Train Travel in Venice

• Places to Explore
• Sights
• Restaurants
• Hotels
• Entertainment
• Shopping
• Travel Tips
• Features

Train Travel

In Italy, traveling by train is simple and efficient. Service between major cities is frequent, and trains usually arrive on schedule. You can either purchase your tickets in advance (all major credit cards are accepted online at www.raileurope.com) or after you arrive at any train station or travel agency. If you are considering using a Eurail Pass or any of its variations you must buy the pass before leaving your home country, as they are not sold in Italy.

You must validate your ticket before boarding the train by punching it at a yellow box located in the waiting area of smaller train stations or at the end of the track in larger stations. Always purchase tickets before boarding the train, as you can no longer purchase one from a conductor. Fines are steep for pasengers without tickets.

The fastest trains on Trenitalia, the Italian State Railways, are the Eurostar trains that run between major cities. You will be assigned a specific seat in a specific coach. To avoid having to squeeze through narrow aisles, board only at your designated coach (the number on your ticket matches the one on near the door of each coach). The next-fastest trains are the Intercity (IC) trains. Reservations, required for some IC trains, are always advisable. Diretto and Interregionale trains make more stops and are a little slower. Regionale and locale trains are the slowest; many serve commuters. There are refreshments on all long-distance trains, purchased from a mobile cart or a dining car.

Traveling by night is a good deal, as you do not pay extra for a bed. More comfortable trains run on the longer routes (Sicily-Rome, Sicily-Milan, Sicily-Venice, Rome-Turin, Lecce-Milan); ask for the good-value T3, Intercity Notte, and Carrozza Comfort. The Vagone Letto Excelsior has private bathrooms, coffee machines, microwave ovens, refrigerators, and a suite with a double bed and TV.

Some cities -- Milan, Turin, Genoa, Naples, Florence and Rome included -- have more than one train station, so be sure you get off at the right place. Except for Pisa and Rome, none of the major cities have trains that go directly to the airports, but there are commuter bus lines connecting train stations and airports.

Train strikes of various kinds are also common, so it's a good idea to make sure your train is running.

Train Information

Trentalia (892021 in Italy. www.trenitalia.com).

Classes

Most Italian trains have first and second classes. On local trains a first-class fare gets you little more than a clean doily on your headrest, but on long-distance trains you get wider seats, more legroom, and better ventilation and lighting. At peak travel times, a first-class fare is worth the price as the coaches are less crowded. In Italian, prima classe is first class; second is seconda classe.

Cutting Costs

If Italy is your only destination, consider an Italian Flexi Rail Card Saver. Over the course of a month you can travel on four days ($239 first class, $191 second class) or eight days ($260 first class, $206 second class). These tickets are sold only outside Italy. They are cheaper if you travel in a group or are under 26.

Once in Italy, travelers over 60 can buy a Carta d'Argento (Silver Card). For EUR 30 you get a 15% discount on first- and second-class tickets. Travelers under 26 can get the same deal with a Cartaverde (Green Card). Those under 26 can also get discount fares under the Billet International Jeune (BIJ) and Euro Domino Junior plans. Comitive Ordinarie (Ordinary Group Travel) entitle parties of at least six people to a 20% discount on most tickets.

Italy is one of 17 countries that accept Eurailpass, which allows unlimited first-class travel. If you plan to rack up the miles, get a standard pass. Passes are available for 15 days ($588), 21 days ($762), one month ($946), two months ($1,338), and three months ($1,654). You also get free or discounted fares on some ferry lines. The Eurail Selectpass allows for travel in three to five contiguous countries. Five days of first-class travel in three countries is $370; four countries $414; five countries $446.

In addition to standard Eurailpasses, ask about special plans. Among these are the Eurail Youthpass (for those under 26), the Eurail Flexipass (which allows a certain number of travel days within a set period), the Eurail Saver Flexipass (which give a discount for two or more people traveling together), and the EurailDrive Pass (which combines travel by train and rental car). All Eurailpasses must be purchased before you leave home. Order them on the Rail Europe Web site.

Remember that you need to reserve seats even if you are using a rail pass.

Information & Passes

CIT Rail (15 W. 44th St., New York, NY, 10036. 800/248-7245). DER Tours (800/782-2424. 800/282-7474). Rail Europe (44 S. Broadway, White Plains, NY, 10601. 800/438-7245 or 877/257-2887. www.raileurope.com).

Paying

You can pay for your train tickets in cash or with a major credit card such as American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, and Visa.

Reservations

Trains can be very crowded, so it's always a good idea to make a reservation. You can reserve seats up to two months in advance at the train station or at a travel agent. Simply holding a train ticket does not guarantee a seat. In summer it's fairly common to see people standing for part of the journey.