so add up the price for each leg of the journey.  On the sleeper train, berths are sold individually, so one ticket means one bed, the other beds in your compartment will be sold to other passengers.  For sole occupancy, simply book 1 ticket in a single-berth sleeper, 2 tickets in a 2-berth sleeper, 4 tickets in a 4-berth couchette & so on.

If you're returning, book the Eurostar as a round trip because Eurostar return fares are significantly cheaper than two one-ways.  With the TGV & sleeper train it doesn't matter, a round trip is simply two one-ways and it can be easier to book one way at a time & add to basket.

Another way to book tickets

What's the journey like.

Eurostar trains link London & Paris in 2h20, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More about Eurostar & check-in procedure .  St Pancras station guide .  Gare du Nord station guide .

2. Paris to Stuttgart by TGV Duplex   See the video guide

In Paris it's an easy 7 minute 500m walk from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de l'Est for the TGV to Germany.  Sit back with a glass of red and enjoy the ride - book an upper deck seat for the best views.  The train is equipped with power sockets for laptops & mobiles at all seats in both classes, and a cafe-bar serves drinks, snacks & microwaved hot dishes.  The train soon leaves the Paris suburbs behind and speeds across a vast wide open plateau of woods & farmland at up to 320 km/h (199 mph), past picturesque French villages of the Champagne region.  An hour or two later, the train leaves the high-speed line and slowly meanders through pretty wooded hills, the countryside eventually flattening out towards Strasbourg.  On leaving Strasbourg, look out for Strasbourg cathedral on the left with its famously missing second tower.  Minutes afterwards you rumble across the river Rhine into Germany, before heading on to Stuttgart.  Paris Gare de l'Est station guide .

3. Stuttgart to Venice by Nightjet sleeper

Option 4, London to Italy via Switzerland

While the direct Paris-Milan line is blocked by a landslide, this route through the Swiss Alps is a scenic alternative.

The Paris-Milan trains featured in options 1 & 2 are the fastest & cheapest trains between Paris & Italy and that route is pretty scenic.  But you can also travel from Paris to Italy via Switzerland, travelling from Paris Gare de Lyon to either Geneva , Lausanne , Basel or Zurich by TGV-Lyria high-speed train in 3h10 -4h05 from €29, then taking a EuroCity train from any of those cities to Milan Centrale in 3h30-4h30, also from €29.  Change at Mussolini's magnificent Milan Centrale for Venice, Florence, Rome or anywhere in Italy.  As with options 1 & 2, you can get from London to Milan in a single day, but a journey from London to Venice, Florence, Rome or Naples requires an overnight stop in either Paris, Switzerland or Milan.

Click here for a summary timetable for London/Paris-Milan journeys via Switzerland .

Incidentally, if it's ultimate Swiss Alpine scenery you're after, go for option 5, the fabulous narrow gauge Bernina Express , at least in one direction.  This is much slower than any of the routes described here, Zurich to Milan on 3 trains in one amazing day instead of one train in 3½ hours - but it's worth it!

TRAVELLING BETWEEN 9 JUNE & 8 SEPTEMBER?  With the route via Modane still blocked, they'd have to be stupid to go ahead and dig up the Simplon route as well, right?  Nope, they're doing trackwork at Stresa as planned which will completely close the Simplon route from 9 June to 8 September 2024.  So in this period, only the journeys shown below via Zurich will work.

London ► Italy (in a day, via Geneva)

Day 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar , leaving London St Pancras at 09:31 arriving Paris Nord 12:50.

By all means book an earlier Eurostar for a more robust connection and time for lunch in Paris, I recommend the celebrated Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon (an experience in itself, but beware of the rum baba).

Day 1, travel from Paris to Geneva by TGV-Lyria , leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 14:18 arriving Geneva at 17:29.

The 300 km/h (186 mph) TGV-Lyria is a double-deck TGV, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

For the last hour the Paris-Geneva TGV takes the Haut-Bugey Line with fabulous scenery, including crossing the Cize-Bolozon viaduct over the Ain gorge, the best view will be on the left hand side, see the scenery photos here .  Book an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number >60 is upper deck.

Day 1, travel from Geneva to Milan by EuroCity train , leaving Geneva at 18:39 and arriving Milan Centrale at 22:40.

This EuroCity Astoro train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Treat yourself to dinner with wine in the restaurant.

This train takes the Simplon route, in summer when it's light it's a lovely scenic ride, see the photos here :  The train runs along the shores of beautiful Lake Leman all the way from Geneva through Lausanne to Montreux.  The lake will be on the right hand side, look out for the impressive Chillon Castle right by the tracks.  The train speeds south across Switzerland, shortly after Brig it enters the famous Simplon Tunnel , 19 km (12 miles) long and opened in 1906.  This was the longest rail tunnel in the world from 1906 until 1982 when a longer tunnel opened in Japan.  When you leave the tunnel you're in Italy, the train calls at Domodossola and descends from the Alps to the plains, running alongside Lake Maggiore before arriving at the imposing Milan Centrale .

Update:   Between June & September 2024 it's possible the Italians will go ahead with trackwork on the Simplon route, if you find this train is cancelled during this period, use a route via Zurich and the Gotthard instead.

Day 2, travel from Milan to anywhere in Italy :  Trains run at least every hour from Milan to Verona, Venice, Florence, Rome & Naples, check times at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com to find one that suits you.

London ► Italy (in a day, via Zurich)

Day 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar , leaving London St Pancras at 07:01 Monday-Friday arriving Paris Nord 10:20 or 07:31 Saturdays arriving Paris Nord 10:48.  No sufficiently robust connection on Sundays.

Day 1, travel from Paris to Zurich by TGV-Lyria , leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 12:22 arriving Zurich HB at 17:29.

The 320 km/h (199 mph) TGV-Lyria is a double-deck TGV, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Day 1, travel from Zurich to Milan by EuroCity train , leaving Zurich HB at 18:33 and arriving Milan Centrale at 22:50.

This EuroCity Giruno train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Treat yourself to dinner with wine in the restaurant.

This train takes the Gotthard route.  In summer when it's light it's a lovely scenic ride through the Alps and along the shore of Lake Lugano and Lake Como.  In late 2023 and early 2024 the Gotthard Base Tunnel remains partially closed following a freight train derailment, trains are taking the old Gotthard route via the original Gotthard Tunnel taking 4h17, a bonus as it's much more scenic.  Check train times online, if a Zurich-Milan train takes 4h17 it's still diverted over the old scenic route, if it takes 3h17 it's using the fast Base Tunnel again.

London ► Italy (overnight in Paris, via Geneva)

Day 1, travel from London to Paris on any evening Eurostar you like.

Change trains & stations in Paris by metro or taxi from the Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon , it's just 2 stops on RER line D.

Stay overnight in Paris .  The Mercure Paris Gare De Lyon is part of the Gare de Lyon station complex, ideal for catching an early train next morning and great reviews for staff, cleanliness & comfort.  Other recommended hotels near the Gare de Lyon include the Citizen M Hotel (a 2-minute 160m walk from the station, great reviews, 4-star); Hotel Terminus Lyon (in front of the station, 3-star);  Mercure Paris Gare de Lyon (on the station itself, 4-star); Novotel Paris Gare de Lyon (opposite the station, 4-star);  Hotel 26 Faubourg (5 min walk from Gare de Lyon, 2-star).

Day 2, travel from Paris to Geneva by TGV-Lyria , leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 08:18 arriving Geneva at 11:39.

The 320 km/h (199 mph) TGV-Lyria is a double-deck TGV, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Book an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number >60 is upper deck.

Day 2, travel from Geneva to Milan by EuroCity train , leaving Geneva at 13:39 and arriving Milan Centrale at 17:40.

This train takes the Simplon route.  It's a lovely scenic ride, see the photos here :  The train runs along the shores of beautiful Lake Leman all the way from Geneva through Lausanne to Montreux.  The lake will be on the right hand side, look out for the impressive Chillon Castle right by the tracks.  The train speeds south across Switzerland, shortly after Brig it enters the famous Simplon Tunnel , 19 km (12 miles) long and opened in 1906.  This was the longest rail tunnel in the world from 1906 until 1982 when a longer tunnel opened in Japan.  When you leave the tunnel you're in Italy, the train calls at Domodossola and descends from the Alps to the plains, running alongside Lake Maggiore before arriving at the imposing Milan Centrale .

Day 2, travel from Milan to anywhere in Italy ...

For Verona, leave Milan Centrale by Frecciarossa 700 at 18:45 arriving Verona Porta Nuova at 19:58.

For Venice, leave Milan Centrale by Frecciarossa 700 at 19:15 arriving Venice Santa Lucia at 21:42.

For Florence, leave Milan Centrale by Frecciarossa 1000 at 18:10 arriving Florence SMN at 20:04.

For Rome, leave Milan Centrale by Frecciarossa 1000 at 18:10 arriving Rome Termini at 21:49.

For Naples, leave Milan Centrale by Frecciarossa 1000 at 18:10 arriving Naples Centrale at 23:13.

All these high-speed trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

London ► Italy (overnight in Paris, via Zurich)

Day 2, travel from Paris to Zurich by TGV-Lyria , leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 07:22 arriving Zurich HB at 11:26.

Day 2, travel from Zurich to Milan by EuroCity train , leaving Zurich HB at 12:33 and arriving Milan Centrale at 16:50.

This EuroCity Giruno train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

The train takes the Gotthard route, a lovely scenic ride through the Alps and along the shore of Lake Lugano and Lake Como.  In late 2023 and early 2024 the Gotthard Base Tunnel remains partially closed following a freight train derailment, trains are taking the old Gotthard route via the original Gotthard Tunnel taking 4h17, a bonus as it's much more scenic.  Check train times online, if a Zurich-Milan train takes 4h17 it's still diverted over the old scenic route, if it takes 3h17 it's using the fast Base Tunnel again.

For Verona, leave Milan Centrale by Frecciarossa 700 at 17:45 arriving Verona Porta Nuova at 18:58.

For Florence, leave Milan Centrale by Frecciarossa 1000 at 17:10 arriving Florence SMN at 19:04.

For Rome, leave Milan Centrale by Frecciarossa 1000 at 17:10 arriving Rome Termini at 20:50.

For Naples, leave Milan Centrale by Frecciarossa 1000 at 17:10 arriving Naples Centrale at 22:13.

London ► Italy (overnight in Zurich)

Day 1, travel from London to Zurich using any of the departures shown on the London to Switzerland page .

You travel from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord by Eurostar in 2h20, change trains & stations in Paris, then take a 320 km/h double-deck TGV-Lyria from Paris Gare de Lyon to Zurich HB in 4h05.  You can leave London as late as 12:31.

Italy ► London (in a day, via Basel)

Day 1, travel from anywhere in Italy to Milan .   Trains run at least every hour from Naples, Rome, Florence, Venice & Verona to Milan, check times at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com to find one that suits you.

This EuroCity Astoro train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

The train takes the Simplon route.  You'll get great views over Lake Maggiore before climbing into the Alps and passing through the famous Simplon Tunnel , 19 km (12 miles) long and opened in 1906, the longest rail tunnel in the world from 1906 until 1982.  Shortly after Brig, the train passes through the 34 km (21 mile) Lötschberg Base Tunnel and the route through Spiez & Bern to Basel.

Day 2, travel from Basel to Paris by TGV-Lyria , leaving Basel SBB at 12:34 arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 15:40.

The 320 km/h (199 mph) TGV-Lyria is a double-deck TGV Duplex, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Book an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number >60 is upper deck.

Day 2, travel from Paris to London by Eurostar , leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 18:12 and arriving London St Pancras 19:39.

Italy ► London (in a day, via Zurich)

The train takes the Gotthard route.  It's a lovely scenic ride through the Alps and along the shore of Lake Como and Lake Lugano.  In late 2023 and early 2024 the Gotthard Base Tunnel remains partially closed following a freight train derailment, trains are taking the old Gotthard route via the original Gotthard Tunnel taking 4h17, a bonus as it's much more scenic.  Check train times online, if a Milan-Zurich train takes 4h17 it's still diverted over the old scenic route, if it takes 3h17 it's using the fast Base Tunnel again.

Day 2, travel from Zurich to Paris by TGV-Lyria , leaving Zurich HB at 14:34 arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 17:38.

Day 2, travel from Paris to London by Eurostar , leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 20:12 and arriving London St Pancras 21:30.

Italy ► London (overnight in Paris)

Day 1, travel from anywhere in Italy to Milan.

Leave Naples Centrale by Frecciarossa 1000 at 06:55 (06:40 Sundays) arriving Milan Centrale at 11:35 (11:50 Sundays).

Leave Rome Termini by Frecciarossa 1000 at 08:50 arriving Milan Centrale at 11:58.

Leave Florence SMN by Frecciarossa 500 at 09:55 arriving Milan Centrale at 11:50.

Leave Venice Santa Lucia by Frecciarossa 700 at 07:18 arriving Milan Centrale at 09:45.

Leave Verona Porta Nuova by Frecciarossa at 10:32 arriving Milan Centrale at 11:45.

Day 1, travel from Milan to Zurich by EuroCity train , leaving Milan Centrale at 13:10 and arriving Zurich HB at 17:27.

This EuroCity Giruno train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Treat yourself to lunch as the mountains roll by.

This train also calls at Como S. Giovanni at 13:50, handy if you're returning from Como to London.

Day 1, travel from Zurich to Paris by TGV-Lyria , leaving Zurich HB at 18:34 arriving Paris Gare de Lyon at 22:42.

Day 2, travel from Paris to London on any morning Eurostar you like.

Italy ► London (overnight in Zurich)

These trains take the Gotthard route.  It's a lovely scenic ride through the Alps and along the shore of Lake Como and Lake Lugano.  In late 2023 and early 2024 the Gotthard Base Tunnel remains partially closed following a freight train derailment, trains are taking the old Gotthard route via the original Gotthard Tunnel taking 4h17, a bonus as it's much more scenic.  Check train times online, if a Milan-Zurich train takes 4h17 it's still diverted over the old scenic route, if it takes 3h17 it's using the fast Base Tunnel again.

Day 1, travel from Zurich to London using any of the departures shown on the London to Switzerland page .

You travel by 320 km/h double-deck TGV-Lyria from Zurich HB to Paris Gare de Lyon in 4h05, change trains & stations in Paris, then travel from Paris Gare du Nord to London St Pancras by Eurostar in 2h20.  If you leave Zurich at 07:34 you can reach London at 16:39.

You can buy all your tickets together in one place at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com .

Each train requires a separate ticket, but www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com can book each of these trains as they connect to the British, French and Italian train ticketing systems.  Both are easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards accepted, there's a small booking fee.  Eurostar & TGVs have print-at-home or show-on-phone tickets and Italian high-speed trains are ticketless, you simply print out the booking reference or show it on your phone.

Tip:   www.thetrainline.com now allows you to select seats from a seat map when booking 1st class on a TGV-Lyria or any class on a Trenitalia Frecciarossa.

Eurostar bookings open up to 6 months ahead, sometimes longer.  TGV-Lyria opens up to 4 months ahead, but I recommend waiting until TGV-Lyria opens for sale so you can buy all your tickets together and check TGV-Lyria's arrival/departure times before buying a non-refundable Eurostar ticket.  Switzerland-Italy EuroCity trains open for bookings 3 or 4 months ahead.  The booking horizon is squeezed to as little as 60 days for travel on dates immediately after the annual European timetable change in mid-December.

One-way or round trip?

If you are returning, the London-Paris Eurostar should be booked as a round trip because Eurostar return fares are significantly cheaper than two one ways.  Beyond Paris, all trains are one-way ticketed so a return is simply two one-ways and it makes no difference how you book.  I find it easier to book one train at a time, one way at a time.

How to book?

Identify each of the specific trains you want to book and note them down.  Do a dry run first to check all train times.  Then book from London to Paris (and back, if returning) and add to basket.  Now book each of the other trains you need, one way at a time, one train at a time.  Add each train to your basket then check out.

Other ways to buy tickets

You can of course buy tickets from each of the relevant train operators' own websites.  This means multiple bookings on different websites, the prices should be the same, but there's no booking fee.  I recommend doing a dry run on all websites before booking for real.

Step 1, book your London-Paris tickets at www.eurostar.com .  You can print out your own ticket, collect it at London St Pancras or load it into the Eurostar app to show on your phone.

Step 2, book your Paris-Switzerland TGV-Lyria ticket at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com .  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.  You can select your seats from a seat map when booking a 1st class ticket.

Step 3, book tickets from Geneva, Lausanne, Basel or Zurich to anywhere in Italy at either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in plain English, they'll refund seat61 users the €3.50 booking fee if you email [email protected] ) or www.trenitalia.com (requires Italian-language place names, see this advice on using it ).  Both sites sell the same tickets at the same prices and both offer ticketless travel for mainline trains, you print the booking reference or show it on your phone.  You can select your seats from a seat map on Frecciarossas using either of these sites.

Railbookers are a train travel specialist who can put together a holiday as a package, including rail travel, hotels & transfers.  Their website has a range of suggested tours & holidays by rail which can be varied or customised to your requirements.  As you're booking a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens to one part of the itinerary such as a strike or delay.  Their most popular trips include UK to Venice via the Alps , UK to Lake Como via the Alps , UK to Florence via the Alps , UK to Rome via the Alps , UK to Amalfi Coast via the Alps , all of which are customisable to add extra nights or extra cities, with train travel on the outward or return journey, or by train throughout with no flying necessary, it's up to you.  They now have offices in the UK, USA & Australia.

Byway ( Byway.travel ) is a new UK-based eco-holiday firm, with a 5-star TrustPilot rating .  If you're nervous about booking train travel yourself, they'll book a London-Italy journey for you as a package, including overnight hotels, starting from any British station you like.  Byway includes package protection, a 100% Covid refund guarantee, free disruption & re-planning and on-demand WhatsApp support while you're away.

They can build a trip to your requirements if you email them or use this contact form .  Please say you heard about them from Seat 61.

Eurostar trains link London & Paris in 2h20, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More about Eurostar & check-in procedure .  St Pancras station guide .  Paris Gare du Nord station guide .  How to cross Paris by metro or taxi .

2. Paris to Geneva, Lausanne, Basel or Zurich by TGV-Lyria

All TGV-Lyrias are now double-deck TGV Duplex as shown here , with 3 classes:  Standard class (2nd), standard premiere (1st class) and business premiere (1st class with hot meal & drinks included in the fare).  There's a cafe-bar car selling drinks & snacks.  There are power points for mobiles & laptops at all seats in all classes.  Lyria is a consortium of the French and Swiss national railways, see more about TGV-Lyria .  Paris Gare de Lyon station guide .  Geneva station guide .

3. Geneva, Lausanne, Basel or Zurich to Milan by EuroCity train

Trains from Zurich to Milan are operated by smart Swiss Giruno trains , trains from Geneva to Milan are operated by Italian or Swiss Astoro trains .  Both have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, a pleasure to travel on.  More about these EuroCity trains .  Geneva station guide .  Lausanne station guide .  Basel SBB station guide .  Zurich HB station guide .  Milan Centrale station guide .

Villages & vineyards on the Zurich-Milan Gotthard route on a wintry day.

Lake Lugano , seen from a Milan to Zurich train on the Gotthard route.

This is a much slower option than the others, but you can still leave London on day 1 afternoon, arriving Milan on day 2 in the afternoon, after a slow and fabulous journey on the narrow-gauge Bernina Express from Chur to Tirano through the Swiss Alps.  See the Bernina Express page .

You may prefer some German and Austrian efficiency on your way to Italy, as well as some great scenery, see the Brenner route video .  Travel London to Munich by Eurostar & TGV on day 1, stay overnight, then travel through the Brenner Pass to Italy on day 2.  It may look like a long way round on the route map above , but cheap fares and high-quality German and Austrian-run trains now make this an attractive option.

London ► Italy

Italy  ► london.

Paris to Munich by TGV starts at €39 each way in 2nd class, or from €69 in 1st class.

Munich to Verona, Bologna or Venice by EuroCity train starts at €37.90 each way in 2nd class, €69.90 in 1st class.

On both the Paris-Munich and Munich-Verona legs, accompanied children under 15 go free if you book at int.bahn.de .

Onward tickets from Verona to Florence start at €19.90 each way 2nd class, €29.90 in 1st class.  Verona to Rome or Naples starts at €29.90 each way 2nd class, €39.90 in 1st class.

To book the easy way with all your tickets booked together in one place, in €, £ or £, use www.raileurope.com .

Step 1, book London-Paris then Paris-Munich at www.raileurope.com .

Step 2, book from Munich to anywhere in Italy at www.raileurope.com . 

Add each leg to your basket, then checkout and pay.  International credit cards are accepted and you print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.  For Italian high-speed trains it's ticketless, you simply print out the booking reference or show it on your phone.  There's a small booking fee.

If you are returning, London-Paris is best booked as a round trip because Eurostar return fares are significantly cheaper than two one ways.  Beyond Paris, all the onward trains are one-way ticketed so a return is simply two one-ways and it makes no difference how you book.  You may find it easier to book one direction at a time.

Important tip:   www.raileurope.com will easily book the direct trains from Munich to Verona, Venice or Bologna on a direct train.  But if your journey involves a change of train within Italy, for example to Florence, Rome or Naples, add a via station like this:  Before running the Munich to Italy enquiry, click More options , enter Verona (any station) as a via station, enter duration of 45 minutes to ensure a robust connection.  The 09:34 from Munich goes direct to Bologna, so if you want the 09:34 use Bologna Centrale instead of Verona if you're going to Florence, Rome or Naples.

You can also book each train separately.  It shouldn't make any difference to the price and it's more work, but there's no booking fee:

Book London-Paris at www.eurostar.com , then book Paris-Munich at int.bahn.de and Munich-Verona/Bologna/Venice as a second transaction at int.bahn.de .  You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.

Note that int.bahn.de will only book the direct EuroCity trains from Munich to Verona, or the once-daily direct trains to Bologna or Venice.  If you want to travel to Venice or Bologna with a change of train in Verona, or to Florence or Rome with a change of train in Verona or Bologna, you should use int.bahn.de to book the direct EuroCity train from Munich to Verona or Bologna, then use either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in plain English, they'll refund seat61 users the €3.50 booking fee if you email [email protected] with your PNR) or www.trenitalia.com (requires Italian-language place names and has a few quirks so see this advice on using it , no booking fee) to book the onward train from Bologna to Florence, Bologna to Rome or Verona to Venice and back.

2. Paris to Munich by TGV Duplex   See the TGV Duplex video

Sit back with a glass of red and enjoy the ride - book an upper deck seat for the best views.  The TGV has power sockets for laptops & mobiles at all seats in both classes, and a cafe-bar serves drinks, snacks & microwaved hot dishes.  First class passengers on this route are given a simple but tasty meal box with a small bottle of beer or wine served at their seat, included in the fare.  The train soon leaves the Paris suburbs behind and speeds across a vast wide open plateau of woods and farmland at up to 320 km/h (199 mph), past picturesque French villages of the Champagne region.  After an hour or two, the train leaves the high-speed line and slowly meanders through pretty wooded hills, the countryside eventually flattening out towards Strasbourg.  On leaving Strasbourg, look out for Strasbourg cathedral on the left with its famously missing second tower.  Minutes afterwards you rumble across the river Rhine into Germany, before heading on to Stuttgart and Munich.  Paris Gare de l'Est station guide .  Munich Hbf station guide .

3. Munich to Verona by EuroCity train

These spacious and comfortable EuroCity trains are run by the German & Austrian railways using Austrian carriages.  There's an elegant Austrian restaurant car serving affordable drinks, snacks and meals.  There are power sockets at most though not all seats.  The highlight is passing through the superb scenery of the Brenner Pass between Innsbruck & Verona, with mountains either side of the train, see the video below .  More photos & information about the Brenner Pass EuroCity trains .

Watch the video: Through the Brenner

Option 7, via the harwich - hoek van holland ferry.

The ferry alternative!  If Eurostar fares are expensive, or if you want to avoid the Channel Tunnel, for example if you suffer from claustrophobia, you can travel by train & ferry instead.  At first glance, the obvious route seems to be Dover-Calais, and if you want to travel this way, see the London to Paris by train & ferry page .  Once in Paris you can pick up any of the routes to Italy shown above.  However, I don't recommend this route unless you live near Dover as it lacks integrated ticketing and involves awkward bus or taxi transfers between train & ferry on both sides of the Channel.

Instead, I recommend the Harwich to Hoek van Holland route, marked in black on the route map above .  This is the best ferry route to use, with integrated ticketing and trains arriving directly at the ferry terminal.  It's also a great option if you live in East Anglia, with a direct train connection from Cambridge to Harwich connecting with the overnight ferry.  Indeed, you may simply prefer a relaxing cruise overnight on the Stena Line superferry in a luxury en suite cabin with shower, toilet, satellite TV & free WiFi, see the Stena Line Rail & Sail page & watch the video .

London, Cambridge & Harwich ► Italy

You leave London Liverpool Street at 18:45 Mondays-Fridays, 19:36 Saturdays or 20:00 Sundays by direct train to Harwich International.

You leave Cambridge at 19:47 Mondays-Saturdays or 19:45 on Sundays by direct train to Harwich International.

At Harwich, the station is right next to the ferry terminal and you walk off the train into the terminal, check in at the Stena Line desk and walk straight onto Stena Line's luxurious overnight superferry Stena Hollandica to Hoek van Holland.

The ferry sails at 23:00 and arrives at Hoek van Holland at 08:00 next morning, Dutch time.

All passengers travel in cosy private cabins with en suite toilet & shower & satellite TV.  Deluxe Comfort class & Captains class cabins are also available, and there's free WiFi in the lounges, restaurants & bars on 9 deck.  You can get on board the ferry around 9pm, have a late dinner in the restaurant and settle into your cabin.

This comfortable Austrian Nightjet train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There's a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers.  The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and an ordinary seats car.  See the Nightjet page for a guide to on-board accommodation, travel tips, photos & video .

Italy ► Harwich, Cambridge & London

Day 2, travel from Stuttgart to Amsterdam on ICE trains , leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 09:23, changing at Cologne Hbf & arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 15:29.  The ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

Day 2, travel from Amsterdam to London overnight by Stena Line Rail & Sail .

You leave Amsterdam Centraal at 18:35 by Dutch intercity train to Schiedam Centrum and change onto the frequent metro to Hoek van Holland Haven.  At Hoek, the metro station is next to the ferry terminal.  Check in at the Stena Line desk and walk up the gangway onto the luxurious Stena Line superferry Stena Britannica and sail overnight to Harwich in a cosy private cabin with shower, toilet & satellite TV.

The ferry sails from Hoek van Holland at 22:00 and arrives at Harwich International at 06:30 next morning (day 3), UK time.  Day 3, take a train from Harwich to London Liverpool Street arriving around 08:56, or from Harwich to Cambridge arriving 09:41 (10:39 on Sundays).  See the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for full details .

Step 1, buy a Stena Line Rail & Sail ticket from London to Hoek van Holland online as shown on the Stena Line Rail & Sail page .

Buy the onward metro & train ticket to Amsterdam as shown on that page.

Alternatively, stay in Munich & take a daytime train next day

1. London to Amsterdam by train & ferry

A train takes you from London's Liverpool Street station directly to the ferry terminal at Harwich.  You walk off the train, into the terminal, get your boarding card & cabin key at the Stena Line check-in desk and walk straight onto the overnight ferry to Hoek van Holland.  The superferry Stena Hollandica is the largest ferry of its kind in the world.  All passengers travel in private cabins with shower, toilet & satellite TV.  There's a self-service restaurant if you want a late dinner, and there are cafes and bars.  There's free WiFi in the public areas on 9 deck.  The journey from London to Holland is explained in detail on the Stena Line Rail & Sail page .  See the video .

