We are going to Italy in a few weeks and are planning to use the train to take trips from Rome to Florence, Rome to Bari, and Naples to Rome. Just wondering if we need to book train tickets before we go or if it's ok to book a few days before we ride (after we get to Italy)? Also would anybody recommend the rail pass over the buying of individual tickets for these 3 trips? Grazie!!
Posted by
Minneapolis
1222 posts
Hi Adriene. Don't buy a pass; it will be more expensive and more hassle. No need to book tix before you go; but for some runs, you can save if willing to lock in an exact time and date in advance. See trenitalia.com. Use Italian city names Roma, Firenze, etc. 'Base' fare shown is what you will pay if you wait and buy tix at last minute in Italy. Enjoy your trip!
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
You will probably take the fast trains for the cities you listed; you can save money by buying these tix in advance but the cheapest fares don't allow any changes. Even the higher fares are not expensive, so if you want some flexibility you can wait to but tix there. Fast trains include seat reservations, so be sure to check the carriage and seat number - I think all the stations you mention have carriage numbers on overhead boards on the track so you can brace yourself for the hike to your carriage. Second class is not much different from first and much less expensive. Don't buy a pass.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
On our first trip to Italy several years ago we planned to purchase our train tickets after we arrived even though we knew for sure what date we would be traveling. Unknown to us our particular day of travel was a big national holiday and every single seat on the fast trains were sold out...except for 4 seats on the 5:00 am train. Unbelieveable, we had booked a very very nice hotel in Sorrento which was one of the highlights of the trip. We had to get up and 3:00 am and get to the little commuter train station to get to Naples in time to get the last remaining seats. NOT an enjoyable experience and we learned our lesson.
Posted by
Centennial, CO, USA
1883 posts
Just a note, Rome-Bari is 4 hours via Fast Train and 6+ on the regular one. On a regular train, Naples is 4 hours from Rome, Florence to Rome is the shortest of the trips. If you have the dates exactly as you want, book the Fast train 3 months out, it will be cheaper than getting a ticket when you are there. BUT, if you book, you must be on that train at that time, you can't just jump on another train. I booked Rome-Bari for our upcoming trip and paid 58Euro for 2 Rome-Bari, and 38Euro Bari-Rome (fast train) http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=ad1ce14114bc9110VgnVCM10000080a3e90aRCRD Other than that, you can just walk up to a ticket counter, or an automatic machine and buy a ticket for the next train and hop on. No need for any kind of rail pass. For sure on the longer route, I'd plan ahead and get reserved seats. It will be much more expensive if you buy a ticket for Rome-Bari the day you want to travel.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Naples is 1.25 hours from Rome by fast train. I take this train every year.
Posted by
Tilburg, Netherlands
2829 posts
There are many Frecciarossa and ITalo trains that travel in less than 90min between Napoli and Roma...