Buying train tickets in Italy
Buying train tickets in Italy is easy to do and can be done in advance online, but if you have to do it in the country then it's still really simple.
Want to know the easiest way to buy train tickets in Italy?
Looking to book a train journey in Italy? It’s advisable to book train tickets between major cities including Rome, Florence, Milan, Venice, and Naples well in advance.
ItaliaRail - the best way to buy Italian train tickets
ItaliaRail has a great, fast interface that allows you to book online instantly. Trenitalia also has an online ticket website, but ItaliaRail is often cheaper if there are 2 or more passengers, and it also sells Trenitalia tickets in Euros, Pounds and Dollars.
It’s also a far more efficient and cost-effective booking site than the Trenitalia website as its search results show a full day’s schedule of trains, whereas most other train booking sites only show a train schedule of one or 2 hours. ItaliaRail can also book up to 20 passengers at a time, whereas Trenitalia only books up to 5 pax. Also, ItaliaRail highlights the cheapest trains for each route.
You can always try to purchase train tickets at the train station you’re departing from. You’ll find ticket kiosks in the station that are quite easy to use and you can pay with your credit or debit card. But if you can buy in advance and online, its’ a much better idea.
If you do end up buying in the stations then the kiosks are available in multiple languages so you will be able to go through the purchasing process with ease. There are also attendants in many station who will help you if you are stuck.
In the major cities such as Rome, watch out for random strangers offering to help you as this may be a way to begin a conversation before begging for money or trying to pickpocket you. General rule here is to use your common sense to feel the situation. If a person feels too helpful or insistent on showing you how to purchase a ticket then maybe just be on your guard slightly. Preference would be to focus on getting help or advice from someone who works in the station or a local who you have approached yourself.