How to Travel to Italy by Train

Jimlong: Wikimedia Commons

A traveler could hardly run out of places to visit in Italy. Whether you want to summit alpine peaks, hike the craggy coast of Cinque Terre, taste wine amidst the rolling hills of Tuscany, or simply gaze over the deep blue Mediterranean Sea, this European nation has something to offer every adventurer's appetite. Traveling to Italy by rail will allow you to take in the scenery and get a feel for the various regions.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Passport valid for six months after planned departure from Italy National identity card for citizens of some European countries who do not require passports Tourist visa (If required, not required for citizens of the EU, USA, Japan, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Israel or New Zealand)
Passport valid for six months after planned departure from Italy
National identity card for citizens of some European countries who do not require passports
Tourist visa (If required, not required for citizens of the EU, USA, Japan, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Israel or New Zealand)

Step 1

Decide on your travel itinerary. To make sure you get the best rates on rail tickets, you need to know where you would like to visit in Italy and what country you'll be coming from. You can enter Italy from the bordering countries of France, Switzerland, Austria or Slovenia. Do you want to visit the northern mountains, Italy's famed lakes, ancient Tuscan castles or the Mediterranean coast? Check the Italy Rail Map to see the country's rail network and find out what train stations are nearest your chosen destinations.

Step 2

Check out rail pass rates on www.eurail.com if you plan to rack up the miles within Italy or in neighboring countries. Combined France-Italy youth rail passes covering four days of unlimited travel during two months cost $249. Adult second-class passes start at $349, and first-class travel passes start at $329. To qualify for a youth pass, you must be 25 or younger. You can buy a rail pass that's good in three countries for $305 and up. Don't plan on traveling enough to shell out for a rail pass? Visit Rail Europe (www.raileurope.com) to see current rates for one-way and return tickets.

Step 3

Book your rail pass or train ticket. Online booking is a convenient option. You will need to travel with your personal identification. Now you can start looking forward to that excursion to fiery Pompeii, pristine waterfalls in Umbria, or secret caves and rocky spires along the coast of Sardinia.

Resources

Article Written By Heather Carreiro

Heather Carreiro is a certified English teacher who has been writing since 2008. The editor of Matador Abroad, her work has appeared online at BootsnAll, Matador Network, GoNOMAD, Journey Beyond Travel and Expat Women. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in linguistics and Middle Eastern studies from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and is pursuing a Master of Arts in English at Bridgewater State University.

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