We will be traveling by train from Venice-Varrena-Cinque Terre-Florence-Rome next July. Do we need reservations on the trains?
Posted by
Chicago
7850 posts
Florence to Rome for sure. the others not necessarily; depends on how you go in that order.
You will know when you try to book them as early as 90 days in advance.
This site is a good source to bookmark refer to on train travel Italy
https://www.seat61.com/Italy-trains.htm#How to buy train tickets for Italy
Posted by
Green Bay
20103 posts
When you buy a ticket on an Italian train that requires a reservation, the reservation is included in the price of the ticket. You'll have a car number and seat number. Regionale trains, do not have reservations and so just find a seat and plunk yourself down. If no seats available? Stand until someone gets off the trains and you grab it. Kinda like a city bus.
Venice to Varenna will involve a Freccia train to Milan with a seat reservation. Milan to Varenna is a Regionale. Going to Cinque Terre (what town?) another Regionale to Milan, then probably an Inter City train to Monterosso with a seat reservation, then if going to somewhere other than Monterosso, a Regionale. Cinque Terre to Florence can be done with all Regionale trains, or a mix of reserved trains. Florence to Rome is a Freccia train with seat reservations.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11322 posts
Great detail from Sam.
One correction to Jazz' advice: You can purchase up to 120 days out when a high-speed train is involved, i.e., Venice (Venezia) to Varenna. That said, schedules change in June and sometimes Trenitalia is slow to list the schedule. Do not panic if the trains are not showing 120 or 90 days out, but do check frequently because once a train posts on the TI website, the super economy fares go fast.