Trains in Italy

We have travelled in Italy (all over Europe, actually) in August/Septembr/October and never had a problem getting the one we wanted during the day. We have not used night trains, so this may be different

You will be fine purchasing once there. You will actually be traveling from Milan to Genoa, changing trains, then onto Vernazza. All can be purchased on a single ticket. The train to vernazza takes forever, stops every half mile it seems.

I like having tickets in advance, but concur that you should be fine if you purchase the tickets while in Italy. Use the Fast Ticket machines--they're simple.

We traveled from Milan to Vernazza (actually to Monterosso). Bought tickets the day we traveled, no issues. This was in late September. You will have to change trains at least once.
trip wasn't expensive. We did go 1st class. Only difference was the seat from 2nd class. I wouldn't bother going to the additional expense of ordering tickets online...go with the flow!

If you do look on-line, you may find some deals that you can't get buying them a day or two in Italy. Just like most other transportation deals, they don't allow changes, but the savings can be quite high. And you don't pay more to get them via the internet. Check http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

In Aug 2005 we changed our itinerary due to flooding in Switzerland, and instead took the train from Milan to the Cinque Terre. In Milan station we bought a train schedule and tickets 30 minutes before train departure. We took fast train from Milan to Levanto (near Monterosso). In Levanto we took the local train to Vernazza. The local train from Genoa to Vernazza is slow. We've visited the Cinque Terre several times and like to stay at the Villa Margherita in Levanto.

I see the others' replies re. the benefits of buying on-line from trenitalia however, I have spent hours trying (I speak fluent Italian so I can read all of the info on their site) and have not been able to. The limit they allow you to spend does not fit my needs and I cannot select the seats I want. The number they provide is incomplete, so calling (or faxing) has also been unsuccessful. Tomorrow, I will try buying my tickets through Rick's service.

The monthly limit on tickets you can buy on-line at Trenitalia is 516.46 euro which at today's exchange rate, is about $690 U-S...that's a lot of train travelling! With that sort of travelling, one might want to consider a Eurail pass. As for seat selection, I've never had a problem selecting a seat....you can even pick the car and seat number you want if someone has booked ahead of you. Explore the site....some of the deals could make a little effort worth your while.

I have found that the easiest way to purchase train tickets for travel within Italy is to walk into a travel agency, while there. Last week, my son and his friend needed train tickets to Rome from Foggia, Italy. First I walked into the train station and there were at least 15 people in line, so I exited and walked a 1/2 block and found a travel agency and they issued the train ticket in minutes, same price as if I would have bought it at the station.

If you do purchase your tickets there, remember you can also use the new self-service kiosks that are springing up in all the main stations. Lots of friendly assistants around to help you work them....instructions can be displayed in English.

I'll again put a plug in for the Fast Ticket machines which, as Norm notes, are found in most stations. I've had significant problems with the Trenitalia website recently--always denying my credit cards. Something's up with the system. It's more than a little frustrating because I'm such an advance planner and am taking a group of students to Italy in May. Last year I booked nearly 100 tickets through the website and didn't have any problems. Perhaps I'm supposed to learn to be patient! I know I'll be able to buy them once I get to Rome, but I'd rather do the work ahead of time.

I too have had difficulty with Trenitalia and have been unable to book my train tickets in advance. My credit card was not accepted. I like to get my transportation squared away before I go, but it isn't possible. I'm a bit nervous having never been to Italy, but, I am learning patience.

I think it's different here (in Aust)with Trenitalia but we have to go through their agent and the price is sometimes as much as 5 times the face price of the ticket if bought in Italy. I have just come back from Venice 3 weeks ago and got the train from Bologna to Venice and it was full. It was mid week mid morning so I was glad I had booked. I have in the past got the train from Milan to Como and Genoa to Nice and both were 1/2 empty. I personally would take the chance and buy your tickets in Italy especially if you are not set to specific times.

Just wondering why Australians would have to go through a travel agent.....can you not purchase Trenitalia tickets off their website like we can?

Me too Jeff. I can look up timetables, seats available etc but cannot book on line. Everytime you click to go through for credit card details the page won't load. From memory it then tells you to contact their agent here. Frustrating and expensive.

I am able to load the credit card page, enter all of my information, andthen see the (not-so-friendly) "card denied" message--a big waste of time. We can certainly empathize with each other. If it gets fixed anytime before mid-May, I'll let everyone know.

I've had the same credit card denial issues on the trenitalia website also. An alternative is to contact the hotel you're staying at in Italy, and have them book you tickets for you. They're usually more than happy to do that for you. You would just need to send them your information (trenitalia username, credit card info, etc.). Contact your hotel and see if they can do this for you.