The Stena Britannica at boarding at Harwich, a floating hotel with private cabins, restaurant, bar, lounges, shop & kennels.

Above left, a standard outside cabin.  Larger photo .   360º photo .  Above right, the Stena Plus lounge with complimentary red & white wine, tea, coffee & snacks.

Above left, the bar on 9 deck. Above right, a Captain's Class cabin with complimentary minibar, toilet & shower.

2. Amsterdam to Stuttgart by ICE

ICEs are German Railways' premier trains, with 1st & 2nd class, a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

3. Stuttgart to Venice by Nightjet sleeper train

This modern sleeper train is a pleasure to travel on, whether in the privacy of your own sleeper or in economical couchettes.

Option 8, via the Portsmouth - Caen ferry

This route is ideal if you live on the south coast.  It's also a good alternative to Eurostar from London if you want to avoid the Channel Tunnel or if Eurostar is expensive (for example, at short notice) - although the train/ferry/train transfers are much easier via Harwich & Hoek van Holland as stations & ferry terminals are integrated, on the Portsmouth-Caen route a taxi transfer is needed between train & ferry in Portsmouth, and a bus or taxi transfer in Caen.

Step 1, travel from London or Portsmouth to Paris overnight by train & ferry.

You leave London around 18:00 by train to Portsmouth, take a taxi to the Continental Ferry Port and sail overnight from Portsmouth to Caen with Brittany Ferries, sleeping in a cosy private cabin with shower & toilet 22:45-06:45.  Next morning, transfer to Caen station by bus or taxi and take a train into Paris St Lazare , arriving around 11:05.  Transfer from Paris St Lazare to Paris Gare de Lyon by taxi or metro .

Step 2, travel from Paris to Turin or Milan on the afternoon TGV or Frecciarossa through the French Alps.  Stay overnight in Turin and take an onward train to Venice, Florence, Rome or Naples next morning.

For details of the Paris-Italy journey see here for Paris-Venice , here for Paris-Florence , here for Paris-Rome & here for Paris-Naples .

You can take a train up to London and travel from London to Italy as described above, of course, and this is often the easiest and fastest option.  If you want to do this, read this advice on buying connecting train tickets up to London .  But DFDS Seaways run an excellent daily overnight cruise ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam, and P&O Ferries sail overnight from Hull to Holland.  Then there's a Nightjet sleeper from Cologne to Innsbruck for onward EuroCity trains through the scenic Brenner Pass to Italy.  So why not by-pass London, and have a day in Amsterdam into the bargain before travelling on to Italy?

Newcastle & Hull ► Italy

Day 1, take a train to either Hull or Newcastle, whichever is most convenient for where you live.

In Hull, transfer to P&O ferry terminal and sail overnight from Hull to Rotterdam by P&O cruise ferry, with bus/train connection to Amsterdam Centraal.  The ferry has bars, restaurants & cosy en suite cabins.  For details of schedule, fares & tickets, see the Hull-Rotterdam page .

In Newcastle, transfer to the DFDS ferry terminal at North Shields and sail overnight from Newcastle to Amsterdam by DFDS Seaways cruise ferry.  The ferry has bars, restaurants & cosy en suite cabins.  For details of schedule, fares & tickets see the Newcastle-Amsterdam page .

Day 2, spend the rest of the day in Amsterdam, all the sights are an easy walk from Amsterdam Centraal .  Left luggage lockers are available .

Italy ► Hull & Newcastle

Day 1, travel from anywhere in Italy to Innsbruck via the scenic Brenner Pass.  You can check train times at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com , I'd allow at least an hour between trains in Innsbruck.  For example, the 13:35 from Venice Santa Lucia arrives Innsbruck Hbf at 18:36.

Day 1, take the Nightjet sleeper train leaving Innsbruck Hbf at 20:44 and arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 09:59 next morning.

Spend some time in Amsterdam, left luggage lockers are available at Amsterdam Centraal .

Day 2, travel overnight by cruise ferry either with P&O Ferries from Rotterdam to Hull or with DFDS Seaways from IJmuiden (near Amsterdam) to Newcastle, whichever is most convenient for where you live.  Next morning (day 3) transfer to the station and take a train home.

For details of timetables, fares & how to buy tickets from Amsterdam to the UK via these ferry routes, see the Hull-Rotterdam page or the Newcastle-Amsterdam page .

Fares & how to buy tickets

Step 1, start with the ferry.  Go to www.dfds.com for Newcastle-Amsterdam, www.poferries.com for Hull-Rotterdam.

Step 2, book the Amsterdam-Innsbruck sleeper train at www.thetrainline.com , looking for the direct Nightjet train with 0 changes.

Fares start at €49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, €59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, €89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, €109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or €159.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself, all per person per berth.

Step 3, book the train from Innsbruck to Verona or Bologna from €39 at either int.bahn.de or www.thetrainline.com .

Step 4, book onward trains within Italy at either www.thetrainline.com or www.italiarail.com (they'll refund the small booking fee to seat61 users if you email them at [email protected] with your PNR) or Italian Railways' own site www.trenitalia.com , looking for cheap super-economy or economy fares from Milan to Florence, Rome, Naples or Venice from just €19.90 upwards.  Both sites sell the same tickets at the same prices and both usually offer ticketless travel, you simply print out the booking reference or show it on your phone.  However, Italiarail.com is in plain English and happily accepts English place names, whereas Trenitalia.com requires Italian-language place names, for example 'Roma' for Rome, 'Napoli' for Naples, 'Firenze' for Florence, 'Venezia Santa Lucia' for Venice and has a few quirks, although one advantage is that it allows you to select specific seats.

Step 5, now buy train tickets to Hull or Newcastle as shown on the UK page or use www.nationalrail.co.uk .

You sail overnight by cruise ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam (DFDS) or Hull to Rotterdam (P&O), with private en suite cabins, restaurants, bars, cinema, a floating hotel.  If travelling with DFDS from Newcastle, a transfer bus takes you from IJmuiden ferry terminal to Amsterdam Centraal station next morning.  If travelling with P&O from Hull, a transfer bus takes you from Rotterdam Europoort ferry terminal to Rotterdam Centraal , from where frequent Dutch trains run to Utrecht.

Option 10, by Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

London to lake como.

Como is such a popular lakeside destination!!  Como San Giovanni is the mainline station on the Zurich-Milan main line, also linked to Milan Centrale by frequent regional train.  On the other hand, destinations on the eastern side of Lake Como, such as Lecco, Varenna (for the ferry to Bellagio), and Bellano are on a local line linking Milan Centrale with Tirano near the Swiss border.

To reach Como San Giovanni there are two basic options:

By all means stay overnight in Milan and see a bit of the city next morning.  Regional trains link Milan Centrale and Como San Giovanni every hour throughout the day, fare €4.80, use www.trenitalia.com to find train times.  No reservation is possible or necessary for these regional trains, just buy a ticket and hop on the next train.

To reach Lecco, Varenna (for ferry to Bellagio), Bellano:

Option 1, first travel from the UK to Milan by Eurostar & TGV as shown in the London to Milan section above , stay overnight in Milan (or Turin if you prefer), then take a regional train from Milan Centrale next morning.  You can check times for these regional trains at www.trenord.it .

Option 2, Bernina Express:   It may be slower and a bit more expensive, but it's the ultimate scenic route from the UK to Bellano, Varenna or Lecco.  You take Eurostar & TGV from London to Zurich on day 1, stay overnight, on day 2 you take the fabulous Bernina Express Swiss panoramic train to Tirano and a connecting regional train from Tirano to these Lake Como destinations.  See the Bernina Express page for details .

For Lake Como ferry services, including the ferries to Bellagio & excursions, see www.navigazionelaghi.it

London to Lake Garda

Take the scenic route from London to Verona via Munich, as shown in the London to Italy via Munich section above .

You take Eurostar to Paris, a high-speed TGV from Paris to Munich, stay overnight then take a EuroCity train through the lovely Brenner Pass to Verona.

For Lake Garda ferry services, including excursions, see www.navigazionelaghi.it

London to Pisa, Siena, Lucca, Modena, Ravenna, Livorno

Pisa is famous for its leaning tower, Siena for simply being a fabulous city in the heart of Tuscany.  They are easy to reach by train from London, no flight necessary.

London ► Siena, Pisa, Lucca, Livorno

In Siena, the station is at the foot of the hill and it used to be a steep trek up to the old town.  However, there's now a series of modern escalators and moving walkways that ferry you painlessly to the top of the hill, from where it's just a minute or two walk to the Porta Camollia at the entrance to the old town.  From the Porta Camollia it's a pleasant 15 minute stroll to the famous Piazza del Campo .

London ► Modena, Ravenna

What are regional trains like.

Italian regional trains come in many different shapes & sizes.  Below, trains of this type link Florence with Pisa, Livorno & Siena.

London to Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri , Ischia, & Elba

Sorrento, pompeii & herculaneum.

Travel from London to Naples using any of the options shown in the London to Naples section .

Then take the Circumvesuviana Railway ( www.eavsrl.it ) from Naples to Herculaneum (Ercolano), Pompeii or Sorrento.  These little narrow-gauge electric suburban trains run every 30 minutes throughout the day, no reservation necessary (or even possible), you just buy a ticket at the station and hop on.

The Circumvesuviana trains leave from Naples Garibaldi station, downstairs from Naples Centrale where your mainline train arrives.  Just follow the signs to Circumvesuviana , it's round a corner at the side of the concourse, along a passageway and the Circumvesuviana platforms are half-underground round the back.  Don't follow signs to Piazza Garibaldi as this is another set of mainline platforms in the same triple-station complex, it's Circumvesuviana you want.

Naples to Pompeii costs around €3.20, journey time 40 minutes.  Naples to Sorrento €4.50, journey time 55-65 minutes.

The Circumvesuviana trains are old and have no air-con, but some new air-conditioned trains are now in service.  You'll get great views of the Bay of Naples and Vesuvius on the way to Sorrento.  Outside the weekday rush hours it's not usually crowded, there are lots of seats, frequent trains and it's very easy to use.  Luggage just goes on the floor.

You can check train times on the Circumvesuviana Railway website www.eavsrl.it , and can check fares at public transport website www.unicocampania.it -if you can work out how to use it!  Note that the Circumvesuviana is a private railway, separate from Trenitalia, so railpasses and ordinary Trenitalia tickets are not valid.  For the same reason you won't find train times & fares to Pompeii or Sorrento on www.trenitalia.com , although there's another (less convenient) Pompeii station on a regional route run by Trenitalia, but this is further from the ruins.

For more about visiting Pompeii by train, see the Pompeii page .  That page also explains how to take a bus to the summit of Vesuvius.

First, travel from London to Naples using any of the options explained in the London to Naples section .

Then take a taxi or walk (about 29 minutes walk) from Naples Centrale to Naples Beverello ferry quay.  Fast ferries taking just 45 minutes link Naples Beverello with Capri every hour or two between 07:00 &18:00, see www.snav.it for times & fares.

The ferry costs around €20.10, plus a euro or two for each item of large luggage.  No pre-booking is necessary for the ferry, just turn up and buy a ticket.

Alternatively, you can take the local Circumvesuviana Railway to Sorrento ( www.eavsrl.it ), from where there are regular ferries to Capri, crossing time about 25 minutes, fare €18.10.  Just be aware that it's a longish steep walk from Sorrento Circumvesuviana station down the hill to the ferry terminal.

Ferries from both Naples & Sorrento arrive at Capri's busy Marina Grande , there's a funicular railway up the steep hillside to Capri town itself.  Bring plenty of money to Capri, even a small beer costs over €7!

Then take a taxi or walk (about 29 minutes walk) from Naples Centrale to Naples Beverello ferry quay.

Sail from Naples to Porto Ischia with either www.caremar.it (sailings every hour or two, crossing time 45 minutes by fast ferry or 90 minutes by conventional ferry) or www.alilauro.it .

First, travel from London to Florence using any of the options explained in the London to Florence section .

Then take a local train from Florence SMN to Piombino Marittima via Pisa and Campiglia.  www.trenitalia.com will give you train times.  Moby Lines ( www.moby.it ) sail every hour or so from Piombino to Portoferraio on Elba, crossing time 1 hour, foot passengers €12 one-way.

London to Salerno & the Amalfi coast

Step 1, travel from London to Naples using any of the options explained in the London to Naples section .

Many of the Frecciarossas from Turin or Milan to Naples continue beyond Naples to Salerno, so try booking it to Salerno.

You can check train times & fares and buy tickets from anywhere in Italy to Salerno at either www.italiarail.com (they'll refund the small booking fee to seat61 users if you email them at [email protected] with your PNR) or Italian Railways' own site www.trenitalia.com .  Private train operator Italo also goes direct from Milan or Florence to Salerno several times daily, buy tickets at www.italotreno.it .

Step 2, regular SITA buses link Salerno with Amalfi, running every hour or better between 06:00 & 22:30 on Mondays-Saturdays, slightly less frequently on Sundays, journey time 1h15, fare about €2.20 one-way, you buy a ticket at the tobacconists shop inside Salerno station.

To check bus timetables, see www.sitasudtrasporti.it (in Italian only, click Orari then Campania ).  To check fares, you'll need to use public transport site www.unicocampania.it , click English top right then Fares & Tickets .

Alternatively, a nicer option is to take a ferry from Salerno to Amalfi or Positano, see www.coopsantandrea.com .  These small coastal ferries sail from Salerno's Concordia dock, a 650m 8-minute walk from Salerno railway station, journey time 35 minutes to Amalfi, or 70 minutes to Positano.  This is a pleasant way to go and in summer it avoids the heavy traffic on the coastal road.

At time of writing, they had departures from Salerno at 08:40, 09:40, 10:40, 11:40, 14:10 & 15:30, with additional sailings at 13:00, 16:40 & 18:00 via Cetara/Maiori taking 60 minutes to Amalfi, but check www.coopsantandrea.com for current timings.  Fare around €9 Salerno to Amalfi or €14 Salerno to Positano, large luggage €2 extra.

Alternatively, regular buses link Sorrento ( see above for how to reach Sorrento ) with Positano, Praiano & Amalfi, with the occasional bus direct from Naples, also operated by SITA, see www.sitasudtrasporti.it (in Italian only, click Orari then Campania ).  Sorrento-Amalfi takes 1h40, buses run hourly or at times half-hourly, fare around €2.90.  The journey along the coast road is dramatic, the bus hugging the cliff and it rear end swinging out precariously at every hairpin bend, with regular stand-offs where the bus cannot pass oncoming traffic on the narrow roads without someone backing up!!

Private transfer from Naples Centrale station to Praiano, Positano or Amalfi hotels?   If cost is no problem, a private transfer from Naples Centrale railway station to Positano or Praiano costs around €95 one-way for up to 3 people, or around €110 to Amalfi.  Try www.amalfishuttle.com or www.positanoshuttle.com (it's the same people - click 'transfer' at the top).  I have not had any reports about them yet, so feedback would be appreciated. They will also do transfers from Sorrento Circumvesuviana station, which would reduce the cost.

London to Genoa , Cinque Terre & La Spezia

You can travel via Paris & either Milan or via Nice.  Both options are shown here, though the route via Nice is probably more scenic, possibly cheaper, and you won't have to get up as early!  You can also travel by daytime trains with an overnight hotel stop in either Milan, Turin, Paris or Zurich .

This is the cheapest, fastest and most comfortable option from London to Genoa.  The whole journey can be done in just one day.

The Paris-Milan line is blocked by a landslide, probably until summer 2024.  In the meantime, travel from London to Milan using option 4 instead, then take a train from Milan to Genoa.

London ► Genoa, Cinque Terre, La Spezia

It's a relaxing and comfortable journey, passing directly from France into Italy via Modane and the Mont Cénis tunnel through the Alps, see the video guide .  The TGV has 1st & 2nd class seats and a cafe-bar serving drinks, snacks & hot dishes.

La Spezia, Cinque Terre, Genoa ► London

It's a relaxing and comfortable journey, passing directly from Italy into France via the Mont Cénis tunnel through the Alps and Modane, see the video guide .  The TGV has 1st and 2nd class seats plus a cafe-bar serving drinks, snacks & tray-meals.

Option 2, by Eurostar & TGV via Nice

London ► san remo, genoa.

For example you can leave Nice at 09:20, change at Ventimiglia, arriving San Remo at 11:18 and Genoa Piazza Principe at 13:05.

Genoa, San Remo ► London

Option 3:  by eurostar and sleeper train via nice.

For example you can leave Nice at 10:36, change at Ventimiglia onto a regional train, arriving San Remo 12:11 & Genoa Piazza Principe 14:17.

London to Civitavecchia

Civitavecchia is the cruise port just north of Rome, often used as a starting point for Mediterranean cruises.  It's also a departure point for ferries to Sardinia.  Civitavecchia is on the main Genoa-Pisa-Rome rail route, just 81 km (51 miles) north of Rome.  Frequent Frecciabianca, InterCity and regional trains link Rome Termini with Civitavecchia, and you'll also find direct trains from Genoa & Pisa to Civitavecchia.

The InterCity trains from Rome take 50 minutes and cost €10, the Frecciabianca trains take 40 minutes and cost €14, but Frecciabianca & IC trains only run every couple of hours and require a reservation.

The regional trains take 49-68 minutes but run at least once per hour, often up to 3 times an hour, costing only €5 one-way, no reservation necessary, buy a ticket and hop on the next train.

For travel from the UK to Civitavecchia, it's usually easiest and fastest to travel to Rome, then back north to Civitavecchia by regional train.  See the London-Rome section above , then use www.trenitalia.com to find train times and fares from Rome to Civitavecchia.  Buy tickets as far as Rome in advance, but it's just buy your Rome-Civitavecchia ticket at the station on the day, using the Trenitalia ticket machines which have a touch screen with English language facility.  No reservation is required or even possible for regional trains, you just buy a ticket and hop on the next train.

In Civitavecchia, the station is an easy 10 minute walk from the port entrance, though if you have heavy bags you may prefer to use a taxi.

London to Rimini, S.Marino, Ancona , Bari, Brindisi

London ► rimini, ancona, bari, brindisi, lecce.

The TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's a relaxing and comfortable journey, passing directly from France into Italy via Modane and the Mont Cénis tunnel through the Alps, see the video guide .

Step 3, an air-conditioned Frecciarossa 500 leaves Milan Porta Garibaldi at 10:13, arriving Rimini 12:38, Ancona 13:34, Pescara 14:44, Foggia 16:19, Bari Centrale 17:27, Brindisi 18:24 & Lecce 18:50.  The train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

There are earlier departures from Milan if you're in a hurry, but these leave from Milan Centrale so you need to transfer from Porta Garibaldi to Centrale by metro or taxi .  Check train times using www.raileurope.com , www.thetrainline.com or www.trenitalia.com .

Lecce, Brindisi, Bari, Ancona, Rimini  ► London

Day 1, an air-conditioned Frecciarossa 500 leaves Lecce 12:06, Brindisi 12:29, Bari Centrale 13:30, Foggia 14:36, Pescara 16:10, Ancona 17:25, Rimini 18:17, arriving Milan Porta Garibaldi at 20:47.

If you'd like more of an evening in Milan there are earlier departures, but these go to Milan Centrale so you need to transfer to Porta Garibaldi .  Check train times using www.raileurope.com , www.thetrainline.com or www.trenitalia.com .

Stay overnight in Milan .  The AC Milano Hotel (a Marriott Lifestyle Hotel) is 350m from Milan Porta Garibaldi and gets good reviews.

Day 2, travel from Milan to London, leaving Milan Porta Garibaldi at 06:00 by high-speed TGV to Paris then Eurostar to London arriving in the evening, as shown in the London to Milan section above .

How to reach San Marino

For San Marino, take the train to Rimini.  Buses to San Marino leave from outside Rimini railway station every hour or so between 08:10 & 19:25 in winter, between 06:45 & 20:30 in summer, less frequently on winter Sundays, journey time 50 minutes, fare around €5 one-way.

Run by Bonelli Bus, the buses are air-conditioned with WiFi.

You can check bus times & fares at the Bonelli Bus website www.bonellibus.it .

You can check these fares & fares for other journeys using www.trenitalia.com .  Advice for using trenitalia.com .

London to Trieste

Along with Turin, I'd say Trieste is one of Italy's most under-rated cities, figuratively left out in the cold when it comes to the Venice, Florence, Rome tourist trek.  Which is a shame, as like Turin it's a wonderful city to visit with a significant history.

Travel from the UK to Venice using any of the options suggested above .

Regional trains then link Venice and Trieste every hour, journey time 2h05, fare around €14.50 each way.  No reservation is necessary or possible, tickets cannot sell out, and you can simply buy a ticket from the Trenitalia self-service machines at Venice Mestre or Venice Santa Lucia and hop on the next train.

You can check Venice-Trieste train times at www.trenitalia.com .  Tip:  Some Venice-Trieste trains take 3h via a longer & more expensive route, so look for one taking 2h05 or so.

There are a couple of direct Milan-Trieste Frecciabianca trains every day, you can also check these at www.trenitalia.com .

London to Sicily

UK to Sicily by train?  No problem.  You can travel all the way by train, experiencing one of Europe's last train ferries where the train is shunted onto a ship for the short sea voyage across the Straits of Messina to Sicily, or you can use an overnight cruise ferry to Sicily from either Genoa or Naples.  Each of these three options is explained below.

Option 1, London to Sicily in 48 hours

This is the fastest option: London to Milan by Eurostar & high-speed TGV on day 1, an overnight hotel in Milan, then Milan to Sicily on day 2.  By all means spread it out more by stopping off in Paris, Milan, Rome or Naples on the way, or travel one way using this fast option and the other way using more leisurely option 2.  It's your call!

London ► Sicily

Day 2, travel from Milan to Naples by Frecciarossa 1000 , leaving Milan Centrale at 08:30 and arriving Naples Centrale at 13:10.  Standard, premium, business & executive classes with free WiFi & cafe-bar.

Day 2, travel from Naples to Sicily by air-conditioned InterCity train , leaving Naples Centrale at 13:45 arriving Palermo 23:05, Catania 21:37 & Siracuse 22:53.

Yes, all this InterCity train really is direct from Naples to Sicily (in fact, it starts in Rome).  It's a lovely run, along the Italian coastline often just feet from the water.  When the train reaches Villa San Giovanni at 18:05, the whole train is shunted onto a ship and ferried across the Straits to Messina, see video & more about the trains to Sicily .  The crossing takes about 20 minutes, and you can either remain on board the train in the ferry's hold, or get out and go up on deck for some fresh air.  Travelling on both a train and a ship at the same time is a fascinating experience !  The train has no catering car, so remember to take your own picnic and bottle of wine for the journey.

If you want to stop off in Rome or Naples , you'll find two daytime InterCity trains and an overnight sleeper linking Rome and Naples with Sicily, see the Trains to Sicily page .

Sicily ► London

Day 1, travel from Sicily to Naples by air-conditioned InterCity train , leaving Siracuse daily at 07:32, Catania at 08:41 or Palermo at 06:50, arriving Naples Centrale at 16:17.

This InterCity train is shunted onto a train ferry to cross the Straits of Messina, a fascinating experience in itself, see video & more about the trains to Sicily .  It's a lovely run, along the Italian coastline often just feet from the water.  The train has no catering car, so remember to take your own picnic and beer or bottle of wine for the journey.  The train continues to Rome, but you should get off in Naples.

Or book it as a holiday package.  If you're nervous about booking train travel yourself, Byway.travel can book a London-Sicily journey for you as a package, one-way or round trip, including the overnight hotel and starting from any British railway station you like - see their pre-configured one-way & return package to Catania using the journey planner here .

Byway ( Byway.travel ) is a new UK-based eco-holiday firm, with a 5-star TrustPilot rating .  They use ITX (inclusive tour) rates, not normal ticket prices.  Byway also includes package protection, a 100% Covid refund guarantee, free disruption and re-planning and on-demand WhatsApp support while you're away.  They can adjust packages as necessary if you email an enquiry to them.

What is the InterCity train like?

These InterCity trains are composed of older carriages, but comfortable and fully air-conditioned with 1st & 2nd class in open-plan carriages, 2+2 across the car width in 2nd class, 2+1 in 1st class.  There may be a refreshment trolley, but take your own picnic & wine.  Seat reservation is now compulsory on all InterCity trains. 1st class has power sockets for laptops, 2nd class usually doesn't.

Option 2, using the Milan-Sicily sleeper

This is a longer more leisurely 2-night option, with 1 night in a hotel in Paris and one night aboard the Milan-Sicily InterCity Notte sleeper train, an epic journey in your own private room from Northern Italy to the toe of Italy, then over the Straits of Messina to Sicily on board a train ferry - a unique experience.  There's some truly great scenery on the way, through the Alps on the Frecciarossa and along the Italian coastline on the sleeper in daylight.  By all means travel one way using this option, the other way using option 1.

The last one usually leaves London St Pancras at 20:01 daily arriving 23:27, but by all means book an earlier one and spend a pleasant afternoon or evening in Paris.

Stay overnight in Paris:   The Mercure Paris Gare De Lyon is part of the Gare de Lyon station complex, ideal for catching an early train next morning and great reviews for staff, cleanliness & comfort.  Other recommended hotels near the Gare de Lyon include the Citizen M Hotel (a 2-minute 160m walk from the station, great reviews, 4-star); Hotel Terminus Lyon (in front of the station, 3-star);  Mercure Paris Gare de Lyon (on the station itself, 4-star); Novotel Paris Gare de Lyon (opposite the station, 4-star);  Hotel 26 Faubourg (5 min walk from Gare de Lyon, 2-star).

Perhaps have dinner at the famous Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon.

Day 2, travel from Paris to Milan by Frecciarossa 1000 , leaving Paris Gare de Lyon 07:25, arriving Turin P. Susa 13:18 & Milan Centrale 14:07.

Day 2, travel from Milan to Sicily overnight by InterCity Notte sleeper train , leaving Milan Centrale at 20:10 every day, one portion arriving next day at Palermo at 16:55, the other portion arriving at Catania Centrale at 14:32 & Siracuse at 15:48, see the timetable here .

It's the longest sleeper ride in Italy, and one of the longest in Europe.  The train has sleeping-cars with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and 4-berth Comfort couchettes, see the photos below.  There's no restaurant car, so take your own supplies and maybe a bottle of wine, although in the sleepers the attendant will serve you morning tea or coffee, included in the fare.

Day 1, travel from Sicily to Milan by direct InterCity Notte sleeper train , leaving Palermo at 12:58 every day, another portion leaving Siracuse at 13:35 & Catania Centrale at 14:54, arriving at Milan Centrale at 11:20 next morning.

The sleeper train travels along the coast of Sicily, then crosses the Straits of Messina from Messina to Villa San Giovanni aboard a train ferry, a unique experience.  The train then travels by daylight all along the coast of southern Italy, often only feet from the sea with some lovely views before travelling through the night to Milan.

Have lunch in Milan, I recommend the excellent and typically Italian restaurant Noblesse Oblige , 5 minutes walk from Milan Centrale , see www.ristorantenoblesseoblige.com & See map showing walking route .

Day 2, travel from Milan to Paris by Frecciarossa 1000 leaving Milan Centrale 15:53 or Turin P. Susa 16:41, arriving Paris Gare de Lyon 22:34.

Stay overnight in Paris.

Recommended hotels near the Gare de Lyon:  Citizen M Hotel (just along the road from the station with great reviews, 4-star); Hotel Terminus Lyon (right in front of the station, 3-star);  Mercure Paris Gare de Lyon (on the station itself, 4-star); Novotel Paris Gare de Lyon (opposite the station, 4-star);  Mistral Hotel (800m from Gare de Lyon, 1-star);  Hotel 26 Faubourg (5 min walk from Gare de Lyon, 2-star).

