Train travel 1st or 2nd class?

Wife and I only rode in 2nd class and they were more than adequate. Very comfortable seating, clean and safe in Es trains. Check if you're travelling during a holiday in Italy, the trains are packed, get your tickets well-ahead of time. We had a slight problem returning Sunday night of a holiday weekend. Although we had seats reserved, there were some people occupying our seats. We showed them our seat assignments and they got up and moved on. That train (regular inter-city)
Travel light for your convenience.

I just returned from Italy, and we started second class but after the first trip switched to first. The trains are almost the same but the people are different. The trains are also less crowded. I highly recommend first class. There isn't a huge difference in cost.

Your first leg (Monterosso-Bologna) will be on a Regionale train (2nd class only and open seating). Your short Bologna-Venezia leg will be on a EuroStar Alta Velocita train which is Trenitalia's newest and fastest train. 2nd class for that train should be perfectly fine.

If you're packing light and only have carry-on-sized luggage, it will fit in the rack above your seat. If you have to store luggage in the bins at the end of the carriage, then it's a good idea either to secure it with a cable lock or to keep an eye on it at each station stop.

If you are on the 7:35am train out of Monterosso (7:52am out of La Spezia), I agree with Tim. We've been on this train. It's a Regionale (R) train to Bologna. 2nd class is just fine. However, no food service on this train (at least there wasn't for us). You might want to see if you can grab some rolls, capuccino, etc. in Monterosso before you board. Yes you can eat on board. At Bologna, we rode the basic Eurostar. It now looks like the train is the new ES-Alta Velocita. Very nice.

We've always gone 2nd unless the train we wanted was sold out in that class and only 1st was available. 2nd has been perfectly fine for us.

2nd class is fine!!! It's the same as first class if you ask me.

You'll find more tourists and business people in first class. More locals and students in 2nd class. Part of the fun of traveling to Italy for me is to get to interact with the locals. That and saving a serious chunk of money are the reasons we travel 2nd class.

All I can tell you is not to count on the train being air-conditioned -- `1st or 2nd. We're in Italy now, and all the ones we have been on either had no AC at all (broken) or barely working. You are going to love the Cinque Terre. We just left Monterosso yesterday. The hikes are wonderful. WARNING. Check for train strikes. There was a 24 hour one last week end and another a few days before. If the trains are on strike you can take the boat/ferry that connects the villages assuming the sea is not too rough -- in which case the boats don't run. You just want to know before you hike because you really don't want to hike both ways unless you are a true hiker. Your hotel will give you a train and boat schedule. Keep it with you. The boats stop about 6 pm. And eat at Miky's Restaurant (not Miky's Cantina) in Monterossa. It was great, and Sara is a wonderful host.

Thanks for all the responses, I really appreciate the input! Your comments were a great help. This site is so very helpful!!

Leaving Monterossa will be a regional train and it will probably be 2nd class. The train to Venice you mentioned would be a Eurostar. I prefer 1st class. I've traveled by train all over Italy for the last 29 years and the class designation is hit or miss, except with the ES trains. I go 1st class whenever possible.

I agree that standard class is fine for most train travel in Italy...however..if a leg is a popular one, like a weekend connection for teens and families to go into the city to shop, standard class can be very crowded and uncomfortable. Even people sitting on their suitcases in the aisles.For longer distance travel, I still prefer 1st class if I have budgeted for it.

Just returned 2 days ago from Italy. We did 2nd class on the Eurostars which was fine and 1st class on InterCity trains. More leg room on the 1st class InterCity. May think about going first class on the Eurostars too next time.

We like 1st class...it's usually cleaner (especially the bathrooms), more leg and seat space and it's more quiet/calm, less kids and chaos.