We are leaving Saturday for Rome/Siena/Florence/CT. We are planning on taking the train between each of these cities. I know Rick has suggested waiting to get train tickets once we are there. Last night, I was just checking departure times and prices on www.trenitalia. The Florence to La Spazia route showed times, but nothing available to purchase. Should I be concerned? Does that mean the train is sold for the day?
Posted by
Hartford, CT, United States
92 posts
Tamara, I just checked the website, and it looks like everything's normal and lots of trains are available. Maybe the website was just acting up for you. I'm looking at the site in Italian not English, in case that matters. You shouldn't have any problem finding a train. Ciao, Meredith
Posted by
Bozeman, MT, USA
2 posts
I just got back from Italy on Wed., May 19. I traveled from La Spezia to Florence on Monday and bought the ticket in the train station about 10 minutes before departure. A word of advice: GET YOUR TICKET VALIDATED BEFORE BOARDING THE TRAIN! We were penalized 5 euro each for not having it validated, but it could have been up to 50 euro or we could have been kicked off the train.
Posted by
Mpls, MN
1005 posts
Tamara you will be fine. Went from Florence to LaSpezia last July. There are multiple trains from Florence and I think most or all of them will be regional trains without reservations. I know the one we took last summer was a regioniale. As a previous poster stated be sure to validate before boarding. On every train we were on we saw people getting fined either for not validating or on the EuroStar for traveling with a Eurail pass and not having a seat reservation. Buon Viaggio!
Posted by
Newbury Park, CA
12 posts
No worries about trenitalia not allowing you to purchase tickets. They wont let you purchase them via website from USA. I just got back to the states this past week and i bought all my train tickets 3o min before my departure. It is starting to get busy so maybe consider buying them a couple hours before but i wouldn't stress over it. I loved using the kiosks so you don't have to wait in the pesky lines. Pay attention whether you are using a regional or fast ticket kiosk because sometimes the departures aren't listed the same or only accept cash. Plus watch out for pick pockets as I'm sure you already know. Some tips: if your train is one that just stops through, stand in the middle of the platform so you have decent time to make it to either end (wherever your car ends up) before they blow the whistle (it sucks to run with luggage). Verify your train by train#, not destination because you may just be a stop on the way to somewhere else. Carrozza is your car# and posti is your seat#. I've had friends get a fine of 50 euro for not validating, however I also had many friends work a tear or two (or flirt) and only end up with 5 euro fine. Well I got a little carried away. But I hope you enjoy your trip!
Posted by
Dallas, TX, usa
323 posts
We stayed in Italy for two months we took trains and buses everywhere and never had a difficult time getting tickets on trains or buses. We traveled form Rome to Sorrento to Orvieto, to Siena to Lucca to La Speiza to Ravenna---Well you get the point, we purchased none of our tickets here.
Be sure to check the Tabacci(news stands) for tickets on the local trains and yes don't forget to validate them before you get on the train.
Jerry and Stelly