Next morning, transfer by metro or taxi to Paris Gare du Nord .

Day 3, travel from Paris to London on any Eurostar you like.

The first train currently leaves Paris Gare du Nord at 07:03 on Mondays-Saturdays arriving London St Pancras at 08:30 or at 08:13 on Sundays arriving 09:30, but by all means book a later train and have a leisurely breakfast.

Paris to Milan by Frecciarossa starts at €29 each way in standard (2nd) class, €36 in business (1st) class or €165 in executive class.

Or book it as a holiday package.  If you're nervous about booking train travel yourself, Byway.travel can book a London-Sicily journey for you as a package, one-way or round trip, including the overnight hotel and starting from any British railway station you like.  Byway ( Byway.travel ) is a new UK-based eco-holiday firm, with a 5-star TrustPilot rating .  They use ITX (inclusive tour) rates, not normal ticket prices.  Byway also includes package protection, a 100% Covid refund guarantee, free disruption and re-planning and on-demand WhatsApp support while you're away.  They can adjust packages as necessary if you email an enquiry to them.  They can build a trip to your requirements if you email them or use this contact form .  Please say you heard about them from Seat 61.

What's the Milan-Sicily sleeper like?

Above, a Comfort couchette car on the Milan-Palermo overnight train, boarding at Milan Centrale.

Travellers' reports

Traveller Andrew Clayton reports:   "We took the daytime InterCity train from Naples to Siracuse, having first loaded up with essential supplies (water, bread, cheese, wine etc.) as there is no catering on the train.  Rather than buy at Naples Centrale where there's only limited food shopping, we went out of the station and found nearby shops that sold all we needed – at much lower prices.  There was attractive scenery - sea and mountains - almost all the way to Villa San Giovanni where the train is loaded onto the ferry to Sicily in two sections.  We were in the last coach and discovered that, if you went to the end, you could look through a glass door to see the coaches go onto the ferry and be tied down. It is safe to leave large luggage on the train during the crossing when most people go up on deck."

Traveller Kathryn Vale reports:   "Our train trip to Palermo was a success: London to Paris by Eurostar, TGV to Toulon then local train to Monte Carlo (all stops to visit family!).  Then Ventimiglia-Genoa and Genoa-Palermo all for €68 including 4 bed 'couchette promiscuo' with juice and newspaper on waking (although no food to buy on board) AND the amazing train on the boat to Messina. We had blue sea on our right shoulder from daybreak in the couchette and all round the coast and some lovely interior trips within Sicily by train too.  The trains were great, the time keeping fine (except the Genoa train which was 40 minutes late, but we caught up on the next day), the staff were helpful - even with not much English/Italian between us!"

Traveller Steve Hutchinson reports:   “We picked up the Rome to Sicily sleeper after having arrived in Rome earlier that morning on the DB sleeper from Munich, enabling an interesting comparison between overnight trains! We had a T3 3-berth sleeper on the Sicily train, which was very comfortable with ample room for our luggage. Despite it being around 30c on departure at 2120 the air conditioning was working quite well, so a comfortable night’s sleep was assured. We woke in the morning as the train was running along the Calabrian coast with amazing views of mountains in the distance. The train then arrived at Villa San Giovanni around 06:00 where it was shunted onto the train ferry. It was effectively split into two portions to fit on the boat. The crossing took about half an hour. We all got off the train and went to the upper deck of the ship to see the views of Sicily on the approach and to get some coffee, which was very welcome! After arriving at Messina the two portions of the train – one for Palermo, the other for Catania and Siracuse - were hauled into the station. This gave the opportunity for anyone who’d got on the wrong portion in the hold of the ferry to change over! There were excellent views of Mount Etna as the Siracuse portion ran along the east coast of the island. The whole journey was amazing; you felt you’d actually travelled and arrived, rather than being delivered in a sterile aircraft. On the return a week later we boarded the sleeper train at Siracuse after an excellent meal at a restaurant round the corner from the station. Arrival at Rome was the following morning around 10:00, after a good night’s sleep”

Traveller Edward Rolands reports:   "We took the overnight train to Sicily, booking a 4 berth “comfort” couchette. Booking in advance at www.trenitalia.com meant it only cost €34.  It had a lot more space than the 6 berth variety and the air conditioning was functioning a lot more effectively too making for a much better nights sleep. We woke up in the morning as the train was pacing along the Calabrian coast with some lovely views of mountains in the distance and cliffs dropping in to the sea. The train then arrives at Villa San Giovanni where it’s shunted on to the ferry, a process which takes about half an hour.  You may be shunted on to the ferry, then shunted off again, then shunted back on again, as the train is broken up so that it fits!  The crossing takes about half an hour and you can get off and go on deck to enjoy the view - and get some basic refreshments.  On arrival at Messina it takes about half an hour to reconstruct the train which will now be in two bits, one for Palermo, one for Catania & Syracuse. Our Siracuse section was shunted into the platform at Messina Centrale first, 5 minutes before its departure time.  However it was held there until the other section was reconstructed and shunted in to another platform, so we ended up leaving over 20 minutes late.  The final section along the Eastern coast of Sicily has some great views of the mountains in the distance and of course Mt Etna. The train arrived at Taormina only 15 minutes late - the staff seemed keen to make up more time as it didn’t hang around before carrying on it’s journey South.  Overall the journey was brilliant and much better than any flight!"

Option 3, by cruise ferry from Genoa

This takes 2 nights from London to Palermo, not 1, but it's a more leisurely option with a cruise thrown in.

Option 4, b y overnight ferry from Naples

London ► sicily ► london.

Step 1, travel from London to Naples by train .

Step 2, sail from Naples to Palermo by overnight cruise ferry.  Two companies run daily ferries with comfortable cabins with en suite showers, sailing around 20:00 and arriving around 07:00, in both directions.  See www.tirrenia.it & www.snav.it for times, dates, fares & online booking.

London to Sardinia

London to sardinia by train & ferry.

Getting from the UK or mainland Europe to Sardinia without flying is easy, as there are a whole range of ferries to Sardinia, from both France (Toulon or Nice) and Italy (Genoa, Civitavecchia, Livorno & others).

You can travel by train from London to Toulon or Nice, then take Corsica Ferries to Porto Torres in Sardinia.

Step 1, check sailing dates & times using the Direct Ferries website or at www.corsica-ferries.com . 

Step 2, check train times to connect using the London to France page allowing at least 2 hours between train & ferry, preferably more to allow for taxi transfer to port, check-in time, and for any delay.

The ferries from France aren't the most frequent, so you might prefer to travel via Italy.  Grandi Navi Veloci and Tirrenia Lines have overnight sailings from Genoa to Porto Torres in Sardinia on most nights of the year, as well as sailings from other Italian ports.  Another ferry company with regular sailings to Sardinia from Civitavecchia near Rome is Sardinia Ferries .  Start by visiting the Direct Ferries website which can book most ferry routes and operators, or see each ferry company's own website to confirm sailing dates, times and fares.  Then see the London to Genoa or London to Rome sections above to arrange trains to connect.  Remember to allow several hours for a safe connection between train and ferry, to include ferry check-in time, transfer from station to port, and to allow for any delay.

Book the ferry first.  You can book the ferry online at the Sardinia Ferries , Grandi Navi Veloci or Tirrenia Lines websites or check prices & buy tickets for all operators in one place at www.directferries.com .

Then book the train from London to Genoa or Rome as shown on this London to Italy page , or from London to Marseille or Toulon as shown on the London to France page .

Trains between major towns in Sardinia:  See the train travel in Italy page

Holidays & tours by train.

The following companies can arrange a short break, tour or longer holiday to your own specification, either within Italy or from the UK to Italy by train, leaving on any date you like.  As you're effectively booking a package, not travelling independently, another advantage is that they'll look after you if anything goes wrong, for example a strike or major delay.

Railbookers, railbookers.co.uk

Railbookers are an experienced train travel specialist who arrange holidays or short breaks with train travel, transfers & hotels all arranged.  If you tell them what you want, they'll advise you on the best trains, routes & hotels and sort it out for you.

Their most popular trips include UK to Venice via the Alps , UK to Lake Como via the Alps , UK to Florence via the Alps , UK to Rome via the Alps , UK to Amalfi Coast via the Alps , all of which are customisable to add extra nights or extra cities, with train travel on the outward or return journey, or by train throughout with no flying necessary, it's up to you.

Byway, byway.travel

Byway ( Byway.travel ) is a new UK-based eco-holiday firm with a 5-star TrustPilot rating .  If you're nervous about booking train travel yourself, they'll book a holiday to Italy for you as a package, including train travel from the UK and hotels, starting from any British station you like.

They can build a trip to your requirements, email them or use the contact form .  Please say you heard about them from Seat 61.

Tailor Made Rail, tailormaderail.com

Escorted tours.

If you prefer to travel with a group of like-minded fellow travellers with a professional tour guide taking care of you, the following companies organise tours by train from the UK to Italy and other European countries, with regular departure dates throughout the year.

Great Rail Journeys, greatrail.com

Rail discoveries, raildiscoveries.com, european rail timetable & maps.

Rail Map Europe is the map I recommend, covering all of Europe from Portugal in the west to Moscow & Istanbul in the east, Finland in the north to Sicily & Athens in the south.  Scenic routes & high-speed lines are highlighted.  See an extract from the map .  Buy online at www.europeanrailtimetable.eu (shipping worldwide) or at www.amazon.co.uk (UK addresses).

If you have a decent guidebook you'll see so much more and know so much more about what you're looking at.  It's a sound investment when you remember what you're spending on the whole trip!  I think the Lonely Planets or Rough Guides are the best ones out there for the independent traveller.  My own book is an essential handbook for train travel to Europe based on this website called " The Man in Seat 61 ".  Published in June 2008 and revised April 2010, it's available from Amazon.co.uk with shipping worldwide.

Click the images to buy at Amazon.co.uk

Alternatively, you can download just the chapters or areas you need in .PDF format from the Lonely Planet Website , from around £2.99 or US$4.95 a chapter.

Recommended hotels

Here are my suggested hotels in key Italian cities, conveniently located for arrival by train and all with good or great reviews.  You are unlikely to be disappointed by any hotel scoring over 8.0 out of 10 on Booking.com .

The lovely Turin Palace Hotel, directly opposite the via Paolo Sacchi side exit from Turin Porta Nuova .

There are lots of hotels near Milan Centrale , used by the Frecciarossa to/from Paris, the EuroCity trains to/from Switzerland and the majority of Italian domestic trains.

Affordable hotels & guesthouses with good or great reviews just outside the station include the Hotel Bristol , Hotel Bernina , 43 Station Hotel , B&B Hotel Milano Central Station , Guesthouse Teodora .

M ore upmarket hotels include HD8 Hotel , Glam Hotel , Made to Measure Business , Starhotel Echo or Starhotel Anderson .

At the top end, the 5-star Excelsior Hotel Gallia is just across the road, you won't go wrong with that.

Near Milan Porta Garibaldi (used by the TGV to/from Paris), the AC Milano Hotel (a Marriott Lifestyle Hotel) is just 350m from the station and gets good reviews.  Also try the Holiday Inn Porta Garibaldi , which offers family rooms.

Hotels near Verona Porta Nuova station with good or great reviews include the Corte Merighi Rooms & Breakfast , Novo Hotel Rossi , Guesthouse Verona or (a little closer to the centre, but with fab reviews) the Relais Empire .

Location, location, location!   Some people try to save money by staying on the mainland at Mestre , hotels in Mestre being naturally cheaper.  It's an option, but don't do it if you don't have to.  You want to be a resident in Venice, not a serial day-tripper, so try to find an affordable place in the historic city of Venice itself.

Venice Santa Lucia station is walking distance from everywhere in central Venice including the Rialto Bridge and Piazza San Marco, so a hotel near the station which you can easily walk to with your bags makes a lot of sense.

Relatively inexpensive places with good reviews near Venice Santa Lucia include Albergo Marin , Hotel Marte , La Loggia della Luna , Albergo ai Tolentini .

An excellent upmarket choice just 5 minutes walk from Venice Santa Lucia is the small and intimate Hotel Canal Grande - I've stayed there myself.  Also try the Abazzia De Luxe .

For the least expensive places in central Venice check www.hostelworld.com .  Use the map view to see places in Venice itself.

Of course, if you have the financial backing for a water taxi, then fine, stay near San Marco or wherever you like.  My son nagged me continually until I caved in and splurged €70 on a water taxi from Santa Lucia station to St Marks.  I have to say that it was the best thing I have ever done in Venice, and that includes a gondola ride!

If you do decide to stay in Mestre to save money and travel in & out of Venice by train every day, try the Hotel Cris which has great reviews 200m from Venezia Mestre station , and the Best Western Plus Hotel Bologna .

In Florence

For something fancy, try the Hotel Santa Maria Novella with a 9/10 review score and rooftop terrace overlooking the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella.  It's a mere 5-minute 400m walk from Florence Santa Maria Novella station .

For something more affordable but also an easy walk from the station, try the Hotel Art Atelier .

Other hotels nearby with good reviews include C-hotels Club , 7Florence B&B , Hotel Lombardia .

There are many hotels near Rome Termini .  However, an affordable top choice with a 9/10 review rating is the Hotel Diocleziano , a 5-minute 400m walk from Roma Termini's main entrance, set in a 19th century building next to the Terme di Diocleziano ancient Roman baths.

An upmarket option near the station is Hotel Le Petit , an 8-minute 700m walk from the station, also with great reviews.

Other hotels near the station with good or great reviews include The Hive Hotel , Dream Station , The Republic Hotel .

There are lots of hotels near Naples Centrale .

The Starhotel Terminus is just across the road from the station, gets great reviews and has a roof terrace with views over the Bay of Naples.

The Hotel Potenza is only a little further into the Piazza Garibaldi, cheaper, also with good reviews.

The Unahotel Napoli is highly recommended, on Piazza Mancini overlooking Piazza Garibaldi, on the far side facing the station.

Also consider the Pit Stop Napoli Centrale .

Hotels close to Paris Gare de Lyon

If you need to stop overnight in Paris on your way to or from Italy, these hotels near the Gare de Lyon get good reviews: 

Mercure Paris Gare de Lyon (on the station forecourt itself next to the station's famous clock tower, 4-star);

Citizen M Hotel (just along the road from the station, 4-star, great reviews);

Hotel Terminus Lyon (right in front of the station, 3-star);

Novotel Paris Gare de Lyon (opposite the station, 4-star);

Mistral Hotel (800m from Gare de Lyon, 1-star);

Hotel 26 Faubourg (5 min walk from Gare de Lyon, 2-star);  More Paris hotels .

Entrance to the Mercure Hotel at the Gare De Lyon , right next to the station's famous clock tower.  Handy for early trains!

Booking.com for hotels

I generally use Booking.com for hotels for 3 reasons: 

(1) It keeps all my hotel bookings together in one place;

(2) I've come to trust Booking.com 's review scores;

(3) Booking.com usually offers a clearly-marked Free cancellation option. 

Free cancellation means you can secure hotels risk-free even before trains open for booking, and if necessary change those bookings if your plans evolve.

If I'm only staying a night or two, I look for a hotel near the station to make arrival & departure easy.  You can enter the station name (e.g. Berlin Hbf ) as search location.  If staying longer, I look for a hotel close to the sights, entering the name of a city attraction as the search location, then using map view.

AirBnB:  Airbnb.com

www.airbnb.com began in 2008 when two designers who had space to share hosted three travellers looking for a place to stay.  AirBnB is a platform which connects hosts with guests, so you can now book a room in people's homes, or an apartment, flat or house which people want to rent out.  It can be nicer than a hostel, cheaper than many hotels.

Backpacker hostels:  Hostelworld.com

www.hostelworld.com offers online booking of dorm beds or cheap private rooms in backpacker hostels most European cities at rock-bottom prices.  It's one way to cut costs significantly compared to using a hotel every night.

Car hire comparison: www.carrentals.co.uk

The award-winning website www.carrentals.co.uk compares many different car hire companies including Holiday Autos, meaning not only a cheapest price comparison but a wider choice of hire and drop off location.

Travel insurance & other tips

Always take out travel insurance.

You should take out travel insurance with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover from a reliable insurer.  It should cover trip cancellation and loss of cash & belongings up to a reasonable limit.  These days, check you're covered for covid-19-related issues, and use an insurer whose cover isn't invalidated by well-meant but excessive Foreign Office travel advice against non-essential travel. An annual policy is usually cheapest even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself.  Don't expect travel insurance to bail you out of every missed connection, see the advice on missed connections here .  Here are some suggested insurers, I get a little commission if you buy through these links, feedback always welcome.

Get an eSIM with mobile data package

Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a European mobile data package and stay connected.  Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list .  There's no need to buy a physical SIM card!  Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data .

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate then add a foreign transaction fee on top.  A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month as I write this.  The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.  And you can get a Curve card for free.

How it works:   1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android .  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app.  You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader.  The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than getting a card out).  I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card , they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  Why you need a VPN

When travelling you may use free public WiFi which is often insecure.  A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi.  It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply.  See VPNs & why you need one explained .  ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using this link you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription.  I also get some commission to help support this site.

Carry an Anker powerbank

Tickets, reservations, hotel bookings and Interrail or Eurail passes are often now held on your mobile phone.  You daren't let it run out of power, and you can't always rely on the phone's internal battery or on being near a power outlet.  I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over.  Buy from Amazon.co.uk or Buy from Amazon.com .

Touring cities?  Use hill walking shoes!

One of the best things I've done is swap my normal shoes for hill-walking shoes, in my case from Scarpa.  They're intended for hiking across the Pennines not wandering around Florence, but the support and cushioning for hiking works equally well when you're on your feet all day exploring foreign cities.  My feet used to give out first and limit my day, now the rest of me gives up before they do!

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Italy train tours - 10 best railway journeys

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Wonderful Time in Italy We were covered from the moment we landed in Rome. The drivers were great, the connections were flawless, and it was well-planned a...

Italy , with its rich history, stunning landscapes, and vibrant culture, is a dream destination for travellers. While there are many ways to explore this beautiful country, one of the most scenic and immersive ways is by taking an Italy train tour. You’ll find this country has an extensive railway network that connects cities, towns, and iconic picturesque countryside. Here’s our pick of the 10 best railway journeys in Italy.

How to plan a train tour of Italy

1. genoa to la spezia, 2. cinque terre express, 3. florence to venice, 4. venice to rome, 5. rome to siracuse, 6. trans-siberian of italy (ferrovia circumetnea), 7. bernina express, 8. trento to malè, 9. milan to bolzano, 10. rimini to lecce, tips for your italy train tour, travel ideas for italy, created by local experts.

8 days  / from 2671 USD

Experience the hit TV show 'The White Lotus' in Sicily

Stay in beautiful Taormina with gorgeous views of Mount Etna and discover Sicily, including famous filming locations. Go on exclusive wine tastings, discover the Greek theater in Taormina with a private guide, visit other Sicilian towns and enjoy the crystal clear water on this week-long trip.

8 days  / from 3319 USD

Enchanting Italian Lakes

Experience the picturesque lakes of Northern Italy, including Lake Garda, Como, Lugano and Maggiore; explore the charming Borromean Islands – former favourites of Ernest Hemingway – and stroll the romantic streets of Verona and Milan. All of this, and much more, with this self-drive trip!

16 days  / from 3319 USD

From Venice to Florence: A Grand Tour of Northern Italy

From the atmospheric canals of Venice and the picturesque coastline of Cinque Terre, to the trendy designer boutiques of Milan and the Renaissance-infused streets of Florence, Northern Italy has plenty to offer. Experience it all with this comprehensive trip.

Italy's extensive railway network offers you a front-row seat to the soul of the country.  Before we delve into the specifics of the most scenic train journeys Italy has to offer, here are some important things to consider while planning.

If the intricacies of planning seem daunting, check our tailor-made trip service . We can simplify the process and ensure a seamless and personalised tour, taking care of all the details for you. Also, don't forget to check our customisable Italy itineraries.

Italy Rail Pass

If you're planning to roam extensively, an Italy Rail Pass is your golden ticket. This pass grants you the freedom to hop on and off trains across Italy within a predefined time frame, unlocking an abundance of travel possibilities.

Advance ticket booking

For the most popular routes, especially those connecting major cities, it's wise to secure your tickets in advance. This guarantees the best fares and ensures you won't miss out on a seat. Italy's trusted railway system, Trenitalia, offers user-friendly online booking options.

Timetable checks

While Italian trains are renowned for their punctuality, it's a smart move to double-check the timetable before embarking on your journey. This simple step ensures a smooth and stress-free experience.

Consider a travel planner

Some may wish to forgo planning and instead opt to hire an expert to book train tickets and plan routes. Our tailor-made service puts you in contact with local travel experts. 

Train station in Manarola in Cinque Terre © Shutterstock

The journey along this coastal route tracing the Ligurian Sea is a visual symphony of landscapes. As you glide along the tracks, prepare to be enchanted by breathtaking vistas of the Italian Riviera, adorned with charming coastal towns and the iconic Cinque Terre, known for its picturesque houses perched daringly on cliffs.

For an up-close and personal rendezvous with the world-famous Cinque Terre, the Cinque Terre Express is your gateway. This dedicated train service links the five enchanting villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore, nestled along the stunning Ligurian coastline.

Prepare to be spellbound as you traverse from Florence to Venice , meandering through the heart of the Tuscany and Veneto regions. This route is an artistic masterpiece, offering glimpses of rolling hills, expansive vineyards, and captivating towns, ultimately leading to the grandeur of Venice.

This scenic route seamlessly connects the mesmerizing canals of Venice with the historic streets of Rome . As you journey, you'll witness the ever-changing beauty of northern and central Italy, including the iconic Tuscan countryside.

For those yearning to explore the mesmerizing landscapes of Sicily , the train journey from Rome to Siracuse is a must. This odyssey unveils the transition from mainland Italy to the unique culture and natural wonders of the island.

Bernina Express ©  Peter Stein/Shutterstock

Embark on an extraordinary adventure known as the "Trans-Siberian of Italy," encircling the majestic Mount Etna in Sicily. This railway journey is a captivating exploration of volcanic landscapes, offering an exclusive glimpse into the geological marvels of the island.

Cross international boundaries as you hop aboard the Bernina Express. This train ride will sweep you through the awe-inspiring landscapes of the Swiss Alps and the Engadin Valley, showering you with panoramic views of towering peaks, gleaming glaciers, and pristine lakes.

Venture into the heart of the Dolomites by taking the train from Trento to Malè. This journey is a deep dive into stunning mountain vistas, captivating Alpine villages, and the promise of outdoor adventures in a breathtaking natural setting.

From the fashion capital of Milan to the cultural gem of Bolzano in South Tyrol, this railway journey offers a seamless blend of urban sophistication and Alpine magnificence.

Unearth the irresistible charm of Italy's southern regions by embarking on a train journey from Rimini to Lecce . Along the way, be captivated by picturesque coastlines, historic towns, and the rich tapestry of Southern Italian culture.

Italian Trento © Shutterstock

To take your Italy train tour to the next level, here are some priceless tips to keep in mind:

• Seat Reservations :  For a more comfortable and stress-free ride, especially on high-speed trains, consider securing seat reservations in advance.
• Travel Light: Italian train stations can get bustling, so pack light to ensure you move through the terminals with ease.
• Language: While English is commonly spoken, learning a few basic Italian phrases can enhance your immersion in the local culture and make interactions more enjoyable.
• Scenic Routes: Whenever possible, opt for daytime journeys along routes known for their scenic beauty. The views will leave you spellbound.
• Local Cuisine: Don't miss the opportunity to savour regional cuisine during your layovers in different parts of Italy. Each region has its own culinary treasures waiting to be discovered.

Let us plan your trip

Allow our team of local experts to plan incredible Italy adventures for you. Reach out to us at your convenience, and we'll create a personalised itinerary that you can fine-tune until it aligns perfectly with your preferences. Take a look at our pre-made Italy itineraries for ideas, and keep in mind that we can tailor all our planned routes to cater to your individual needs.

The Rough Guides to Italy and related travel guides

In-depth, easy-to-use travel guides filled with expert advice.

Travel advice for Italy

From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Italy

• Eating and drinking in Italy
• How to get to Italy
• Getting around Italy: Transportation Tips
• Shopping tips for Italy
• Sports and Outdoor activities in Italy
• Travel Tips Italy for planning and on the go
• Best time to visit Italy
• How to spend 7 days In Italy - 8 unique itineraries
• The Best 10-Day Italy Travel Itinerary
• How To Spend 14 Days In Italy - 5 Unique Itineraries
• How to get from Rome to Florence

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written by Dre Roelandt

updated 26.09.2023

Dre Roelandt is originally from the United States but lives and works in Berlin, Germany. Dre is a freelance writer and artist with a passion for travelling. They are an in-house Content Editor at Rough Guides.

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The Best of Italy by Train: A Two Week Itinerary

You have just two weeks in Italy and want to make the most of your time.  The perfect Italy trip will have you seeing as much as possible but not heading home feeling like you need another holiday to get over the holiday.

This is where touring Italy by train is the perfect choice for you. So, I’ve put together what I think is the perfect two week Italy itinerary by train.

If you’re from the US, Australia or maybe other parts of the world, you will know that our countries long distance rail systems are not what you would call efficient, time or money saving. Visit Europe or Asia and you will wonder why we just can’t seem to get it right because really it seems so simple over there.

Europe is perfect for train travel and travelling around Italy by train is no exception. Their services are fast, efficient, reasonably priced and generally run on time.

Being able to hop on the train in the centre of one place and arrive in the centre of another in a matter of hours is much more convenient and less stressful that negotiating busy airports or driving long distances and having to find a parking spot. The seats and carriages are clean and comfortable plus you get to spend some time relaxing and gazing out the window watching the stunning scenery pass by.

Italy’s train network runs to every major city and most smaller cities and towns making it easy to get from place to place. There is a lot to see in Italy but with only two weeks you will need to be selective in the places you visit.

This Italy train itinerary takes in four of the country’s major cities, one small town, one stunning coastal region, offers plenty of time for day trips to nearby regions and allows you just enough time to see the major sights in each place without making you rush around from place to place.

Italy Train Two Week Itinerary

Train Tickets

While travelling by train is never going to be as cheap as taking a bus, or in some cases flying with a budget airline, it is going to be more comfortable, scenic and time saving.

There is a lot of debate about whether purchasing a rail pass is the most cost effective option when travelling by train in Europe. Really, it all comes down to the amount of travel days you plan on taking during your trip.

For this exact itinerary above (not including day trips), you will have five travel days, Rome to Assisi, Assisi to Florence, Florence to La Spezia, La Spezia to Milan and Milan to Venice. Here are the average prices based on one adult travelling alone for both point to point tickets and rail pass.

Point to Point – Adult point to point tickets including seat reservation fee where applicable for all of the five journeys – 1st Class €145.00* or 2nd Class €95.00*.

Rail Pass – Adult Italy Rail Pass for five days of travel in a one month period – 1st Class €376.00* or 2nd Class €282.00* plus seat reservation fees where applicable.

The cheapest option by far for this itinerary is to purchase point to point tickets .

To research more and purchase point to point tickets or rail passes, click on one of the links below for your home country.

Alternatively, tickets are available at all Trenitalia train stations across Italy on the day or in advance but prices will likely be higher and there may not be availability for specific trains, especially high speed services.

For a comprehensive guide to Europe train travel I recommend The Man in Seat 61 . Or for an accurate one stop shop of Europe train timetables check out the German Bahn website.

* Prices correct as at time of publishing.

Days 1 to 3 – Rome

To start your 2 weeks in Italy by train, arrive into Rome on day 1. This itinerary assumes that you arrive in the morning giving you three quarters of a day to start seeing the sights.

