I plan to travel by train throughout Italy for two weeks in early October. I will arrive in Florence and depart from Venice. I recently learned from a friend that a train agent in Italy refused to issue him a ticket based on the CDC vaccination card, insisting that the only acceptable proof of vaccination was the EU Green Pass. It totally disrupted his plans. I realize that the CDC card SHOULD suffice, but I am concerned that some train stations may not accept it. Has anyone had any experience with acceptability of the CDC card for intercity travel?
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
7570 posts
I think early on there were issues, but I would think that those have been resolved by now as the numbers of US tourists have risen.
Also, the "green pass" is only needed for the fast trains, not required for the regional trains. I have been on six or so trains and have not yet been asked. I alspo have not had any issues with showing the CDC card, one restaurant was unsure, until he asked another guy, and at one museum, a person was a bit thrown off, but no refusal. I always show my passport with the CDC card, and if they struggle for a bit, I point out the "Pfizer e Phizer" entries for the doses...the first person I showed it to struggled, then she said "ahh...Pfizer e Pfizer" and was OK....so I have been using that.
Posted by
Italy
3812 posts
Thousands have experienced the acceptability of CDC cards. Even if you experienced the opposite at Trenitalia's counters, You'd go to Venice on an Italotreno train.
Ticket agents inside stations do not check Green Passes and CDC cards when they sell tickets. It would make no sense, your friend could have walked 10 meters turn his mobile on and get the exact same ticket on trenitalia's app. Neither the App nor the Site check the QR codes.
Posted by
OP
12 posts
Thanks for the responses. I’ll be traveling on several different types of trains - to Vernazza in CT, Varenna in Como, then to Venice - so it’s good to know there have been no issues of late. My friend experienced his issue with the CDC card 2 weeks ago.
Posted by
1 posts
I just came back from Italy. Tickets very easy to book online, works great. Or at machines at the train stations. Many Americans with CDC cards, no problems whatsoever.
Posted by
68 posts
In Italy now. Spent 4 days in Rome and arrived in Florence via Italo high speed train this afternoon. About 5-10 minutes into the trip, the conductor came around and asked to see tickets AND vaccination cards. No one else has required them .
Posted by
Longview, WA, USA
37 posts
I just got back from spending 4 days in Rome and 7 days in Sicily and NO ONE questioned by CDC card in all the places that we went including the train travel. We took buses all around Rome and in Sicily and had no problems. I think your friend just got a cranky conductor.