The Best Transportation Options for Traveling Italy
Should you rent a car, take the train, or fly?
Should I book a flight from Rome to Florence? Is renting a car in Rome a good idea? How do I get to Cinque Terre?
These are just a few of the questions we get during our free 20-minute consultation calls.
And most of them boil down to the same big question:
How do I travel across Italy? Should I take the train, rent a car, or fly?
The bad news: there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
The good news: we’ll help you figure out which option (or combination of options) works best for you.
It all depends on … your itinerary!
When to Take the Train 🚆
One of our favorite ways to travel in Italy is by train. It’s relaxing, highly efficient, and you get to enjoy the changing landscapes as you go.
And did you know that Italy has one of the best train systems in Europe?
Yes, we’re lucky to have outstanding fast trains and an intricate network of local trains.
To understand how Italy’s train system works, think of it like the body’s circulatory system: arteries and veins.
Fast trains are like arteries, connecting Italy’s major cities along the north-south backbone of the country. Local trains are the veins, serving smaller towns and cities located east-west across the boot.
So, if your itinerary includes Italy’s main cities like Rome, Naples, Florence, Bologna, Milan, or Venice, fast trains are your best bet.
For smaller towns or coastal destinations, local trains are the way to go.
We filmed an extensive video for you that goes over the essentials of traveling in Italy by train.
Now let’s get practical.
What train company should I use?
Italy has two main train companies:
Trenitalia is part of the state-owned railway group Ferrovie dello Stato. It operates both fast and local trains.
Italo is a private railway company that specializes in high-speed trains.
When it comes to fast trains (Alta Velocità or AV), both Trenitalia and Italo are excellent options. Whichever you pick, you can’t go wrong. Just keep in mind that Trenitalia’s fast trains are called Frecciarossa and Frecciargento.
For local trains, Trenitalia is your only option. Local trains come in different categories (Frecciabianca, Intercity, and Regionale), but the key to a smoother journey is to choose trains with the fewest connections and the shortest travel times.
Here’s our local tip for traveling by train:
Make sure to book and purchase your tickets directly from the official websites of Trenitalia or Italo. Better yet, download their apps to store your tickets digitally. Avoid third-party websites or apps, as they can complicate ticket changes or refunds if needed.
When to Rent a Car 🚗
Does “Driving in Italy” sound like the title of a horror movie?
Italy certainly has a reputation for its “creative driving,” where locals seem to focus more on the exceptions than the rules. And let’s not forget the "imaginary lanes" we create when there are no painted lines on the streets!
As locals living in Rome, we often say there’s an ordered chaos to it all. While it makes sense to us, we totally understand why the idea of driving in Italy might freak you out.
But here’s the thing—it’s not always as intimidating as it seems!
Renting a car makes sense if you want to explore the smaller, off-the-beaten-path towns scattered across one of Italy’s stunning regions.
Picture this: driving along scenic secondary roads that take you from one cute town to the next, stopping at local restaurants for authentic meals, and perhaps visiting a winery or olive oil producer along the way.
If this sounds like your kind of itinerary, renting a car and experiencing Italy like a local will make your trip truly memorable.
Here’s a video from when we went on a road trip through Tuscany, driving along its coast from north to south.
When to Choose the Plane ✈️
To be honest, we rarely book flights within Italy.
Why?
Italy is a small country with an outstanding train system, so flying from one city to another really doesn’t make sense to us.
Plus, train stations are usually located right in the city center, whereas airports are not. Flying means factoring in additional travel time to reach the airport (often outside the city), checking in, and going through security. By the time you add all that up, the fast train is usually faster and more convenient.
So when traveling from Naples to Rome, we take the fast train. Same thing when traveling to Florence, Venice, or Milan.
When does flying make sense?
Flying makes sense if you’re traveling to one of Italy’s major islands, like Sicily or Sardinia, or if you’re way up north (say Milan) and need to get to Calabria or Puglia in the far south. In these cases, flying is the better option.
Here’s our local tip for traveling by plane:
If you need to book flights, check ITA Airways, EasyJet, Ryanair, or WizzAir—the last three are the most popular low-cost airlines in Italy.
We hope this guide helps you figure out the best way to travel across Italy.
And if you know someone planning their trip to Italy, make sure to share this post or send them our Stories from Italy page!
Grazie 🫶
Valeria & Benedetta