Rome is the capital of Italy and once capital of the Roman Empire. This sprawling city is famous for its Roman ruins, incredible architecture, collection of world class artworks and home to the worlds smallest country, Vatican City.

What to See & Do in Rome

Vatican City – The home of the pope and the catholic church. Inside you will find incredible architecture and world class art including Michelangelo’s famous painted ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. Wait times to enter the museum and Sistine Chapel can be long if you don’t have a pre-purchased ticket. Get it here.

The Colosseum – The largest amphitheater in the Roman Empire and the world. While not still in tact today, it still gives a fascinating glimpse into its past.

Roman Forum – As the heart of ancient Rome, the Forum was, and still is, one of the most celebrated meeting places in the history of the world. Your ticket to the Colosseum also includes entry to the Forum where you can wander around the ruins and take a walk up Palatine Hill for views over the Forum and the city.

Save money and time waiting in queues by pre-purchasing a combine Colosseum and Roman Forum priority entry ticket here . Or join this very affordable guided tour with expert guide.

The Pantheon – One of the best preserved Roman buildings remaining in the world. What is most incredible about the Pantheon is that most of its original features remain including the marble floors.

Spanish Steps – The worlds most famous staircase is constantly abuzz with people day and night.

Trevi Fountain – Do as the legend says and throw a coin in the fountain to ensure you one day return to Rome.

Piazza Navona – The city’s most beautiful square, featuring three spectacular fountains and surrounded by some of the city’s best baroque architecture.

Rome’s Hop-On-Hop-Off bus is one of the best I’ve taken around the world. The routes cover everything you could possibly want to see in Rome and passes last for 24, 48 or 72 hours giving you the freedom to explore at your own pace. Pre-purchase your tickets here to avoid the queues and save.

Where to Stay in Rome

Here are three accommodation options to suit all budgets that I recommend you check out. All are centrally located, highly rated and come with excellent facilities.

Budget – Hotel Domus Praetoria

Mid-Range – Sophie Terrace Hotel

Luxury – Anantara Palazzo Naiadi

Read More About Rome

30 Things to Do in Rome

Day 4 – Assisi

Train: Rome to Assisi – approx. 2 hours with about half a dozen direct departures each day. Take an early morning departure from Rome giving you most of the day in Assisi.

Assisi is a small town perched high on a hill in the region of Umbria approximately half way between Rome and Florence. It is a UNESCO World Heritage listed town that is famous for is magnificent medieval architecture and for being the birth place of Saint Francis.

What to See & Do in Assisi

Rocca Maggiore – Hike up to the ruins of a castle perched high above the town. It was rebuilt in the 14th century but originated from the times of Charlemagne.

Basilica of Saint Frances – Construction began on the basilica two years after the death of Saint Francis in 1228.  The complex consists of two churches built on top of one another with frescoes on the walls dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries. Saint Francis is buried in the crypt under the basilica.

A walking tour that includes a visit to the Basilica with an expert guide is a great way to understand the history of this great town in a short amount of time. You can book in advance here to avoid missing out.

Piazza Santa Chiara – Perfect place for views over the Umbrian countryside and olive groves below. It’s always buzzing with visitors and locals. Also check out the basilica of the same name in the square.

Piazza del Comune – Take a seat on the stone steps of the Temple of Minerva for some people watching while eating a gelato.

Wander the streets – The most rewarding of these things to do in Assisi is simply wander its steep cobblestone streets, stopping in local artisan and food stores and admiring the pink hued architecture of this beautiful town.

Where to Stay in Assisi

Budget – Hotel La Fortezza

Mid-Range – Hotel Porta Nuova

Luxury – Nun Assis Relais & Spa Museum

Day 5 to 7 – Florence

Train : Assisi to Florence – approx. 2.5 hours with about half a dozen direct departures each day. Take an early morning departure from Assisi to maximise your time in Florence.

Florence is a Renaissance city in the heart of one of the most beautiful regions in the world, Tuscany. It is home to some of Italy’s most incredible churches and some of the worlds most famous works of art.

What to See & Do in Florence

Duomo, Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore – This massive cathedral in the heart of Florence is a must see for it’s pink and green marble exterior, interior that holds 20,000 people and bell tower which you can climb for panoramic views over Florence. Skip the queues and get your entry ticket here in advance.

Piazza della Signoria – The heart of Florence’s old town. Visit to see the free open-air sculpture gallery including a copy of Michelangelo’s David and to check out the impressive medieval Palazzo Vecchio.

Pont Vecchio – Florence’s first bridge built over the Arno river in 1345 and the only one that survived WWII bombing of the city. It is lined with shops selling gold and silver jewellery. Make sure you view it from one of the adjacent bridges as well as walk over it.

Galleria delgi Uffizi – Home to the world’s most important collection of Renaissance art including painting, sculptures and tapestries from medieval times up to the modern day. At the busiest times of year, you can’t get into this gallery without a pre-booked ticket, purchase it here to avoid missing out.

Galleria dell’ Academia – If you want to see the original Michelangelo’s David, then this is where you will find it. Along with this famous statue are paintings and sculptures from the 13th to 16th centuries as well as a collection of instruments started by the Medici family. Get a timed entry ticket here to avoid the queues at Florence’s most popular attraction.

Mercato Centrale – If your looking to do a bit of shopping in Italy then this market in Florence is the perfect place to purchase genuine leather goods, souvenirs, antiques and food.

Day Trip to Tuscany – Enjoy a day outside of the city visiting some of the wineries and hill towns this region is famous for. This tour is very well rounded with visits to both big and small towns in Tuscany and a Chianti winery. Book it here.

Italian Cooking Class – Food in Italy is life and there is no better way to experience the Italian way of life than with a food market and cooking class. On this tour you will spend over five hours with a local chef, visiting the local market to source ingredients, cooking with them to make delicious Italian food and finally sitting down to enjoy eating what you have made.

Where to Stay in Florence

Budget – Hotel Por Santa Maria

Mid-Range – Hotel Calimala

Luxury – Portrait Firenze Lungarno Collection

Read More About Florence

Things to Do in Florence

Day 8 to 9 – Cinque Terre

Train: Florence to Le Spezia – approx. 2.5 hours with about half a dozen direct departures each day. Take a mid afternoon train from Florence, arriving in Le Spezia (the best town to base yourself for walking Cinque Terre) early evening. Get a good nights rest ready for a day of walking.

Cinque Terre translates to Five Lands and comprises the five small coastal villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso. Each charming and colourful village clings to the cliff face overlooking the ocean and is accessible only by boat, train and on foot.

What to See & Do in Cinque Terre

First thing in the morning, head to La Spezia train station and go to the tourist office on platform number one and purchase a €16.00 Cinque Terre hiking and train pass. This gives you access to Cinque Terre National Park, unlimited train travel between La Spezia and the five Cinque Terre towns plus free entry to a selection of museums and attractions in the towns for a full day (multi-day passes are also available).

Once you have your ticket, take the train to the first town, Riomaggiore. From there you have three options in terms of exploring these five villages which are all easily achievable in one full day. This is one of the most spectacular ways to see Italy by train, so make sure you nab yourself a window seat on the left of the train.

Option 1 – Train – You can continue to take the train from village to village using your pass getting off in each village to explore and then taking the train back to La Spezia at the end of the day.

Option 2 – Walking – This is the most popular option but does require a moderate to high level of fitness to complete the whole track in one day. There are four walks, one between each of the villages, and each one has a different degree of difficulty based on how steep and long the trail is. All four walking trails are not always open due to landslides and weather conditions and information on these closures will be given to you with your ticket.

Here is a brief description of what to expect on each trail.

Riomaggiore to Manarola – The easiest and shortest of the trails. It is relatively flat and takes the average walker around 20 minutes.

Manarola to Corniglia – A bit more challenging. The walk takes about 45 minutes and is mostly skirting along beaches before climbing up to Corniglia.

Corniglia to Vernazza – Arguably the most challenging of the four trails. This trail takes about 90 minutes and requires a lot of walking up and down. But you are compensated for your hard work by the best views the Cinque Terre has to offer.

Vernazza to Monterosso – Pretty close in toughness as the trail before but this time a bit more flat. You’ll be rewarded with stunning views back on Vernazza.

You would then take the train back to La Spezia from Monterosso at the end of the day.

Option 3 – Combination of Both – If you don’t think you are fit enough to conquer the whole trail then you have the option of combining both walking and taking the train. The first trail, from Riomaggiore to Manarola is a simple flat walk that is suitable for most fitness levels. And if after completing that section, you feel up to it, you can continue on to Corniglia by foot or just jump on the train. Then taking the train back to La Spezia at the end of the day.

As for things to do in Cinque Terre other than hiking, there isn’t anything specific that I would suggest you see. Instead wander up and down the cobblestone lanes checking out the small churches, local food and artisan stores. Stop for a meal (the seafood here is amazing!), coffee and gelato in the restaurants and cafes. And of course enjoy a well deserved swim at the beach in Monterosso at the end of your day.

An alternate option is to explore the Cinque Terre by boat on a day trip from Le Spezia. Spend the day swimming, snorkeling, admiring the views and exploring the villages on foot on this full day eight hour tour .

Where to Stay in La Spezia

Budget – Hotel Birillo

Mid-Range – Monteverdi Resort

Luxury – Poet Hotel

Day 10 to 12 – Milan

Train: Le Spezia to Milan – approx. 3-3.5 hours with around 10 direct departures each day. Take an early morning train from Le Spezia to maximise your time in Milan.

Milan is often overlooked by visitors to Italy in favour of visiting some of the more historic cities and regions. But this shouldn’t be the case. It’s a city full of beautiful Renaissance architecture, incredible cathedrals, world class works of art and it is one of the fashion capitals of the world. It’s also the perfect place to base yourself for day trips to the Italian Lakes and Southern Alps region.

What to See & Do in Milan

Duomo of Milan – The largest gothic cathedral in the world can be found right in the centre of Milan. Construction began in 1386 taking 500 years to complete. It’s an impressive sight both inside and out plus it offers a great vantage point from the roof (get your roof top entry tickets here to avoid the queues).

Santa Maria delle Grazie – Home to Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper fresco. If you want to see this incredible work of art it is necessary to book in advance . One option is to visit on a guided tour where you will get to see this incredible work of art with an expert.

Sforza Castle –  Situated in the centre of the city is Milan’s Castle which is home to a bunch of art museums including one containing Michelangelo’s last sculpture. Even if you don’t want to visit the museums, the castle is a great place for a stroll through the courtyards and surrounding parklands or to see the very animated fountain out the front.

La Scala Opera House – Italy’s finest opera house can be found in Milan. If you can’t afford the exuberant prices to see a show then you can enter the museum during the day on a tour ( book here to avoid missing out) to see paintings, musical instruments and get a glimpse at the stalls and backstage areas.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II – This huge glass roofed shopping arcade links Duomo Square with La Scala. The stores you will find inside are mostly high end fashion brands and expensive cafes. Take a wander through to admire the roof and the mosaic tiles.

Day Trip to Lake Como – An easy 30-45 minutes train ride from Milan is spectacular Lake Como . When you get off the train and Como Nord Largo (beware, there is three train stations in Como), hop on one of the ferries that goes up and down the lake stopping at the small towns along the way and passing houses owned by Clooney and Branson just to name a few. It’s a beautiful day out with mountain peaks and sheer cliff faces towering over the lake. Hop off at the town of Bellagio, at least, and explore it’s cobblestone streets and charming stores and cafes. An alternative to the train is an organised day trip which you can book here .

Where to Stay in Milan

Budget – Hote Mignon

Mid-Range – Hotel Ritter

Luxury – Mandarin Oriental Milan

Day 13 to 14 – Venice

Train: Milan to Venice – approx. 2.5 hours with at least one direct departure each hour. Take an early morning train from Milan to optimise your time in Venice.

Italy’s sinking city, Venice , is made up of 118 islands connect by bridges and separated by canals, and is literally sinking into the marshy ground it was built on. It’s a city renowned for it’s beauty, architecture and artworks and is best experienced without a map, getting lost in the maze of cobblestone streets and diverse neighborhoods .

What to See & Do in Venice

Piazza San Marco – The city’s largest square and main meeting place. It is surrounded by cafes, shops, museums and some of the city’s best architecture. Beware of the very tame pigeons!

Basilica San Marco – Located in Piazza San Marco, this basilica is one of the best examples of Byzantine architecture in the city. Inside you will find incredible mosaics and paintings by some of the areas best artists. This ticket will give you direct access to the Basilica and the opportunity to take in the incredible views from the Terrace.

The Grand Canal – This is the main and largest canal that snakes it way through the centre of the main island. It’s always busy with boats and barges running up and down carrying goods and people from dock to dock. A great way to do a quick sightseeing tour is by jumping on a vaporetto (Venice’s public transport) at one end and hopping off at the other.

Doge’s Palace – Once the residence of Venetian leaders, now a museum where you can get a glimpse at some of the rooms used in it’s day including stately reception rooms, offices, living quarters, prison cells and torture chambers. This reserved entry ticket will allow you to skip the queues on entry.

Rialto Bridge – This ornamental stone bridge spans the Grand Canal and is the most popular of Venice’s bridges. It’s a very lively spot where you will find shops and markets lining the bridge.

Take a Gondola Ride – While prices for a private gondola ride are close to €100.00 these days, to me, it is still worth the cost for this quintessential Venetian experience. If your lucky to get a chatty gondolier, he will entertain you with stories and maybe even serenade you as you punt along the canals. Most gondola’s seat 6-8 people, so sharing with others is a great way to save money. Booking ahead here will ensure you don’t miss this must do Venice experience.

Explore the Islands – Just a short boat ride away from the main island of Venice are a number of popular islands you can explore. Murano is know for it glass makers, Burano it’s canals lined with coloured houses and lace making and Lido is lined with beaches, restaurants and shopping. You can reach all of these islands from the ferry terminal near Piazza San Marco or you could join a  guided tour to see it all with a local!

Where to Stay in Venice

Budget – Hotel ai do Mori

Mid-Range – Hotel Bel Sito e Berlino

Luxury – Hotel Danieli, a Luxury Collection Hotel

Read More About Europe

First Timers One Month Europe Itinerary

Have More or Less Time?

There are so many more hidden gems in Italy outside of what I have mentioned above. If you have more than two weeks in Italy then you can extend your stay in two ways. Firstly, you could allocate additional time to some of the places I mentioned above allowing you to go at a more relaxed pace and see more in each destination. Alternatively, why not add a destination or two to your Italy train itinerary. Here are a few suggestions:

• Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast
• The Dolomites

Finally, if you have less than two weeks to spend in Italy, check out my Italy 10 Day Itinerary . You’ll get to see the highlights of this trip in a few less days.

A few things to note:

• Flying into one city and out of another will save you time rather than having to double back to your original destination to fly home. The way airlines work in terms of pricing these day you should not be penalised for doing this.
• Pack light. A backpack or light weight soft case is a good option as it makes getting on an off trains much easier.
• Discounts are available on train tickets when traveling in groups of 2 or more, as a family unit, or for people aged under 26. Prices for point to point tickets above are averaged and may be cheaper or more expensive depending on how far in advance you book and whether there is a sale on at the time.

Over to you!

What is your favourite part of this Italy by train itinerary or where are you most keen to visit?

Let me know using the comments section below or join me on social media to start a conversation.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this post.

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304 thoughts on “The Best of Italy by Train: A Two Week Itinerary”

I love Italian trains- the choice between high speed and cheaper local trains make it the perfect way to see the country! I haven’t been to Cinque terre yet but it’s on my list- all the little towns look so gorgeous.

Totally agree Hannah. Hope you get to visit Cinque Terre soon.

I am traveling Italy in august. Is it good time to travel?

Hi Ali! August is when i visited Italy and found it to be a great time of year. It can be quite hot though but that also means really great weather. Dont hesitste to contact me if you have any more questions about your exciting trip!

Thank you Jen for your prompt reply.

I am flying into Venice and Leaving out from Rome, Is it a good Idea?

My pleasure Ali. Yes that sounds like a very time effective way to go. Saves you from having to backtrack to your starting point. What cities, towns or regions are you planning to visit?

Hi, I need some help planning my italy itinerary. I found cheap tickets to naples and going back to the us from naples. I know there will be back tracking, but wanted to know if this was ok. I have about 12 days (including travel) in September. Any advise would help.

Hey Rakesh, Backtracking won’t be a problem as Italy is relatively small so doing a loop would be fine. I’d be happy to help you put together an itinerary that would suit you. Email me what you have so far and we can go from there. [email protected] Cheers Jen

hi Jen, Great itenary!! We are a family of 3 and visiting italy for 12 nights in June first fortnight. Flying into rome and out of venice Any suggests on itenary – rome 3 days Florence 2 days Venice 2 days What else we can do in 4 days ..?

Hi Meenu, Glad you like the itinerary. I would suggest for 12 days, following the same itinerary I have suggested above except remove Assisi and this will give you 12 days. Hope you have a great time! Cheers Jen

Great itinerary tips! I feel the same way about the train – it my favorite mode of transportation in Italy (and Europe).

Thanks Elena. The only way to train in Europe I think.

Great itinerary! We took a train through Italy on a similar route back in 2007 and it was one of the best experiences – great way to get around the country. Though we missed Assisi so may have to get back!

Thanks Megan. I think visiting Assisi is a definitely a good excuse to go back to Italy.

Hi Jen! Are you still giving advice on Italy Itineraries?

Hi Deb, Feel free to leave a comment below and I’ll do my best to advise. Cheers Jen

This is awesome! I love the way this post is crafted – it’s really nice and easy to read for it being a lengthy post full of information. The galleries of images is a nice break from text, as are the headings. Perfect summary here!

Thanks Alli, appreciate your feedback.

I love trains! They were my favorite way to get around Asia. I definitely miss cheap, efficient transportation now that I’m back in the States.

Me too except I’m in Australia. Not much in the way if cheap and reliable transport here.

Hello Jen- I’m interested in a well priced package that spends 3 days in Milan, 3 in cinque terre… I’d like to extend the trip and spend some days in the Tuscany region would this be possible if we are leaving from Milan or is it too out of the way?… I would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks, Lis

Absolutely not! Italy is a reasonably small country and with the addition of high speed trains, it makes it easy to get around quickly. I would suggest at least 3 days in Tuscany, maybe basing yourself in Florence and then taking a day trip to the other towns and the countryside.

OH this sounds so lovely right about now! Great tips for my someday trip to Italy! 🙂 -Alexandra

Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things

Thanks Alexandra. Hopefully someday comes soon for you!

I love the way you display your pics on your blog! I agree with you on flying in into one city and flying out of another, it saves a lot of unnecessary traveling. Thank God for low-budget airlines 🙂

Thanks so much Els. Budget airlines are so great yet so bad all at the same time!

Great itinerary! Although I could spend months in Italy and not run out of things to do, this would be a great trip for a first time visit with the limited time most of us had. And I loved traveling Italy by train – it was so easy and the views were amazing!

Thanks Amy. I agree, Italy offers infinite options for travellers an using there trains just makes it easier.

I love Rome, but I think the Cinque Terre is my favorite part of Italy. We stayed in Vernazza and took the train and hiked to the other towns. We ate some of the best food in Vernazza too. Such a beautiful area.

It certainly is Katherine. I remember eating really fresh seafood and pasta.

Hello We are planning our trip to Cinque and I’m not sure what would be the best route coming from Venice and thinking about spending a day in Florence and then to Cinque… what do you suggest? and also is La Spezia the stop for Cinque Terre? and how would we get into Vernazza from the station? Thank you so much!

Hey Quena, Just one day in Florence won’t give you much time when you factor in the 3-4 hours it will take you travelling to and from it on the trains. I’d suggest giving it at least one night if not more. La Spezia is the largest town close to Cinque Terre and is known as the gateway to the region. You can choose to stay there and day trip along the coast or transit through there to access the train that runs along the Cinque Terre. As for getting into Vernazza, just take the train from La Spezia and the station is right in the town. When you get off, everything is less than a few minutes walk away. Hope this helps and that you enjoy this beautiful part of Italy. Cheers Jen

This is such a lovely post. I think I can plan my entire trip based on the details shared here. Thank you so much 🙂

That is great to hear Deepti. Hope you enjoy your trip!

Indeed a great itinerary and comes very handy for people who are venturing into Europe travelling for first time. I loved trenitalia trains and used them during my travels in Italy way back in 2009. They are the best way to see Italy. We did not see a lot of the places, but mostly explored the iconic cities only. Would love to go back there and explore Tuscany, Sicily, Assisi and the Amalfi coast.

Thanks Anu! I love the trains in Italy and Europe. Hope you get to visit some other parts of Italy soon!

Ughh all your Italy posts are giving me major travel envy! 😀 This is such a useful guide. I would love to go to Milan!

Thanks Jessica! Just writing them made me want to go back.

I love this itinerary. Italy is definitely on my bucket list.

Thanks Ashley. Hope you get to visit Italy soon.

We are hoping to travel to Rome for 3 nights then take a train to Florence for 2nights then head to Pisa for the morning on the way to la spezia. I have read on other websites that luggage can be stored at Pisa centrale train station. Do you recommend this? We just want to see the tower before we head to Cinque Terre later that day. We will be travelling with our 2 boys (10 & 13). We also planned to buy our tickets at the stations as we weren’t sure what times we wanted to travel. Do you recommend this in September or is it best to book ahead?

Hi Melissa,

Yes, there is a luggage storage option at Pisa Centrale Station where you can store your bags for an hourly fee. Another option which would cause you less hassle is having your bags transferred from Florence direct to La Spezia. With two teenage boys, this may be a better option.

You shouldn’t have any problems buying your tickets at the stations on the day as it is the shoulder season meaning it shouldn’t be too busy. Try not to travel during morning and evening peak times otherwise you may find yourself standing all the way. Mind you they are only short journies.

I hope you and your family have an amazing time and please let me know if you have any more questions and report back about your trip when you return, I’d love to hear all about it.

Thank you Jen,

That’s something I didn’t know about. I will definitely look into it.

Great advice

My pleasure Melissa. If you have anymore questions don’t hesitate to ask. Happy planning and travels!

I like This website.It is very helpful website.Really very good

Thank you Alina.

What a helpful blog! Gosh, I am so lazy in comparison when it comes to planning. I will be back for some more tips for sure. Cheers,

Thanks Jenn! Glad I could be of help to you.

I’m planning a 2 week trip around Italy in February and can’t tell you how much this helped me! It’s so hard planning a trip for such a short amount of time with oh so many things to do haha

I was wondering if you have been down to the south of Italy at all? A place called Lecce? I have a friend who lives there so it’ll be visiting her and wondering any recommendations you might have for that area? (if you have been)

Also with the low budget airlines mentioned, are there any good ones you recommend?

Thanks Kirstie. I’m so glad that this post has helped you. I have never been any further south than Sorrento unfortunately so I can’t really provide you with any recommendations for Lecce. Lonely Planet http://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/puglia/lecce/things-to-do has a good guide on things to see in Lecce you can check out.

As for budget airlines, they are all much the same. If you are flying from the UK or within Europe flight time is short so it’s easy to make to with little leg room and slightly uncomfortable seats. My tip is to pick the airline that offers you the cheapest price with flight arrival and departure times that are convenience to you.

Feel free to email me if you have any more questions. Happy travels!

Great thankyou heaps again!

Jen & Kirstie I was about to comment that an itinerary of Italy that doesn’t go south of Rome is very much a glass half empty. travelling in the south is harder – it is poorer and the infrastructure isn’t as good but for many it is more Italian – more passionate, more crazy and more intense. And Lecce is was of the jewels of Italy not to be missed. There are many others in the south and Sicily well that might just be the best of the best!

Thanks Simon. This itinerary is purely based on my experience. I would love to one day explore further south.

This is awesome! We are meeting family in Italy in March for 10 days and this itinerary will help tremendously. 🙂

Glad I could help Sarah. Happy travel in Italy!

This is a great itinerary that includes a lot of wonderful spots of Italy, it is a bit fast pace for me but still lovely. Train travel is one of my favourite, but there might be a cheaper way to move around the country, it’s car-sharing. We’ve been using it a lot recently but it means being a bit more flexible which it might not necessary go with a thigh schedule.

Thanks for the tips.

Hi Jen I came across your forum and thought I’d pick your brains. My hubby n I are heading to Europe thus year middle of August and have just booked a cruise out if Athens for 10 nights ending in Venice then off to lake Como for 4 nights THEN what do you suggest for the next 3 weeks before heading back to Aust. ( never been to Europe) would like Rome , Switzerland , Paris. Ideas appreciated from anyone and also DONT WANT IT RUSHED …… Cheers

Hi Cheryl! What an exciting trip you have planned. Id be happy to pass on some advise and will send you an email with a few suggestions shortly.

Hi Jen ! I’m traveling to Italy this June with my family starting from Venice and my return flight is from Rome we have 2 weeks can u please let me know which places to go after Venice and what traveling method should we use thx.

Hey Sally! Thanks for stopping by. You trip is going to be amazing. Italy is auch an incredible country. I suugest 3 nights in Venice to really soak it up then onto florence for another 2-3 nights. From there you can do a day trip to Tuscany which is just lovely. Back track a little to Cinque Terre to walk or take the train to the five towns. You’ll need 2 nights there staying in either Le Spezia or one of the five towns depending on your budget. Finish up in Rome for 5 nights. There is heapd to see in Rome and you can take a few nice day trips from there to Orvieto and/or Assisi. I suggest you do all of this by train with maybe the odd day trip tour thrown in. Trains are incredibly easy to use in Europe and drop you right in the heart of each city so its super convenient too. Feel free to drop me an email with any other questions you might have. Im move than happy to help. Happy travels!

Hi Jen, your itinerary to see the best of Italy in 2 weeks is very helpful. My husband and I are planning a trip to Italy this April for 2 weeks to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. We were thinking of visiting Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples and Capri islands. But your suggestion of seeing Cinque Terre is very interesting. We will be travelling from India (Bangalore). Is April a good time to visit Italy? Any more suggestions about the places we could cover in 2 weeks?

HI Gayathri. Congratulations on the anniversary, A visit to Italy is a really nice way to celebrate. Your itinerary sounds great and April will be a really nice time as the weather will be warming up but not too hot and you should get lots of sunshine. My only suggestion would be maybe staying in Sorrento rather than Naples. I don’t know if there was something specific you wanted to see in Naples but from Sorrento you can easily get to Capri as well as Pompeii and the incredible Amalfi coast which is my favourite place in Italy. Happy planning and feel free to email me if you have any more questions. [email protected]

Jen, thank you so much. I would surely like to visit the Amalfi coast, but my only constraint is time. Your advice to go to Sorrento and then to Capri is well taken. I would include Pompeii if I can make it a day trip from Sorrento, is it possible? Thank you. Gayathri.

My pleasure Gayathri. From Sorrento it is an easy to do half or full day trips to Pompeii, Capri and Amalfi Coast. Viator is a great website for finding tours. Here is a link to my affiliate page http://www.partner.viator.com/en/14046/ Feel free to email me [email protected] if you want more help picking tours or with any other travel planning questions and I’ll be happy to help!

Jen, thank you so much. How safe is Rome and South Italy from your experience? I am getting a lot of reports that pick-pocketing and purse snatching are rampant, especially on trains.

Thanks again for all the information.

Hi Gayathri, Petty crime like pick-pocketing etc can happen anywhere in the world, and Italy is no exception. Where there is tourists there is petty crime. It is completely unavoidable and not something you should be worried about. My advise is to never carry too much cash or valuable items with you and make sure you know where your belongings are at all times. Never put your wallet in your back pocket. On the trains keep your bags close or within eye sight. There are racks above the seat that will fit large packs (we put 15kg, 60L packs up there no worries) and racks at the ends of the carriages for larger bags. I really hope this assures you that there is nothing to be concerned about and just enjoy your trip. Cheers Jen

Hi Jen, We are back from our two week trip to Italy and we had a wonderful time. Your advice and itinerary were very helpful. Thank you so much. We started from Venice, went to Sienna and then to Florence, then Rome. From Rome we went to Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius too. The weather was excellent throughout. I took your advice and booked the tours on Viator – they were really good. Thanks once again. Gayathri.

