Any trouble with US credit cards not having chip & PIN?

Nope - used both a Capital One and AMEX card at multiple train station kiosks in Italy!

Ciao,
Ron

US magnetic strip cards will physically work in the ticket machines. But some CC companies block charges from the Italian Rail company; but this has nothing to do with the smart chip/magnetic strip issue.

Ron, you may correct if I am wrong. Last summer I thought I saw ticket machine in Temini that would take only the new European style card and other machines that would accept the older style cards. My memory is vague since I didn't pay a lot of attention but thought those ticket machines had signs on them indicating only cards with chips were accepted.

The only time I had trouble not having the chip & PIN was at self service gas stations. Luckily I had cash on hand or I would have ran out of gas!

Frank, bought tickets 2 weeks ago in Termini at the first kiosk I walked up to for 6 "round-trip" to Firenze using my Capital One card... did not see any signage on any kiosks denoting "chip" required!

Those machines also take "bancomat" cards which my wife has... (Italian Account) and they DO TAKE cash! I guess I find myself using the "cash option" more often than not.

Just did the Capital One card because it was for 6 AMICA tickets on Eurostar round-trip ($$$$$). Of course due to the trenitalia system I had to buy 5 seats, then link the last one to our other seats as you can only purchase 5 tickets in a group...

I'm headed through Termini for the big concert on May 1 (Labor day here) and I'll look for signage!

Ciao,
Ron

I was there last OCtober and had no problem with my US card. If you do find a chip+pin kiosk, you can hopefully find a cashier who can help you with the transaction. If not, you should carry some cash with you "just in case"

Ron, the big bank of ticket machine in the center in front of the ticket windows all took US cards. Where I thought I saw the European machines were on the edges, especially along the S, SW entrance and then in some of the areas closer to the trains. What I wonder was if there was a replace program underway and slowly the old machines would be replaced with the newer machines.

I'm not sure Frank about the train kiosk change-out in Termini but the Metro system is going through a transition as they are getting NEW metro card readers at point of entry to the metro! Now if we can just get the metro trains and stations cleaned up!

Ciao,
Ron