Traveling by train to & from Assisi

There are multiple trains each day from Rome to Assisi and Assisi to Florence. Problem is - the train schedules do not show up on the computer until about 2 weeks beforehand. So, to get an idea - type in next week's dates in Trenitalia and see what comes up. Some trains are cheaper than others. We found the trains to be an economical way to travel. You can buy your train tickets on - site for Assisi and Florence. Here's an important tip that almost got us fined - make sure you validate your ticket at the little machine near the tracks before you board. This now gives you about 6 hours to reach your destination by train, then your ticket will expire. We forgot to do this. The conductor that day was our friend and firmly let us know that we needed to validate our tickets at the connecting station. We did and we're grateful. I don't know why the validation machines are not on the trains like the buses. Anyway, you can wifi the train schedule from your hotel the night before you leave and select an appropriate train for you.

The trains that connect the biggies like Rome, Florence, Venice operate a little differently. You can reserve tickets in advance. We did and splurged a little on first class seats for fun. Once you buy these tickets, you are somewhat locked into a specific time slot. ( We didn't mind this at all.). Some travelers like more flexibility. Then, you have to pay extra for changes. These tickets don't need validation - just your proof of purchase, since they expire automatically if you miss your train and can't be used on another train.

We had the same issues about trains on our first trip to Italy. You don't really need to worry. The Italians run a good transportation system that is user friendly. Remember - VALIDATE the tickets to and from Assisi BEFORE getting on the train. It's easy - just do it!

Thank you very much. I am feeling much better.

Pk,

There are numerous departures every day between Rome / Assisi / Florence. Some of the trains are direct and some have one change. Many of those are Regionale and it's not easy to buy tickets for them online. The best solution with those is simply to buy the tickets at the station a day or so before you'll be travelling, either at a ticket Kiosk or staffed ticket window. There are no reservations on Regionale trains, but as mentioned earlier you MUST validate your tickets prior to boarding the train on the day of travel. They have a "shelf life" of about six hours once validated, so don't validate until you actually use the tickets.

There are a few Intercity trains on the Rome - Assisi route and those do have compulsory reservations, which are speciifc to train, date and departure time. You can see all the details on the Trenitalia or bahn.de websites. You can check all the details by researching the same day you'll be travelling, but use a date within the next two weeks. On the Trentialia website, be sure to click the Tutti i Treni (gray) tab at the top.

There are also numerous trains on the Assisi - Florence route, some direct. Most of these are also Regionale, so you could just pick a departure time and buy tickets for that trip when you buy the other tickets in Rome.

When you arrive in Assisi, there's a Bus that goes up the hill to the town, but I usually find it easier just to take a Taxi. There's usually one waiting at the station.

Buon Viaggio!

Once you arrive at the train station, if you want to take the bus, take the one that stops in Piazza Matteotti, one of the large parking areas. From there your hotel will most likely be a downhill walk instead of an uphill climb - with luggage.

As Zoe hints at, Assisi is all up-and-down, with lots of steps. It sounds like you're only staying one night. I highly recommend leaving your luggage at the train station and taking just an overnight bag up to the town. As you alight from the train and are facing the street, go to your left. Near the end of the station there's an American who moved there and is running a non-profit. He's full of information, will sell you the bus tickets, keep your luggage for a small fee. You can buy your train tickets to Florence at the tabacchi in the train station when you arrive.

Personally, I did not mind taking my luggage on the bus to Assisi. Wheeled luggage or a backpack is easy enough to maneuver up and down the ramped hills in Assisi unless you have a disability. However, the above suggestion is a good one for people who have trouble schlepping luggage. Keeping the hills in mind - you may want to stay in a hotel between Piazza Matteoti and piazza del Commune. We liked La Pallota. la Pallota has lots of steps. So, if you have joint issues - this is not your place. La Pallota has one quirky feature that some travelers may not like. There is no separation of any kind with the shower head in the bathroom. This means you keep anything you want dry out of the bathroom when you shower and remember to cover the toilet paper with the metal lid before showering.

Part of the problem is that you're looking for schedules after the Dec. 14 Europe-wide schedule adjustment. Italy has committed to and published schedules past that date for faster trains, but not for some slower categories of train that serve Assisi.