Oh I am so glad to hear that you had a great time Gayathri and that my itinerary and advise was helpful. Feel free to get in touch anytime when planning your next adventure!

Such great guide! I love it =) We have only been in Rome and then the Marche region.. This opened up my eyes for the rest of Italy, love this country!

Thanks Jessica. Hope you get to explore more of this wonderful country soon.

Do you have any recommendations for a driver for hire for a family of 6? We plan on being in Tuscany as part of our trip in early August.

Hi Steve This isn’t something I have personal experience with but I can certainly ask around with some other travel bloggers and see if I can get a recommendation for you. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. Cheers

Excellent, thank you.

Hi Steve, One of my fellow traveller’s has come through for you. She has used Alessandro twice now and he comes highly recommended. You can find his Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/alessandrocammilliwinetours?fref=ts Hope this help. Cheers Jen

Thank you for the great tips! I will be traveling with my family to Italy for 2 weeks in December 2015. We are 8 people. I would like to follow your suggested itinerary; however, is it also doable in December (winter time)? Also, we will arrive in Rome and have to fly out of Rome too. Thanks in advance for the help!

Hi Lala, Sounds like your going to have an amazing family vacation. Because of Italy’s Mediterranean location it doesn’t get as cold as some other parts of Europe however the can still get pretty chilly in the north of the country around the Alps. This shouldn’t cause you any problems travelling in December. In fact I imagine it will be much quieter than in summer. As for finishing up in Rome that it easy. All you have to do is take the train back to Rome when your finished in Venice. The journey is about 3 hours 45 minutes and there are services about once an hour with no changes required. I hope this has been of help and do let me know if you have any more questions. Happy planning and travels. Cheers

How long is the train from Rome to Cinque Terre? Both by slow and express train, also what would be the prices for both options?

Hi Keven, The fastest way to get from Rome to Cinque Terre is by direct train to Le Spezia and then change to a local train to the towns along the Cinque Terre. This will take you around 4-4.5 hours. The slower way would be to make an additional change in Florence. The journey for this would be around 1 hour more. In terms of prices, this is depend greatly on the time of the year, day of the week and what class you wish to travel in. You can find links under the Train Tickets section above to my suggested ticketing agents relevant to your home country. Feel free to email me at [email protected] if you have any more planning questions and I’ll be happy to help. Happy travels. Cheers Jen

I came across your forum and found it great helpful. we couple are planning to travel italy for 2 weeks in dec 2015. we wanted to visit Rome , naples (Pompei, sorronto and Amalfi) Florance, Pisa and Milan and venice and if posible to Rimini as well. ( but i dont think we have enough time for rimini). our plan is to travel by train to these places. we are from melbourne and our starting point is to Rome and return filght from Venice. Now my concern is if we should go for point to point train tickets or for a rail pass. As far to understood rail pass doesnt do reservation and not sutiable for this trip. What you do recon ? Any suggestion on my plan ? can i plan somthing better ? And also is there any necessary to book a car or can we manage all places by train ? This is our first trip to italy for both of us and we are very much excited about our trip :).. Cheers, Vandhana.

Hi Vandhana Your trip sounds really exciting! I think your itinerary is perfect but you may struggle to fit in Rimini. My suggestion would be to spend more quality time in a few places rather than trying to fit in as many as possible. And arriving in Rome and departing Venice is a very smart thing to do saving you time and money having to double back to your starting point at the end of the trip. With your train tickets you do have two options. Point to point and a pass. Before you book either option make sure you check the prices as a pass is not always cheapest. It depends greatly on how many segments you travel and what type of trains you travel on. Fast, express trains that require reservations cost more. Seat reservations can be made on top of your pass and cost extra. I highly recommend checking out the RailPlus website for more details on rail tickets. Their customer service team are extremely helpful with answering questions and assisting you with making bookings and seat reservations. I use them when I travel by train. I definitely think the train is the way to go. If you had a car you would likely find it a hassle to park in just about every place your visiting and once your in a city for a few days a car is useless as public transport in Italy is efficient. Please don’t hesitate to email me [email protected] if you have any more questions or just want to bounce ideas off me. Happy travels and planning! Cheers Jen

Thank you Jen. I will check the Railplus website for the train details and take ur advice to spend quality time in few places rather than rushing up. Thank you for great tips 🙂

Good luck and feel free to contact me at any time with questions.

Jen, this post is excellent! Easy to follow and rich with informations! Your itinerary is really good as well: you touch some within the best places to see in Italy. I’m hope you had a good time and that you will be back.

Thank you so much for taking the time to provide me with those lovely comments Carlotta. I love Italy and do very much hope to visit there again someday.

Hi Jen I would like to train travel Italy in June. Would I be able to find accommodation each day as I travel or do you think that would be difficult? Julie

Hi Julie, It is difficult to say for June as it is coming into peak season. I believe you would have more chance in June than say July or August (peak season). What you could try is booking online a few days in advance when you have more of an idea of what your plans are. This will most certainly guarantee you to find something. Also try to avoid being in places when there are events or festivals happening. Accommodation disappears months in advance when things are going on. Happy planning! Cheers Jen

my wife and I will be staying with family in Tuscany for a week. Would it be possible to do some of these as day trips from tuscany?

We will be there mid september

Absolutely, getting to places like Florence, Siena, Pisa and Lucca (just to name a few) are really easy from Tuscany for day trips. For places further afield you could still do it in a day but in my opinion it wouldn’t be worth it. You could try some overnight trips if you did want to travel outside of Tuscany. Happy travels.

Hi Jen, thank you for this amazing write up 🙂

My friend and I are travelling Italy in mid-May onwards for 2 weeks, and we are so excited, we don’t quite know where to start! Likely to have our tickets in and out of Rome, and I am so happy to have seen this site, sheds a lot of light 🙂

Question though, how many days in advance should we be booking our train tickets? Is purchasing on the go advisable though, or should we book months in advance (given that its mid-March now)

Hey Alyssa. Thanks for getting in touch. Just got your email and I’ve just replied.

Thank you for such wonderful information! Planning a two week Italy/Paris trip, post high-school graduation with my daughter, flying into Athens and flying out of Paris. As we plan to spend most of our time in Italy, this itinerary is perfect — thank you! two general questions: (a)do you have any thoughts/suggestions on train travel from Italy to Paris? (b) Is there a particular site you recommend for lodging information in Italy? Thank you again for taking the time to post all this wonderful information – it’s truly invaluable to those of us visiting a country for the first time.

HI Elli, Sounds like a great way to celebrate your daughters graduation. From Milan in Northern Italy there is a direct overnight train that you can get to Paris which takes around 10 hours. You’ve got the option of doing the journey in an ordinary chair or having a sleep cabin. There are both private and shared cabins onboard. From anywhere else in Italy you are looking at 14 hours at least with multiple changes required. Flying might be the best option here. As for booking sites, this will depend entirely on where you are from as each country has its own agencies. If you are in Australia I recommend RailPlus.com.au. Accommodation will depend entirely on what your budget and style is. If you are after cheap then you can find hostels on HostelWorld.com. Most hostels are more than dorms and offer private rooms with private bathrooms. You get lots of inclusions, with some even offering free wi-fi which you would usually have to pay a hefty fee for in ordinary hotels. Feel free to email me any time with more questions or just to run any ideas you have by me. Cheers Jen

Jen, this is incredible! I’ve been procrastinating planning my trip because I was just too overwhelmed. Your itinerary is so incredibly helpful, I feel as if I have an idea of what I’ll be doing now. Can’t thank you enough!

Can I ask your expert opinion? You mentioned above the Amalfi Coast was your favorite however, this will be my first trip to Italy. Do you recommend hitting the tourist sites or sacrificing some to tour the Amalfi Coast? I’ll have 2 weeks in early September. I would love to fly into Milan to Venice, La Spezia, Florence, Tuscany, Rome – just like you suggest. Is it much trouble to reach Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast? Do you think I’ll be able to manage it all? I’ll be flying out of Rome. Or I can swap and begin in Rome and fly from Milan…

Thank you so much!

So glad to help Lindsey! It is pretty simple to get from Rome to Sorrento and 1-2 nights there would be enough for you to see the Amalfi Coast on a ferry for the day. If you love stunning coastline and relaxed villages then you will love Amalfi. While Milan is nice, Italy has so much more to offer. My advise would be to skip it and allow yourself more time to get to Amalfi or spend more time in Rome, Venice or Florence. While it might be a little hectic fitting in Rome, Venice, Florence, Cinque Terre and Amalfi, it is most certainly doable with enough time to see the main sights and a few off the beaten path ones as well. Feel free to email me any time if you want to chat further. [email protected] Cheers Jen

Great itinerary tips here! I’m planning for a trip to Italy this August with my family and am definitely coming back to your page when I really start planning for it! A quick question for now, my brother is a wheelchair user. Will it be convenient for him to take trains in Italy? Any other tips regarding the accessibility of Italy? Thanks in advance! 🙂

Hi Joyce. Thanks for your kind words. I have no idea about travelling in a wheelechair but a good friend of mine does. I’ve messaged him and will let you know if he can help soon. Cheers Jen

This is amazing, thank you for the great itinerary! My wife and I are going on a 2-week vacation in Italy this August (our first time in Europe too). So this is such a big help, we’re so excited! Our itinerary begins with 4 nights in Venice, 4 nights in Florence, and capped off with 5 nights in Cinque Terre (Riomaggiore).

We plan to visit the museums/galleries, churches/historical sites, and lots of walking around during our stay in Venice and Florence. We’d book ourselves a half-day Chianti wine tour as well. But after that, we’d just relax by the sea and absorb as much of the coastal villages during our loooooong stay in Cinque Terre.

We haven’t reserved rooms nor bought plane tickets yet so our plan is completely flexible as of this moment. But are we staying at each city too long? Should we insert another city in our plan? What do you think?

So glad you found this helpful. Your itinerary sounds really great and nice an relaxing. If you wanted to fit one more place in then I would suggest Rome. You could take 2 nights from Cinque Terre and one each from Venice and Florence to do 4 nights in Rome. If you decide to do this I suggest flying into Venice and out of Rome to avoid having to back track. If you want a really relaxed trip with lots of time to just chill then I think what you have already is just perfect.

If you’re looking for places to stay I have just created a new page that is full of my recommendations based on my experience. You’ll find it here https://thetrustedtraveller.com/where-to-stay/ .

Feel free to email me at [email protected] if you have any follow up questions or want to run anything by me. I’m always happy to help!

Hi there–

I have the age old question of luggage. I’m traveling in Italy for about 3 and a half weeks this summer with my mom. I’ll be in Milan, Tuscany, Florence, Cinque Terre, Rome, Naples. I always debate whether or not to take a bag with wheels or a backpack. We will be traveling internally exclusively by train. Do you still recommend a backpack over a bag with wheels? Lost of cobbled streets? Stairs with no alternative but to carry bag? I’d hate to be schlepping a bag on my shoulders the whole trip but I will if it seems that it is easier than struggling with a rolley bag.

I am more partial to a backpack for trips where I will be moving from place to place so that is what I would suggest for your trip (which sounds great BTW). There are also bags that are backpacks but also have wheels which give you the freedom to do both, however as you can image the bag weight alone is quite heavy without all over your stuff in it.

If you do go with a backpack I have a few tips for taking some of the weight off your shoulders. – Pack smaller bottles of toiletries with just enough in them to last your whole trip. – Carefully consider what items of clothing you pack ensuring that each item goes with at least two others and can be used for multiple occasions. – Consider investing in some quick dry clothing that you can wash in the hotel sink. – As much as we love out electronic devices these days, avoid taking too many as each one is extra weight you have to carry.

I hope you have a really great time in Italy.

Thank you so much for such an informative article, it’s a life saver for first time visitors to Italy like us. We are planning a trip either beginning of August or mid September (still trying to decide, since we don’t like hot wheater) for about two weeks, and your itinerary sounds great, except that we would love to spend a couple of days on a beach. Which beaches would you say are must see in Italy and how would you change your itinerary to make this happen? Thank you in advance!

I am so glad this itinerary has helped you.

Firstly if you don’t like the heat I would recommend September over August. We were in Italy in August and it was very hot.

I have a few suggestions for you to spend a couple of days on the beach. You could add a few additional days in Cinque Terre. The town, Monterosso, has a lovely beach. Or from Rome you could travel south to the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento where you could stay a few days and enjoy the villages with nice beaches. Both of these options could be done within the two weeks with a few adjustments to the rest of the itinerary.

Alternatively, if you have some additional time, I have heard only great things about Sicily, which would require a bit more effort to get to, but you’d be rewards with some of Italy’s best beaches.

Good luck with you trip planning and please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any more questions as I am always happy to chat travel!.

I am travelling with my wife and two kids 6 & 12 on june 8th for 2 weeks. I will be flying into venice and leaving out from Rome. Any thoughts how do I plan for my trip?

Hi Ajoo, You kids must be excited for the trip! This itinerary is a great place for you to start as it is two week exactly and you could do it in reverse order, starting in Venice, ending in Rome. I’d be happy to answer any more specific questions you have as you go about your planning. Feel free to email me [email protected] at any time. All the best with your planning. Jen

Nicely done—great descriptions and concisely presented. I’m using this as my template for a trip in September.

Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment Don. I am so glad that you have found this post useful. All the best with your travel planning.

can you tell me the total cost of 2 weeks trip for Italy for couple?

Hi Attique, The cost would vary depending on the level of comfort you’d prefer for accommodation, things you’d like to see and do and what sort of places you’d like to eat at. I’d be happy to discuss this further with you if you’d like to email me [email protected] and I with a few more details I could help you out with an overall cost. Cheers Jen

I am looking to take my family of 5 to Italy in March 2016. We will be there for approximately 10-11 days depending on the flights we get. It will be over Easter, so I am not sure if it would be worth the experience to be in Rome/Vatican City then, or to avoid it. Also, we would like to hit Rome, Naples, Florence, and Venice. What is the best way to do this, and is it any better flying into Venice and traveling south or vice versa Rome and head north.

Hi Matt! I think arriving at either Rome, Venice or Naples and leaving from the opposite will be your best bet and I don’t think it will matter which direction you go (north to south or south to north) unless there is something specific you want to see and do on a specific day. As for being in Rome for Easter, I personally haven’t been there over the Easter break but know people who have and they very much enjoyed the experience of seeing the Pope on his Easter parade through the city. However, if you want to avoid the crowds, then I would avoid Rome for the Easter weekend. Feel free to email me anytime if you have any more travel planning queries and I’ll be more than happy to help. [email protected] Cheers Jen

So excited to find this itinerary!! Planning a trip for our 30th wedding anniversary. We’ve been to Venice so may just cut that part out. Do you feel this itinerary does allow for some ‘down’ time to relax? Or should I add a day or two? Also, what would be a good amount to budget for lodging and food each day? Not looking for anything fancy. Just clean. Thanks so much!!!!

Hi Tina, I’m so glad this itinerary is useful to you and congratulations on the big anniversary. I hope you have a wonderful trip. To answer your questions I’d say if you cut out Venice as you said, this would give you more down time in other places. Maybe add an additional night or two in the Cinque Terre region or add a few nights stay outside of Florence in Tuscany. Both are regions you can really relax and get away from the crowds for a bit. As for a budget for accommodation and food, this will depend entirely on your personal preferences and standards. You can check out my Where to Stay page https://thetrustedtraveller.com/where-to-stay/ for the places I suggest and this will be a good starting off point for you. Feel free to email me ( [email protected] ) if you want to chat further about this and I can guide you in the right direction for your budget. All the best. Cheers Jen

This is awesome!! Thanks so much for this. I would have done an organised tour (which I really didn’t want to do) if not for this information. I’m going to be doing a three and a half month trip to Europe next year starting in London flying from Sydney on April 9th, and Italy will make up 18 nights of my trip. I’m going to be doing lots of big cities, and was thinking that while I’m in Italy I might try staying in some smaller places. I don’t really want to visit Milan, but I was going to as it seemed convenient to follow your logical route and because I want to go to Lake Como. I was given some advice that it might make more sense to actually stay in Lake Como instead of Milan, and I found what looks like a great hostel in Mennagio. What do you think of this? Also I’m considering actually staying at one of the Cinque Terre towns, instead of La Spezia which you suggested. I realise I’d need to catch a train to La Spezia then a small regional one into CT. I found again what looks to be a good hostel in Manarola. Should I take a night off Florence or Rome to stay the night in Assisi or is it possible to stop on the way through?

This is my intended route for Italy starting from mid May 2016, flying in from Nice, and flying from Rome to Athens to continue my trip. The number is the nights I will stay in one place for and brackets is transport to the next place. 3 – Venice (train) (stop at Verona on the way) (day trip with Italy on a Budget to the islands) 2 –Mennagio (Lake Como) (instead of Milan) (train) to La Spezia then regional train to CT 2 – Manarola (Cinque Terre) – (train) 42 total nights 4 – Florence (day trip to Pisa, Siena, Grapes Tuscany tour by Italy on a budget to Tuscany) stop in Assisi on the way (train) 4 – Rome 3 – Italian Adventure with Italy on a Budget- Rome to Naples, Sorrento, Capri, Amalfi and Rome

Hey Brooke! What an adventure you are going to have next year. It all sounds really great. If you want to get out of the big cities and spend some more time in the smaller towns then I would definitely agree with the advise that you have been given in regard to staying in Lake Como rather than Milan and staying in Manarola rather than La Spezia. Milan, while a nice city, is really just another big Italian city and if your only reason to go there is to visit Lake Como then definitely go with the Lake Como option instead. Your itinerary sounds good and you are definitely going to be seeing lots of the country, making the most of your time with day trips. For Assisi, I would recommend trying to fit that in on the way through rather than loosing a night in Rome or FLorence. It is a really nice little town but you can quite easily see its highlights in a few hours. Good luck with putting together the rest of your trip and please do not hesitate to email me ( [email protected] ) at any time if you have any more questions or just want to bonce ideas off me. Cheers Jen

Thanks heaps Jen!! I’m so excited, this will be my first trip solo, and first time to Europe. and this plan is the result of 2 months of research (I mean for my whole trip). I think I’ve nearly got my whole trip route planned now, and I can focus on choosing places to stay, putting together ideas for what I want to do when I’m in each place (I don’t want to waste time doing this when I’m away so I plan on having a big numbered list to choose from which will be flexible to take on board advise from other travelers and locals when I am there) and I’m waiting on the release dates for tours next year. Have you had any experience with Italy on a Budget? All the reviews on Tripadvisor look great. Do you think starting in Venice in mid May would be a good time to go? I might take you up on that offer and email you my whole itinerary, but I understand you would be really busy.

Thanks for all your help

Thanks you for posting this blog myself and my partner are going to follow it to a t, the only difference is we want to spend two night in Amalfi Coast but not sure what part we don’t won’t to go too far south could you recommend somewhere please.

Thanks, Dee

Hey Dee, Glad the itinerary is useful for you. You have two options for the Amalfi Coast. Stay in the town of Sorrento and then take a day trip along the Amalfi Coast either by boat (my preference) or by bus. You can easily see the coast and stop in the towns of Amalfi and Positano on a day trip. Or you can stay on the coast itself in either Amalfi or Positano. This option would be a little more expensive but give you the freedom to explore a little more. Feel free to email me if you’d like to discuss more. Cheers Jen

I m in love with the way you have written out the itinerary.. m travelling with my family including my 6 yr old to Italy for 12 days in August. Currently we have 4 nights in rome, 2 nights in la spezia to visit cinque terre, 4 nights in florence and 2 nights in venice. thereafter we continue for a week to switzerland. I have a few questions, what is the best way to see rome, i wanted to plan some day trips, but the guided tours seem too expensive. Is there another option? Also we want to visit Naples/ Amalfi coast what would be the best way to do this? Lastly i know buying point to point train tickets would be cheaper in italy, but since we are going to switzerland after, would having a eurorail global pass make sense? thanks for your help

Hey Nimeesha, Thank you for your kind words about my itinerary. I am so glad that you have made the choice to travel to Italy and Switzerland as they are both really beautiful countries with lots to see and do. You itinerary sounds great so far. Rome is an easy city to get around on the metro and a lot of the sights are easy to walk to from one another. Alternatively the open top hop-on-hop-off bus is a cheaper than taking a city tour and offers a good route through the city allowing you to hop on and off as many times as you like over the 1, 2 or 3 days. You can find more info about that here http://www.partner.viator.com/en/14046/tours/Rome/Rome-Hop-On-Hop-Off-Sightseeing-Tour/d511-6980ROME If you have the time, you can add an additional 2 nights to your trip to explore the Amalfi Coast and Naples area. You can take a train from Rome to Naples, change to a local service which will take you to Sorrento, a nice place to base yourself for exploring the region. From Sorrento you can do boat trips along the coast stopping in the towns of Amalfi and Positano. You can also make a stop on the train to/from Sorrento to explore Pompeii for an hour or two. For your tickets, it will depend entirely on how many segments (travel days) you will be doing in total. If you use the link under tickets in this post you can compare the cost of a pass that will cover all your segments with the cost of purchasing point to point tickets. Don’t forget to factor in seat reservations for both options if you want a reserved seat. I hope this has been of assistance and please feel free to email me ( [email protected] ) should you have any follow up questions or want to run anything by me. I am always happy to hear from fellow travels. Cheers Jen

Just wanted to drop a quick note and say bravo on this piece. It has helped my husband and I immensely and although we are taking a slightly different route by train, your recommendations and tips are very beneficial.

Thank-you and keep up the great work. I’ll be sure to visit your site next time we travel for great advise and tips!

Regards, Hilary

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this note Hilary. It means a lot to me to be able to help people plan their travels and I am so glad this info was helpful to you and your husband. Please don’t hesitate to contact me again in the future should you need any further tips or advice.

Hi Jen, do you think this itinerary will work for when I go in December?

Hi Zuhairi,

This itinerary can absolutely be done at any time of year. Italy is a great country to visit all year round.

All the best with your trip!

Do you know how much the trip would roughly cost for 2 teenagers aged 18 planning to go this December?

Hi Zuhairi, It will depend entirely on what type of accommodation you choose and what type of meals you are expecting to eat. Feel free to email me with more detail and I’ll be happy to help you work out a budget. [email protected] Cheers Jen

I am in the first stages of planning a trip to Paris (7-10 days) and then training through Italy. I am so pleased I came across your site. Great information to help my planning. A few questions. If we took existing suitcases would these prove too much of a hassle on trains? A backpack wouldn’t be enough room as we will be going out for dinner where husband will need to wear a suit etc. Also, I have this vision of sitting outside in a small village having a wonderful local meal and enjoying a wine looking out at the Mediterranean and relaxing. Would you suggest Cinque Terre or Amalfi coast as the best place to be able to do this. Rome is for rushing to see all the sights and I want to balance the big cities with down time in smaller places to soak up atmosphere. I wasn’t looking at Milan but Lake Como looks stunning. I would love to see some alps so would you suggest travelling through Switzerland on the way from Paris to Venice or spending time in Lake Como with its view of the alps. If Switzerland, where would you suggest to visit for 1 or 2 nights. Thank you for the great information you give out. This is going to be my go to site now.

Thank you for the kind words Lorraine. It is very nice for me to hear that this information is useful to others when planning their trips. Below are the answers to your questions. Feel free to email me ( [email protected] ) if you have anything to follow up or want to run more ideas by me. I’m always happy to help.

If you limit yourself to one suitcase each and one small carry-on type backpack or handbag, you should be fine getting on and off the trains. Try not to overload the suitcases to much so they aren’t too heavy and so that you have room to bring home anything you might like to purchase along the way.

If I had to choose between the Cinque Terre and Amalfi Coast I would choose Amalfi every time. I was blown away by it’s beauty more so than Cinque Terre. However if you like hiking then Cinque Terre might be more suitable for you as you can do the walk between the towns. Both you can do exactly what you are visualising.

Lake Como is indeed beautiful and does give you the chance to see the Alps. It is easy to get around the lake on a hop-on hop-off boat and the little towns are really beautiful and nice to explore on foot.

I do really love Switzerland but think it deserves more time than just a night or two so I would go with the Lake Como option for this particular trip. However if you do really want to visit Switzerland, Interlaken is beautiful town completely surrounded by the mountains. Or Lucerne is also nice, but bigger, and is a great place for day trips up into the mountains. (A little more info on Switzerland https://thetrustedtraveller.com/travel-guides/switzerland-travel-guide/ )

Another alternative would be the town of Annecy in the French Alps right near the boarder of Switzerland. It is one of my favourite places in Europe and would fit nicely in your trip with a balance of biggers cities and smaller towns. (More info on France, including Paris and a bit on Annecy https://thetrustedtraveller.com/travel-guides/france-travel-guide/ )

Hope this has helped and please don’t hesitate to let me know if I can help you in any other way with your trip.

Thank you so much for your ideas. Annecy looks postcard perfect. That’s the trouble with Europe – so many beautiful places and so little time (and money) I will be reading all of your Europe guides to gain more for information. Working out the most cost effective versus must see way to train from Paris to Rome will take some time but I do enjoy the research. Im sure I will have more questions later but thank you for the help you have already given esp regarding the baggage and also Amalfi v Cinque Terre. I will definitely be adding in somewhere near alps – just not sure yet if French, Italian or Swiss. cheers Lorraine

I’m going Italy for two weeks next year July by myself, this itinerary helped a lot, but I’m slightly worried about the budget for the whole trip.

Hi Jettson, Glad this itinerary has helped. Your budget will depend entirely on what type of accommodation you stay in, where you choose to eat and how many paying attractions you want to visit. Feel free to email me [email protected] will more info on these things and I’ll be able to help you out with a budget.

Hi! i’m planning a trip to Switzerland and and Italy for this winter. I’ll be spending 2 nights in Zurich, 2 nights in Lucerne, and a night in Zermatt for the Switzerland leg. For the Italian leg i’ll be spending a night in Venice and 3 nights each in Milan, Florence, and Rome. Do you have any suggestions of what i should do in the winter?

Hi Trisha, Thanks for your comment. Your trip sounds so exciting. Europe in the winter is supposed to be beautiful. For Italy, much of what you can do in Summer, you can do in Winter. Here is a link to everything we have done in Italy ( https://thetrustedtraveller.com/tag/italy/ ). For northern Italy and Switzerland, winter sports like skiing, snowboard, sledging etc are all very popular and easy to arrange when you are there. If you are there around Christmas time, Europe’s Christmas markets are amazing so see if you can visit one of them maybe in Zurich or Lucerne. From Lucerne I highly recommend taking the cog train and gondola to Mt Pilatus ( http://www.pilatus.ch/en/ ). Hope this helps and that you have a great trip. If you have any specific questions please feel free to email us ( [email protected] ). Cheers Jen

This is great! I’m planning on going to Italy for my next big trip. Just out of curiosity, what was your budget approximately for this?

Thanks Natasha. Glad you have found it useful. You budget will depend entirely on the type of accommodation, food and activities you do. I’d be happy to advise you more on this through email if you’d like to email me a bit more details about these things. [email protected] . Cheers

Please add me to your mailing list.

Thanks Gillian

Thanks Gillian. I have just added you.

Hey Jen! My husband and I were hoping to visit Italy this summer– but we were looking at those guided tour groups that already plan out the hotels/travel arrangements to help prevent a planning headache. I was wondering if touring by yourself instead of with a group is the cheaper option? Plus I want to visit Cinque Terre– and I can’t find a group tour that visits there…

Overall we want to see Venice, Florence, Cinque Terre, and Rome. Wondering if you could give advice on traveling (like how many nights to stay in each place). My email is: [email protected]

Would love to hear some advice! Thanks!

