Train questions

Posted by debbieengerran on 01/22/25 09:12 PM

HI All,

We will be in italy April 2nd to April 13. I've spent a little time on omio as well as Italo website learning about trains. I read on here that it is better to book trains in advance. We are traveling from venice to Bologna on april 2nd and I've gone ahead and booked that train. We will then be in bologna for 5 nights as home base. We want a little freedom here with ideas such as parma, modena, padua. etc. Should I wait to book those trains the day of or day before?

Next stop is varenna so I was thinking of booking those as well as varenna to Tirano on last leg of Italy before switzerland.

My main question is should i really be booking tickets in advance for some of these or wing it and book day ahead. Hotels are already booked.

Posted by Badger

Uppsala, Sweden

01/22/25 09:19 PM

7264 posts

Avoid Omio, they are a 3rd party. Buy your tickets from the company that actually runs the train, i.e. Trenitalia or Italo.

In general there are two types of trains, long distance trains that often are a lot cheaper if you buy the tickets in advance, and local trains that often have a fixed price. For trips with local trains, there is no advantage to buying the tickets months in advance.

Posted by debbieengerran OP

01/22/25 09:26 PM

48 posts

Thank you. I actually used Omio to find the best tickets then went to Italo website direct and bought my first tickets from venice to bologna. The trenatalia website is confusing me a bit today. They are only showing late afternoon trains when Omio is showing different times so I haven't booked yet.

Posted by Kathy

Minnesota 🎒

01/22/25 09:32 PM

16786 posts

In addition to the post above, Debbie, a better place to "learn about trains" is "The Man in Seat 61" website.
https://www.seat61.com/train-travel-in-italy.htm

Just don't use Italiarail to order your tickets, as is advertised on that site: best to go directly to the Trenitalia (Italy's national rail provider) and Italo.

The trenatalia website is confusing me a bit today. They are only
showing late afternoon trains

Did you enter the time of day you want to make that journey? I entered April 2nd at 6:00 on Trenitalia - trains from Venezia S Lucia to Bologna Centrale - and it's showing 2-3 trains every hour all morning of various journey durations and train changes (most do not involve a change.)

Posted by debbieengerran OP

01/22/25 09:33 PM

48 posts

Thank you. about to delve into the website now.

Posted by Jean

Idaho, USA

01/22/25 09:37 PM

8029 posts

Hi, the Trenitalia tickets get loaded a few months ahead, so it’s possible your April ones aren’t available, yet, for all of the whole timetable. The Trenitalia app is handy to just purchase your Regionale tickets on the days you decide to travel from Bologna to other nearby cities. By the way, Parma has my favorite cathedral interior - gorgeous frescoes! Have a great time!

Posted by CD in DC

Washington, DC USA

01/22/25 10:07 PM

566 posts

Trains from Bologna to Parma and Modena, as well as Ravenna, Faenza, Ferrara among others are usually (maybe always) regional trains that do not require or accept reservations and do not sell out so there is no advantage to booking ahead on Trenitalia for these. They are popular day trips from Bologna. You can save about 30 minutes with a reserved, faster train from Bologna to Padua versus the non-reserved regional train if that is worth it to you. From Milan to Varenna and from Varenna to Tirano there are only the non-reserved regional trains. You might save a little time by taking a reserved faster train from Bologna to Milan before changing to the regional train to Varenna but I found that it wasn't worth the difference to me the day I traveled that route -- the regional train meant more time on the train versus more time at a station between trains and less flexibility. These routes are all available on Trenitalia and easily booked on the Trenitalia app or website.