After reading some posting on this website, I was informed that the U.S. chip and signature creditcard will not work with train ticket vending machines which requires the use of PIN with creditcard. I am trying to avoid waiting time staying in line for ticket purchase at train stations. Can someone confirm that U.S. creditcard cannot be used in European train ticket vending machines ( I will be traveling in northern Italy Milan-Florence-Bologna-Ferrara-Padua-Verona-Venice). Will I be better off buying ticket online? Would it be the same cost as I would pay at the train station?
Posted by
California 🦋
5301 posts
We visited northern Italy 2 years ago & didn't have any trouble buying train tickets from the automated kiosks with my chip & signature credit card. Another option is to use cash to buy your tickets from machines that also take cash.
You can certainly buy your tickets in advance online, up to 120 days in advance, at considerable savings.
You can check & book your tickets here: http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en
When will you be traveling?
Enjoy you trip!
Edit to add... You may want to read this helpful website: http://www.seat61.com/Italy-trains.htm#.V-YOP-hlCf0
Posted by
Green Bay
21365 posts
Actually, if you can commit to specific train times and dates, the tickets bought now on-line than buying them in Italy just before travel. So Milan to Florence, Florence to Bologna could be bought now. The exception would be the if you wanted to travel immediately after arriving on a plane where you can't be guaranteed the plane will land on time and the line at passport stamping is unknown or the wait for luggage.
Ticket machines can be varied depending on the station. Some also take notes and coins as well as credit cards. I have a PIN & chip card so i don't rightly know if a mag strip only work or not.
Bologna to Ferrara to Verona to Venice can all be done with cheap Regionale trains and there is no advantage to buying ahead of time. The price is always the same, but you must remember to validate them in the stamping machine on the platform before boarding.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area
5697 posts
I can verify that in April I was able to use a chip-and-signature card in Rome to buy tickets to Orvieto (same day) and in Naples to buy same-day tickets to Rome. For longer (non-regionale) trips I bought online in advance for cheaper fares.
Posted by
381 posts
We are in Italy now for three weeks and have used the train ticket self service machines exclusively. All have given us the option of either credit card or cash except for the train for Florence to La Spiza and then Vernazza to La Spiza which would only take credit card. The machine took our chip card with no pin required. If you want to only use cash which was our preference maybe check the machine before you begin your transaction. However, some stations are so small there is only one machine so there is no choice!
Posted by
54 posts
We bought tickets two days ago from the train vending machine in Siena train station with our USA Capital One chip and sig card. No problem.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Machines at unstaffed stations may only take credit cards. If your magnetic strip card has a PIN, it will work. I have never tried it not using a PIN. If your card doesn't have a PIN, your card issuer can give you one.
Discounted tickets for fast trains can be bought online or at the train station, but the cheaper fares usually sell our quickly so odds are that you will pay full price if you wait. The slower regionale trains are the same price anywhere, but unless it's part of a combo ticket, they are only available online a week ahead, and are also valid only for the date you choose online.
Posted by
824 posts
Phil,
Both American Chip & Sig and Chip & PIN cards do work in Trenitalia (and other vending) machines. You just need your PIN - sometime called an ATM PIN by the card issuer. I had no problems using my CITI MasterCard (a Chip & Sig card) and my USAA true Chip & PIN cards last fall.
Just remember to provide your card issuer(s) a travel notification with the countries and dates you will be traveling.
Posted by
Rick Steves Europe
356 posts
Hi Phil,
I have never had a problem buying Italian train tickets from the automatic ticket machines in the staions using either my Visa or debit cards. As others have already mentioned, you just need to know your PIN number. If you don't know the PIN for your credit card, you can contact your credit card company and they will send you one.
You shouldn't have any problem buying tickets on the spot, a day or so ahead once you are in Italy if you want to be more flexible. You can save money on the high-speed freccia trains by buying tickets ahead online through Trenitalia, the Italian National Rail website -www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en. These are for a specifc day and time with a reserved seat. Most of the cheaper, advance-purchase tickets are non-refundable, non-exchnageable, so you should be ready to commit at time of purchase.