Hi Anna, It would definitely be cheaper to travel independently than with a group. While I do like group tours from time to time, travelling independently gives you far more freedom. As for how many night to say in say place, this would depend on what you wanted to see and do in each place. A few rough numbers i’d suggest would be 3 nights each in Venice and Florence, 2 in Cinque Terre and 4 in Rome. Of course if you are wanting to see more than just the famous sites, i’d allow a bit more time. Hope you have a great time in Italy and feel free to email use with any follow up questions. Cheers Jen

Hey Jen, I was looking at doing a family (w 3 kids 16,20,22) trip to Italy in June over 14/15 days. Becoming too overwhelming and expensive. Thinking of hitting Venice, Florence, AmafiCoast, Latina(family 2 to 3 nts), Rome but Cinqua Terre sounds pretty cool. Do you have the perfect itinerary? Considering arr/dep Milan since a lot cheaper. Would love your help, John

Thanks John. The itinerary in this post would be my perfect itinerary for Italy. If your going to add Latina I would suggest dropping something off my itinerary as it will be pretty full on. Maybe the Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre because they are quite similar. Arriving into Milan would be easy to just take the train straight over to Venice in a few hours. Hope this helps and don’t hesitate to email us with any follow up questions.

Hello Jen, I have enjoyed your blog and appreciate yours and others comments. Can you advice on this itinerary liosted below? Is train travel best? I noted a Venice to Rome train that takes over 6 hours but travels at night from 12:21 am to 6:35 am. I figured we could sleep on train and then have plenty of time to get from Rome Train Station to the Airport for 2pm flight out. What is best way to get from Rome Termini to the Airport?

We have 2 weeks but first week is dedicated to family reunion in Campbobasso and transportation is provided. I am a single father going with my 4 children age 24 to 17.

Here is a loose itinerary:

Aug 1-3 Rome Aug 4-7 Compobasso Aug 8-9 Florence Aug 10-11 Coastal area North of Rome (Cinque Terre or Pisa or both????) Aug 12-13 Venice Aug 14 sleep on train from Venice to Rome??????? Aug 15 Depart Leonardo di Vincvi Rome Airport at 2pm.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Joe Liptow

Hi Joe, Thanks so much and I am so glad you have found this info useful. Travelling by train overnight is a great way to save money on accommodation. So if that is something you are comfortable with then I’d say go for it. From Rome Termini you can take the Leonardo Express train from platform 24. Departures are every 30 minutes. The train is the easiest and quickest way to get around and will work perfectly for your itinerary. Your itinerary looks good. Only suggestion I would make is visiting Cinque Terre only, not Pisa. With only two days you will need the time in Cinque and Pisa really is just a tower. Hope this helps and please don’t hesitate to email us should you have any follow up questions. ( [email protected] Have a fantastic trip! Cheers Jen

Jen, your site is tremendously helpful! My husband and I will be in Italy at the end of August. We will be coming from Morocco where we will be visiting our daughter for about a week so that unfortunately cuts our time Italy. If we have only 11/2 week in Italy what would you suggest cutting out? We are physically fit and like to walk/hike and although we don’t want to miss some of the tourist things that are a MUST we are not interested in visiting a bunch of museums/churchs… we are more interested in the romance of Italy and the beautiful scenery and people. I am thinking the Amalfi Coast sounds wonderful as so does Cinque Terre, but would you do both? It is my husbands first trip there so I don’t want to miss some of the major landmarks though either. Thanks so much! Kelly

Hi Kelly, Thanks so much! If you like to walk and the outdoors I would definitely leave in Cinque Terre and Amalfi Coast. I would suggest cutting Florence as it is mostly about churches and art galleries, although it is still a pretty and interesting city. Hope this helps and if you ever need anything else, please don’t hesitate to email me [email protected] . Cheers Jen

Hello Jen, My family is planning to visit Italy for the 1st time in June for 2 weeks and would love some guidance. We will be traveling with our 4 and 8 year old boys. We are thinking of starting in Rome and heading towards Venice. Is this a good idea? What would be your suggestions of places to see on our way to Venice? Should we go a different direction? Would love to squeeze an a beach day in the middle to make the boys happy 🙂 I also would like to go to Ampli but probably to far the other direction right? Do you suggest us traveling by train? Also would you suggest using a tour guide in any of the cities we visit?

Thank you for your help.

Hi Malika, Thanks for you message. I would suggest doing exactly as the itinerary above suggests except skipping Assisi for Amalfi coast. The kids can have a beach day in either Amalfi or Cinque Terre too. Also train would definitely be the easiest way to get around, just make sure you don’t bring too much luggage as you will have to carry it all with you. IN the cities, keep an eye out for free walking tours. They are a great intro to each city and the guides are always very good because they work for tips only. Hope this has been of some help to you. Cheers Jen

Thank you Jen for all the tips 🙂 We are starting in Rome- When should be our stop to Amalfi coast? Should that be a couple days trip? We will skip Assisi.

I’d suggest spending your time in Rome and then moving onto Amalfi coast from there and then making your way north again. You’ll need at least 2 nights there.

Hi Jen, I really love your site. I’m planning on going to Italy with my 2 friends early september time for about 2 weeks of travel. We have just started looking into it and are just starting to figure out the places we want to go to. Do you think Venice, Verona (max 1/2 day), Milan, Florence (into Cinque Terre for a day or so), Rome and then into Naples to see Pompeii, Sorrento and Capri is doable? I realise our time is quite limited and we do have a lot on our list, or would you recommend taking some places out and spending more time in others, if so which would you suggest? Any help would be much appreciated!

Hi Hazel, Thanks for your kind words. Two weeks is the perfect amount of time to see the highlights of Italy. Here is what I suggest based on the places you mentioned you’d like to visit: Venice – 3 nights – half day trip to Verona Cinque Terre – 2 nights Florence – 3 nights – day trip into Tuscany Rome – 4 nights Sorrento – 2 nights – visit Pompeii on the way there and day trip Capri and Amalfi coast. So a total 14 nights. I suggest skipping Milan unless something there really interests you, we found it to be the least interesting place we visited in Italy. There also isn’t a lot to see in Naples itself so I’ve suggested to base yourself in Sorrento instead. I hope this helps and if you have any other questions I am always happy to help, just drop me an email [email protected] Cheers Jen

We are planning a trip to Italy and have devoured your site. It is wonderful. Two quick questions:

1) Do train tickets need to be purchased in advanced? For an exact time? 2) When getting off the train, are there taxis to get us to the hotel OR prearrange transfer?

Thanks for any help, I am sure I will be continuing to ask questions.

Hi Shawn, So glad that you found our site useful. Here are the answers to your questions: 1) No you are not required to make reservations in advance. Although it would be recommended depending on the time of year you are travelling. If it is peak season over summer you may find yourself having to wait a few hours at the train station for an available seat. Outside of this you would be ok to make reservation at the station on the day. 2) The train stations in Europe are usually right in the heart of the city centre so you can either walk (if your accommodation is close enough), take public transport like subway, bus or tram or you can take a taxi which are readily available at all train stations. Hope this has helped! Cheers Jen

I’m planning to follow your itinerary for my trip to italy. But i would be going from mid december to end december, which is winter. Do you think that’s still a good idea?

Hi Jen! This is great information! very helpful! We are planning a trip to Italy We are flying into and leaving from Rome, so there will be some back tracking involved (16 nights total that includes the last night we have to be back in rome). We are travelling with our 5 and 8 year olds. We were thinking of 5 nights in rome, 2-3 in Florence, 2 in Cinque Terre, 2-3 in venice, 2 in Sorrento. We are wondering weather to go to Sorrento first from Rome, then make our way back to Rome or Florence and up north or the other way round. Since we have to leave on July 4rth morning 10:30AM flight, we either have to spend our last night in Rome, or consider an itinerary in which we take an overnight train back to Rome. Any suggestions? Total 16 nights, including the last night back in Rome. Also we really wanted to go to Lake Como but it looks like we have to pick between amalfi and Como. Thanks!

Hi MD, Thanks and glad you found the post helpful. Firstly, you’re itinerary sounds pretty good and I wouldn’t change it really. I’d suggest visiting Rome first then heading to Sorrento then Florence as you will probably be a little tired and jetlagged when you arrive. If you had to rush off to Sorrento straight way you probably wouldn’t enjoy it as much. Also Lake Como as well would be a stretch and from our experience, the Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre are more enjoyable. Hope this helps and feel free to email us any time with followup questions ( [email protected] ). Cheers Jen

Jen thanks so much for your reply. We have 7 nights which we have to split between Florence, CT and sorrento. Any suggestions? I was thinking 2 in CT, 3 in Florence and 2 in sorrento, but I am confused between sorrento and Florence depending on things to do. Thanks again!

No worries. I think those numbers are good if you only have 7 days. You can walk (or take the train) the Cinque Terre easily in one day so two nights is perfect. In Florence, 3 nights will give you time to take a day trip to Tuscany while also checking out the best of the city itself. And 2 nights in Sorrento can be spent exploring the Amalfi Coast on a day trip or visiting Capri. This is still going to be tight though so if you can manage another few nights it would make it more comfortable, but certainly do-able with what you already have. Hope this has helped.

This is just awesome. We are planning to spend two and 1/2 weeks in Italy. With this itinerary I now know where to start. Is Tuscany doable with this itinerary or Pisa or Pompei? I have no idea how far away things are.

Thanks Kelly. Glad we could help. You could easily take day trips from Florence to visit Pisa and Tuscany and from Rome to Pompeii. If you’d like specific recommendations, feel free to email me. ( [email protected] ) Cheers

We are planning our trip to Italy using your suggested Itinerary exactly how you presented it on your web site. However, we would like to do one side trip to the Alps on the Bernina Express at the end of our trip from Venice. Is there any easy way to get to Tiriano WITHOUT going back to Milan? It seems like SO much time on a train.

We will be spending an overnight in CHUR and then coming back to Milan for our flight home. There is a train for Tiriano to Milan but I can’t find one from Venice to Tiriano.

Thanks for your message and I am so glad you have found our itinerary useful.

Unfortunately I don’t have good news for you. There is no direct train from Venice to Tirano. You will have to travel via Milan.

If you have any more questions about your trip, don’t hesitate to email us at [email protected] .

All the best.

Jen –

Your website is amazing and so helpful. I’m literally writing you sitting in La Spezia per your recommendation of Cinque Terre, waiting for the rain to clear up. I’ll be using your website for most, to all of our future travel plans!

I wanted to reach out to you and let you know that the Fiat 500 Touring Club tour we took in Florence was absolutely out of this world awesome. If you are ever back in Florence I’d recommend that you do it and any travelers looking on this website should do the same!

Also in your comment sections you may want to consider having the most recent comments show at the top rather than the bottom (I’m on an IPad, so I’m not sure if it is my device, but I’d like the most recent stuff at the top).

Thanks so much for your lovely comments and feedback Zac. I am so glad you are enjoying your trip and that we were able to help you with it. I hear it has been raining quite a bit lately in CT, so fingers crossed you will get some sunshine before you move on.

I will absolutley check out that tour next time we are in Italy!

And I will look into the comments order issue. Thanks for making me aware!

All the best!

Great website. We didn’t know where to start but when we came across this website it all made sense. This would be our (DH with 6yrs old and 8yrs old kids) first ever visit to Italy and we are very excited.

We were wandering if you could help us with some questions below. We have booked the flights – flying into Milan (29 Jun) and flying out of Rome (13 July) for a total of 14 nights. Would this itinerary work for the flights above. We love travelling by train and like all your suggestions and recommendation. We are not too big on architecture and museums but love sightseeing and being out and about. So we are planning exactly as you suggested but in reverse due to flights – 3 days in Milan, 3 days in Venice, 2 days in CT, 3 days in Florence and 3 days in Rome in that order. Is this doable? Would the trains work in that sequence. The trip from Venice to CT being the one that I am not too sure about. We are open to rearranging the itinerary that suits the trains and logistics accordingly.

We were hoping to spend more time around Lake Como rather than Milan itself. You have given some wonderful ideas for Venice so we wont change anything there. But kids wanted to see the leaning tower in Pisa which seems to be on the way from La Spezia to Florence. Would you advise a quick stopover to Pisa (drop the luggage at train station) on the way back to Florence or should we head straight to Florence and then do the day tours from there. May be day tours of Tuscany including Sienna, San Giminagno and wineyards. Would 3 days be enough in Florence with this?

We were also thinking of skipping Assisi altogether and heading straight to Rome from Florence so its not too hectic. Not sure if that is the right decision as Assisi seems like a nice place but we are just being mindful that we would be not as energetic towards the end of the trip.

Sorry if these are too many questions but I am just encouraged by your kind and lovely nature well reflected in your replies to similar question above.

Hi Nav, Thanks so much and we are so glad this was useful for you. You itinerary sounds perfect and will work in that order for the trains and it is also perfect for optimising your time. Stopping in Pisa on the from La Spezia to Florence is easy as there is lockers at the station. There are multiple stations at Pisa. You want to get off at Pisa S.Rossore as this is the closest to the tower itself. A day trip into Tuscany would compliment 3 days in Florence perfectly. And yes three days would be plenty of time. I think skipping Assisi is fine and will definitely help slow the pace of the trip down and give you more time in lovely Rome. If you need anything further, don’t hesitate to email me ( [email protected] ) and I’d be happy to help. Have a great trip! Cheers Jen

We have now finalized the itinerary and looking forward to the trip.

Many thanks for all your help.

No worries Nav. Glad to have helped. And we’d love to hear from you after your trip too to tell us all about it!

My family is planning a European vacation, mainly in Italy, but with other destinations such as Croatia and Switzerland. We had originally thought of renting a car, but the train sounds attractive to make the best of our time. We will have about 4 weeks. I’m wondering, do you know if there is a boat/ferry service from somewhere in Italy to Croatia, or is a flight or train more suitable?(just to save time). We also have to think of cost, given the length of time we are away and # of people we are buying tickets for. Is there a site that I can visit to find out about these low cost flights? Also, if we were to to go Europe in April or May, would we be limited as to attractions that are open? We can do later in summer but we’d rather go at a time where there are fewer tourists if possible, but don’t want to find that we’re unable to get in to see things we want.

Hey Janet, Your trip sounds great. We’d love to visit Croatia ourselves someday. For the ferries there are services and you’ll find all you need to know on this page http://www.croatiaferries.com/italy-ferries.htm For flights we use and recommend Skyscanner to compare prices. Flying may be quicker to get from Italy to Croatia. April/May is an excellent time to visit Europe. Everything will be open as usual and you won’t have crowds like you do in summer. The weather should be good also but the night may still be a little cool in some places further north like Switzerland. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction to get started on your planning. And don’t hesitate to reach out should you have any more questions. Cheers Jen

This was soo helpeful!

I am planning a trip to italy myself and this helped cut down some time!

I am planning way ahead and using 1 day to travel — even by train. & doing 2 full days in each location — is that too much? by doing this my trip is 4-5 days longer because of travel. for ex: rome to florence — travel 10th — get there on the 10th and stay until 13th

any suggestions?

Thanks Amrit. Glad you found this useful. I’d say that you don’t need a full day to travel. For example, the train journey from Rome to Florence is only just over an hour. So you could leave Rome at 8am and be in Florence just after 9am with the full day ahead of you. This will give you more time in each place.

Hello! I’ll be travelling to Italy this November 2-12. I have 10 full days. This is my first solo trip so I am excited and terrified at the same time. I was planning to go Rome, Florence, Tuscany, Venice. But friends have been telling me that November is not a good time to visit Venice (extremely cold, knee high floods). Do you recommend anywhere else? I’m from Manila so I fear for the cold weather. haha Should I consider Naples and Cinque Terre?

Hey Kat, You must be so excited! Italy is amazing and I am sure you will love it. And go on you for going solo too! November is when the weather starts to get cooling in Europe. The further south you are the less effected you will be. So with that in mind, I suggest the Amalfi Coast. It is not too far from Rome and the weather will be better than what it would be in Venice. Although just to warn you, it still won’t be warm. The Amalfi Coast is beautiful and there is lots to do there like cruising the coast, exploring to little towns and checking out the Isle of Capri and grotto. I suggest basing youself in Sorrento and taking day trips from there. I hope this help and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any other questions.Hope you have an amazing time! Cheers Jen

Thanks for the itinerary we are about to head to Italy. Our plan is to go from Venice to Rome and we will probably skip Milan and go to Bologna instead. Have you been to Bologna? Any suggestions?

Hey Ben, That sounds like a good plan. We haven’t been to Bologna sorry but would love to visit it someday. Have a great time in Italy, I am sure you guys will love it! Cheers Jen

Can i just say your post is AMAZING! it’s my first time to italy for my honeymoon and this is perfect! can’t wait for my trip and jsut want to say thank you for making it so easy 🙂

Love, tenny

Thanks Tenny! I am so glad you found this useful and I hope that you have the most amazing honeymoon.

Jen, how is renting a car? I am flying into Milan and I want to travel to both Rome and Venice. Would it be more feasible to rent a car?

Hi Jennifer, I definitely think taking the train is much cheaper and more convenient. Firstly, you can’t drive a car in Venice as there are no roads so you’d be paying for parking the entire time you were there. Secondly, in Milan and Rome you’d also be paying a premium for parking and would be better utilising the excellent public transport systems both cities offer. Finally, you’d need to factor in petrol costs and traffic in Milan and Rome. If you don’t plan to visit rural areas where the train doesn’t go, I always recommend taking the train. Hope this helps. Cheers Jen

Definitely recommend the train…..much more relaxing, and when you get to cities like Rome you don’t want to be driving!

Couldn’t agree more Gloria!

We are planning a trip to Italy next October or November. We will have 14 or 15 nights in Italy. We will be flying into Rome and out of Venice. We want to see Rome, Tuscany, Florence, Cinque Terre and Venice. We would like to spend a few nights in Montepulciano. What would be your recommendation for getting around in Tuscany? Should we rent a car for this portion of our trip? If we rent a car, where would be a good place to pick up and drop off? I have heard they advise against driving in Florence. And in what order would you do this? Tuscany, Florence and then Cinque Terre and then to Venice?

Hi Wendy. Your trip sounds exciting! For your car in Tuscany, you could pick up in Sienna which is easily reached by train from Florence or Rome. Otherwise there are some great day trips from Florence that will allow you to see the highlights of Tuscany too. Also the order you have mentioned is perfect and makes sense. It is exactly what I would do. Hope you have a great time!

Hi Jen! If we have about 7 days could we do Venice, Cinque Terre, Florence and Rome??

Hi Katy, That will be very tight. Rome itself needs at least 3 days. I would suggest removing one of the places or adding an extra 2-3 days to your trip if possible.

Hi Jen, Thanks for the lovely article and insight; question 1. If you were to skip one/two destinations from the list and add the Amalfi coast in here and still fit them in a 15 day itinerary what would be your recommendations please?

Thanks Parya. If I had to pick two places to remove in place of the Amalfi coast it would be Assisi and Milan. Both I loved but the Amalfi Coast is really something special. Hope this helps.

Hi Jen, what a fabulous article! You have truly given me some real inspiration, thank you!! The only question I have, is if I were to miss out Rome (as I’ve been there a number of times, I have a family member who lives there) where would you suggest I spend the additional few days? Thanks again for all your help.

Thanks Hayley. Appreciate your lovely comment. I would highly recommend the Amalfi Coast/Sorrento area if you haven’t already been there. It is one of the most stunning parts of the country and if you love beaches and the relaxed Mediterranean lifestyle then you will love it. Alternatively, if your more of a countryside person, a few days exploring Tuscany would be a great option too. Hope this helps and hope you have an amazing time in Italy!

Hi Jen! This article definitely sparked an interest in us! My wife and I will be doing 2 weeks in Italy in mid-April. We will be arriving in Naples and departing out of Venice 15 days later. I love your article, but figured we would like to streamline/tweak things a bit. We really want to do Naples, Rome (spent 3 days there a couple years ago and want to explore so much more of it), Bomarzo – The park of Monsters, Florence, Parma (1 day I’m guessing is enough), and Venice. Any advice you have for us as far as itinerary and such would be AWESOME!

Hi John. I am so glad you found the itinerary useful! On paper, your itinerary looks good to me however I haven’t personally visited some of those places so I can’t comment on how much time you will need in each place. If you have any specific questions about Rome, Florence, Venice or getting around Italy in general, I’d be happy to help where I can. Happy travels!

Hi, I am just in the beginning process of planning out trip to Italy this summer. We will be traveling with a check-in sized bag. How will that work out when traveling from city to city via train? Are there overhead storages available? Do they have to get checked into a certain area on the train? Would it be safe? Are there extra charges to have luggage on board? Any feedback would be appreciated.

Hi Christine, There are no porters or checked luggage on trains in Europe so whichever luggage you take, you have to be prepared to carry it around yourself. So when you pack, make sure you think about this. On the train there are overhead racks for smaller bags (will fit 60L pack or smaller) and luggage areas at end of each carriage where you can store larger suitcases. If you are taking a larger bag, I recommend taking a padlock and chain to secure your bag as the racks are not monitored. I’ve never had an issue but I have heard of others having their bags tampered with or stolen. If you are really worried my best advice is to take a smaller bag that you can store overhead. Hope you have a great trip!

Hi Jen, I just came across your article while searching for a “Budgeted” Italy itinerary and i appreciate all the information you have shared. I am planning for a solo Italy trip in October 2017 for 10 days from India. My main reason to go there is to visit the St Peter’s Basilica, Sistine Chapel and the Shrine of Padre Pio of Pietrelcina located in the town of San Giovanni Rotondo (SGR). Rest of the beautiful places (Florence, Venice, Milan etc) are also on my list and yes i wouldn’t mind exploring them considering the days i have in my hand. It would be great if you could help me plan a good itinerary and suggest the best possible places to cover during my stay in Italy and yes to make the most memorable trip ever 🙂

Thanks & Regards, Merlyn.

Hi Merlyn, I’d be happy to help. Please email me [email protected] with what you have so far and I can help you from there. Cheers Jen

my husband and I are planning our first trip to Italy next year. Is there any problem with doing this itinerary in reverse?

Hi Jenni, Absolutely not. This is just a guide so feel free to change it around however it works best for you. Have a great time! Cheers Jen

Is there a website or a way you recommend to save money buying a lot of train tickets around Italy? I am flying into Rome and out of Milan. I am interested in also seeing Naples, Pompeii, Florence, Tuscany, Cinque Terre, and Venice. I only have two weeks, though. Is this enough time to do all of those via train? I couldn’t find a way to buy a cheap rail pass covering unlimited 2 weeks of travel. Is there a way to do that? THanks! Kateri

Hi Kateri, Thanks for your comment. A rail pass will likely be the cheapest way to go for this journey. Depending on which country you are from will depend on what is available and at what price. If you use the links provided in the post above that are specific to your country or region, you will be able to find out more information. Or feel free to email me and can provide you with more info. Cheers Jen

I would definitely do this itinerary with some of my favorite places to stay, great post Jen

Thanks Noel!

Wow great tour!

My boyfriend and I are planning a trip to Italy in September and I don’t know where to begin with my planning. It can be a little bit overwhelming planning a trip to a place you’ve never been. We are staying for 13 full days( 15 total but considering those travel days) flying into Rome and leaving from Venice. In between we’d love to see Florence , Milan, Cinque Terre, Amalfi Coast, and Tuscany . Are we in over our heads? Any suggestions you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Amelia, I can totally understand how it can feel overwhelming planning a big trip like this. I too feel like this with new places and that is why I wrote this post and all the others on this blog, to help people cut through the overwhelm. The itinerary I have outlined above would definitely work for you with a few adjustments. Change Asissi for Amalfi Coast and take a day off Rome and you should be able to fit it all in. It will be pretty hectic but if you only have 13 days then this will allow you to see the highlights of each place. If you wanted to travel at a slower pace, I would suggest just selecting 3-4 places from the list and spending more time there. Hope this helps and please don’t hesitate to email me if you have any follow up questions. Happy travels! Cheers Jen

We went back to the drawing board with our itinerary… 15 days and 13 nights total in Italy, flying into Rome and out of Venice. So far we are thinking 3 nights Rome, 3 nights in Florence (with a day trip to Tuscany) , 2 nights in Cinque Terre, 2 nights in Milan – with the possibility of a day trip to Lake Como and we are also thinking to spend a few hours at QC Termemilano ( the spa ) then ending it off with 3 nights in Venice. Any suggestions you have would be appreciated or if you feel it could be mapped out any better please feel free to let me know !

Hi Amelia, I think this sounds like a well balanced plan with enough time to see the highlights in each place. Except for maybe Milan if you want to do the day trip as well. Although if your main motivation for visiting Milan is to day trip to Lake Como and you don’t mind missing out on Milan, then that is fine also. Have a great trip! Cheers Jen

Hi Jen, Love all your information above! Not sure if you still look at the comments, I just have a couple questions. Firstly our flight was booked going into Milan and returning from Rome. 14 days total. From Milan do you suggest CT first and then onto Florence or Venice first? We were originally thinking of Florence and renting an apartment for 8 days and then doing a series of shorter trips to CT and Venice. Secondly my wife and I have traveled to Italy before. This trip is more for our teenage kids. It seems their patience may run low after a few of the gallerias and cathedrals. Anywhere you suggest they can blow off some steam? Thank You!

Hi Anil, Thanks for the comment. Happy to help where I can. From Milan I would suggest visiting Venice fist then CT and then Florence. Basing yourself in Florence may be a good idea although you would be spending a lot of extra time travelling to and from places. City bike tours are great for teenage kids. They get to be active, tire themselves out and the parents get to see the sites. I one day bike tour in Tuscany from Florence may also be a great thing the kids will love. In CT the walk between the towns is good for all ages and I guarantee the kids will be exhausted at the end. Hope this helps and if you have any other questions, I’d be happy to help where I can. Have a great trip. Cheers Jen

Dear Jen, Great Post. Congratulations! My brother (27) and myself (31) are planning our maiden trip to Italy around July for 2 weeks. We will be travelling from Kolkata (India) and my top priority is to taste all the Classical Italian food as it is my passion and profession for life. Could u suggest a clever itinerary to experience the maximum (food and must visit places to have a selfie 😏) and possibly where to start and end to fly back home stuffed with “The Been there , Tasted That” pride😁 P.S. my lil bro has No idea about this.. but I m sure he will understand 😉 Thanks.

Hi Kezang. Thanks for your message and kind words. You have definitely chosen the perfect country to explore if you love food. I would recommend my itinerary about for a first-time visitor to the country. You will be able to taste all that great food and see most of the major sites as well. If you have any more questions, don’t hesitate to ask. Have a great time. Cheers Jen

Hello would you recommend also going to the south of Italy within a two week tour? Like the Amalfi Coast (Positano)?

Hi Claudia, You would be very tight with time if you tried to fit in another stop. I would suggest if the Amalfi Coast is somewhere you would really like to go, that you either add an extra 2-3 days to your trip or take out something else from the itinerary and replace it with the Amalfi coast. Cheers Jen

We are doing 9 nights in Italy with 3 nights in Venice, Florence and Verona.

We are looking to a day trip out of each of the three places, thinking Lake Garda, Wine Trip in Tuscany and then not sure where from Venice?

Do you have any ideas and also how is best to book these?

Hi Lauren, For Venice I would spend the 3 days hopping between the islands like Murano and Burano near Venice. They are all easy to access on public transport from Venice at stops along the Grand Canal. For booking the other two day trips, I would suggest checking out Viator.com. They have a big range of day tours available and I have never had a problem booking with them. Have a great trip! Cheers Jen

Thanks for the detailed itinerary Jen. I shall surely plan my itinerary based on the pointers mentioned by you.

