Train Tickets in Italy

Yes, book on-line to save money. To get the best price, you must commit to nonrefundable tickets where you must be on the exact train on the ticket or it is invalid. Portions will be on unreserved trains (like to and from the Cinque Terre).
Look at www.trenitalia.com

ann,

One comment to begin with.....

Is there any possibility you could re-arrange the order to Venice > Florence > Cinque Terre > Sorrento > Rome? That's a more efficient route, and the train trips will be shorter and easier (less travel time = more touring time).

You can save money on the fast trains by booking ahead. Longer trips will usually involve a combination of fast trains and Regionale. There are no savings on Regionale trains, whether booked in advance or purchased in Italy shortly before travel.

There are no savings on the Circumvesuviana from Naples to Sorrento, and I don't believe those can be booked ahead, so just buy tickets when you arrive in Naples (you'll need to go downstairs from Napoli Centrale to the Garibaldi station).

I'd suggest using www.captaintrain.com to book tickets in Italy. It's very user friendly and easy to use.

Hi Ann -
And just to add to Ken's good advice, there is no single destination called the Cinque Terre. You'll be using regionale trains into any of the 5 villages (Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore) from a station outside of the region. That's usually, but not always, La Spezia.

I'd also agree with his advice to rearrange the order to Venice > Florence > Cinque Terre > Sorrento > Rome. That would also allow you to take a very speedy morning train from Florence to La Spezia that only runs once a day and shaves a good hour off any other option. I'm seeing super-economy rates on that one for just under 10 euro depending on the day and pre-booking.

If I may add my own question that may also help ann-p, if the train that we need is a high speed train and requires a reservation, what is the minimum time needed to do that, and can all that be done online as well? My own itinerary involves Florence to Ravenna, and Ravenna to Venice..

If the train that we need is a high speed train ... can all that be done online as well?
No problem. Buying your tickets at www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en comes automatically with a reservation when that's compulsory. Do it as soon as you know your travelling dates, and you can have them heavily discounted (if you don't mind being tied to that specific date and hour).

Hey Ann give this website a look for some good information on trains in Italy, its very helpful.

http://www.seat61.com/Italy-trains.htm#.V35QoXlTE5u

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