Our Italy expert Anthony Capozzoli, who authored Unabellavista: How to tour Italy, put together this article to help you navigate Italian trains.  Enjoy.

Ciao Traveler! 

Italian trains are easy to navigate and an essential part of the Italian travel experience; however, challenges exist that if not heeded will create frustration and cost serious time and money.  A lot of tourists try the “I don’t speak Italian” or “I didn’t know” strategies only to learn that train conductors are unforgiving because, in fact, they have heard it all.  Follow these tips and you will enjoy your train trip senza problema.

Scenario Uno (1): Buying your ticket at the station.

• Tickets (biglietti) can be bought at either the ticket window from a person or from the automated kiosks.  Look for the sign Biglietteria, which is Italian for ticket office.  The kiosks are located throughout Italian stations; they are easy to use and accept cash and credit.  One point to remember is that people hang around these machines to “help” tourists with the expectation of being tipped.  The kiosks are intuitive and do not require a teacher so simply ignore these overtures.
• IMPORTANT:  After buying a ticket validate it before getting on the train, which is similar to the public transportation in Italy that requires validating a ticket when boarding the bus or Metro.  Small boxes, usually yellow or red, are found along the train track.  TIP: If in a hurry and you forget this step then tell a conductor BEFORE boarding so they can mark the ticket.  Another option is to write the date on the ticket BEFORE the conductor controls.

Scenario Due (2): Buying a Eurail pass or ticket before arriving.

• Plan your trip from start to finish
• Count the number of days that you will be traveling by train
• Visit www.unabellavista.com/tips.htm and click either:
  • Train Reservations- 1 (RailEurope)
  • Train Reservations- 2 (Eurail)
• The ticket will arrive by mail; make sure to check it for accuracy
• In the packet from the ticketing company a train schedule will be included that you should use to optimize your time
• When checking over possible routs, a (R) symbol indicates that a reservation is required.  This is not a big deal, just go to the website where the ticket was purchased and make the reservation; it is a very easy process.  Also, I have found them to be very helpful if I call.
  • Caveat:  Italy does not update its schedules as much as one would like, so check periodically for updated schedules
• Train pass insurance is a judgement call.  I usually don’t take it, but check if other options exist such as through your credit card company
• Things you must do when you arrive to Italy to use your pass
  • On the 1st day you will be traveling by train have a ticket agent at the Biglietteria stamp the pass
  • Add your passport number on the line provided
  • Sign your name to the signature line
  • Write the date of your 1st train travel day.  European dates are Day/ Month / Year
  • You will have to write in the day for each train travel day

Language around the train station (Itl: stazione): 

• WC= Toilet; Sottopassaggio=Underpass (you will likely have to take the Sottopassaggio from the station to the track and from the track to the station).  Also, be on the lookout for the warning: VIETATO ATTRAVERSARE I BINARI: SERVIRSI DEL SOTTOPASSAGIO ( It is forbidden to cross the tracks; use the underpass).
• Language on the Arrival/ Departure Board and Poster:  Destination (Destinazione); Category (Cat), classification of train (i.e. EuroStar, InterCity, etc); Hour / Time (Ore); Minutes Late (Rit); Track number (Bin).

Other things to know:

• The cafe is a great place to get a snack.  Order at the cashier and bring the receipt to the barista
• The news stand will usually have USA Today, Financial Time, International Herald Tribune and some other English reading material
• Check if your train has a dining car or cafe and if not then get a bottle of water (or wine).  If you get wine then get those little white plastic cups to drink it from because it is considered bad form and rude to drink it from the bottle

Thanks for reading and for a visual explanation click here.  You can also listen to my podcast How to use the train in Italy, which is on iTunes.

Buon Viaggio,

Anthony

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