What InterCity Ticket is Right for You?

The intercity train runs throughout Italy.  It is the most convenient form of transportation for long distance travel connecting to all major cities north of Naples allowing for a time saving solution to bus, car, and plane travel.  Of course there are a few things you need to know before buying tickets.

The majority of ticket packages are valid for a two month time period (60 days) from the date of purchase until their expiration.  For example, if you buy a ticket on the 12^th of February, it will expire at midnight on the 11^th of April.

Tickets in the country are sold based on a variety of needs.  Below you will find a description of the most common tickets available for purchase.

The one week traveler:

If you plan to vacation in the country it is best to look for short term tickets which are valid for consecutive days.  Having this option will give you unlimited train access during your stay.  You will not have to worry if you have enough travel days on your card or what days you are allowed to use the train system.  To avoid any conflicts of travel it will be safest to buy a consecutive day pass.  For a full array of travel options and to buy tickets, please click here.

Study Abroad Students:

For students traveling abroad there are a few specific issues to consider.  

The first will be how many days you will be traveling.  For weekend travelers, keep in mind that you may only need to use two travel days per weekend.  The first will be to get to your destination and the second will be to come back.

If you plan wisely, it is feasible to visit multiple cities by using only two travel days.  To do this, pick a city on the way to your final destination, and simply stop there—yes, it’s that easy.  Since a travel day is valid for the full day, you will be able to get off and on the train as you wish.  However, if you take the fast train, you must make and pay a reservation fee for each leg of travel.  An example of this scenario would be if you are traveling from Milan to Rome and wish to stop in Florence during your day of travel.  If you plan to take the faster train, you will need to make a 10 euro reservation fee to go from Milan to Florence, and then make another reservation of 10 euros to take the fast train from Florence to Milan.

The European traveler

2^nd class and seating:  You will notice that on the majority of websites and when buying tickets at the station, there is a 1^st and 2^nd class option.

Please Advise:  A second class ticket is available for the economical traveler.   This class ticket is discounted appropriately for those who do not need the extra leg room; yet also note that comparatively, the rail lines in Italy have far greater space to offer the customer than those in America.  But if you wish to travel in style, a first class ticket is always available.

Unlike regional trains in Italy which have open seating, you must pay attention to the correct train car and seat assigned to you.  At busy times the trains will book completely and getting in the right seat the first time will save you the hassle of seat searching in a crowded train.