Is the train as good as a transportation option in Italy as it is in Germany. Is there train service to smaller towns? We are in the early stages of planning a 2-3 week trip to Italy for 4-6 people in September or October of this year. We are planning to go to some smaller towns (San Martino di Lupari for example). Is there one train service provider or multiples like in England? What planning tips do you have for a train rider? Any other suggestions for something I failed to ask about.
Thank you.
Posted by
5428 posts
For the most part, yes.
There are two main ones: Trenitalia and Italotren (plus some small companies such as in Puglia). I don't think I have ever used Italotren, but sometimes there is an advantage of using one or the other. For Trenitalia definitely download the app.
Don't overlook how helpful Google maps is in planning--you can zoom in, click on "nearby" and see where the nearest train station is, etc.
You can often supplement with bus service or taxi. Driving in rural areas is not difficult, but if you have six rather than four that gets complicated of course.
Once you have a rough itinerary, you can post it here for specific suggestions.
Posted by
872 posts
Here is the complete guide:
https://www.seat61.com/train-travel-in-italy.htm
Tickets from the train operators [no resellers, like Raileurope recommended by Steves; the worst ripoff]:
https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html
https://www.italotreno.it/en [private competitor with lower fares on some routes]
Posted by
Italy
3812 posts
Some random thoughts:
- Trains hate hills, especially when the Village on the top of the hill is small and /or almost unpopulated. So check where the station actually is on Google Maps. Especially if you are headed to the historic center of a southern hill town and the village name pops-up when you enter it in the "From" box on trenitalia.com
- All the tickets of Regionale trains (aka the local trains run by Trenitalia) NOT purchased online are open, but you MUST time-stamp these tickets before getting on the train. Otherwise you will be fined and asked to pay on the spot. No ticket purchased on line must be time-stamped.
- The walk-up fares are always displayed up to 6 months in advance, together with the discounted ones. You can't pay more, but you can pay a lot less if your plans are set.
- The next timetable change will happen on June 11. Trenitalia will gradually upload the new summer schedules before June 11, but the deadline is June 11: If you can't find the train you want, Don't panic and use a date before the deadline for planning.
- the high speed service is comparable to the one in Germany. The local trains service may be similar to the Service in Germany in some regions, it's much worse in others. The pro is that Local trains are a lot cheaper.
Posted by
OP
DTW
343 posts
Looking at this again, I see that I failed to mention we would be traveling in September or October of this year so I will go back and edit that for clarity. I have briefly looked t the Trenitalia website and was not aware of Italotren so thank you @valadelphia and @N_Kingdom. @Dario, thank you for the great tips about hilly areas. Cassino and Monte Cassino may be an area that we will explore.