THanks Jesal. Enjoy Italy!

This is a great site. Thank you making it easier for us to plan our trip to italy for the first time with your receommended itinerary and other info. Questions: 1. If we skip Milan is there a train from La Spezia to Venice or it is better to train back to Florence, stay another night there, and then train to Venice from there? 2. We are trying avoid peak summer time. Is April or May a good time to go there?

Thanks Bill appreciate the comments. Here are answers to your questions: 1. Via Florence would be the long way. You can travel to Venice with one train change in Milan (6 hours travel time) or with two changes via Parma and Bologna (5 hours travel time). I recommend bahn.de website for timetable info. 2. Shoulder season (March/April/May and Sept/Oct/Nov) are my recommended times to visit. The weather is still relatively good and mild and there are less crowds about. Hope this helps and have a great trip!

Hi Jen, Just dug up my last inquiry with you way back in 2017 and decided to just tuck this question to it. We just got back to planning our italy trip which we postponed due to the pandemic. We are now scheduling it for Sep 2022 next year. I have a question: originally we are thinking of doing the exact itinerary you have proposed above. But then we thought of splitting our trip and make the second half a cruise. But then, to not extend our trip so much we would need to remove Cinque Terre, Milan (and Lake Como) for our trip. This is the land/cruise combo itinerary we are looking:

Train: Rome, Assisi, Florence, Venice Cruise: Venice, Split, Kotor, Corfu, Naples, Rome

as oppposed to originally:

Train: Rome, Assisi, Florence, Cinque Terre, Milan (and Lake Como), Venice

What do you think? Is it worth substituting CT, Milan and Lake Como with a cruise with the above port stops?

Thanks for your input.

Thank you Jen for the wonderful itinerary. This is a perfect plan for a two week trip to Italy. Thank you for providing every single detail in the plan. Very helpful.

Thanks Madh. Glad I could help.

Thank you for this fabulous post! The husband & I would like to go to Italy for our honeymoon in December this year, and we were looking at tour packages but nothing has really caught our fancy yet. I suggested touring ourselves and this itinerary is really a great place for us to begin!

From what you suggest, staying at Florence is a good base for visiting other smaller towns? We both don’t speak Italian, would this pose a problem travelling in this country? Especially when taking trains – we somehow have problems with that sometimes 🙂

Appreciate your advice!

Hi Joy, So glad you found it helpful and congrats on your upcoming nuptials! Florence is a great place to base yourself for day trips. You can visit Tuscan countryside and towns, Pisa, Lucca and many more places quite easily either by organised day tour or on your own using the train system. Language will not be a problem as most signs in also in English. I recommend learning a few simple phrases in Italian to help you get by, however it isn’t necessary. The first time I visited Italy I didn’t speak the language and got by just fine. Hope you have an amazing trip!

Hi Jen can you give me some advice for 10 night itinerary – may skip Rome – want to focus on Venice, Florence, Cinque Terre and maybe Lake Como/Milan – is this doable in 10 nights/11 days??

Thanks Much!

Hi Elaine, Once you take Rome and Assisi out of this itinerary ti works perfectly for 10 days! Cheers Jen

Great travel blog!!!. I was looking for exactly this kind of detailed travel plan which not only covers the stops but the local attractions as well. Thanks for putting it all in one place.

My wife , I and our young daughter will be in Italy for 14 nights and 15 Days. We like historical sites .

1. I would like to visit a few more places Like Pisa (which I can cover on the way to CT from Florence) ,Siena and Orvieto. Please help me to add this places in my itinerary. 2. To save time , I planning to start from Rome in early morning and reach Assisi around 10 AM and leave for Florence in the evening. Would that be very hectic ?

Regards Anirban

HI Anirban, Thanks for the compliment. I am glad you found this useful. I would be cautious about loading too much into the trip as you will b exhausted and spend very little quality time in each place. You could definitely do a day trip to Siena and Tuscany from Florence. There are lots of historical sites in Rome, were you not planning to spend time there? Cheers Jen

Thanks for your response. I just booked tickets to Rome. We will stay 15 nights and 16 days at Italy.

Here is our tour plan.

Day 1-4 Rome; Will reach at 9 AM Day 3 Orvieto Day 4 Assisi Day 5-6 Siena & San Gimignano Day 7-9 Florence Day 10 Pisa; Start early morning from Florence and will spend the day in Pisa and reach La Speiza in the Evening Day 11 -12 Cheque Terre Day 13-15 Venice; Day 13 will start from La Speiza and reach Venice in the afternoon Day 16 Return to Home

Please let me know how it’s looking ?

Sounds perfect to me Anirban! I couldn’t have planned it better myself!!! Enjoy your trip.

Thank you so much for this itinerary suggestion. I am travelling to Italy in August and will be staying for 16 nights and will have 15 full days to explore this beautiful country. The most common advice I read on internet forums is that don’t try to cram everything in one visit but I have an illness which restricts my travelling and therefore would like to make the most of my visit because there may not be another opportunity to visit Italy again for me. I am quite an inexperienced traveller so any advice will be gratefully received.

My itinerary (so far) is looking like this:

Day 1 – Arrive in Milan (5pm), stay in Milan

Day 2 – Explore Milan, travel to Lake Como (late afternoon), stay in Lake Como

Day 3 – Explore Lake Como, stay in Lake Como

Day 4 – Early morning train to Venice, explore Venice, stay in Venice

Day 5 – Explore Venice, stay in Venice

Day 6 – Explore Venice, travel to Bologna (pm), stay in Bologna

Day 7 – Explore Bologna, travel to Florence (pm), stay in Florence

Day 8 – Explore Florence, stay in Florence

Day 9 – Explore Florence, stay in Florence

Day 10 – Day trip to Siena, travel Rome (pm), Stay in Rome

Day 11 – Explore Rome, stay in Rome

Day 12 – Explore Rome, stay in Rome

Day 13 – Explore Rome, stay in Rome

Day 14 – Travel to Naples (early train) explore Naples, travel to Amalfi Coast (pm), stay in AC

Day 15 – Explore Amalfi Coast, travel back to Naples Airport, stay at Naples airport

Day 16 – Early morning flight back home

Do you think this itinerary is doable, or would you cut some places out?

Thanks so much, Jen.

Hi Sajid, You itinerary looks great! Yes it is a little packed full but if this is your one and only opportunity to visit Italy then I say make the most of it. Only thing I might change would be more time in Amalfi Coast. You could take a night from Florence or Rome. The Amalfi Coast is beautiful and there is much to see there. It would be a nice relaxing way to end your trip. I hope you have a lovely trip and do wish that you return to good health one day soon. Cheers Jen

Thanks Jen. I really like your posted trip. I am considering following this exact itinerary (with an added day trip to Pompeii) this June with my wife and two teens. But I have one major question about travelling by train. We will have 4 standard 22inch rollerboard suitcases. What do we do with them in Assisi, Florence, Cinque Terre, and Venice when we arrive before check in times at our VRBOs? I don’t want to be dragging those down the streets all day before we can check in!

Hi Nick, Most train stations have luggage storage for a fee. These is also a baggage transfer service in Italy. Google Bagaglio Facile. Basically your bags are delivered door to door so you don’t need to worry about lugging them around. Hope this helps and that you have a great trip! Cheers Jen

Hi Jen Im planning to visit Italy in March. Would it be a suitable time to visit Italy. My plan is to stay for 15 days kindly guide me on the best 15days visit plan. Thanks and rgds Sami Khan

Hi Sami, March would be a nice time to visit and the itinerary I have outlined below is what I suggest. It is perfect for 15 days! Have great trip! Cheers Jen

This is a wonderful itinerary. I wish we could do it all. However we can only stay 10 days. Do you have a suggestion on what to change?

Hi Julie Of course, I suggest removing Assisi and Milan. All of the other places are so rich with history and full of stunning things to see and do. While I loved Assisi and Milan, with 10 days this is what I suggest. Hope you have a great trip! Cheers Jen

I am looking forward to visiting Italy this summer (late June-July) with my husband and adult son. Initially we wanted to revisit Paris for 3 days, but it seems like there’s so much to see and do in Italy that perhaps we should spend the entire 15 days there. I would appreciate your help with my itinerary. We would love to spend 3 days in Rome, 1 in Milan, and 2 days in Venice and Florence. I can’t decide between Amafi Coast or Cinque Terre. We are foodies and also on a tight budget. Help!

Hi Venita! Sounds like a great trip you have planned. Personally I would spend your time in Italy,as you mentioned you have visited Paris before. There is a lot of amazing things to see in Italy that you can easily fill your time. If I had to choose between Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre, I would choose Amalfi. It is honestly one of the most stunning parts of the world I have visited. That’s not to say that Cinque Terre isn’t also fantastic, but if I had to pick one, then Amalfi would be it. Have a great trip! Cheers Jen

Hi Jen – love your itinerary and we are basing our trip around it. I note you mention getting a morning train from La Spezia to Milan but the earliest I can find for a Monday in August is 12.38pm. Should I be looking somewhere else? Thanks

Hi Sally, Schedules are different on different days and at different times of the year. I’d suggest just getting a train as close to the morning as you can. Have a great trip! Cheers Jen

Hi Jen. I’m so glad I read this first as I’m just starting my research. My family of 6 (including 2 kids and 2 grandparents) will be in Italy from 8-21 June. We will be landing in Milan and departing from Milan as well. Booked the tickets last year as there was an airline promotion so unfortunately we won’t be able to land in Rome first. We definitely want to cover Rome, Pisa, Venice and Florence and Lake Como. Can you recommend an itinerary route that will work best for us? Many thanks!!

Hi Flora, No worries at all if you can’t start and finish in Rome. You can do exactly the same itinerary I mention above just start and finish in Milan instead. It work just the same. Have a great trip! Cheers Jen

I’m in my 60’s and visiting Italy is my all time bucket list item. Planning our first trip ever to Europe and it sounds so daunting. Your itinerary sounds perfect! Only one question – what is typical check-in time for hotels in Italy? When we arrive at any of these destinations do we have to drag our luggage around for a good portion of the day before check-in time? Doesn’t sound like fun.

Hi Jessica, It is a very daunting processing organising travel, but I am here to make it easier for you Check in time is typically around 3pm. Sometimes you can get into the room earlier. However, if you can’t, all hotels have a luggage room where you can store your luggage if you are early. No need to drag your bag around until check-in time. If you are staying in something like Airbnb which doesn’t have a reception, then you will find luggage storage at all major train stations in Europe too. Hope this helps and don’t hesitate to contact me if I can help with anything else. Cheers Jen

I am so happy to have found your site! It is well-written, thorough and takes the “overwhelm” out of planning our first trip to Italy. We will have two weeks late September/early October. Our plan was to stay in the north — Venice, Lake Como, Cinque Terre, Florence/Tuscany and fly out of Milan. In your opinion, is it a mistake to avoid Rome (we’re averse to huge crowds). Also, what are your thoughts about an overnight side trip to the French Riviera (Monaco, Nice etc.)?

Thank you so much for your lovely site and attention to detail!

Hi Trudy, Thank you for the lovely compliments. I am glad you have found this useful. If Rome isn’t your thing, then I say skip it. Travel is about doing what you want to do. It costs a lot of money, so follow what feels right for you. Take what others say as suggestions. For the French Riviera, you would be a very limited on time for an overnight trip. It will take hours to get there and back. Maybe look at Genoa in Italy as an alternative? It is closer to your route, just as lovely as the French Riviera and much quieter. If I can help with anything else, don’t hesitate to ask! Cheers Jen

Hi Jen, my husband and I will be traveling to Rome in September. We wanted to take a one day train trip to Venice, how long is the train ride? And how much? We would like to return back to Rome before dark if possible.

Hi Sandy, It is a long way to go for a day trip! Train time can range form 3.5 – 4.5 hours depending on the train. If you wanted to arrive back before dark, you’d have maybe 2 hours in Venice which means you would see virtually nothing. Sorry for the brutal honesty, but I wouldn’t want you to do something that wouldn’t be worth it. How long are you in Italy for? Maybe you can factor in some time for an overnight trip to Venice at the very least? Cheers Jen

Best site ever. We arrive 11 sept 2018 for 23 days. I have done Italy twice so what u say is so true. Last time went to Florence for five days and left after 17. I am leaning towards Foggia and eastern coast for few days but will still start in Florence as have done Rome and find it easy to do all the north with trains. Naples etc of course are fabulous and will finish week in Sicily so hope the east will be good.

Thanks Mike! Sounds like you are an Italy expert!!!! Love the idea of spending time in the east and I have been dying to visit Sicily so would be interested to hear what you think when you return. Have a great trip!

Hi Jen, Thank you for creating such an easy to read site with so many helpful tips! I especially love how you answer the comment section, as many of your answers have helped me out. I am planning a trip to Italy in late July/August and getting a bit overwhelmed. I am focusing more on outdoor, nature/scenery locations and love beaches. I have already been to Rome and have my heart set on the Amalfi coast and Cinque Terre. I am trying to spend the majority of my time near the water and looking for more of a relaxed vacation where I can enjoy each location properly.

I am flying into Venice and leaving from Rome.

Day 1- Leave for Europe (night flight) Day 2-5 Venice Day 6 Leave Venice for Cinque Terre Day 7-9 Cinque Terre Day 10 Leave Cinque Terre for Florence Day 11 Florence Day 12 Leave Florence for Amalfi Day 13-17 Amalfi Day 18 Leave Amalfi for Rome Day 19 Rome Day 20 Fly Home

My questions are: 1. Will travelling between Venice and Cinque Terre take too long? Should I stop somewhere? 2. How do I know if a train is a high speed train? 3. Does this look like a relaxing itinerary or should I take out/add something? 4. Should I stay in Sorrento for a couple days or will the Amalfi coast have beaches?’ 5. Can I take out Florence and instead head from Cinque Terre straight to Amalfi Coast?

Thank you in advance!! You are awesome : ) Laila

Hi Laila, Thanks for your comment and glad you have enjoyed this itinerary and comments. Your itinerary sounds fantastic. Plenty of time to relax and see it all. I love that you are spending more time in most places. Answers to your questions are below: 1. Will travelling between Venice and Cinque Terre take too long? Should I stop somewhere? The train will take about 5 hours with one change. I don’t think an overnight stop in between is needed here. 2. How do I know if a train is a high speed train? Once you have done the research on the trains you will be catching, i suggest Google search to find out if they are high speed or not. 3. Does this look like a relaxing itinerary or should I take out/add something? I wouldn’t change a thing! You have allowed plenty of time in each place with priority given to the coastal towns. 4. Should I stay in Sorrento for a couple days or will the Amalfi coast have beaches?’ The beaches are better on the Amalfi Coast than in Sorrento. If you plan to spend a lot of time on the beach then stay in Amalfi or Positano. I personally loved spending the night in Sorrento because the town has such a great atmosphere in the evening. 5. Can I take out Florence and instead head from Cinque Terre straight to Amalfi Coast? Yes you could take out Florence if you want to spend more time elsewhere. Alternatively, a smaller town in Tuscany might be more your speed. This would give you some time to get out in nature as well. Siena is one, although still quite big but very beautiful. Maybe San Gimignano. Hope this helps and have a great trip! Cheers Jen

Hi Jen thank you so much for your wonderful trip description, I am so thrilled to go to Italy this July for two weeks. I wanted to ask you since I see your trip started in Rome and everyone recommends flying into Rome from NY, I was thinking to start at Rome and fly out of Venice back to NY would that be just as fine. Also I read that it is advised to purchase a city pass to get quick access to museums and other sites, what would you recommend? We love art and wanted to see as much as possible, Thank you.

Hi Victoria, Thanks so much! Yes, as the itinerary suggests above, to make the most of your time I suggest flying into Rome and out of Venice. A city pass is a great option if you are going to access lots of the included activities on it. Cheers Jen

Thank you, Jen, for all this wonderful information. Planning a trip to Italy in September and you have helped immensely!

Great to here thanks Beth!

Love your recommendations and feedback to all the comments folks have thrown your way. We are planning a trip for 6 to 8 of us in early June 2019. We are trying to maximize 2 weeks, but not also over whelm ourselves. We are working on the two options and looking for what makes most sense between the two when it comes to utilizing the train system to get around and explore.

Proposal 1 Day 1 Sunday: Arrive in Venice in the morning/Explore and sleep in Venice Day 2 Monday: Explore Venice, sleep in Venice Day 3 Tuesday: Train to Vernazza (Cinque Terre area), sleep in Vernazza Day 4 Wednesday: Explore Cinque Terre, sleep in Vernazza Day 5 Thursday: Train to Florence via Pisa, sleep in Florence Day 6 Friday: Explore Florence, sleep in Florence Day 7 Saturday: Train to Sorrento to get transportation Praiano sleep in Praiano Day 8 Sunday: Explore Coast sleep in Praiano Day 9 Monday: Explore Coast sleep in Praiano Day 10 Tuesday: Look to book car and then train to Rome Via Pompeii, sleep in Rome Day 12 Wednesday: Explore Rome, sleep in Rome Day 13 Thursday: Explore Rome, sleep in Rome Day 14 Friday: Explore Rome, sleep in Rome Day 15 Saturday: Fly home

Proposal 2 Day 1 Sunday: Arrive in Venice in the morning/Explore and sleep in Venice Day 2 Monday: Explore Venice, sleep in Venice Day 3 Tuesday: Train to Vernazza (Cinque Terre area), sleep in Vernazza Day 4 Wednesday: Explore Cinque Terre, sleep in Vernazza Day 5 Thursday: Explore Cinque Terre, sleep in Vernazza Day 6 Friday: Train to Sorrento via Pisa to get transportation to Praino and sleep in Praiano Day 7 Saturday: Explore Coast sleep in Praiano Day 8 Sunday: Explore Coast sleep in Praiano Day 9 Monday: Explore Coast sleep in Praiano Day 10 Tuesday: Look to book car and then train to Rome Via Pompeii, sleep in Rome Day 12 Wednesday: Explore Rome, sleep in Rome Day 13 Thursday: Explore Rome, sleep in Rome Day 14 Friday: Explore Rome, sleep in Rome Day 15 Saturday: Fly home

HI Michael, Thanks for you message. happy to help where I can. The major difference I can see with these two is that in the second option you are skipping Florence in favour of more time in Cinque Terre and Amalfi Coast. I guess the decision is down to which you would prefer to do more. If you like being by the water more than in a city full of museums then option 2 would be the best choice. If you want more variety from the trip then I would go with option 1. For option 2, I question whether you will have enough time to stop in Pisa. I would suggest looking into this a little more to see if it is viable. You also mention in both itineraries about booking a car. What are you going to use this for? If it is to drive to Rome, you could easily take the train. Once you arrive in Rome, traffic and parking will be an issue if you have a car. I hope this helps and if I can help with anything else, don’t be afraid to ask. Cheers Jen

Thank you for the feedback and response, the discussion for the car is to get transportation (private driver or taxi) for travel to and from a larger coastal city where there is a train to the smaller town of Praiano for our stay in Afani coastal area.

Hi Jen, I’m from Canada and really want to plan a trip to Italy. Your site was the first one I looked at and looks great. Are there alot of foodie spots on this tour as I’m very interested in the food culture there. Thanks Lisa

Hi Lisa, Italy is foodie central! Everywhere you go you will find amazing food. Just be sure to choose restaurants away from the tourist hot spots. Look to backstreets and unexplored local only areas and you will find great places to eat. Cheers Jen

Hi Jen, Great post and information! I am planning a solo trip to Italy this winter over the Christmas/New Year holidays (12 days) and was having trouble with finding ideas on itineraries. Needless to say – I LOVE your site. Great read and pictures, plus the comments are super helpful. I like your posted itinerary, with the exception of starting in Venice and ending in Rome while skipping Assisi. Do you (or any readers) have any suggestions on where to spend New Year? I will likely be spending Christmas in Budapest and then head over to enjoy Italy (which has been on my bucket list for YEARS). I know I won’t get to see everything this trip, but it will leave me wanting to come back again. Which is fine and dandy. Best!

Thanks Liz. Glad you have found this so useful.

Any of the bigger cities like Rome, Florence or Venice will have big fireworks displays, concerts and organised events for New Years. I guess it depends on what you are after. If you want to go to a club, Florence has good ones. If you want to be out on the street, Rome or Venice might be better. I think anywhere you be will be different from where you come from, so will be a great experience for you.

Hope you have a great trip!

Very helpful information — thanks for doing so much legwork for the rest of us. We have 10 days and will focus on Rome (6 days) and the Amalfi Coast/Pompeii (4 days). It’s our first visit to Italy, but I prefer going to fewer places with more depth. But, what do you think about a 1-day trip by tour bus to Assisi from Rome? The train-bus seems like a lot of work for a single day, and maybe the amount of time in Assisi isn’t very different on a tour vs. having to meet the train and bus schedule. Thanks.

Hi Kevin, Thanks for your compliments. A tour to Assisi could work. Another alternative could be a day trip to Orvieto. It is only just oven an hour from Rome by train and is similar to Assisi in that it is a hill town with lots of historic buildings, a beautiful cathedral and interesting local stores and restaurants. I actually enjoyed Orvieto more than Assisi as it was not at all crowded. Hope this helps! Cheers Jen

I’m going to Italy for 12 days and while I want to go to Rome, Florence and Pisa, I’m not sure if I should go to Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre. Which one is better travelled with family? I’m leaning towards Amalfi Coast but not sure who easy it is to go from town to town.

Hi Elli, How old are the kids? If they are teenagers and good walkers then Cinque Terre. If they are younger suggest Amalfi. Cheers Jen

Excellent detailed information of Italy. I am planning around 15-17 days tour to Italy in May 2019. Would like to visit scenic places more than museums kind of. Please help with the itenarary.

Hi Jyoti, All my suggested itinerary is above in the post including additional places to visit if you have more time. Please let me know if you have any specific questions and I’d be happy to help. Cheers Jen

We are travelling to Italy in May with our daughter graduating from HS before she heads off to college arriving in Venice and leaving from Rome. Here is my itinerary. PLEASE any suggestions or changes? We think we will take backpacks (60L??) and travel high speed train. Venice 2 nights Verona 2 nights Lake Como 1 night Rapallo 3 nights Florence 2 nights Assisi 2 nights Rome 3 nights This blog is so awesome.

Hi, I found it very interesting and loving the blog tips from you! Valuable tips to plan your trip to Italy and avoid beginner mistakes. Congratulations on the site and this post will help a lot of people !!!

Hi – we are doing round trip to/from Rome, woukd you please advise what is the best way to travel between Venice and Rome? Train vs Air by local airlines? Thank you so much

Hi Kat, Definitely train. It is just a few hours and drops you right in the centre of both cities. More convenient than flying. Cheers Jen

Hi Jen, We are coming to Italy in Sept. What would be your advise on budget hotels or guest houses. We are flying into Genoa(2 nites) then going to Cinque Terre (2 nites) Then onto Rome. (4 nights.) Thank you, Jim

All my suggested hotels are in the post above.

Hi Jen, We are traveling to Italy in Sept. 2019. We are flying into Genoa staying 2 nights then heading to Cinque Terre. We are planning to spend two days and exploring the 5 villages. Where would you suggest we stay in Cinque Terre? After Cinque Terre we head to a timeshare near Arezzo. Thank you for your advice, Jim

Hi Jim, Thanks for your message. I suggest as I mention above that you stay in Le Spezia which is just outside of Cinque Terre. It is cheaper and very easy to access all the towns from there. Cheers Jen

Greeitngs Jen,

We booked our 15 days trip in Italy arriving in Rome on September 20th and returning (from Rome) on October 5th.

What itinerary would you suggest given that we are obligated to come back to Rome for our return flight?

This is our first time in Italy.

Thank you so much for your input!

Francis Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Hi Francis, You can stick with the same itinerary, just on the last day take the train back to Rome. Make sure you leave plenty of time to get to the airport if doing this on the day of your flight. Otherwise take the train the day before and stay and extra night in Rome. Cheers Jen

Thanks Jen!!!

Hello, I’m going to Italy the last 2 weeks of June. I’m starting in Venice then going to Meta for 2 nights. I want to go through Cinque Terre then spend some time in Florence, Rome and Dolomites. Is there a way to go through Cinque Terre from the south then go straight to the Dolomites? I’ve heard it’s best to rent a car to go to the Dolomites. Thanks! Great blog!

Hi Elena, You’ll be able to take a train from Le Spezia if hiring a car isn’t for you. You may need to make a change of train during the journey but that is very easy to do in Italy. Cheers Jen

I love your itineraries! We are traveling to Austria for an event for 9 days and following this up with Italy for our 25th anniversary. We have never been to either country before. We plan to leave Vienna on the morning of the 2nd and fly home out of Rome on the afternoon of the 11th.

Our plan is: 2 nights(2,3) – Cinque Terre( Monterosso(old town)) (either train from Vienna to Montorosso or fly to Milan and train to Montorosso??) 4 nights Sienna(4,5,6,7)with: 1- day & 1/2 in Sienna 1 -day trip into Florence to see the market and a couple sights 1- day rent a car to visit a few small tuscan towns i.e. Voltera, Montecino? 3 nights Rome(8,9,10) Fly home afternoon of 11th

What do you think and do you have any suggestions, I’m really not sure (We are thinking Sienna as a base vs Florence as we will have a lot of a large city with Rome right after.)

thanks so much, Jan

Hi Jan, That sounds like a great trip and your plan definitely makes sense to me. I like that you will be basing yourself in Sienna instead of Florence, there is a lot to see in Tuscany. Cheers Jen

hi Jen, I am traveling to Italy in may of 2020 with your two week itinerary, and I have already purchased air line tickets. Should I book the hotels now… for each of the nights needed? also, should I book my train tickets now as well? also, i have downloaded to my phone both.. Rail Europe and Rail Planner..do they work together?

just need your help on clarifying these questions for me.

Thanks Charlie

Hi Jen! Thank you for the amazing itinerary guides! I wish that i read this before my 16 Day Itinerary Italy trip last year because theres a lot of tips that i can use. Thank You again.

Hello Jen, Thanks for sharing your travel expertise and experience. We are planning our 1st trip to Italy, with 14 days to travel(not counting flight time) we arrive in Rome and leave from Milan; we like your itinerary but would like to make some adjustments: skip Assisi and add more night in Cinque Terre(its my husband must do) My question is can we book train from Cinque Terre to Venice? Im trying not to back track to Milan if I don’t have to. We appreciate and value your opinion.

Thanks for sharing this amazing Italy itinerary as I am going to Italy next week so it will help me a lot.

Hi Jen, I love your post, SO helpful! I am just starting to plan a trip to Italy in September or October of 2020. There will be 4 adults. The cities I would like to visit are Florence, Rome, Naples, the Amalfi coast and Sicily. I’m also interested in Malta (I just did my dna and found out I’m 27% Malta) but if the costs are high for that island I will omit it. We plan to be there two weeks. Would you have suggestions on how much time to spend in each place? Also what cities to stay in so that we can easily access the other locations? We do not want to be moving hotels every two or three nights. Any other info would be very helpful. Thank you, sue

Hello Jen Your itinerary is fantastic. We are taking our 10 children from Australia to Italy for 2 weeks in June July. and will pretty much follow your itinerary. Should we get eurail passes or just book trains when we get there ? The passes seem pretty expensive for 12 people.

Thanks Bill! 10 kids, wow, that is going to be a big trip for you all. If you are going to follow the itinerary exactly then it is likely that the pass will be the cheaper option. However if you do travel on the slower trains then it may work out cheaper as the slower the train the cheaper the ticket.

Thank you for this wonderful article. It was exactly what I was looking for. My husband and I spent our 30th anniversary in Italy. We flew into Naples, went to Positano by private driver, and then took the train from Naples to Rome, then to Florence, then to Venice. We hope to return in 5 years for our 50th anniversary. I told my husband I’d like to travel by train to all the parts of Italy we haven’t seen. That would be Assisi, Cinque Terre & Milan from your two-week itinerary. Would it be best to fly into Milan and travel south? How would we add Sicily and do you recommend any of the east coast of Italy?

The terrific post with an itinerary is excellent. I appreciate you sharing this very useful information.

Hi Jen, I would love to organise a trip to Italy with my husband and daughter. We are in our 60s and my daughter in her 30. I have to ask, is it safe to travel on your own in Italy? Regards Mary

Hi Mary It is absolutely 100% safe. You should always take precautions when you travel because you are in an unfamilar place. I have never had any safety concerns in Italy.

I first left this comment in March 2022 but never received a reply: Thank you for this wonderful article. It was exactly what I was looking for. My husband and I spent our 30th anniversary in Italy. We flew into Naples, went to Positano by private driver, and then took the train from Naples to Rome, then to Florence, then to Venice. We hope to return in 5 years for our 50th anniversary. I told my husband I’d like to travel by train to all the parts of Italy we haven’t seen. That would be Assisi, Cinque Terre & Milan from your two-week itinerary. Would it be best to fly into Milan and travel south? How would we add Sicily and do you recommend any of the east coast of Italy?

Hi Jen, How would recommend incorporating the Amalfi coast into this trip ?

Hi Kelly, You could definitely add the Amalfi Coast to the trip after Rome as it is easy to get to by train.

We’re working on a trip in September, for my 60th and our 35th anniversary. You do say to pack light, but what do we do with our luggage while we’re exploring? Thank you!

Most hotels will allow you to drop your bag off an store until you move onto the next place.

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The ultimate guide to train travel in Italy 

Master the Italian rails, book tickets with ease, and embark on thrilling adventures with this guide about train travel in Italy

• 1 This guide to train travel in Italy will help you navigate the Italian railway system and feel comfortable booking train tickets for your next sightseeing adventure.
• 2 Train types in Italy
• 3 Which train company shall I choose?
• 4 Shall I purchase train tickets in advance?
• 5 Is it better to buy train tickets at the station or online?
• 6 Getting the names of the Italian train stations right
• 7 What shall I do when I am at the train station?
• 8 The importance of validating your train tickets
• 9 What do I do if someone takes my seat on the train?
• 10 Where do I find the conductor in case I need help?
• 11 What if I miss my train?
• 12 How do I change the name on a train ticket?
• 13 Do train stations in Italy have luggage storage facilities?
• 14 How to avoid scams at train stations in Italy
• 15 What to do when there’s a train strike in Italy
• 16.1 Pssst… Pin this article for future reference and get in touch if you have any questions about train travel in Itay!

This guide to train travel in Italy will help you navigate the Italian railway system and feel comfortable booking train tickets for your next sightseeing adventure.

Train travel is a great way to see Italy’s incredibly diverse landscape, which ranges from plains and rolling hills covered in vineyards to stunning coastlines and mountains.

It’s fairly easy to travel across Italy by train, but I know it can seem a little overwhelming at first with all the different options and train types.

And since many of you have a lot of questions about train bookings in Italy, I thought I’d put together a guide that hopefully will help. So, let’s start…

Train types in Italy

First thing first, there are three main types of trains in Italy:

High-speed trains are the fastest trains that allow you to travel to Italy’s major cities quickly and comfortably. Their services include assigned seats, ample luggage storage, and wifi, and you can book tickets in advance online. Italo trains and the Frecciarossa, Frecciargento and Frecciabianca trains provided by Trenitalia fall into this category.

Intercity trains connect major cities on long distances, they’re cheaper but a bit slower. They usually have air conditioning and you get an assigned seat in 1st or 2nd class.

Regional trains are what you need if you’re planning to explore smaller towns and villages. In comparison to fast trains, they’re cheap (and their prices tend to be fixed), but they’re also much slower since they have many stops. Because the seats are first-come, first-served, you’re not guaranteed one, especially during peak travel times. Also, there’s rarely air conditioning or first class. They are identified by RV (Regionale Veloce, a bit faster) and R (Regionale, the slowest). 

Which train company shall I choose?

There are two train companies operating in Italy: Trenitalia  and Italo .

The main difference between the two is that Italo only offers fast trains connecting major cities (like Milan, Rome, Venice, Turin, Florence, Naples), while Trenitalia offers high-speed, intercity, and regional trains. So, if you need to get to small towns and villages, you’ll need to use Trenitalia.

When it comes to high-speed trains, both Italo and Trenitalia offer free wifi and power outlets, as well as a seating option for four people facing each other, which is great for family trips or groups of friends.

Trenitalia’s high-speed fleet consists of Frecciarossa (the fastest train), Frecciargento , and Frecciabianca trains. Tickets come in four different classes – Standard , Premium , Business,   Executive (more info here ). There are also three main types of fares: Super Economy (no changes, nor refunds allowed), Economy (you can change it by paying the price difference, no refunds), and Base (you can change it by paying the price difference; partial refund allowed). 

Italo offers four different service levels: Smart (the cheapest), Comfort , Prima , and Club Executive (further info here ). You can choose between Low Cost (no changes nor refunds allowed), Economy (changes and refunds allowed for a fee), and Flex (changes are free, while refunds come with a fee).

Italo is my go-to when visiting big cities because it tends to be cheaper and on time. In general, I guess the choice will mostly depend on where you’re going and the time schedule available. Standard class is good and comfortable with both train companies, and I usually choose the cheapest ticket with some flexibility (for example, the Standard Base with Trenitalia). 

Shall I purchase train tickets in advance?

I get asked this a lot, and my answer is always yes! Why wait if you’ve got it all planned out? Booking train tickets in advance is a wise move especially if you are traveling to popular places or during peak season.

Also, when you buy your train tickets in advance, you don’t just save time during your trip, you’ll also get some great deals. You can always opt for flex fares if you need to change plans for whatever reason.

To clarify, only high-speed trains to big cities should be booked in advance (like Milan to Rome, Venice to Florence, etc.). Regional trains, on the other hand, usually have fixed prices, so buying them ahead isn’t necessary or advantageous. In fact, buying regional train tickets in advance can be a problem since they are usually non-refundable and non-changeable.

Is it better to buy train tickets at the station or online?

Personally, I buy all my train tickets online, either on the websites or through the official apps, because it’s just so easy and convenient.  

Both the Trenitalia and Italo sites have a section in English; the option to change the language is at the top of the homepage, on the right-hand side. Just remember to type the city name in Italian (eg Venezia, not Venice).

Tickets purchased online don’t need to be validated or printed. You just have to show your phone to the conductor when you’re asked to do so.

Tip: don’t register when buying your train tickets online. Registering is only for Italians and you don’t need an account to buy a ticket. So don’t try to enter your details, you might end up stuck on that registration page forever!  

Alternatively, you can get tickets right at the train station. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket counter or using the touch screen kiosks, where you’ll generally find uniformed staff helping you out .

Getting the names of the Italian train stations right

Like airports, Italian train stations have names. Additionally, major cities like Rome, Milan, or Venice have multiple train stations, so you need to know which one you need when you book your train tickets.

These are the names of the main stations in big Italian cities:

• Rome: Roma Termini
• Venice: Venezia Santa Lucia
• Milan: Milano Centrale
• Florence: Firenze Santa Maria Novella
• Turin: Torino Porta Nuova
• Naples: Napoli Centrale
• Cinque Terre: use La Spezia Centrale , it’s the main transportation hub in the area

What shall I do when I am at the train station?

Upon arriving at the train station, look for the big electronic board with all the Partenze (Departures).

For each train that’s leaving, you’ll see the train number, the final destination, and the binario (the platform number). Say you’re traveling between Milan and Florence on Italo train 9947: the board will say “Napoli” next to the train number since that’s its final destination.

Also, the platform number usually appears only a few minutes before departure time, so if you get there early and don’t see it on the board, don’t panic.

In big stations like Roma Termini and Milano Centrale, you’ll have to go through airport-style security gates to get to the platforms – there are no scanners, just controllers who check your tickets.

The importance of validating your train tickets 

When you travel on a regional train, make sure you validate your paper ticket before boarding. There are small machines (usually green or yellow) on the way to the platforms where you can put the ticket so it’s stamped with the date and time. You’ll get fined if you don’t validate your ticket!

You don’t need to validate regional tickets that you’ve bought online and printed at home, nor intercity or high-speed tickets as these are valid only for that specific date and train.

What do I do if someone takes my seat on the train? 

First of all, remember that your seats are allocated on high-speed and intercity trains only while on regional trains, seating is first-come, first-served. However, it does happen sometimes that someone else is already sitting in your reserved seat, but most of the time you just show your ticket to prove that it’s your seat and they’ll apologize right away and leave.

In the unfortunate event that they refuse to move, talk to the conductor. Don’t forget that sometimes there’s a language barrier, and what seems rude may just be a result of not understanding each other .

Where do I find the conductor in case I need help?

The conductor is usually on the platform when you get on the train. Once the train starts moving, you can either wait for the conductor to come check your tickets or go to the first coach.

What if I miss my train?

This depends on what train it is and what ticket you have.

Regional trains give you a 4-hour window from validation. If it’s a high-speed train, you’ll have to buy a new ticket unless you booked a flexible fare that lets you change it (it’s more expensive, but it’s totally worth it for peace of mind!).

How do I change the name on a train ticket?

It’s not necessary to add the names of everyone on your train ticket, just the person booking it. And even if you are asked to add every passengers’ name, from my experience the conductor never checks them.

Do train stations in Italy have luggage storage facilities?

Yep, all major train stations in Italy have luggage storage facilities. Here are the main ones:

• Rome: KiPoint Roma Termini
• Milan: KiPoint Milano Centrale
• Venice: KiPoint Venezia Santa Lucia
• Florence: KiPoint Firenze Santa Maria Novella
• Naples: KiPoint Napoli Centrale
• Turin: KiPoint Torino Porta Nuova
• La Spezia: Left Luggage La Spezia Centrale

How to avoid scams at train stations in Italy

You’ve got to be cautious walking through a train station in Italy, just like you would anywhere else. Let’s face it, a foreigner carrying luggage and looking a little disoriented is a prime target for a scam, right? Play it cool, look confident, and learn some basic Italian – it will help a lot!

Fake taxi drivers are one of the most common scams. You’ll see people approaching you as soon as you exit the station and asking if you need a taxi. I suggest you stay away from them and get in the official taxi line, even if it’s long… it’ll save you lots of headaches! Also, be sure your taxi is metered, don’t ask for a forfeit price.

You’ll also often see the soon-to-be-helpful person that will lead you to the right platform or help you at the ticket machine. These people are only after your money . Once again, stay away from them and never show your tickets to anyone (you only have to show your ticket to access the platform and to the conductor on the train). If you’re being approached by suspicious people, just say “No thanks” or “Basta!”.

Don’t let scammers discourage you from taking trains in Italy – this could happen anywhere. And remember, there are people out there who are genuinely trying to help.

What to do when there’s a train strike in Italy 

No matter how much you plan ahead for your train travel in Italy, you might run into a sciopero dei trasporti (transportation strike). But luckily, strike plans aren’t a secret and they’re often announced well in advance. There’s even a website that lists all upcoming transport strikes . It’s in Italian only, but it’s not so hard to read – just filter for Trasporto Ferroviario under the Settore column.

Also, a sciopero can last from a few hours to all day and can involve the whole local transport system. However, minimum service is usually guaranteed during peak hours (6 am – 9 am and 6 pm – 9 pm).

Where do I put my suitcases when traveling on Italian trains?

First of all, there’s no luggage fee and no weight limit, and you can take your own suitcases on the train.

On regional trains, you can put your suitcases on the racks above your seat or just on the floor next to you.

On high-speed trains, you can put carry-ons and medium-sized suitcases on the shelf above your seat, but anything larger should go on the luggage racks at the end of each coach. You may also find a spot between two sets of seats.

I’ve never had a problem with my suitcases on trains, but if you’re worried, try seating close to the entrance of the train coach or buy a wire lock to secure your bag to the rack. Honestly, though, there’s no need for that.

I hope this guide will help you navigate the Italian train network and buy tickets with confidence. Now, why don’t you take a look at these day trips from Venice by train and start planning some sightseeing adventures?

Pssst… Pin this article for future reference and get in touch if you have any questions about train travel in Itay!

Ciao for now,

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32 thoughts on “the ultimate guide to train travel in italy ”.

Very good summary of train travel in Italy, Valentina. Good tips especially the explanation regarding the types of tickets. When I visited Italy I was surprised at how inexpensive train travel was compared to my own country.

Thanks so much Hazel, glad you find this useful!

I’m surprised to see an Italian recommend train travel in Italy. I’ve done several train journeys in Italy over the years and I always found them relatively reliable and convenient. However several of my Italian colleagues look at me in utter disbelief if I dare suggest taking a train in Italy to them. In their opinion this is the worst thing one could ever do (as I said, I never had a bad experience with trains in Italy). Very comprehensive guide, thanks a lot for sharing all those details. Especially when you don’t speak the language it can sometimes get a little confusing and overwhelming (well again, nothing compared to trying to find your train in france though) 😉

I love travelling by train in Italy! Ok, trains are not perfect everywhere, especially in the south train connections are not great, but still, I would recommend it to anyone 🙂

Oh yes, trains are the best way to travel in Italy, I do agree 🙂

Thank you Ann! 😀

I love riding the trains in Italy! I forgot which one I rode in Rome when I was there 2 years ago. In any case, I want to try Trenitalia and Italo again. It looks like very comfortable. It’s very easy to buy tickets too. Very efficient!

Both train companies are very good, although I tend to use more Italo lately 🙂

Excellent review of the train system in Italy. While reading your article, it strongly reminded me of the train system in Japan. There are local, express, and the Shinkansen (cross-country). Additionally, the tip about validating your ticket I found especially useful. I’ll definitely keep this post in mind during my upcoming trip!

Thank you Emily, glad you found it useful! 😀

I still remember my first train travel in Italy 13 years ago when I was a young college study-abroad student of course we had no idea about validation because nothing like that exists in the US so we took a couple train trips before we realized we had to validate our tickets and got caught out and given a ticket for it! Definitely all US or Australian visitors should be alerted to this when entering country!

It’s one of those things that you would never think of, right? And instead it’s key if you want to avoid being fined ;-D

During my first trip to Europe, the train system was very confusing to me. I definitely could’ve used this article back then! I thought the most helpful part of this article is that you translated the stations into what the locals know them as. That was the most confusing part for me. I can’t tell you how long I was looking for Prague when it was really Praha in Czech, ha! It’s also great to know that seats are the first-come-first-serve basis. A lot of travelers do not know that and it causes a lot of commotion on trains. Great tips!

The names of train stations can be really confusing even for an Italian sometimes, because one city can have multiple train stations and you need to know the name of the central one if you don’t want to end up in the middle of nowhere 😛

It can be a bit confusing getting trains in a foreign country so this is super useful when travelling to Italy. I did get a train there once to Malcesine, pleasant experience. Great advice about buying tickets online and where to do this. Validating your ticket is something most people wouldn’t know about either. Helpful article!

Thank you Vanessa!!

I have had the opportunity to travel in Italy and use trains which I think are absolutely fabulous way to travel. I used it to travel to the Capital Rome from Amalfi and must admit the service and facilities were spot on. The intercity are affordable and if booked in ad ave can get you some great bargains. This is a very informative post to help choose the right trains and an overview to people who are looking to use the train in Italy. Thanks.

Thank YOU Amar!

This is an excellent guide to train travel in Italy. I’ve only ever taken TrenItalia, and quite enjoyed it! I’ve not heard of Italo, so will look out for it the next time we’re back. Great tips on getting them online too, it makes it much easier.

Yep, try Italo, I love it!

Thanks for sharing a very informative guide on Italian trains with all information about how to purchase tickets and different types of train. During my 1 week tour to Italy, I took Trenitalia for commuting and it was very comfortable and on time. I too agree that stations of Italy are named in Italian and therefore for non-Italians, it is very confusing and therefore to know some stations in advance would be preferred.

This is such a useful post! I recently travelled from Verona to Trento by a train. And it would have been very useful if I read your post before.

I hope you managed to see something of Verona before boarding the train 😉

Thank you Yukti!!

I recently used the train to visit both Lake Garda and Venice whilst staying in .Verona and found it an excellent service, far better and cheaper than UK trains. I definitely want to see more of Italy using the train. How is the train service in Sicily?

In the south of Italy train connections (and public transport more in general) can be less frequent and with with fewer lines/connections. That’s why I tend to suggest to rent a car instead.

This is a really informative blog on trains in Italy. I think buying tickets online is a better idea than getting them in stations. Thanks for the tip for not trying to register online as only Italian citizens can do it. I would rather buy them online without getting bothered about registration.

It’s really easy to buy all the tickets online and saves you sooo much time!

Excellent post. I used to be checking continuously this blog and I’m impressed! Very helpful information particularly the remaining phase 🙂 I care for such information a lot. I was seeking this particular information for a very lengthy time. Thanks and good luck.

So glad you find this useful and thank so much for your kind words 😀

Hi If I book an Italobus connection from Rome to Sorrento can I go from Sorrento to Pompeii the next day with Italo? Thanks Joanne

Hey Joanne, thanks for stopping by! You can use the Circumvesuviana line (line 1) to travel between Sorrento and Pomepii, it takes about 30 minutes, check out this site: https://www.eavsrl.it/web/sites/default/files/ORARI%20NAPOLI%20SORRENTO%2BC.EXP_Orario%20in%20vigore_0.pdf

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5 replies to this topic

First, will you have 14 nights, 15, or 17? You could conceivably have almost 3 nights in each spot if you have the longer period of time, but that's it. Your points of interest are far enough apart that you'd move every third day and use up at least a half day relocating.

Thank you, Serge D and PWMW! Your responses are exactly what I was looking for. While we have some flexibility, we are looking for a general travel plan that is workable in the context of the cities we hope to stop in. My query comes in the VERY early stages of our thought proess. If an element of our plan is not workable, we can adjust. Suggestions are most welcome. Again, thanks to all respondents!

Cut it down to 3 or 4 locations. 3 nights minimum in each. Write down what you would like to see in each location, so that you can decide how many nights you need.

But all that you mention is too much.

If you do have to use the same airport, put the long train journey at the beginning of your trip, if flight times suit, both to get it out if the way, remove any risk to missing your flight home if there are serious delays on the railways, and because you will have significant jet lag and being on the train will give you time to adjust.

The problem you have is that the type of journey you are looking for really calls for four nights at each location - which would mean three stops plus a night at the airport city before leaving, and the fastest one could recommend is three nights at each, meaning you could squeeze in four stops. Having three clear days somewhere is significantly better than two, because it gives you the chance to get to know each place, removes the panic of having to tick off a list of ‘must-sees’ in a couple of days, and gives you the option of a side trip if you feel like a day out. Spending just three nights in each place can be done but crams your sightseeing into two days, and in a big city you’ll be leaving feeling you’ve only just arrived.

None of your destinations lends itself to a short stopover, except just possibly Milan if that’s one of your airport cities. If you can fly open jaw to Naples and Milan, you could do three nights at each of Naples-Rome-Florence-Venice with an odd night left at the end for Milan, either first day or last. Or alternatively fly into Rome and Milan and have four nights at Rome-Florence-Venice and the odd night at Milan, or fly into Naples and Milan and have four nights at Naples-Rome-Florence with the odd night at Milan. Where you choose to stop depends on your preferences and what you want to see and do. Personally I wouldn’t recommend going to either Pisa or CT for a side trip: Pisa is over-rated as a trip destination IMHO, overwhelmed with people only there to take an Instagram picture of a tower that happens to lean at an angle, and the CT is off your itinerary, probably the most over-touristed spot in Italy and you won’t get the most out of it joining the crush of day trippers. If Pisa is a must, with four nights at Florence you could do it as a day out, and call in at Lucca on the way back from the tower.

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F or more than a century, the Orient Express has captured travelers' imaginations as a grand European hotel on rails, shuttling high society from Paris to Istanbul since 1883. The luxury train became the stuff of legend (as the "spies' express" ) and pop culture, be it in Bram Stoker's Dracula or Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express , while setting the standard for elevated transcontinental travel.

Sadly, the luxury of slow travel couldn't compete with high-speed rail and budget flights, reports The Guardian , prompting the final run of the original Orient Express line in 2009.

That is, until more recently. In the past several years, the legendary locomotive experience has witnessed a rebirth thanks to luxury hospitality brands that are breathing new life into the iconic rail journeys-including the forthcoming La Dolce Vita Orient Express in Italy, a joint venture of French hotel firm Accor and real-estate investment company Arsenale, together with Italy's Trenitalia Gruppo Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane and Treni Turistici Italiani .

Starting in spring 2025, La Dolce Vita Orient Express will bring passengers to regions throughout Italy on itineraries that run between two and three days. There are nine itineraries to choose from (depending on the time of the year):

• Venice and Portofino
• Venice and Siena
• The Italian Trans-Siberian: Matera and Palena
• Rome to Montalcino
• Rome to Monferrato
• Southern Italy: Maratea and Palermo
• Palermo to Rome
• Sicily and the Mediterranean

Travelers can choose between 12 deluxe cabins and 18 suites, with prices starting at $3,800 per person for a deluxe cabin and at $5,100 per person for a suite.

As for the concept for the new La Dolce Vita Orient Express train, "The train pays tribute to the years of La Dolce Vita, a fantastic period of history, [and] to the artistic and cultural fervor of Italy in the 1960s," according to a press release. Dimorestudio dreamed up the midcentury-inspired design aboard the train's renovated carriages-think pops of terra-cotta paint, tongue-and-groove ceilings, and brass accents galore. Dining aboard La Dolce Vita trains will be a sophisticated affair as well: Travelers will enjoy exclusive recipes created by master Italian chefs who use local ingredients, while sipping award-winning Italian wine. There will, of course, also be a lounge and bar, as well as entertainment, "all boldly celebrating the art, design, and creativity of the 1960s and 1970s," the release stated.

Upon departure from Italy's Rome Ostiense station, La Dolce Vita passengers will have access to their own lounge and a "relaxing pre-boarding experience."

The trains will cross about 10,000 miles of railway lines, 4,400 of which are not electrified and are historic routes traversing less-frequented parts of the countryside. Passengers will get their share of landscape gazing (alpine mountains and sandy southern beaches) and of metropolitan centers like Venice and Rome. "We are thrilled to officially open the doors to a new era of travel with La Dolce Vita Orient Express. This endeavor embodies the essence of exquisite exploration, where sophistication meets adventure," Orient Express CEO Gilda Perez-Alvarado said in a press statement.

Not to be confused with the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express , which is currently owned by Belmond, part of LVMH, and runs from London to Venice, La Dolce Vita Orient Express is the latest incarnation of the original train line.

How to book La Dolce Vita Orient Express

Starting on April 2, 2024, travelers in the United States and Canada can call (833) 661-3080 to book their journey with La Dolce Vita Orient Express. And as of April 24, 2024, bookings will be available online on the La Dolce Vita website .

This story was originally published in December 2021; it was updated on March 19, 2024, to include current information.

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A child is between the ages of 4 and 11 years.

Many trains in Italy and beyond offer a discounted fare between 30% & 50% off the Adult fare for Children.

The child offer is now extended to children ages 4 to 14 years when traveling on high-speed Frecciarossa, Frecciabianca, Frecciargento, InterCity, InterCityNotte, EuroCity, and Thello trains. Your child will be assigned his/her own seat and children must be accompanied by an Adult when traveling on this offer.

Regional trains will still offer discounted fares for children ages 4 to 11 years.

Infants & Children 3 & under travel for free and will share a seat with the adult companion.

This option is for customers that have already purchased a Eurail Pass or InterRail Pass and wish to reserve seats or sleeping berths. Learn more about rail passes.

Most high-speed and long-distance trains require seat reservations. The fare rules for each train indicate whether seat reservations are necessary.

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If you’re planning on visiting multiple destinations in Italy there is no better way to travel than by train. And with a little planning, you can avoid long lines at the train station, especially to  popular routes , by booking your tickets before you travel with ItaliaRail. 

Train schedules are usually released 60-120 days before departure. If you are looking for a train schedule for a later date you can request to be informed when the route becomes available by completing the Find Train Tickets in Italy form above and submitting your email address. 

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The main hall of every train station in Europe contains a departure and arrival board. This board will display all the information you need to catch your train including, platform number, stops made en route, and the final destination. You can get a free train schedule at most stations. These "mini-timetables" typically list departures and arrivals between two specific points or regions. Look for them near the rail information centers. An additional source for detailed schedules is the  Rail Information Center . By using computerized reservation systems, the Rail Information Center staff can help you find a schedule or route to the city of your choice. Best of all the service is free.

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Don't Make These Crucial Transportation Mistakes When You Go To Italy For The First Time

The ruins of Pompeii, the glamorous beaches of the Almafi Coast , the art in Florence, the food in Sicily — there's a lot to see and do on a trip to Italy and a lot of miles in between all the "can't miss" spots. Arranging transportation between the sights is an important part of planning your first trip to Italy, but if you have decided to rent a car to save money or to rely solely on the train for your travels, hold your horses! There are some major drawbacks to both of those choices, as they may not be the budget-friendly and convenient solutions you think they are.

If you have traveled mainly only in North America, it's easy to look at a map of Italy and think you can do it all in one trip. It looks so small compared to Texas or British Columbia, after all. While Italy is only about 75% as big as California it is actually a very long country and many of the tourist spots are not close to each other. To make the most of your first time in Italy, pick a few of your heart's top desires to visit rather than trying to see everything and then start plotting your route, making sure to look at all your transportation options.

Mistake one: Traveling in Italy only by train

Undeniably, there is a romance to traveling through Europe by train. The beautiful architecture of the bustling stations, the clickety-clack of the cars over the rails, the chance to watch the scenery as it whizzes by...it's all enough to make you feel like you are starring in a sexy James Bond movie (that can't just be me?) And that's not to mention the fact that trains are a greener, more comfortable alternative to flying.

So, the temptation to charge ahead and decide all your inter-Italy travel will be via rail is understandable. However, there are a couple of things you need to consider, specifically your timetable and destinations. If you are sticking to the biggies, like Rome, Florence, and Venice, and have a good idea of when you will be traveling so you can book your tickets well in advance, trains will probably serve you just fine. Know that last-minute train tickets can be expensive and hard to come by. 

If you want to stray into some of the less touristy regions, you will find the convenience wanes. Multiple connections and many tiring hours are in store. In this case, you may find a bus is better suited. Busses are plentiful, go places the trains don't service, and are almost always cheaper than other modes of transportation.

Mistake two: Renting a car to save money in Italy

If you don't have a set plan and want the freedom to go where you want, when you want, renting a car for your first-time Italian vacation sounds like the best bet. But before you put the pedal to the metal, buckle up — a car rental is not the budget option it may first appear to be.

Don't assume that a car rental is cheaper than other modes of transportation; even  prepaying is no guarantee of a better rate . Bear in mind the car rental fee is only the start. The cost of gasoline is higher in Europe than it is in the USA, and as The Italian on Tour site points out, the autostrada (highway) has tolls and long waits to pay them, so it's important to factor those costs in. Additionally, you'll need to consider the prices of parking, which is usually an extra charge at hotels. 

Some cities (Rome, Florence, Pisa, Milan) have a ZTL (zona traffico limitato) which restricts vehicle access, so you will need to park outside the zone and walk or cab it if you are visiting an attraction that falls within the boundaries. Lastly, don't forget the price of insurance. Italy ranked number six in Europe's most dangerous countries to drive in , so don't get caught without adequate coverage for you and your rental.

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